Catastrophic and Serious Injury Lawyers in Nashville, TN

What is a catastrophic injury?

A catastrophic injury is generally any type of injury that involves permanent disability. A catastrophic injury can also be any injury that places long-term stress on the accident victim and their family. Catastrophic injuries are often so severe that people can no longer take care of themselves. This makes it impossible to handle the daily activities that most of us take for granted — such as eating, bathing, dressing, or handling bathroom activities — without assistance. Many Nashville catastrophic injury victims need extensive medical care to stabilize their injuries and then a lifetime of medical care to manage them. After enduring a catastrophic or serious injury, an accident victim might be in a coma, connected to a ventilator, or temporarily or permanently paralyzed.

Examples of catastrophic injuries include:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Brain injuries may be due to a forceful blow such as a head striking a dashboard or to loss of oxygen to the brain such as occurs when birth doctors are negligent. Victims may suffer permanent brain damage. Many TBI victims have physical, cognitive, developmental, and emotional complications. A severe type of brain trauma occurs when a child develops cerebral palsy due to birth delivery malpractice.
• Severe burns. Burns are classified as first, second, or third-degree burns. Third-degree burns damage several layers of the skin. They often require skin grafts and plastic surgery. Many victims live with severe scars and disfigurement. For many victims, the emotional trauma is as severe as the physical trauma.
• Spinal cord damage including paralysis. Partial or complete damage to the spinal cord paralyzes the area below the injury, disrupts bodily functions, and can be fatal. Serious spinal cord injuries often include the following:
  • Herniated disc. A herniated or bulging disc can be intensely painful if the disc pushes on a nerve. Often, surgery, medication, and physical therapy are necessary.
  • Stenosis. Stenosis is pressure on nerve tissue inside the vertebrae. It can cause pain, muscle weakness, numbness, and, if severe enough, loss of bladder, bowel, and/or sexual function.
  • Dislocation. An impact injury can force vertebrae out of their correct position, resulting in pain and impaired mobility.
  • Fracture. A fracture or break in the vertebrae is often accompanied by other injuries, such as damaged muscles, ligaments, or dislocated vertebrae.
• Traumatic amputation/loss of a limb. The loss of an arm, leg, hand, or foot can change an accident victim’s life forever. Some victims can never work again. Even victims who can use a prosthesis often live with a large amount of emotional pain. Many amputees rely on family, friends, and support groups to cope and survive.

Other catastrophic injuries include organ damage such as kidney or lung damage, vision loss, hearing loss, and post-traumatic stress syndrome.