Missouri Catastrophic Accident Attorneys
A catastrophic accident is one that is unusually severe, causing profound, life-changing injuries. Catastrophic injuries may include complex fractures, amputation, vision loss, brain damage, paralysis, and other temporary or permanently disabling conditions.
If you or someone in your immediate family has suffered an injury in a catastrophic accident, you need an experienced personal injury attorney on your side. Bley & Evans has helped many personal injury victims in the greater Columbia area get compensation for their injuries, medical care, and emotional suffering.
Call today to request your free consultation: 844-443-8385.
Workplace Accidents
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration defines a catastrophic accident as a single workplace event that results in the inpatient hospitalization of three or more employees. These accidents often occur because of an employer’s negligence regarding worker safety.
In December 2015, OSHA fined a Springfield logistics company for failing to report an accident. Three workers were injured when 30 pallets of glass bottles fell on top of them. All three were hospitalized for their injuries.
According to the press release about the fines, the three workers’ injuries were:
- Head and knee injuries, and lacerations
- Head injury, broken leg, abrasions, and cuts
- Lacerations, contusions, and a severe knee injury.
OSHA also fined the company for violating several safety standards. Investigators found the pallets had not been stored in a way which would prevent sliding or collapse, exit routes were blocked, and all employees were exposed to industrial vehicle risks, including battery acid, the use of damaged vehicles, and unsafe operation.
Some accidents are just that – unavoidable and unforeseeable. But when an employer’ negligence leads to workplace injuries, injured workers may be entitled to additional compensation.
Sports Accidents
Catastrophic sports injury accidents can occur in the course of game play. These injuries are more likely to occur in contact sports than non-contact sports, but one catastrophic injury poses a risk to young athletes engaged in any sport: sudden cardiac arrest.
An underlying heart abnormality increases the risk for sudden cardiac arrest, which may or may not be fatal. An athlete with a healthy heart can suffer sudden cardiac arrest from a direct blow to the chest.
Other catastrophic sports-related injuries include brain damage, paralysis, and serious fractures. When a disabling injury occurs in young athletes, families may be facing a lifetime of medical costs.
Schools, churches, and civic organizations usually carry Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) policies that cover catastrophic injuries. Those policies can help families with the cost of caring for their injured loved ones.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Vehicle accidents, sports accidents, and falls are common causes of traumatic brain injuries. These injuries may cause a range of symptoms – from a persistent headache to a complete and permanent loss of consciousness.
A catastrophic TBI may interfere with the brain’s ability to maintain normal bodily functions, such as breathing or regulating blood pressure. A person with a severe TBI may need equipment that helps perform basic functions, either temporarily, or long-term.
Long-Term Effects of Catastrophic Injuries
Catastrophic injuries may require long hospital stays, multiple surgeries, and long-term rehabilitation. In some cases, such as paralysis stemming from a neck injury, a person may never fully recover and may need to reside in an assisted living facility.
Aside from physical pain and disability, catastrophic injuries may cause considerable psychological damage. Survivors of serious car accidents have been known to develop post-traumatic stress syndrome, a complex psychological condition that can cause:
- Sleep disturbances
- Mood disorders
- Withdrawal from friends and family
- Obsessive thoughts.
PTSD may also be accompanied by depression and anxiety disorders.
Even if an injury victim doesn’t develop PTSD, persistent depression and sadness are common. Financial stress – from medical costs and from loss of income – may aggravate emotional and psychological difficulties following a catastrophic injury.
Help for Injury Victims and Their Families
Insurance companies may try to persuade injury victims to accept an unfair settlement. Sometimes, people are tricked into signing a document that says they won’t pursue any additional claims against an insurer.
If you’ve suffered a serious and debilitating injury, don’t let insurance companies intimidate you. Talk to an experienced personal injury attorney to ensure you get the best outcome possible. Find out if you have a case. Request your free consultation with Bley & Evans by using our online form or by calling 844-443-8385.
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