Types of Catastrophic Injuries Caused by Negligence

A catastrophic injury is one that significantly limits a victim’s ability to pursue major life activities, such as working for a living, communicating, walking, and caring for oneself. A catastrophic injury may require extensive medical treatment, rehabilitation, and other services over a long period. Many catastrophic injuries cause permanent disabilities.

Catastrophic injuries are often suffered in accidents caused by another person’s negligence or recklessness, such as a car accident, a slip-and-fall accident, or other premises liability situations caused by unsafe conditions.

The personal injury attorneys of Tinker Law Firm, PLLC in Seattle pursue claims on behalf of victims of catastrophic injuries caused by negligence.

Our experienced attorneys can discuss your case in a free initial consultation. We’ll let you know how you can protect your rights under Washington law.

Call us today or fill out our online contact form to find out how we can help with a catastrophic injury claim.

Common Types of Catastrophic Injuries

A catastrophic injury is one that suddenly causes great damage or suffering. Some examples and how they may be caused by negligence include:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI). TBI is usually caused by a blow or jolt to the head, such as in a slip-and-fall accident or a car crash. Serious TBIs can adversely affect cognitive and motor function, sensation, and emotion. Even a mild TBI, also called a concussion, may have long-lasting side effects, including leaving the victim more vulnerable to brain injury from a subsequent blow to the head.
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis. Damage to the spinal cord itself or the bones (vertebrae) and soft tissues surrounding the spinal cord can cause problems ranging from chronic back pain to paralysis (paraplegia or tetraplegia). Usually spinal cord injuries result from trauma, such as from a fall, a car accident, or a sports-related injury.
• Severe burns. In addition to the excruciating pain and injury of a severe burn, the extensive damage to burn victims’ skin leaves them susceptible to infection, which can quickly advance and prove fatal. Fire is rare in car accidents, but it does occur if fuel leaks and is ignited or explodes. Many burns in motor vehicle accidents come from contact with hot car parts or steam escaping a ruptured radiator. Burns from fire and other sources are more common in household, daycare, or other premises liability accidents.
• Amputation / loss of limb. The loss of a limb is a lifelong disfiguring and disabling injury. When a limb is lost in an accident it is known as a “traumatic amputation.” Individuals can lose limbs in accidents involving motor vehicles, power tools, explosions (such as fireworks or explosives), or electrocution. Sometimes limbs badly damaged in accidents must be medically amputated.
• Internal organ injury. The impact of a car accident or tears caused by the sharp ends of broken and dislodged ribs can damage crash victims’ internal organs in the chest and abdomen, including bowels, the liver, stomach, heart, and other important organs. If not diagnosed and treated promptly, usually with surgery, a non-fatal internal organ injury can lead to life-threatening infection.

Legal Response to Negligence and Catastrophic Injuries

People fall victim to catastrophic personal injuries in a wide variety of situations – while driving, in grocery stores and shopping malls, at work, and in private homes, just to name a few. A moment of careless on the part of another person can leave a victim with a lifetime of pain and disability caused by a catastrophic injury.

Accidents that result in catastrophic physical injuries often cause psychological and financial harm as well. An injured person might need weeks, months, or years to recover, and may not be able to work during this time. Many victims of catastrophic injuries are permanently disabled. Meanwhile, they face bills for primary medical care, medicine, therapy and rehabilitation, in-home care, wheelchairs and other assistive devices, and property damage, such as to repair or replace a car after a crash.

Washington law allows accident victims to pursue personal injury lawsuits as a way to seek relief when they have been harmed through the negligence or recklessness of others. These legal claims, most often paid through insurance, are meant to make the victim whole again financially.

Discuss Your Case with an Experienced Catastrophic Injury Attorney in Seattle

Catastrophic injury cases are complicated from a medical and a legal standpoint. It is critical that you discuss your case with a highly qualified lawyer.

The attorneys at Tinker Law Firm, PLLC are experienced in reviewing cases that involve serious injuries caused by the negligence of others. To talk to our team about your situation, call us today or fill out our online contact form for a free claim evaluation.