Frequently Asked Questions about Catastrophic Injuries

Q: What is a "catastrophic" injury?

A: Injuries are often called "catastrophic" when the physical injuries to a person are especially severe, and require extensive medical treatment. Often, the injuries may cause damage to a person's central nervous system, which may affect other bodily systems or functions. Examples of catastrophic injuries include:

• Spinal cord injuries
• Paralysis
• Brain injuries
• Amputations
• Burns over a large portion of the body
• Loss of an eye
• Injuries to the nerves in the chest, shoulder, and arm (brachial plexus)
• Multiple fractures

In addition, many people who suffer catastrophic injuries also suffer depression or other emotional problems because of the limitations put on them by their injuries.

Q: Are catastrophic injuries permanent?

A: Not all catastrophic injuries are permanent. Those injuries that are not permanent will usually take a very long time-months, or even years-to reach a full recovery. In some cases, especially those involving children, the actual extent of the injury may not be known until much time has passed after the accident. Emotional injuries may also be a problem for a long time after the physical injuries have healed. The affects of a catastrophic injury may linger for a long period of time.

Read More

Catastrophic Injury Information Center

The Missouri personal injury attorneys at Tatlow, Gump & Faiella, LLC have helped hundreds of families whose loved ones have suffered catastrophic injuries, including brain injuries and spinal cord injuries. There is more information about our practice on our main personal injury page; this page is meant to provide more general information about catastrophic injury cases.

Catastrophic Injuries - An Overview

A catastrophic injury or illness usually occurs suddenly and without warning. Injuries that are considered catastrophic, due to the enormous impact they have on the lives of the individuals who experience them, include the following: brain injury, spinal cord injury, accidental amputation, severe burns, multiple fractures, or other, neurological disorders. A catastrophic injury or illness very often causes severe disruption to the central nervous system, which in turn affects many other systems of the body. In addition to possible loss of movement, sensation, and communicative and cognitive abilities, the injury or illness may impact respiration, circulation, skin, the urinary system, the gastrointestinal system, and other body systems. Management of such an injury is complex and requires the expertise of a team of health professionals including physicians, consultants, nurses, therapists, and counselors. Clearly, the long-term needs of someone who has experienced this type of injury far surpass those of individuals with less severe injuries. Individuals may recover from some catastrophic injuries if they receive proper, early medical treatment; however, others may experience permanent disability, significant suffering, and reduced life spans.

Read More

Who Is Responsible?

Determining who may be responsible for catastrophic injuries can be difficult. There typically is one party directly involved at the scene. However, there may be several other less obvious parties whose conduct played a role in causing your injuries. Catastrophic injuries usually cause the victim to suffer extensive monetary damages, so it is important to identify everyone who may be responsible so that complete justice may be done. An attorney experienced in handling catastrophic injury cases knows how to investigate the facts of a case and to learn the identities of every responsible party.

Any party who bears possible liability for your injuries should be investigated. Every case is, of course, different, and the exact identities of the responsible parties will depend on the facts of your particular case.

Read More

Specific Types of Catastrophic Injuries

There are many common, yet devastating, injuries that necessitate the expertise of an attorney, knowledgeable in catastrophic injury claims, to obtain adequate financial compensation for the injured individual.

Read More

Informed Consent in Cases of Medical Malpractice

If you were injured as the result of a medical procedure or medication, the concept of informed consent will likely arise in any claim for your injuries that you bring against a medical professional. In many situations where medical care or treatment is provided to an individual, medical professionals are required to obtain the patient's "informed consent." Although the specific definition of informed consent may vary from state to state, it means essentially that a physician (or other medical provider) must tell a patient all of the potential benefits, risks, and alternatives involved in any surgical procedure, medical procedure, or other course of treatment, and must obtain the patient's written consent to proceed.

Read More

Motorcycle Accidents: Helmet Laws

A helmet is by far the most important and most effective piece of protective equipment a motorcycle driver or passenger can wear. Helmets save lives by reducing the extent of head injuries in the event of a traffic accident. A helmetless motorcyclist involved in an accident is three times as likely to suffer a brain injury as a motorcyclist wearing a helmet.

Read More

Motorcycle Accidents: Protective Equipment

The best way to avoid bringing a claim for the devastating injuries that can result from a motorcycle accident is to never be injured in a motorcycle accident in the first place. Easier said than done? Well, the bad news is that motorcycle riders involved in accidents face a much greater risk of injury than automobile drivers, and motorcycle riders can never be kept completely safe from injury in an accident. The good news is that developments in protective equipment can make motorcycle riders much safer than in the past, provided they take advantage of those developments.

Read More