Catastrophic injuries—those that lead to long-term or permanent damage—impact more than the person who suffers them. They have long-lasting effects on family, friends, and anyone else involved in the injured person’s life. Regardless of the cause of the injury, many lives are irrevocably altered as a result. That’s why personal injury lawyers fight so hard to help those who have been wrongfully injured due to someone else’s carelessness or negligence. The chance to gain financial recompense is one way to achieve justice, and it goes a long way in reducing the burden placed on everyone impacted by the incident.
Who is generally impacted by a catastrophic accident? How does it permanently alter their lives? These are the common effects of catastrophic injuries.
Financial Burdens
Catastrophic injuries often come with catastrophic costs, more than the average family can often afford. Lifelong medical care is expensive. It changes the way a family lives, and it can bankrupt even those who were once considered “well off.”
Medical care is only one of the costs incurred by families of catastrophic injury victims. There are costs associated with nearly every facet of a person’s lifestyle, and these costs add up as a person continues to live their life differently than they used to.
These costs vary heavily based on the details of the accident and injury, but they can often include:
- Emergency medical care: the care received right after the incident
- Extended hospitalizations
- Surgeries and other medical procedures
- Rehabilitation and therapy
- Other ongoing treatments and procedures
- Medications
- Medical devices and mobility equipment: wheelchairs, catheters, oxygen, ventilators, etc.
- Prosthetics
- Home healthcare and personal assistance
- Long-term assisted living: nursing homes, memory care, etc.
- Therapy and mental health services and support
- Transportation expenses: modifications to vehicles for wheelchair access, professional transportation services, etc.
- Home alterations: accessibility modifications like ramps, walk-in bathtubs, elevators, etc.
- Lost income or reduced earning capacity
Many of these financial burdens last a lifetime, which is why it’s so important for victims of catastrophic injuries to receive financial payout from those who have wronged them, and why it’s so important to work with a law firm who has had success navigating these types of cases.
Mental and Emotional Effects
Going through a catastrophic incident often fundamentally changes a person. They see life differently, and they face the consequences of their injury for the rest of their lives. Victims of catastrophic accidents can often face psychological challenges that include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Panic disorders
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Body image issues
- Social isolation
- Trouble maintaining lasting relationships
- Memory issues
- Reduced cognitive abilities
- Increased risks of substance abuse and dependency
- Survivors guilt (guilt that they survived while others died in the same accident)
- Thoughts of suicide or self-harm
Victims are also susceptible to feelings of guilt because of the increased burden they have placed on those around them. Many survivors now require care, which is generally provided by those closest to them.
Many of these negative mental health effects are not limited to the victim; they are also often experienced by their family and friends. Going through trauma as the result of a catastrophic injury is something that everyone (the victim and their families) will confront for the rest of their lives. This pain and suffering often entitles them to additional compensation outside of that which is necessary to pay for ongoing medical care and other costs of living.
Changes in Lifestyle
The effects of catastrophic injuries extend beyond physical and mental health. A person’s life can be irreparably altered as the result of an incident. Substantial changes must be made in many of the things that they do. Other activities they once took part in may no longer be possible depending on the condition of the person. Many of lifestyle changes victims of catastrophic incidents make include:
- Workplace changes: they are no longer able to work, must now work from home, or must drastically change how they work.
- Recreational activities: they are no longer able to participate in sports, hobbies, etc., or must change how they enjoy them.
- Travel: vacations may no longer be possible, or they must be limited or altered in some way.
- Social engagements: they may no longer be able to socialize or must change how often they engage with family and friends.
- Life goals and future: a person’s entire life changes in perpetuity. The things they once dreamed of doing may no longer be possible.
Each person’s experience and lifestyle changes will be unique, but they are often not limited to themselves. These changes are also generally felt by those around the victim. It’s something entire families must confront.
Get the Help You Need for a Catastrophic Injury
If you or someone you know has been injured in a catastrophic accident, it’s important to seek legal help immediately. Seeking help from attorneys who specialize in personal injury cases can make all the difference. They can help you get critical financial aid that can make your life easier, pay for the costs you incur, and help you make the most of your tragedy.
At Morelli Law, we help families seek justice and compensation for their catastrophic accidents. We will fight for you even if it means taking on the biggest companies or entities in the country. We are not afraid to take a case to trial, and we’ve won judgments for personal injury victims in cases involving:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Railroad accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Nursing home abuse
- Defective products
- Defective drugs
- Construction accidents
We’re here to help you with your case. Get in touch with our team today for a free legal consultation on your case. Call 646-783-3703 or contact us on our website.