In legal discussions, you may hear many terms with which you are not 100% familiar. For example, many lawyers looking out for a victim’s best interests will use terminology such as “catastrophic motor vehicle accident” or “catastrophic injury” to indicate the seriousness of the situation.
WHAT MAKES AN ACCIDENT CATASTROPHIC?
Often, it is not so much the accident itself that is catastrophic, but the damage and injuries caused by the collision. Many accident victims believe their crash injuries are severe enough to qualify as catastrophic.
Unfortunately, insurance companies may disagree with defining your injury that way. If you are pursuing an injury lawsuit against a negligent driver, the judge in your case may also disagree.
WHEN IS AN INJURY CONSIDERED CATASTROPHIC?
Injuries that cause extreme physical hardships may qualify as catastrophic. Common examples of potentially catastrophic injuries include the following.
- Traumatic brain injury
- Paralysis of the lower body (paraplegia)
- Paralysis of legs and arms (quadriplegia or tetraplegia)
- Spinal cord injury
- Loss of one or more limbs
The injuries above will likely have a long-term or lifetime effect on the victim’s health, mobility and overall quality of life. If you engage experienced legal counsel, you can be better prepared to show the court and insurers that your injuries are catastrophic even if they don’t include one or more of those listed above.
We have seen many victims change the way they perceive their condition after learning more about catastrophic crashes and injuries. In many cases, victims prepared to settle for less found out that they deserve much more.
With skilled legal guidance, you, too, can maximize your accident benefits after suffering catastrophic injuries. Continue reviewing our website content to discover additional benefits a legal advocate can bring to your injury claim.
