Posted on Monday, January 16th, 2017 at 5:42 pm    

Being injured in an accident is a traumatic event. Even a minor injury cause result in severe pain and substantial economic loss. However, when is an injury considered “catastrophic?”  Who decides whether your injury is minor, severe, or catastrophic? Unfortunately, defining “catastrophic” is not as simple as looking up the definition in a medical or legal dictionary.

What Are the Signs of a Catastrophic Injury?

The definition of a catastrophic injury is something juries and courts struggle to define. In many cases, “catastrophic” can mean that the injury results in a permanent disability. However, “catastrophic” can also be used to define an injury that requires months or a few years of rehabilitation and medical care. On the other hand, some people define “catastrophic” to mean an injury that results in severe pain and suffering.

Knowing whether you have suffered a catastrophic injury can be difficult. However, if any of the following describes your injury, you may have suffered a catastrophic injury.

  • Your Injuries Resulted in Permanent Disability
    • Permanent disability is often considered a factor in determining catastrophic injuries. Examples include head, brain, and spinal cord injuries that result in paralysis. Loss of a limb is another example of a permanent injury. Any injury that results in a significant limitation of your ability to work or care for yourself can fall into the category of catastrophic injuries.
  • Substantial Medical Bills
    • When determining if an injury is catastrophic, there is no “magical” dollar amount that equals catastrophic. Whenever a person is injured in an accident, we expect there to be some medical bills. However, as the cost of medical care increases, we begin to look at the injury as catastrophic. The reason being that more severe injuries result in higher medical costs. For example, a spinal cord injury may result in multiple surgeries, lengthy hospital stays, ongoing physical therapy, rehabilitation, and long-term medical and personal care. Therefore, the victim could be looking at millions of dollars in medical care over his or her life.
  • Considerable Financial Loss
    • Because catastrophic injuries usually prevent victims from returning to work for a long time, we associated catastrophic injuries with substantial financial loss. The loss of income can often cause a financial crisis for the family. In some cases, the family may be forced to sell assets or file bankruptcy. Trying to provide for the family’s needs can be overwhelming, and the stress can interfere with the victim’s ability to heal.
  • Who Decides If My Injury Is Catastrophic?

As discussed above, there is not a standard for determining if an injury is catastrophic. We do not have an equation we can use to place a label on your injuries. However, because our Sacramento accident attorneys have extensive experience representing accident victims, we have considerable knowledge and skill in handling this type of personal injury claim. It is important to hire the right Sacramento accident attorney to protect your legal right to recover full compensation for your injuries.

Call The Tiemann Law Firm Today

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, act now to protect your right to receive compensation from the negligent party who caused the injury. Our Sacramento accident attorneys evaluate your claim and take steps to protect your best interest. If you have received catastrophic injuries, our Sacramento law firm will fight for your rights.

Call our office at (916) 999-9000 or chat with a representative on our website to request a free legal consultation and no-obligation case evaluation.

Client Testimonials

Hanna Padilla Testimonial
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From the very start of my case the Tiemann Law Firm was wonderful. Perter came all the way to my home to sit down and talk to me about my options. He made me and my partner feel very comfortable and promised us he would take the very best care of my case. Peter kept me informed every step of the way and was always on top of things. everything was done in a timely manor and I always felt like I was the only case he was working on because he was so fast. In the end Peter got me back way more money than I ever expected. I would recommend this law firm to everyone. I am very happy with the outcome of my case thanks to the Tiemann Law Firm! Thank you!

Star Fire Testimonial
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It is hard to put into words the care and dedication that I received from the Tiemann’s. They have been here for me every step of the way and were always available when I had questions or concerns. My husband and I will be forever grateful for everything they have done for us and our family. Thank you so much for all of the hard work and time you have put into my case, we greatly appreciate it and your friendship. We highly recommend this firm and will always be thankful for everything they have done. Thank you so much again, Kim

Maye Ly Testimonial
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I just saw my lawyer Jelena Tiemann on a t.v ad, which reminded me how much she helped when I was in a desperate situation. I just love her! That is why I feel a need to tell everyone. I had a situation that happened & didn’t know what to do, our where to go. I didn’t even know if she could help me or if any lawyer could. All I wanted was it to go away & was afraid most lawyers wanted to drag it out & possibly go to court. For one she was very professional but was very personable (maybe b.c she’s a lady). She didn’t make me feel embarrassed or self-conscious that I did something wrong or was the cause of the situation. She immediately said we should try our best before going to court. Let me handle some paperwork, if at the last we do go to court we have documents. She gave me all the details, pros and cons but reassured me she deals with these cases all the time. She came through and made it as painless as possible. I now have my life back.

Jennifer Birdseye Testimonial
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Tiemann Law Firm helped us with an injury case for my nephew. They were very knowledgeable and we are very happy with the service they provided. The entire staff is topnotch!

Elizabeth Ochoa Testimonial
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I chose Tiemann Law Firm to help me after a car accident I was involved in. Throughout the entire process, Moe made sure to keep me updated, he always responded quickly whenever  I had questions about anything. My case won thanks to this law firm and its dedication. My experience with Tiemann Law Firm was amazing! 10/10 recommended.