In the United States, we have standard personal injury claims, many of which stem from car accidents, slip and fall cases (premises liability), and dog bites. Then, we have catastrophic injury claims, which are different than the average personal injury case.
A catastrophic injury case involves serious injuries; it's much more than a simple case of whiplash, a broken finger, or a minor concussion. Instead, a catastrophic injury may involve a lengthy hospital stay, permanent scarring and disfigurement, multiple surgeries, and lifelong disability.
Many types of accidents can result in either minor or serious injuries. For example, a person can walk away from a rollover crash unscathed, whereas another person can be in a similar crash and become permanently paralyzed.
A fall down stairs may cause one person to suffer a broken arm, while another person strikes their head so hard, they have a traumatic brain injury. It often depends on the circumstances of the accident. So, one car accident can result in minor injuries, where a nearly identical accident can result in catastrophic injuries, if not fatalities.
Legal Representation is a Must for Catastrophic Cases
If you, or someone you love has suffered serious, catastrophic injuries after being injured in a motor vehicle collision or another accident, you should seek legal representation from an experienced personal injury attorney.
Do not be surprised if you receive a call from an insurance representative, who is eager to settle your case quickly. They may even call you when you're in the hospital, on heavy medication and trying to recover; when you're at a disadvantage.
The problem is, insurance companies are "for-profit" companies. The way they maintain their profits is by paying as little as possible on personal injury claims. You can safely assume that the insurance company will offer you a low-ball settlement – and you likely deserve much more than what they are going to offer you.
Don't accept a low-ball offer from the insurance company. Instead, contact a personal injury attorney to ensure your rights to fair compensation are protected!