Unfortunately, accidents can happen to anyone, regardless of how careful they are. Even if it is not your fault, you can be a victim of an accident. While some accidents are minor, causing little or no damage, others can have devastating consequences for the victims. The most severe accidents are referred to as catastrophic accidents. They can cause extremely serious injuries and financial losses. The victims may never be able to fully recover from catastrophic injuries; however, they can seek compensation for their suffering.
Types of Catastrophic Incidents
A catastrophic accident is an accident that has life-changing consequences. For example, an auto accident that results in permanent paralysis of the occupant is a catastrophic accident or catastrophic event. Here are the common types of catastrophic accidents:
Auto Accidents
Auto accidents often lead to catastrophic injuries, especially if the accident involves over speeding or reckless driving. The chances of a catastrophic accident increase dramatically if the accident involves a large truck or if the occupants are not wearing their seat belts. Generally, major accidents on the road involve head-on collisions and rollovers, but any type of car accident can lead to serious injuries.
Workplace Accidents
An employer has a responsibility to provide a safe work environment to its employees. However, workplace accidents still happen. They are most common in manufacturing, construction, mining, and agricultural industries. The presence of heavy equipment and machinery and working on elevated surfaces increases the chances of catastrophic accidents. Workplace accidents also include industrial accidents such as structural collapses, factory explosions, and oil spills.
Medical Malpractice
While the healthcare industry is heavily regulated, there is still a lot that can go wrong. While catastrophic accidents in medical malpractice might not be as explosive or violent as other accidents, the consequences can be extremely catastrophic. For example, a simple misdiagnosis or the incorrect administration of medicine can lead to extremely serious injuries or death.
Natural Disasters
Another type of catastrophic accident is natural disasters such as tornadoes and earthquakes. Even with all the latest technology, it is not always possible to predict natural disasters. Victims of such incidents can suffer a wide range of injuries ranging from minor cuts to amputations. In addition, victims can suffer property damage, displacement from their homes, and serious financial disruption to their lives.
Causes of Catastrophic Accidents
Catastrophic events can happen anywhere, to anyone, and have many potential causes. A common cause of catastrophic accidents is human error or negligence. These types of accidental catastrophes are also the most heartbreaking, as they are avoidable. Mistakes or errors in surgery, operating machinery, or driving a vehicle can result in serious injuries or death. Human error in catastrophic accidents can be the result of inadequate training, distraction, technical incompetence or fatigue.
Another major cause of catastrophic accidents is the lack of safety regulations and supervision. Not only is it vital to have safety policies in place, it is equally important to implement them properly. Ignoring safety protocols or taking shortcuts can lead to catastrophic accidents and have a devastating impact on victims.
The lack of safety regulations becomes an even bigger problem if it is followed by inadequate emergency response. It is important to have a well-established catastrophic incident management plan for different types of situations, such as fire hazards. The response should include plans for evacuation, medical support, and communication.
Equipment facture and technical glitches can also lead to catastrophic accidents. For example, a truck that has not had proper maintenance can suffer from brake failure resulting in a devastating accident.
Impact of Catastrophic Accidents
The reason catastrophic accidents can be life-altering is the immense scale of devastation they bring to the lives of the victims. Catastrophic accident consequences can be devastating for the victims and their families. We have categorized the catastrophic incident impacts into the following three categories.
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Severe Injuries
One of the reasons catastrophic accidents turn the life of the victim upside down is the resulting injuries from the accident. For example, a person who could just be driving to pick up their kids from school can suddenly be involved in a collision with a truck leading to serious physical disability for the rest of their lives.
One of the most sensitive areas of the human body is the head. A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one the most serious injuries as it can cause swelling and brain hemorrhages. If the brain tissue gets damaged, it can lead to all types of problems. Traumatic brain injuries can happen in any type of accident, including sports injuries, slip and fall accidents, and motor vehicle accidents.
Internal organ damage is another common injury in catastrophic accidents. The danger of internal organ damage is the severity of damage may not be easy to diagnose immediately after the accident. Severe internal organ damage, such as reputed liver or punctured lung, can lead to serious health complications.
Spinal cord injuries are also common in catastrophic accidents. Depending on the exact location and force of the impact, spinal cord injuries can have serious consequences, such as quadriplegia or paraplegia. Permanent paralysis can cost millions of dollars over a victim’s lifetime, especially for younger victims. There is more on the financial impact of such accidents in the next section.
Financial Losses
The financial losses of catastrophic injuries include medical costs such as surgery, in-home medical equipment, emergency care immediately after an accident, hospitalization costs, and hiring a percent care assistant.
The victim might also have suffered temporary or permanent loss of income, loss of earning capacity, property damage, and loss of professional opportunities. In catastrophic auto accidents, there is typically severe damage to the vehicle.
It is important to understand that once you have received compensation and the case is closed, it might be extremely challenging to receive another compensation for the same injury. Therefore, it is important that you take your time to determine what would be fair compensation for your suffering. Victims often underestimate the cost of long-term care or future medical expenses related to catastrophic injuries. Along with expert legal guidance, you should also seek expert medical advice about your injuries so you can make informed decisions on what compensation you deserve for your injuries.
Pain and Suffering
Pain and suffering refer to the noneconomic impact of the accident. Catastrophic accidents often lead to mental trauma or emotional distress. In severe cases, the victim can suffer chronic depression or anxiety as a result of the accident. Victims can also suffer a loss of companionship as a result of a catastrophic accident. Insurance companies often try to downplay the noneconomic impact of accidents; however, for the victims, the noneconomic impact can often be devastating.
Establishing Catastrophic Accident Liability
When you are injured in a catastrophic accident by someone else’s wrongdoing or negligence, you have the right to seek compensation for your losses. You have the right to settle the case out of court or file a lawsuit. In either case, one of the first things you need to do is to establish liability for the accident. After all, you only seek compensation from someone if you can provide they were at fault for the accident.
To establish liability, you need to demonstrate the opposing party had a duty of care toward you and that they breached this duty of care, wrestling in your injuries. As catastrophic accidents often lead to severe injuries, your claim or lawsuit could include a substantial amount of compensation. This means you are likely to get some resistance from the opposing party, who will try their best to minimize their liability. If the stakes are high, it is best to have a lawyer who has experience in similar cases and knows how to navigate the legal processes for personal injury cases.
There is a time for filing personal injury claims. This is known as the statute of limitations. You must file your claim within the statute of limitations based on your state. In Georgie, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases is typically two years from the date of the accident or injury. There is no extended timeline for catastrophic accidents, so you will need to ensure you file your claim within the statute of limitations.
Get Expert Legal Guidance to Recover Compensation
Through the assistance of an experienced lawyer, you can recover compensation for the damages suffered in a catastrophic accident. An attorney can also determine if you are eligible for a personal injury claim, conduct catastrophic accident investigations, complete all legal paperwork, and protect you from unwanted contact by others involved in the accident. Large settlements often require extensive negotiations, and an experienced lawyer can be a valuable asset as they have legal knowledge and experience in handling settlement negotiations. If you can’t settle, the lawyer can represent you in a lawsuit.
At The Pendergrass Law Firm, we specialize in representing our clients in personal injury claims and provide catastrophic accident support for all the legal processes. If you have been involved in a severe auto accident, you can schedule an appointment with our Clayton car accident attorney. Our practice areas include all types of accidents, including dog bites, product liability, and medical malpractice cases.
