Brain and spinal cord injuries are among some of the most devastating types of injuries, as the resulting damages are often catastrophic. Catastrophic injuries are classified as any physical damage that is permanent in nature, or more specifically, any injury that will prohibit the victim from ever making a full recovery and returning to the same physical state as before the accident.
Sadly, brain and spinal cord injuries are often the result of preventable incidents, like a drunken driving accident, a premises liability, or an act of violence. When a negligent party is responsible for causing this type of injury, however, the victim has the right to pursue a personal injury lawsuit, in turn.
Spinal cord injuries affect about 12,000 surviving individuals each year in the United States—not including those who are fatally injured on the scene of an accident—making it vitally important for justice to be sought in the instances that negligence was the cause. Statistics show that about 39 percent of these injuries are caused by involvement in a motor vehicle accident, 28 percent are caused by falls from a height, 14 percent are caused by acts of violence, and so on. For those that are forced to sustain a catastrophic injury, they may have several different options to pursue compensation.
If the accident was caused by a negligent driver or a failure to adequately maintain a hazardous property liability, an injured individual may be able to pursue a personal injury claim. Similarly, if an accident victim sustained the injury while on the job, they may be eligible to claim workers’ compensation benefits. In certain fields of work, like construction, hazardous working conditions are not uncommon, and many times, devastating injuries can ensue after a serious accident.
Workers’ compensation is a way for a temporarily or permanently injured worker to receive reimbursement for lost wages in the wake of their debilitation, and all costly medical expenses will be covered, as well.
If you have suffered a brain and/or spinal cord injury as the result of a negligent individual or a workplace accident, you should not hesitate to explore you options. With the help of a knowledgeable attorney, you may be able to better understand your rights, and can therefore figure out a viable way to recover damages for the injuries that you have sustained.
Catastrophic injuries are life-long and will likely result in a future of regular doctor visits, costly medications, and possibly even assisted living expenses. You have the right not to suffer through this financial burden in addition to the physical pain that you have already been forced to endure, if your injuries were unrightfully sustained, so take the first step today by contacting a local attorney.
