Lexington Catastrophic Injury Lawyer

Catastrophic injuries are those that shorten a person’s life or are chronic, long-lasting perhaps even life-long injuries that severely limit a person’s ability to function. These injuries can occur to any of the body’s major systems, and some may be more common that others depending on what type of accident caused them.

Depending on the person and the circumstances, virtually any kind of accident in Kentucky could result in some form of catastrophic injury.

These injuries often can end or severely limit one’s ability to make a living or financially support a family and can result in severe psychological and emotional effects such as depression and anxiety. Depending on the severity of the injury, the cost of life-time care and rehabilitation can be millions of dollars.

Traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injuries can happen if there’s a force applied to the head which results in brain dysfunction. TBI can result from a violent blow or jolt to the head or body. An object which penetrates the skull also can cause TBI.

While a mild TBI could cause temporary dysfunction of brain cells, a more severe traumatic brain injury can cause bruising, tearing, bleeding and other physical harm to the brain that can result in long-term complications, loss of cognitive and physical abilities as well as personality changes, and even death.

Spinal cord injury

The brain and spinal cord make up the central nervous system. The spinal cord is made of soft tissue and surrounded by bones (vertebrae) going down from the base of the brain and is made up of nerve cells and groups of nerves which go to different parts of your body.

A spinal cord injury, or harm to a part of the spinal cord or nerves at the end of the spinal canal, often causes permanent changes in strength, sensation and other body functions below the site of the injury. The ability to control your limbs after such an injury depends on the location and the severity of injury.

There are two classifications of SCI:

  • Complete: Almost all sensory feeling and all ability to control movement are lost below the injury.
  • Incomplete: There is some motor or sensory function below the affected area.

Paralysis caused by a spinal cord injury may be of differing severities:

  • Tetraplegia or quadriplegia: The arms, hands, trunk, legs and pelvic organs are all affected by the injury.
  • Paraplegia: This paralysis affects all or part of the trunk, legs and pelvic organs.

A traumatic spinal cord injury could be caused by a sudden, traumatic blow to the spine that fractures, dislocates, crushes or compresses one or more of the vertebrae, injuring the spinal cord. More harm can occur after the initial injury due to bleeding, swelling, inflammation and fluid accumulation in and around the spinal cord.

Hip fracture

Hip fractures can happen during a slip and fall, especially if a person is elderly, and are common in serious motorcycle and vehicle accidents. A hip fracture may result in life-threatening complications.  Older people have a higher risk of hip fracture because bones normally weaken with age. A hip fracture almost always requires surgical repair or replacement, followed by months of physical therapy.

About half of those suffering a hip fracture aren’t able to regain their ability to live independently. If the injury keeps you immobile for a long time, complications can include the following:

  • Blood clots in your legs or lungs
  • Bedsores
  • Urinary tract infections
  • Pneumonia
  • Further loss of muscle mass, increasing your risk of falls and injury.

Internal bleeding

Internal bleeding is one of the most serious consequences of trauma due to an accident. It can result from obvious injuries requiring quick medical attention or occur after a less severe trauma and be delayed by hours or days. There are two types of trauma, either of which may cause internal bleeding:

  • Blunt trauma: A body part collides with something else, usually at high speed, such as during a vehicle, truck or motorcycle accident. Blood vessels within the body are torn or crushed either by sheer force or a blunt object.
  • Penetrating trauma: An object penetrates the body, tearing a hole in one or more blood vessels.

Almost any organ or blood vessel can be damaged by trauma and cause internal bleeding. The most serious types of internal bleeding due to trauma include:

  • Head trauma with internal bleeding (or intracranial hemorrhage)
  • Bleeding around the lungs (or hemothorax)
  • Bleeding around the heart (or hemopericardium and cardiac tamponade)
  • Tears in the large blood vessels near the center of the body (aorta, superior and inferior vena cava, and their major branches)
  • Damage to organs in the abdomen such as the liver and spleen.

Lexington Personal Injury LawyersIf you or a loved one has been involved in an accident of any type in Kentucky that caused a catastrophic injury and you were not at fault, you need to know your rights and seek legal protection. You can bet the insurance company knows what to do to keep you from getting fair compensation. We can help. Call Julie Butcher, the Lexington, KY Vehicle Accident Lawyer at 859-233-3641 or fill out our online contact form for a free consultation.