Even though both a catastrophic injury and a personal injury impacts a person on a physical and psychological level, they are very different from one another. Notably, the severity of one’s injuries and the level of compensation they are entitled to are vastly different when looking at catastrophic injuries versus personal injuries. In some cases, insurance companies or legal teams representing a negligent party will try to downgrade the severity of an injury and will try to present it as a personal injury when in fact it is catastrophic. This is why it is important to hire the best catastrophic injury lawyer in Los Angeles County if you were very severely injured with life-changing consequences in the state of California.
This article is intended to help people understand the primary differences between catastrophic injuries and standard personal injuries so that if you or a loved one should ever, powers forbid, get involved in a terrible accident, you will have greater knowledge as to what you are facing, and what type of attorney you should work with.
What is a Personal Injury?
A personal injury usually concludes with healing. Most victims require time to rehabilitate, let bones set, allow lacerations to naturally heal, and then they carry on with their lives and go back to work. Some common examples of a personal injury include:
- Bruising
- Sprains
- Soft tissue injuries
- Lacerations
- Broken bones
- PTSD
- Depression
Personal injury victims will require medical care, and they likely face losing income as they are temporarily laid up until they can heal. However, in time, this person will be able to regain their independence and return to work.
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Understanding a Catastrophic Injury
When a person suffers from a life-altering injury that will have permanent ramifications on their life and overall health, then one has a catastrophic injury and is dealing with trauma that’s significantly greater than a personal injury. In most cases, the victim never fully recovers, and in some cases, he or she will need ongoing support to complete everyday tasks and activities. Some examples of catastrophic include:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Severe burns
- Amputation
- Disfigurement
- Loss of limbs
- Paraplegia
- Quadriplegia
- Numerous broken bones
- Severe ligament damage
- Severe nerve damage
Injuries like these stick with victims for the rest of their lives, and therefore the compensation that a catastrophic injury lawyer can collect for his clients will be significantly more than standard personal injury suits.
How Catastrophic Injury Cases and Personal Injury Cases Differ
When determining if there is a catastrophic injury or a personal injury, the severity and estimated recovery time plays a role in determining the type of case that an attorney will present. Some of the ways that the differences between catastrophic and personal injuries are examined by attorneys include these points:
- Total damages (most costly medical bills)
- Long-term consequences is the rest of the victim’s life altered)
- Impact on family
- Injury type (level of severity)
- Expert testimony
- Medical documentation
Catastrophic injury cases will have greater consequences and more long-term suffering (if not life-long) than a basic personal injury case in which pain, suffering and losses are temporary, though still worth being compensated for.
Call The Ryan Law Group for a Free Attorney Consultation Today
If you were injured due to someone’s negligence but are unsure what your case is worth, call The Ryan Law Group today and let one of our expert catastrophic injury attorneys help you understand every aspect of your case along with what the next steps would look like.
Call or Text 310-321-4800, or Complete a Free Case Evaluation Form
