If you have suffered a catastrophic injury in New York, you may be entitled to compensation. This is a specific degree of injury that can often lead to a substantial settlement to help you cover your present and future medical expenses. But before you proceed with your catastrophic injury claim, you need to know the legal definition for this type of injury and the evidence you will need to collect.
What Is a Catastrophic Injury?
Before we discuss how you can receive compensation for a life-changing injury, how does New York define a catastrophic injury? Legally speaking, a catastrophic injury is a type of severe injury that causes permanent or long-term damage. This can include damage to the mind, body, or ability to function independently.
Cases involving catastrophic injuries often result in things like:
- Long-term hospitalization
- Permanent disability
- Job loss
- Chronic pain and suffering
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Permanent loss of independence
- Repeat surgeries
- In-home assistance
Common Types of Catastrophic Injuries
Catastrophic injuries and severe injuries are often used interchangeably, but they are not considered to be the same thing according to New York law. For example, although a broken bone may be a severe injury, it isn’t usually catastrophic. However, if your bone is crushed, this could result in extensive rehabilitation and chronic pain or complete limb loss, which would be catastrophic.
Here are some examples of common injuries labeled as catastrophic:
- Crushed limbs
- Loss of hearing
- Severe nerve damage
- Brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Amputations
- Injuries involving cognitive impairment
- Organ damage
- Partial or complete paralysis
Compensation Available in Catastrophic Injury Cases
Getting access to a catastrophic personal injury settlement isn’t just a right for victims; it is a necessity. This settlement is what will help you to cover the cost of your medical treatment, including any future expenses.
In New York, you can usually receive compensation for things like future care costs, lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, and medical expenses. Keep in mind that your compensation will be completely dependent on the type of injury, how extensive it is, and the type of accident.
How to Prove That You Have a Catastrophic Injury
In order to get the best outcome for your severe injury lawsuit, you need to provide extensive evidence to support your claim. It isn’t enough to simply have suffered a catastrophic injury; you will have to prove this on paper.
A catastrophic accident attorney can help you access the evidence you need for your claim, such as:
- Medical diagnoses
- Doctor’s notes
- Scans and test results
- Expert testimony
- Accident reports
- Medical bills
Get In Touch With a Catastrophic Accident Attorney in New York
Suffering a catastrophic injury after an accident that wasn’t your fault can have a devastating effect. These types of injuries are life-altering and could result in substantial medical debt, lost wages, and future medical expenses.
Because there is so much depending on the success of your severe injury lawsuit, you need to work closely with a catastrophic injury lawyer when building your case.
If you are ready to move forward with your permanent disability injury claim, contact us today at Gash & Associates, P.C., in New York, at 914-328-8800 for a free consultation.
