Houston Catastrophic Injury Attorney

What Are Common Causes of Catastrophic Injuries?

There are many causes of catastrophic injuries, including the following:

• Auto accidents, including truck, motorcycle, bicycle, and pedestrian accidents;
• Sports accidents, including cheerleading accidents;
• Work accidents, particularly in the construction industry;
• Accidents caused by defective products;
• Accidents caused by a fire or an explosion;
• Boating, skiing, and jet-ski accidents;
• Horseback riding accidents;
• Industrial accidents;
• Injuries sustained from violent crimes;
• Falls, particularly from a height;
• Injuries resulting from medical malpractice, and
• Trampoline accidents.

A catastrophic injury can occur virtually anywhere—home, work, on the road, on a playing field, or in any number of other situations. When a sudden, unexpected, and extremely powerful trauma occurs to the head or body, catastrophic injuries are likely. Auto accidents are the primary cause of personal injury claims and, not surprisingly, the leading cause of catastrophic injuries. Other activities, however, can also cause extremely severe injuries. As an example, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, cheerleading was the cause of 65 percent of direct, catastrophic injuries suffered by female high school athletes over a 27-year period.

Catastrophic Injuries Resulting from an Accident

While being involved in any of the above accidents is always difficult, a catastrophic injury can present specific, long-term challenges. Some of the more common catastrophic injuries include:

• Burn injuries are among the most severe types of injuries a person can have. Burns can result from a fire, a dangerous product, chemicals, electricity, radiation, an industrial accident, or can occur as the result of an automobile accident. Burn injuries can be relatively minor (1^st degree) or very severe (3^rd degree). When the top layers of burned skin must be debrided following a burn injury, the pain is intense and chronic. More serious burns can damage muscle, bone, and blood vessels, causing infection, scars, disfigurement, amputation, and respiratory distress.
• Spinal cord injuries are another type of catastrophic injury, as they can leave a person with some level of paralysis. A complete spinal cord injury results in total loss of movement and sensation below the injury level, while an incomplete spinal cord injury leaves some degree of mobility and sensation below the level of injury. Spinal cord injuries affect other body parts and systems and can completely alter a person’s future.
• Traumatic brain injuries can leave a person with severe impairment in one or more areas. Brain injuries are the result of a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or the result of an object which penetrates the skull. Catastrophic brain injuries can lead to personality and behavioral changes, amnesia, and a period of unconsciousness.
• Amputations are any loss of limbs, whether for a health-related reason or from an accident. An amputation is the severing a body part, such as an arm, leg, hand, foot, etc. Amputations are not only life-threatening, they are life-altering, as well. Serious physical pain and emotional trauma can result from an amputation.
• Any type of internal organ damage can qualify as a catastrophic injury, requiring an organ transplant, and continuous medical treatment.
• Permanent and disabling nerve damage.
• Loss of vision or hearing can change a person’s life in extreme ways. The loss of vision or hearing could be a direct result of an accident or the result of another injury from the accident. Infections, surgical errors, and corrosive or chemical exposure could also lead to the loss of vision or hearing.

Unfortunately, many times, when a catastrophic injury occurs, it is the result of the negligence of another person—an accident that could have been avoided if proper safety precautions had been taken. Such things as an auto accident, a work injury, a fire, explosion, or accident caused by a defective product, could all have been avoided if a person or an entity had not behaved negligently or recklessly.

Catastrophic injuries usually require extensive medical treatment for a significant length of time—or the rest of the person’s life. Medical expenses can become completely unmanageable, even for those who have insurance. If you are the victim of a catastrophic injury, it could be very beneficial for you to speak to a Texas catastrophic injury attorney who can ensure you receive compensation for your injuries, your lost wages, and your pain and suffering.

The Cost of Catastrophic Injuries

Regardless of how a catastrophic injury occurs, victims of these injuries share common obstacles in that they can incur hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical and rehabilitation expenses every year. Most victims of catastrophic accidents are unable to return to work, meaning they are unable to support themselves and their families. The economic burdens of a catastrophic injury are almost inconceivable, even for those with health insurance. Not only are there the obvious financial issues associated with a catastrophic injury, a dollar value simply cannot be placed on your ability to play with your child, go for a walk, or even complete normal, day-to-day tasks.

Getting the Help You Need Following a Catastrophic Injury

At The Brothers Law Firm, we are relentless in our pursuit of compensation for victims of catastrophic injuries. Our clients trust us to always do what is right for them; our resources, determination, experience, and knowledge ensure the right outcome for your family. Our firm is extremely responsive to our clients and will never hesitate to take a difficult case that others might not be interested in or deem worthy of time and energy. Our goal is to prosecute claims to maximize client recovery, which, in turn, lowers the financial burden on their lives.