Catastrophic injuries change the lives of victims forever. Managing the effects of a catastrophic injury may involve a lifetime of medical treatment, limitations to the victim’s ability to work, and substantial financial damages. Catastrophic injury victims may also sustain pain and suffering, emotional distress, and other non-economic effects. The damages involved in a catastrophic injury case are often significantly more extensive than other injury cases.
Medical Expenses
Medical expenses will usually make up the majority of the financial damages that result from a catastrophic injury. A catastrophic injury victim may require a lifetime of surgeries, physical therapy, and medications, along with regular medical appointments. The medical care needed to treat and manage a catastrophic injury is costly — victims and their families can receive compensation for these expenses through a legal claim.
Lost Wages
A catastrophic injury can leave a person completely unable to work, or only able to work in a limited capacity. Victims often incur additional expenses due to a decrease in their earnings or a complete absence of any pay. People with catastrophic injuries often qualify for some form of disability benefits which can serve as a source of income. However, disability benefits rarely equate to the beneficiary’s pre-injury earnings.
Costs of Living
In addition to the costs of medical appointments and treatment, the victims of catastrophic injuries and their families will be responsible for maintaining in-home care. This may include a visiting or live-in nurse, the use of medical devices, and/or the installation of assistive appliances in the home.
Non-Economic Damages
The mental and emotional distress that results from a catastrophic injury is immense. Catastrophic injuries impact every aspect of a victim’s life and can cause severe agony.
Non-economic damages that result from a catastrophic injury may include:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Depression
- Relationship strain
- Loss of purpose
Non-economic damages may be compensable through a catastrophic injury claim. To quantify non-economic damages, a fraction of the financial damages are usually calculated. Although money can never make up for the anguish of living with a catastrophic injury, the payment of non-economic damages provides additional resources to victims and their families.
The attorneys of Pratt Clay, LLC are available to discuss your case if you sustained a catastrophic injury caused by another person’s negligence. Our attorneys can help you recover the full amount of compensation you are entitled to.
For a free consultation with our legal team, call 404-566-9460 or use our contact form to get in touch.