While both catastrophic injury and personal injury cases affect an individual on a physical, emotional, mental, and psychological level, there are major differences between them. The type of compensation awarded as well as the severity of the injuries presented are two ways these cases differ. Today, we go over the main differences between a personal injury case and a catastrophic injury case.
Defining Personal Injury Cases
A personal injury is typically an injury that will eventually heal. The victim takes some time for rehabilitation and then moves on with their life and goes back to work. Some common examples of personal injuries include but are not limited to the following:
- Lacerations
- Broken bones
- Sprains
- Bruises
- PTSD
- Depression
While the victim will need medical care and support from loved ones initially, eventually he/she will be able to reclaim full independence once fully healed.
Defining Catastrophic Injury Cases
A catastrophic injury case means the victim suffered a severe, life-altering injury that will have a permanent effect on their life and overall wellbeing. Often this means the victim does not fully recover from their injury. Other times, the victim recovers but also required consistent support to go about everyday activities and tasks.
Some examples of catastrophic injuries include but are not limited to the following:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Amputation
- Loss of limb
- Spinal cord injury
- Multiple broken bones
- Severe burn injuries
- Disfigurement
- Loss of hearing and/or vision
- Paraplegia or quadriplegia
- Severe nerve or ligament damage
How Do Catastrophic Injury and Personal Injury Cases Differ?
While both cases involve an injury, the severity of the injury as well as the recovery time do play a big role in determining if the injury is catastrophic or not. Here are some additional ways a catastrophic injury is different than a personal injury:
- Type of injury (a catastrophic injury is much more severe)
- Damages (medical bills are much more expensive)
- Impact on loved ones (families of victims who have suffered a catastrophic injury will need to support them, sometimes for the rest of their lives)
- Long-term repercussion (a catastrophic injury could impact a victim for the rest of their life)
- Expert testimony and detailed medical documentation (these are needed to gain a better understanding of how an injury could affect a victim for the rest of their lives)
If you suffered an injury and wish to pursue a personal injury claim or lawsuit, contact our office online today.