Catastrophic Injuries

A catastrophic injury has an immense impact on a person’s life, is very painful and may develop into a permanent or long lasting medical condition that requires extensive medical care. Characteristically, a catastrophic injury affects at least one bodily system and in many instances, the central nervous system is the system most affected. Because systems in the body are interconnected, when one system is failing or struggling to function, others are usually also disrupted.

While there are many different types of catastrophic injuries, some of the more common catastrophic injuries include, but are not limited to:

• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Brain damage
• Skull fractures
• Coma
• Multiple fractures
• Broken or fractured back
• Neck injuries
• Loss of an eye
• Paralysis
• Paraplegia
• Quadriplegia
• Amputation or loss of limb
• Extensive and severe burns

Some injured persons, when given immediate and appropriate medical treatment, may recover from a catastrophic injury, but many do not. Many experience not only

considerable suffering and permanent disability, but also shortened life spans. The degree of medical care required to fulfill the victim’s needs is extensive and long term.

Competent legal and expert medical evaluation is needed in preparing a catastrophic injury case in order to properly determine the extent of injury damage and accurately estimate future medical and assistive care. Among the costs evaluated are also structural changes in your home and provisions for transportation to accommodate a wheelchair and other equipment . If there is a possibility of improving the medical condition, the extent of medical treatment required for rehabilitation also needs to be taken into account.

Member of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and The Association of Trial Lawyers of America. Personal Injury Lawyer providing excellence in legal services for northern Illinois and the Chicago area, as well as numerous counties including McHenry, Lake, Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, DeKalb, Boone, Will and other surrounding areas.