Practice Area
Catastrophic Injuries
Catastrophic injuries permanently change how you live, work, and care for yourself. These cases often involve extensive medical care, long-term rehabilitation, and lifetime financial impact.
Helios Law helps families secure compensation for immediate needs and future care, coordinating medical experts and life-care planners. Consultations are free so you can understand options and timelines without pressure. Get a catastrophic injury consultation.
What qualifies as a catastrophic injury claim?
Catastrophic injury claims arise when severe harm—often involving permanent disability—results from negligence, recklessness, or intentional wrongdoing. These cases frequently include complex medical evidence and higher financial stakes.
Types of harm in catastrophic injury cases
Severe physical injuries may include:
- Traumatic brain injuries with lasting cognitive or motor impacts
- Spinal cord injuries causing paralysis or significant mobility loss
- Amputations or loss of limb function
- Severe burns with disfigurement or chronic pain
- Crush injuries and multiple fractures
Catastrophic cases often involve extended hospital stays, surgeries, assistive devices, and modifications to living spaces.
Long-term non-physical effects can include:
- Post-traumatic stress and anxiety
- Depression tied to chronic pain or lifestyle changes
- Cognitive changes that affect memory or decision-making
- Loss of independence and need for daily assistance
- Strain on family relationships and caregiving capacity
Events that often cause catastrophic injuries include:
- High-impact auto, truck, or motorcycle crashes
- Falls from height or structural failures
- Construction and industrial accidents
- Defective products or unsafe machinery
- Fires, explosions, or electrical incidents
Serious misconduct can also be involved, such as:
- Grossly unsafe worksite practices
- Defective safety equipment or lack of training
- Medical negligence during surgery or childbirth
- Intentional violence or reckless disregard for safety
Do I have a catastrophic injury case?
You may have a catastrophic injury case if the harm is severe, someone else is liable, and there is a path to cover lifetime care. Consider:
- Have doctors documented permanent impairment or disability?
- Is there evidence of negligence, defective equipment, or unsafe conditions?
- Will you need lifelong medical care, rehabilitation, or home modifications?
- Is there insurance coverage or assets to fund a life-care plan and lost earning capacity?
- Are you within the statute of limitations or any special notice deadlines (e.g., claims against government entities)?
Early legal help can secure evidence, coordinate experts, and model long-term costs for negotiation or trial. Talk with Helios Law about your catastrophic injury.
What should I do after a catastrophic injury?
After a catastrophic injury, prioritize emergency care and protect evidence while family or counsel coordinates support:
- Emergency medical care and stabilization
- Document what happened
- Preserve equipment, vehicles, or products
- Track medical providers and records
- Engage an attorney to protect claims
Emergency medical care and stabilization
Follow all emergency and specialist recommendations. Early imaging, surgery, and rehabilitation plans become key evidence of the injury’s severity and necessary care.
Document what happened
Obtain incident, police, or OSHA reports where applicable. Photograph the scene, visible injuries, and any safety hazards. Identify witnesses and secure their contact information quickly.
Preserve equipment and records
Keep vehicles, machinery, safety gear, or defective products intact for expert inspection. Maintain a log of providers, diagnoses, medications, and therapy recommendations.
How much is my catastrophic injury case worth?
Catastrophic injury valuation accounts for lifetime medical care, assistive technology, home modifications, lost earning capacity, and non-economic damages such as pain, loss of independence, and diminished quality of life. Structured settlements or trusts may be used to protect long-term needs.
Will my catastrophic injury case go to trial?
Because damages are significant, insurers may contest liability or the extent of future costs. Some catastrophic cases proceed to trial if settlement offers don’t reflect lifetime needs, but strong medical and economic evidence can encourage resolution.