The Costs of Catastrophic Injuries Extend Beyond Medical Care

When people think of catastrophic injuries, they often think of direct costs related to medical care, including emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and surgeries. However, the truth is that the costs of catastrophic injuries extend far beyond these basic medical bills. Catastrophic injuries are so severe that they can affect a person for the rest of their life, often in ways that extend beyond their physical health and well-being.

What are catastrophic injuries?

Catastrophic injuries are serious injuries that affect every aspect of a person’s life, including their health, well-being, daily routine, social interactions and family life. These injuries are almost always long-term and permanent, leading to lifelong disabilities or disfigurements. As a result, individuals usually experience life-altering consequences and must learn to cope with their new realities. Here are a few different types of injuries that are often classified as catastrophic:

• Spinal cord injury: A spinal cord injury can cause permanent paralysis. Depending on where on the spine the injury occurred, the person may lose control over their lower body or their body below the neck.
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI): Even relatively minor TBIs can cause changes to cognitive functioning that make it more difficult for a person to carry out tasks they did prior to the injury.
• Amputations: Amputations range from the loss of a finger to the loss of one or more limbs.
• Internal organ damage: Such damage is life-threatening and can cause the need for long-term care and potentially surgeries.
• Multiple bone fractures or crushed bones: Even after healing, severe bone fractures can impact a person’s mobility.
• Burn injuries: Burn injuries can be devastating, debilitating, and disfiguring. The consequences can impact a person throughout their life.

What these injuries have in common is that, due to their extent and severity, many individuals never make a full recovery. While a person may improve their condition or adapt to their new life changes after a catastrophic injury, they are less likely to return to their pre-accident level function.

How do catastrophic injuries affect a person?

Catastrophic injuries can affect a person physically, financially, mentally, and emotionally, significantly impacting their quality of life. Accident victims suffering from catastrophic injuries may experience:

• Depression: The sudden and drastic change in lifestyle following a catastrophic injury can cause depression. Losing the ability to perform daily activities and experiencing isolation can lead to feelings of hopelessness and sadness.
• Anxiety: The uncertainty about the future and the challenges in adapting to a new way of living can cause persistent anxiety. Health-related worries, financial struggles, and concern for family members can all weigh heavily on a person’s mind.
• Mental Trauma or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): The traumatic event leading to the injury, such as a car accident or a violent attack, can result in PTSD. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety.
• Emotional Distress: The emotional burden of dealing with a catastrophic injury can be overwhelming. The resulting mood swings, irritability, and emotional instability can strain relationships and hinder recovery.
• Diminished Quality of Life: The inability to participate in activities and hobbies that once brought the person joy may lead to a diminished sense of fulfillment.
• Loss of Enjoyment of Activities: Physical limitations may prevent victims from participating in sports, travel, or even simple outdoor activities.
• Loss of a Social Life: The physical and emotional toll of catastrophic injuries and embarrassment over related disfigurement can cause a person to isolate themselves from others, further contributing to feelings of loneliness.
• Humiliation or Embarrassment: Dependence on others for basic tasks and changes in appearance due to injury can cause feelings of humiliation and embarrassment.
• Loss of Reputation: In some cases, the injury might limit an individual’s professional life, leading to a loss of reputation in their field.
• Permanent Scarring and Disfigurement: Visible scars and disfigurement can be a constant reminder of the traumatic event and can significantly affect the victim’s self-image and social experiences.
• Disabilities: Catastrophic injuries often result in permanent disabilities. A person may need to adapt to using mobility aids or other assistive devices.
• Physical and Chronic Pain: Ongoing physical pain and discomfort can be a daily struggle, potentially leading to secondary issues such as sleep disturbances and increased stress.
• Loss of Mobility: Reduced mobility can limit independence and the ability to perform everyday tasks without assistance.
• Altered Cognitive State: Injuries affecting the brain can lead to cognitive impairments, such as memory loss, difficulty concentrating, and other mental challenges. These changes prevent a person from working and socializing at the level they did prior to the injury.
• Loss of Independence: The need for ongoing care and assistance can make victims reliant on family members or professional caregivers.

Each of these factors contributes to the overall burden that catastrophic injuries place on individuals and their families. These factors also highlight the need for comprehensive damages that extend beyond medical care.

Examples of various costs of catastrophic injuries

While medical appointments, procedures, surgeries, and physical and occupational therapy constitute significant costs in the recovery process for catastrophic injuries, they are not the only expense. Additional costs that often accumulate include:

• Lost income and benefits
• Around-the-clock and ongoing caregiving services
• Transportation to and from appointments or other places
• Assistive products and devices (wheelchairs, prosthetic limbs, canes, walkers, scooters, hospital beds, oxygen tanks, etc.)
• Home modifications and renovations (lower cabinets and counters, ramp entrances, handrails, widening doors, new showers)
• Childcare expenses
• Loss of earning capacity
• Home maintenance services (cleaning, cooking, and repairs)
• Psychotherapy and counseling fees
• Rehabilitation facility or new living arrangement fees (if the individual cannot remain at home)

How to secure compensation to pay for the overwhelming costs of a catastrophic injury

Catastrophic injuries can be extremely costly. Therefore, when accident victims learn about the overwhelming costs associated with these types of injuries, they often begin to feel lost and hopeless. However, if your catastrophic injury occurred because of someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing, you may be eligible to file a personal injury claim and seek compensation to help you cover your current and future needs. Cases involving catastrophic injuries are usually complex, which means that you will likely benefit from having a personal injury lawyer by your side to help you calculate your damages and determine how much your claim is worth, communicate and negotiate with insurance companies, and take your case to court if a fair settlement cannot be reached.

Have you or a family member suffered a catastrophic injury due to another individual’s negligent actions? If so, please reach out to a Columbus personal injury attorney from Soroka & Associates, LLC immediately. Our team knows and understands the daily challenges and difficulties that catastrophic injuries can cause, which is why we are committed to helping you fight for the justice and compensation you need and deserve. Call our office or submit our contact form to schedule a free case evaluation in Columbus today. We proudly serve clients throughout Central Ohio for your convenience.