What Makes a Car Accident Injury Catastrophic?

A car accident injury is considered catastrophic when it causes permanent disability or long-term effects. A catastrophic injury typically impedes a person’s ability to live a normal life, resulting in chronic pain and distress. Recovering adequate compensation for your losses can be difficult when the insurance company wants to pin the blame on you, allowing them to pay out as little as possible.

If you were recently in a car accident, our Conway motor vehicle accident lawyer can assist you in gathering convincing evidence to prove the other driver’s liability.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

A traumatic brain injury, or TBI, is defined as any blow or strike to the head that interrupts normal brain function. Traumatic brain injuries are common in car accidents since the impact of a collision can cause you to hit your head on the steering wheel, dashboard, or any hard surface within your vehicle.

In a recent year, there were 214,110 TBI-related hospitalizations, equating to about 586 TBI-related hospitalizations daily. Signs of a TBI will vary based upon injury severity but often include dizziness, confusion, loss of consciousness, trouble communicating, and, in severe cases, death. Recent research shows that 57% of people who suffer a moderate or severe TBI five years post-injury are permanently disabled.

Spinal Cord Injuries

In a recent study, roughly 30% of spinal cord injury admissions were attributed to a motor vehicle crash. With your spinal cord being in charge of sending messages from your brain to the rest of your body, damage to the spinal nerves can result in a person being forever wheelchair-bound.

Symptoms of a spinal cord injury may present as paralysis or loss of function below the site of injury, extreme lower back pain, and bladder or bowel dysfunction. By seeking medical treatment immediately, you decrease your chances of long-term complications.

Severe Burns

Although rare, an electrical problem or leaking fuel tank after a car accident could result in your vehicle bursting into flames, causing burns. The most severe burns, third-degree burns, are characterized by a white or charred appearance. You will likely experience a loss of sensation in the area of the burn due to your nerve endings being damaged. If you wait to receive medical attention for a burn, it can result in an infection with long-term complications. Even with medical intervention, you may still be permanently disfigured

The Insurance Company Will Downplay Your Injuries

Even if you have substantial and convincing documentation of your injuries, the insurance company will often offer you a lower settlement than you deserve. This could be due to a claims adjuster scraping together whatever evidence necessary to argue that you are less injured than you claim. It is important that you receive a medical assessment immediately so that the opposing counsel does not try to claim that your injuries were due to another event unrelated to the accident.

Claims adjusters may employ various tactics to collect evidence to use against you. An adjuster may pose a question in a certain way to downplay your injuries. If your call is recorded, your testimony can be used against you in court. Do not answer any calls from the insurance company without first consulting with a Conway motor vehicle accident lawyer.

Speak with a Conway Motor Vehicle Accident Lawyer Today

A catastrophic injury can forever change the course of your life. If you have experienced catastrophic injuries, our Conway motor vehicle accident lawyer wants to speak with you. To learn how The Law Office of Brad C. Richardson can assist you with your claim, contact us online or by phone to schedule your free consultation.