What Are the Most Common Catastrophic Injuries in a Car Crash?

Some car accidents result in injuries that heal with time, appropriate medical treatment, and some rest. Others change your life forever – including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and severe burns. When injuries cause permanent impairment, long-term disability, or the permanent loss of bodily function, they may be considered catastrophic.

If you or someone you love has suffered a catastrophic injury in a North Dakota car accident, it’s time to talk to a lawyer. Call Larson Law Injury & Accident Lawyers today to set up a consultation.

What makes an injury catastrophic?

There is no single medical diagnosis that makes an injury “catastrophic.” Instead, catastrophic injuries are defined by how they affect victims and the lifelong impact they have on their lives. Injuries may be viewed as catastrophic if they have life-altering consequences.

Injuries are often considered catastrophic when they involve:

• Permanent disability or impairment
• Loss of mobility
• Loss of bodily function
• Necessary lifelong medical care and assistance
• Significant or complete loss of earning capacity

 Not every severe injury meets this threshold, but many that have permanent consequences do. We’ll go over some of the most common catastrophic injuries caused by North Dakota car accidents and why you may want to talk to a catastrophic injury attorney.

Traumatic brain injuries

Traumatic brain injuries are among the most devastating catastrophic injuries, simply because of their unpredictability and the way they can affect your independence and quality of life. TBIs can occur when blunt force trauma causes the brain to strike the inside of the skull, which can result in lasting or permanent damage. They can also occur when something pierces the brain directly, such as glass shards from an accident, or when you experience acceleration-deceleration forces.

While minor and some moderate traumatic brain injuries recover with minimal medical intervention, many moderate and severe traumatic brain injuries have lasting impacts on victims. Victims may experience:

• Memory loss
• Cognitive impairment
• Difficulty with speech
• Difficulty with motor function
• Personality changes
• Behavioral changes
• Loss of independence

TBIs may be underestimated by loved ones early on because they assume that the condition will improve with time. However, the brain’s ability to recover varies widely from person to person. One person may recover in weeks from an injury that causes permanent impairment to someone else.

Spinal cord injuries and paralysis

Spinal cord injuries are often complex and can result in catastrophic losses. They involve damage to the nerves that control all communication between the brain and the rest of the body. The extent of the damage depends on which part of the spinal cord is harmed and if it is partially or completely severed. The higher on the spinal cord an injury occurs, the less function a person retains. Paraplegia is the loss of the function of the lower body, while quadriplegia refers to the loss of function in all four limbs.

Even if someone eventually regains function and their spinal cord heals, they can be left with chronic pain and secondary medical complications caused by the initial injury.

Severe burns and fire-related injuries

North Dakota car accidents may result in fires, fuel explosions, and electrical burns. If these fires aren’t caught and put out immediately (and sometimes, even when they are) victims can be left with massive burns to much of their body that limit function, sensation, and appearance. Severe burns often result in:

• Permanent scarring
• Disfigurement
• Nerve damage and loss of sensation
• Repeated surgeries and skin grafts
• Significant emotional trauma caused by chronic pain and disfigurement 

Even though severe burns may not always be fatal, recovery from massive burns can be long, complex, and traumatic. Patients often need specialized treatment and rehabilitative care.

Amputations and crush injuries

The enormous force generated in a car crash can cause people to suffer crush injuries or amputations. Amputations may occur in the car crash itself or may become necessary if a victim’s injuries are so severe that the limb cannot be saved.

In all of these cases, victims often spend the rest of their lives attempting to recover and regain mobility. Amputations have a dramatic impact on:

• Mobility and independence
• Employment and earning capacity
• Daily activities
• Quality of life

Victims may need ongoing physical therapy and occupational therapy to regain function and skills lost due to their injuries. Furthermore, the psychological fallout of amputation can be just as traumatic as the physical injury itself. Those affected should seek mental health care to adjust – and that, too, comes at a cost.

Complex or multiple fractures

While a simple broken arm or broken collarbone may not be a severe injury, some broken bones are so complex that a full recovery is impossible. In other cases, victims have so many broken bones that they are left with permanent mobility limitations. Long-term complications from pelvic fractures and compound fractures can result in the need for physical therapy, adaptive equipment at home and in vehicles, and a loss of earning capacity.

Internal organ damage

Internal damage to organs and blood vessels can be fatal when not immediately treated. Even when immediately recognized and treated, internal bleeding can still be fatal. Those who go through severe internal organ damage may experience long-term health complications, reduced organ function, and ongoing medical monitoring.

Why do you need a catastrophic injury attorney in these cases?

The cost of a catastrophic injury is hard to fathom; when you consider current medical costs, ongoing medical costs, lost earning capacity, and the emotional effects of these injuries, the total amount can be staggering. Getting what you actually deserve after a catastrophic injury can be an uphill battle, which is why working with an experienced catastrophic injury lawyer in North Dakota is crucial.

Start your claim with Larson Law Injury & Accident Lawyers

Our team of experienced catastrophic injury lawyers is here to help you navigate your next steps after a life-changing injury. Schedule your consultation now by getting in touch online or calling us now.