Baltimore Catastrophic Injury Attorneys

Catastrophic Injury Lawyer Advocating for Injury Victims in Baltimore, MD

Some injuries will heal with time, rest, and medical treatment. Others can change a person's life permanently. When an injury crosses the line from serious to catastrophic, a victim may struggle to recover, especially if someone else was responsible. In these situations, a person may take action to obtain compensation for their damages. This compensation should not just address what has already been lost, but all of the ways the person will be affected in the years and decades ahead.

Recovering from catastrophic injuries can be hard enough, but dealing with legal and financial issues can make these situations even more difficult. Because of the high stakes in these cases, legal help from a qualified and experienced attorney can be crucial. The lawyers at Silverman Thompson represent catastrophic injury victims in Baltimore and other parts of Maryland, working to secure the compensation that will be needed to cover our clients' medical, financial, and personal losses.

What Makes an Injury Catastrophic?

Some injuries are so severe that they can permanently prevent a person from performing any gainful work, cause ongoing physical or mental disabilities, and alter the course of a person's life forever. The distinction between a serious injury and a catastrophic injury will often come down to whether the victim will ever be able to return to the life they had before the injury.

Catastrophic injuries will require extensive medical treatment, often including multiple surgeries and years of rehabilitation. They can place significant limitations on a person's ability to work, care for themselves, and participate in activities they once enjoyed. They are likely to result in substantial long-term medical costs that may continue for the rest of a person's life. They can also cause psychological harm that can affect a person's overall quality of life.

For injury victims and their families, the financial implications of a catastrophic injury can be staggering. The lifetime costs of serious injuries may be several million dollars when accounting for medical expenses, lost income, and other damages. Legal claims in these cases will need to address the ongoing financial and personal impact on a person's life.

How Catastrophic Injuries Can Occur

Severe injuries are often the result of someone else's negligence. When a person does not take reasonable care to protect the safety of others or engages in reckless activities that put another person in harm's way, accidents may take place that can have devastating consequences.

Motor vehicle accidents may result in multiple types of catastrophic injuries. High-speed car accidents, commercial truck crashes, motorcycle accidents, and pedestrian accidents can generate violent forces that may lead to permanent, life-altering harm for victims. A negligent driver who causes a crash may be held legally responsible for the consequences.

Workplace accidents are another reason for catastrophic injuries. Construction accidents may involve falls from significant heights, crushing injuries from heavy machinery, electrical accidents, or exposure to hazardous chemicals. In situations where someone other than the victim's employer was responsible for an injury, an injured worker may be able to file a third-party claim and recover compensation for their damages.

Premises liability cases involving dangerous property conditions can lead to catastrophic injuries when people fall from heights or are exposed to fire and electrical hazards. Defective products that malfunction or fail to operate correctly also can lead to catastrophic injuries for their users, and negligent manufacturers, distributors, or retailers may be held liable.

Types of Catastrophic Injuries

Severe injuries can take many forms, including:

Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis

Damage to the spinal cord can result in a partial or complete loss of sensation and motor function in different parts of the body. Depending on where a spine injury occurs, the result may be paraplegia that involves paralysis of the lower body or tetraplegia, which can affect all four limbs and impair a person's ability to breathe.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

A blow to the head, a skull fracture, or other forms of trauma can cause injuries that may disrupt brain functions. The consequences of traumatic brain injuries may range from cognitive impairments and memory loss to changes in personality, difficulty performing basic daily tasks, seizures, or coma. A severe traumatic brain injury can leave a survivor unable to live independently.

Burn Injuries

Severe burns can destroy skin and the underlying tissues. They may require repeated surgical procedures, including skin grafting, and they may leave permanent, disfiguring scars. Serious burns can also damage the respiratory system, affect immune function, and cause chronic pain and nerve damage. The psychological impact of burn injuries and disfigurement may include post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and other ongoing concerns.

Amputations and Loss of Limbs

Traumatic amputations can occur when a limb is severed in an accident. Surgical amputations may be necessary when a limb is so severely damaged that it cannot be saved. Losing an arm, leg, hand, or foot will permanently affect a person's physical capabilities, their ability to work, and their quality of life. Prosthetic limbs and adaptive devices can restore some function, but they are expensive, will require ongoing maintenance and replacement, and they cannot fully replace a natural limb. A victim may also experience ongoing pain and emotional trauma.

Severe Bone Fractures

While some broken bones may heal without lasting consequences, severe fractures can cause permanent damage. Complex pelvic fractures can lead to chronic pain, nerve damage, and bladder or bowel issues. Severe leg fractures can result in mobility limitations, arthritis, and difficulty standing or walking. Spine fractures can lead to chronic pain and nerve damage. Other fractures also may affect the use of different parts of the body and lead to temporary or permanent disabilities.

Soft Tissue Injuries

Damage to muscles, tendons, and ligaments can be catastrophic when these issues lead to long-term or permanent impairments. Sprains, dislocated joints, or strained muscles can lead to serious mobility limitations, and physical therapy may be needed to restore function. Severe nerve damage can lead to a permanent loss of sensation or motor control in a limb.

Vision and Hearing Loss

A permanent loss of vision or hearing will have an impact on a person's ability to navigate the world, communicate with others, and work. Vision loss may occur due to eye injuries, head trauma, or chemical burns. Hearing loss may be caused by explosive blasts or head injuries. People who experience limitations affecting these senses may struggle to adapt, and their quality of life may be impacted.

Contact Our Baltimore, Maryland Catastrophic Injury Lawyers

To address a severe injury, a victim should work with a lawyer who fully understands what is at stake in their case. At Silverman Thompson, we have decades of experience representing injury victims, and we will fight to secure the compensation that considers the ongoing impact of a catastrophic injury. Contact our Baltimore severe injury attorneys at 410-385-2225 to set up a free consultation with us.