Long-term Effects of Catastrophic Injuries

Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Long-term Effects of Catastrophic Injuries

Written by Malman Law, reviewed by Steve J. Malman.

One of the most frequently asked questions is: What is considered a catastrophic injury? They may cause severe and long-lasting effects on your health and lifestyle, and you may feel confused and worried about your future. In order to properly plan your next steps forward, you will need to understand the dynamics of a catastrophic injury. If this ever happens to you, you are advised to consult a reliable personal injury attorney. They can also assess your damages and find ways how you may recover some from the other party at fault or from an insurance company.

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What is Considered a Catastrophic Injury

A catastrophic injury is the severe incapacitation of one’s physical, emotional, or cognitive function because of the serious nature of the injury. The quality of life in such a victim is considerably compromised, and so is the quantity of medical or supporting care during the person’s lifetime. Examples of catastrophic injuries include:

• Traumatic brain injury
• Spinal cord injuries resulting in paralysis
• Amputation of a limb
• Severe burns over much of the body
• Multiple complex fractures
• Loss of vision or hearing
• Severe nerve or ligament damage
• Disfigurement caused by physical injury

These injuries may involve the following different kinds of accidents:

• Motor Vehicle Accidents: High-speed collisions or with a large commercial vehicle; the impact of this type of collision is serious, resulting in high damage, which includes TBI or even spinal injury.
• Falls: Work falls or slides from great heights include the most devastating types of trauma. OSHA recommends different fall prevention policies in dangerous conditions.
• Sports-related incidents: These may include high-impact sports such as football, rugby, or boxing, which could be associated with sustained injuries, including concussions or ligament tears.
• Violent Assault: Most of the injuries sustained from assault and gunfire are life-changing for victims.
• Industrial Accident: Hazardous machinery or a hazardous working environment may include amputation, severe burnings, and crush injuries.

In many cases, catastrophic injuries are the result of negligence or reckless behavior by another party. Victims have the right to seek compensation for their medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

What Makes an Injury “Catastrophic”?

The word “catastrophic” is used to describe permanence and life impact on the victim. Catastrophic injuries interfere with life, often keeping an individual from being able to return to work, hobbies, or even living independently ever again.

Common needs for catastrophic injury treatment include:

• Prolonged and future medical intervention
• Rehabilitation can include physical, occupational, or speech therapy.
• Home modifications, including wheelchair ramps or specialized medical equipment
• Psychological needs due to emotional trauma.
• Long-term caregiving, including possible professional in-home care or reliance on family members to assist in activities of daily living.

When determining whether an injury is catastrophic, courts and experts often examine the long-term impact of the injury on the victim’s lifestyle.

Malman Law’s founder Attorney Steven Malman has over 30 years of experience handling personal injury, nursing home, medical malpractice, premises liability, construction and workers’ compensation cases.

STEVE J. MALMAN

Founding Attorney

Common Lasting Effects for Those with a Catastrophic Injury

Coming to terms with the reality that you are potentially facing a long recovery period with the possibility of suffering the lasting effects of a catastrophic injury can be difficult for many people. Recognizing some of the common ways that people who have suffered this type of injury are impacted can be helpful. In order to take action and plan for your future, you will first want to have an understanding of what you might be facing.

Financial impact: One of the first things to consider that an injury, regardless of the magnitude, is typically expensive. When you factor in long-term care, ongoing physical therapy, advanced medical treatments, and even an extended stay in the hospital, the bills start to add up quickly. On top of this, many people find that they are unable to work due to their injury, resulting in lost wages and lost future earning as well. This can create a stressful financial situation as people who were unprepared for an accident find themselves facing unexpected long-term expenses.

Change of lifestyle: A catastrophic injury can impact your movement, result in chronic pain, and often prevents people from enjoying the activities that they once regularly were able to partake in. This can be very difficult and often leads to hopelessness and depression.

Impact on your career: Depending on your line of work before the accident, some people find that it is impossible to continue on their expected career path after a catastrophic injury. Especially for those who are required to partake in physical actions while on the job, performing as they did before the injury is often no longer feasible.

Emotional and Psychological Effects of a Catastrophic Injury

Catastrophic injuries are often associated with severe emotional and psychological effects on the injured party. The mental health results may be very different from one person to another but are frequently as crippling as physical disabilities. Common effects include:

• Depression: Feelings of hopelessness are perpetuated with the loss of independence or an inability to do things that had been taken for granted.
• Anxiety: The constant concern about financial problems, continuing medical needs, or uncertainty about physical recovery. It may also extend to fear of undertaking activities for fear of re-injury.
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Flashbacks, nightmares, or hypervigilance induced by memories of the injury.
• Panic Disorder: These are sudden, intense panic attacks that disrupt daily functioning and may be cued by reminders of the injury event.
• Sleep Disturbances: Intrusive thoughts, nightmares, or chronic pain make it impossible for a person to fall asleep or stay asleep.
• Mood Swings: These are characterized by emotional instability with rapid shifts in mood. Usually, they are associated with neurological damage or hormonal imbalances due to serious injuries.
• Anger and Frustration: Many victims are angry due to loss of independence or frustrated with changed circumstances. Sometimes, this can stress family relationships or relationships with caregivers.
• Phobias: New phobias, such as fear of driving following an automobile accident or heights following a fall, may well prevent the individual from resuming normal activities.
• Personality Changes: Perhaps a person was outgoing and now is more of an introverted type. Maybe the individual with an even disposition tends now to become irritant much easier.

Coping with Psychological Impacts

Some of the effective modes of treatment for catastrophic injuries include:

• Counseling or Therapy: The victim may be put into individual therapy to process his trauma and learn to cope.
• Support Groups: Injuries that others have sustained also provide one with an individual to share similar feelings of loss or, at the least, a lessened feeling of being alone.
• Medication: Antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications for those suffering from mood disorders or disturbed sleep.
• Mindfulness and stress management: This could be meditation, yoga, or even breathing exercises to help the victim gain control of her stress and regain some sense of self-control.

Legal Support for Catastrophic Injuries

Compensation for catastrophic injuries in Chicago involves some complexities of Illinois personal injury law. Attorneys with experience can:

• Research circumstances of the injury to establish who is liable
• Gather medical and financial evidence for a strong case
• Negotiate with insurance companies for favorable settlements
• Represent victims in court if a fair settlement cannot be reached.

Compensation aids in helping to offset the costs of medical treatment, lost wages, and costs associated with long-term care. In addition, it can help the victim feel a sense of justice and accountability, and thereby begin to put his or her life together again.

Speak with a Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer as Soon as Possible

For those who have been involved in an accident and believe that another party is liable for the injuries that they sustained, it can be difficult to determine the available legal options. A serious injury can sometimes result in the inability to work while you are recovering. This, coupled with mounting medical bills, can make an already challenging situation seem even more stressful. At Malman Law, we understand the frustration that our clients experience and work diligently to ease their concerns. We offer a free initial consultation to all clients, so contact us online or call us today at (312) 629-0099 to schedule a time to discuss the details of your situation.