Some injuries are minor or moderate in severity. They create short-term medical needs and may cause temporary disruptions. However, the injured person can make a full recovery and return to their life as usual with adequate medical support.
Other injuries are more severe. An injury becomes catastrophic when it creates massive expenses or permanent functional limitations. Brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and amputations are among the most common catastrophic injuries. An injury victim and their immediate family members can expect to experience many long-term consequences generated by a catastrophic or severe injury.
What consequences should people anticipate when seeking compensation after a catastrophic injury?
Physical challenges
Obviously, an injured person with permanent symptoms has to adjust to life with new functional limitations. They may require physical or occupational therapy to learn to care for themselves or perform job tasks despite their limitations.
They may have to switch jobs and may no longer be able to fulfill the same household responsibilities they once performed. Their limitations can have a direct impact on their family members. Loved ones may have to perform more household support services when the injured person cannot. That, combined with caregiving responsibilities, can lead to a risk of injury and fatigue for the rest of the family.
Mental health consequences
People living with catastrophic injuries often develop mental health challenges. They may have higher rates of depression and anxiety than the general public. They might develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to the incident that injured them.
Their loved ones may also experience mental health setbacks. They may develop caregiver burnout that can affect their quality of life and the viability of their relationships. Family members of individuals with severe injuries may also have an increased risk of depression or anxiety-related symptoms.
Financial issues
Catastrophic injuries tend to create a number of long-term financial consequences. Obviously, there are ongoing care costs. People with major injuries tend to require more medical support on average than those without catastrophic injuries.
There are also the income implications of the injury to consider. Blue-collar workers and even successful white-collar professionals may notice a sharp decline in their earning potential after a catastrophic injury. For some people, working at all becomes impossible.
There may also be accommodation costs related to vehicles and living space to consider. Family members may also experience a drop in earning potential if they have to take time off of work to care for their injured loved ones or become the primary caregivers of their children.
Overall, an entire family is likely to undergo numerous significant transitions when a member suffers major trauma. They may need compensation to help them counter the long-term implications of a catastrophic personal injury. Seeking insurance compensation or pursuing a lawsuit can potentially help injured individuals and their family members reduce the long-term impact of a major injury.