Birmingham Catastrophic Injury Attorney

Fighting For Catastrophic injury Victims in Alabama Since 2002

Catastrophic injuries can be life-altering for individuals and their families. Injuries such as brain damage, paralysis, severe burns, loss of vision, or loss of limbs can seriously affect a financial future. If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury in an accident, you may be able to pursue compensation for your damages and losses. Hiring a Birmingham accident lawyer who is experienced in catastrophic injury cases is essential.

What is Considered a Catastrophic Injury?

A catastrophic injury is a personal injury that is long-term or permanent. The American Medical Association has defined a catastrophic injury as one which causes severe damage to the brain, spine, or spinal cord. This may also include fractures to the skull or spine. The injuries can keep victims from performing work to support themselves or their families.

Common Types of Catastrophic Injuries

• Spinal cord injuries are injuries resulting in paralysis (paraplegia or quadriplegia). These injuries may require medical procedures, long-term care, and accommodation such as ramps and lifts in a person's car or house as well as in-home care needs.
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are injuries to the head that can cause brain damage resulting in loss of speech, hearing and vision issues, problems with motor skills, and memory problems. People who suffer TBI often need long-term rehabilitation to relearn basic functions. Unfortunately, some TBI are serious enough that victims never fully recover.
• Severe Burn Injuries can create long-term damages. While most burn injuries are not fatal, they can cause serious pain and health complications such as facial scarring and loss of limbs. These disfiguring injuries often make painful surgeries and skin grafts necessary. The scarring can cause negative psychological consequences for burn victims.

Common Causes of Catastrophic Injuries

Various types of accidents can cause catastrophic injuries. The most common ones include:

• Automobile Accidents: Automobile accidents are the number one cause of spinal injuries. In 2014 they resulted in 2,402 injuries in women and 7,205 injuries in men nationwide.
• Motorcycle Accidents: Although there are far fewer motorcyclists on the road than car drivers, they are at a greater risk of catastrophic injury because they do not have the external protection that vehicle drivers have.
• Bicycle Accidents: Bicycle accidents can cause severe trauma, particularly when the cyclist is involved in a collision with a motor vehicle. This is why it is important to always wear a helmet.
• Pedestrian Injuries: We are all aware that distracted drivers and drivers under the influence of drugs and alcohol put pedestrians at risk, but you may be surprised to know that pedestrians often put themselves at risk when distracted by their phone or other device.
• Slip and Fall Accidents: You can suffer a fall no matter what your age or agility. A fall may occur in the workplace, as a result of a medical event, such as fainting, or simply due to misnavigation.
• Diving and Swimming Pool Injuries: A cervical spine injury is the most common catastrophic injury caused by diving into a swimming pool.
• Gunshot Wound Trauma: Every year, thousands of Americans suffer gunshot wounds. While not all gunshot wounds are fatal, many can cause a catastrophic injury.
• Injuries from Falling Objects: It’s not uncommon to be injured by a falling object while you are at work, particularly if you work in a dangerous environment such as a construction site.
• Medical and Surgical Complications: Medical errors, surgical complications, such as infection, and incorrect post-surgical care can result in catastrophic injuries.
• Contact Sports and Physical Altercations: In most cases this type of catastrophic injury involves an altercation with another individual, though it may also be a result of playing contact sports.