Catastrophic Injury Attorney Serving St. Louis, Missouri

Some personal injuries are so devastating that they are considered life-changing.  Such catastrophic injuries include spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, amputation injuries and burn injuries. They require ongoing medical treatment, rehabilitation and adaptation to regain control of your life.

If you have suffered a catastrophic injury through the negligence of another, you should talk to a skilled personal injury lawyer. You have legal rights to seek compensation for the harm you have suffered to help pay your medical bills and expenses.

Types of Catastrophic Injuries

There are several general types of catastrophic injuries. What catastrophic injuries have in common is a requirement for extensive, costly medical treatment, rehabilitation and physical therapy to stabilize and recover from the accident. Types of catastrophic accidents include:

  • Spinal Cord Injury— Spinal cord injuries result from a blow to the back of the head, neck, or vertebrae. Nearly half are caused by motor vehicle accidents, including car accidents, motorcycle accidents and truck accidents. A fourth of this type of catastrophic injury are caused by falls. Males are more likely to suffer spinal cord injuries than women. Spinal cord injuries may result in partial or complete paralysis. Alcohol is a contributing factor to about 25 percent of spinal cord injuries.
  • Amputation Injury— Nearly half of amputations result from trauma-related accidents. The force of a serious car accident or motorcycle accident can cause a catastrophic injury resulting in the amputation of an arm or leg. It may also result in a severely mangled or crushed limb, which can require amputation. Construction accidents and heavy equipment accidents also cause amputation injuries. An amputation injury often requires repeated surgeries and physical therapy to outfit a patient with a prosthesis.
  • Traumatic Brain Injury— Damage to the brain may occur from a blow, an object hitting the head, or the head violently hitting an object such as a windshield or dashboard. A car or motorcycle accident, a fall or a serious workplace accident can cause a brain injury. Half of all traumatic brain injuries are due to motor vehicle accidents. Many traumatic brain injuries require surgery to repair ruptured blood vessels. The worst traumatic brain injuries can cause brain damage.
  • Burn Injury—Approximately 45,000 people are hospitalized with serious burn injuries each year in the U.S. and about one third of them are children. People who suffer 3rd degree burn injuries often require skin grafts or application of artificial materials to protect exposed tissue. Blood infections and pneumonia are complications of catastrophic burn injuries.

In many cases, the victim of a catastrophic injury accident is entitled to compensation to cover the costs of medical care, therapy and ongoing treatment for the rest of his or her life. A knowledgeable St. Louis catastrophic injury attorney at The Cagle Law Firm is ready to help.