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What Is Considered a Catastrophic Accident?

What Causes a Catastrophic Injury?

If you were involved in a catastrophic accident that caused a life-changing injury, contact the catastrophic injury lawyers at Regan Zambri Long. No one can predict a major accident, so many people are not financially prepared when they happen. Our catastrophic accident lawyers at Regan Zambri Long PLLC will work to recover the maximum amount of compensation so you and your family will not have to face crippling debt because of unexpected medical bills. Call today for a free consultation with an expert personal injury lawyer to discuss your legal options and how to move forward with your claim.

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What Is a Catastrophic Injury?

Although there are various definitions of catastrophic injuries, many legal and medical experts agree that catastrophic injuries are any injury or illness that has profound and long-term effects on an individual. Catastrophic injuries mostly involve the head, the spine, or the brain and may cause permanent disability, permanent disfigurement, or even death. Many severe injuries occur because of serious accidents. Victims may suffer devastating injuries from car accidents, medical errors, workplace accidents, or a slip and fall.

Catastrophic Car Accident Injuries

Although motor vehicles are much safer today than they were even a few years ago, over 36,000 people died in car crashes in 2019 alone. For survivors who suffered severe injuries, the road to recovery can be long, difficult, and expensive. Two types of catastrophic injuries car accident victims may suffer are traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries. Both are extremely dangerous and potentially life-threatening.

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)

Traumatic brain injuries result from a violent blow or jolt to the head or body and affects how the brain works. Most of us are familiar with mild traumatic brain injuries, such as concussions. Concussions affect brain cells temporarily. They can cause loss of consciousness, headaches, balance problems, and nausea. Although concussions should be taken seriously and treated by a medical professional, most go away within a few weeks.

Traumatic brain injuries, however, can result in bruising, bleeding, and other permanent damage to the brain. TBI victims suffer from major cognitive issues, such as memory loss, learning difficulties, speech problems, and inability to reason or make judgements. Behavioral problems often arise, including difficulty maintaining self-control, anxiety, and depression. Other symptoms a victim of a traumatic brain injury may experience are:

  • Seizures
  • Fluid buildup in the brain (hydrocephalus)
  • Infections
  • Blood vessel damage, causing clotting and strokes
  • Coma
  • Vegetative state or a minimally conscious state
  • Brain death

Tragically, recovery is not always possible for TBI victims. For those who are able to recover, the healing process can take anywhere from two to ten years and cost up to $3 million in medical expenses.

Spinal Cord Injuries

A spinal cord injury is when there is damage to any part of the spinal cord or nerves at the end of the spinal cord. The majority of these types of catastrophic accidents are caused by motor vehicle crashes. Unfortunately, many spinal cord injuries lead to eitherdoctor pointing something out in an xray partial or complete paralysis, which is often permanent. Victims of spinal cord injuries may suffer the following types of paralysis:

  • Diplegia: Paralysis that affects multiple limbs or areas on both sides of the body (i.e. both arms or both legs).
  • Hemiplegia: Paralysis that affects multiple limbs or areas on just one side of the body (i.e. your arm and leg on the same side of the body).
  • Monoplegia: Paralysis of only one limb.
  • Paraplegia: Paralysis that affects both legs and sometimes the torso.
  • Quadriplegia (tetraplegia): Paralysis that affects all limbs. Victims of quadriplegia have little to no movement from the neck down.

Living with a spinal cord injury not only affects an individual’s financial situation, but even more importantly, it affects their mental health. Many spinal cord injury victims suffer from loss of enjoyment of life, and depression. It is very common that a paralysis victim withdraws and isolates themselves from family and friends.

If you or your loved one suffered life-altering injuries from a catastrophic car accident, our catastrophic injury lawyers can be your legal advocates through the claims process. Call today for a free initial consultation.

Catastrophic Workplace Accidents

Whether we like to admit it or not, many Americans spend the majority of their time at work. Most of us don’t consider if our work environments are safe or not – we just assume they are. However, catastrophic accidents occur in the workplace every single day. Over-exertion, slips and falls, and exposure to toxic fumes and chemicals can all result in terrible injuries.

