Most people sustain injuries at one point in their life. These injuries can result from another person’s intentional misdeed or an accident caused by defective products and equipment. It can occur at home, on the street, on building premises, and even in workplaces.
There are times, however, when these injuries result from the carelessness of another person or entity. For instance, accidents occur when doctors fail to meet care standards or when business owners neglect their duty to keep premises safe and secure. Negligence is also applicable when companies don’t put sufficient markings on their products to warn of adverse effects or hazards from improper use. Workplaces are also liable for injuries when workers encounter mishaps while doing their tasks. The same holds when a driver’s recklessness results in other people’s injuries.
Injuries caused by the negligence of others can have far-reaching effects on individuals and their families. They can suffer from loss of income or employment, require particular adaptations to pursue everyday activities, or even lead a lifetime of disability.
Individuals who believe that they’re victims of another’s negligence can seek advice from legal experts. Personal injury lawyers can pursue a case on their behalf and provide them with knowledge and support to receive compensation for their injuries.
Personal Catastrophic Injuries
Personal catastrophic injuries refer to severe injuries that limit a person’s ability to carry out daily functions. These can be so severe that they can result in a permanent disability or a disfigurement. Injuries also require consistent medical treatment or reconstructive surgery. Catastrophic injuries can also cause emotional trauma to the person and may cause financial distress to a family.
The following are types of catastrophic personal injuries and require legal advice:
Brain Injury
Car accidents, slip and falls, and workplace incidents can cause traumatic brain injury (TBI), which definitely requires a lawyer to assist you in getting compensation. An injury to the head from an external force can result in internal bleeding, causing brain tissues to burst. This injury may also cause loss of memory, speech, or motor control.
Brain injury may not easily manifest after an accident. Still, it may develop over time so it’s essential to pay attention to recurring headaches and changes in behavior.
Birth Injuries
Birth injuries occur during labor and delivery. Doctors and nurses can cause injuries when they improperly rotate, pull, or stretch the baby during delivery. Such negligence can cause bleeding in between the regions of the baby’s brain, cause bone fractures, and damage internal organs.
A lack of oxygen and blood to the baby’s brain can lead to mental impairments, while spinal cord injury can result in facial or arm paralysis.
Spinal Cord Injuries
The spinal cord plays a vital role in sending instructions from the brain to various parts of the body.
Damage to the spinal cord, from a car accident, a slip or fall in a commercial establishment, or a ladder used in the workplace, can lead to partial or total paralysis of arms, hands, trunk, and legs. It can also result in bowel and bladder incontinence, sexual dysfunction, and complications in respiratory functions.
Whiplash
Rear-end collisions can cause Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD). It occurs when the head is jolted forward to the back or side to side. It may take hours or days after the crash for whiplash to manifest. Symptoms of the disorder include pain and stiffness in the jaw, neck, and shoulders, along with headaches, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting.
Doctors may order several tests to determine the extent of your neck, bone, and soft tissue damage. Depending on its severity, doctors may prescribe medications to alleviate pain, recommend foam collars or physical therapy.
Shoulder Injuries
Slip and falls, car accidents, and workplace hazards can cause several types of shoulder injuries. Extending, twisting the arm, or experiencing a sudden impact can cause the shoulder to get dislocated, tear ligaments, or fractured bones. You can also injure the cartilage or tear the muscles and tendons.
These injuries can cause pain and discomfort and may impede your ability to perform tasks such as driving, cooking, typing, etc., which is why you need legal assistance when you’re suffering from this type of injury.
Treatment for shoulder injuries requires medication, physical therapy, and surgery.
Internal Injuries
Internal injuries refer to damage sustained by the lungs, heart, kidney, liver, spleen, and stomach. They can come as a result of car accidents, slip and falls, and defective products. Some of these injuries aren’t easily recognized and are only known when it’s already in an advanced stage.
While most states prescribe a two-year limit on filing for such damages, late-onset illness claims can adjust the time to when the person knew of the illness. This helps advance a personal injury claim caused by an employer or a company’s negligence for an incident that occurred in previous years.
Conclusion
Personal injuries caused by the negligence of another person or entity require the intervention of injury lawyers. They’re most qualified to determine negligence as the basis of your lawsuit. Their advice and representation are vital in ensuring that you get fair compensation for your catastrophic injuries.
