5 Common Causes of Catastrophic Injuries
Catastrophic injuries can be devastating and life-changing. In the blink of an eye, life as you know it can be over. You might not be able to walk, or your memory can be impacted, or you might have lost a limb. These can leave you needing assistance at home and unable to work or drive. The financial hardship can be overwhelming, but one of our catastrophic injury attorneys can fight for the compensation you are entitled to for the damages suffered.
Catastrophic injuries can happen at any time, but some situations are more likely to result in a catastrophic injury than others. Take a look at five of the most common causes of catastrophic injuries.
Motor vehicle accidents
Motor vehicle accidents are the most common cause of catastrophic injuries – including traumatic brain injury, spinal injury, burn, and amputation. These can be due to negligence, distracted driving, drunk driving, or other causes. Some types of accidents that can result in serious injuries are multi-vehicle collisions, truck accidents, and motorcycle accidents.
Multi-vehicle accidents occur when several vehicles are involved in a crash. These can include rear-ending accidents, side-swipe collisions, head-on crashes, and T-bone accidents. The impact of these accidents can result in severe injuries for the drivers and passengers in the vehicles – including brain injuries.
Truck accidents – or collisions with a semi – can be the most dangerous types of accidents. They can also result in the most serious, and catastrophic, injuries.
Because motorcyclists are left without the protection of the frame of the vehicle, an accident involving a motorcycle can result in serious injuries.
Pedestrian Accidents
When a person crosses a road, they are trusting that vehicles will see them, follow the driving laws, and avoid hitting them. However, this doesn’t always happen. When a pedestrian is struck by a vehicle it can result in catastrophic injuries.
If a driver is speeding, drunk, or distracted, he or she might not see the pedestrian or allow enough time to react and avoid hitting him or her.
Victims can suffer head and spine injuries during a collision with a vehicle. This can cause brain injuries, and even paralysis if the spinal cord is damaged.
Slip and Fall Accidents
While some slip and fall accidents can result in minor bruises or strains, others can result in serious head, neck, and limb injuries. These accidents can occur in work zones, on the street, or even in an office building.
Construction sites can be one of the most common areas for slip and fall injuries, as people work in dangerous environments with debris and equipment laying around.
You can suffer a slip and fall injury in an office building or even at someone’s home. These incidents can occur if the floors are wet and unmarked, if staircases are broken, if there is an obstacle (like buckling carpet, or an uneven floor), if there is debris in the way, or if there is another threat on the property the owner did not properly fix.
Medical Malpractice
When we go to the doctor, we typically trust that we will be given the appropriate and accurate care to treat our ailments. However, sometimes that isn’t the case and malpractice occurs. Some examples of malpractice include if an operation was performed on the wrong person — or the wrong part of the body, if an object was left inside of a patient during surgery, if an ailment was misdiagnosed, or if the wrong treatment was given. These can result in numerous types of catastrophic injuries, including internal organ damage and brain injuries.
Fires
Fires and explosions can lead to significant burns across your body. These can occur at certain workplaces, restaurants, or other establishments, or in serious vehicle crashes. In dangerous work areas, like refineries, massive explosions can occur that can cause serious injuries and even death.
We Help You Recover Compensation for Catastrophic Injuries
If you suffered a catastrophic injury, contact the attorneys at Gallagher & Kennedy at 602-530-8400. We care about our clients and are committed to using our skills, work ethic, and resources to help you or your family obtain compensation and justice.