However, one type of catastrophic injury workers face is amputation. In 2018, there were over 6,000 cases of workplace amputations, mostly involving machinery. Amputation victims often need expensive prosthetics, home modifications, physical and occupational therapy, medical equipment, and ongoing treatment to manage chronic pain. The emotional trauma of losing a limb may cause grief, anger, anxiety, and depression.

While manufacturing jobs accounted for the highest number of workplace amputations, construction workers, retail workers, and transportation employees are also at risk. The total costs of living with an amputation can rise above $500,000 in the victim’s lifetime, so it is essential that the victim and their family secure compensation to offset the sudden expenses. A Regan Zambri Long workers’ compensation attorney will work to recover enough damages to offset the ongoing medical bills you or your loved one will need moving forward.

What Are Other Common Causes of Catastrophic Accidents?

Besides workplace injuries, fires, and car accidents, victims can suffer catastrophic injuries from the following:

  • Slip and fall accidents: Home or business owners may fail to maintain safe conditions on their property resulting in a guest or business patron falling on staircases, balconies, uneven pavement, and wet floors.
  • Motorcycle accidents: Because a motorcycle rider has no protection, the impact of an accident with a car or a truck can have devastating results.
  • Pedestrian and bicycle accidents: When a person collides with a motor vehicle, either on foot or on a bike (especially when the vehicle is traveling at high speeds) the chances of catastrophic injuries soar.
  • Medical malpractice: Unfortunately, medical malpractice remains the third leading cause of death in the United States. Medical errors can lead to traumatic brain injuries, catastrophic birth defects, and spinal cord injuries.
  • Defective products: Defective products, especially in motor vehicles, can lead to catastrophic accidents. Defective airbags, brakes, and seat belts can all contribute to serious injuries in the event of an accident.
  • Catastrophic aviation accident: Survivors of plane crashes may face traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, severe lacerations, burns, and permanent disabilities.
  • Assault: Victims of assault may suffer from traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, neck and back injuries, and spinal cord injuries.
  • Burn accidents: Contact with fire, flames, heat from an explosion, hot grease, or hot liquids can cause severe burn injuries that can leave a victim permanently disfigured.

How Can a Regan Zambri Long Catastrophic Injury Lawyer Help Me?

If you or your loved one suffered a permanent or long-term injury following a catastrophic accident, we understand what you and your family are going through. Our catastrophic lawyers are dedicated to working with clients who came to our firm at the worst time in their lives. While we cannot change what happened to you, we can work to make sure you secure justice and compensation. Our mission at Regan Zambri Long is to make sure our clients don’t pay for someone else’s negligence. We’ve succeeded countless times before, and we are certain we can make your claim a success, as well.

We offer a free initial consultation to discuss all the aspects of your case, including which party or parties are liable for your injuries, how to value your catastrophic injury claim, and what damages we will pursue. Damages may include:Paul Cornoni

  • Emergency medical expenses.
  • Ongoing medical care like rehabilitation and therapy.
  • Medical equipment and devices, including wheelchairs, lifts, and prosthetics.
  • Lost wages.
  • Loss of or diminished earning capacity.
  • Home renovation costs to accommodate wheelchairs and other medical equipment.
  • Pain and suffering.
  • Emotional distress.
  • Counseling services.
  • Disfigurement.

The claims process can be lengthy, but our catastrophic injury lawyers have the financial backing to see your case through until the very end. We will handle the correspondence with insurance companies, investigate the accident, build a solid case to prove the other party’s negligence, and make sure all the paperwork for your claim is processed correctly and in a timely manner. Your only job will be to focus on rebuilding your life.

While you and your loved ones navigate a new normal, the lawyers at Regan Zambri Long will work tirelessly to secure a settlement or verdict in your favor. Call today for a free consultation with a nationally recognized personal injury attorney who will help you recover the compensation you deserve.

Schedule a Free Consultation

Have you or your loved one sustained injuries in Washington DC, Maryland or Virginia? Regan Zambri Long PLLC has the best lawyers in the country to analyze your case and answer the questions you may have.

Call 202-960-4596

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