There are different degrees of gravity when it comes to personal injury cases. At the very top of such hierarchy are catastrophic injuries, which are delineated by medical associations and the law as a very specific type of injury with quite serious consequences. When dealing with a catastrophic injury, it is very important to understand the case properly. This encompasses the medical aspects as much as it does the legal ones. In order to make sure that you understand what a catastrophic injury case entails, here are a few pointers to take into account, particularly if you are currently seeking legal counsel about the issue.
What is a Catastrophic Injury?
Based on the definition used by the American Medical Association, the legal term catastrophic injury refers to a severe injury to the spine, spinal cord, or brain, as well as skull or spinal fractures. These catastrophic injuries are classified by the National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research in three different categories based on their outcomes: fatality, permanent severe functional disability, and severe head or neck trauma with no permanent disability. These injuries can be both direct or indirect, depending on the circumstances. A direct catastrophic injury can be the result of trauma sustained during an activity. Meanwhile, indirect injuries can come as a result of systemic failure caused by an activity, such as heat illness, dehydration, hyponatremia, or cardiovascular conditions.
When Do Catastrophic Injuries Take Place?
Although the term is most commonly used when discussing sports injuries, such as those that take place while wrestling, boxing, or playing football, these are not the only instances of catastrophic injuries. These can just as easily take place in the workplace, particularly when a person’s job involves heavy machinery, extensive physical activity, or risky environments. That’s not to mention the everyday instances (such as accidents) in which catastrophic injuries can take place. Regardless of the circumstances of the injury, the injured individual will need medical care, which in turn means that they will deserve compensation for the incident and for the expenses brought forth by the medical care.
Dealing with Insurance Companies
No one likes to have to deal with insurance companies. Their policies and inner workings are almost explicitly designed to provide the least amount of compensation to their insured customers. Not only that, but they are also deliberately written in ways that intentionally confuse and mislead the client. You shouldn’t have to deal with insurance companies on your own, particularly while you yourself or a loved one are recovering from a catastrophic injury. That is why it’s so important to seek out proper legal counsel in order to handle these matters. A good personal injury attorney will fight the insurance companies in order to get you the full compensation you deserve. At no point should you have to go through this by yourself, not when Belal Hamideh is there to help. Call Mr. Hamideh, a renowned personal injury attorney in Los Angeles, at (562) 526-1224 and allow him to take care of your case.