According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 214,110 TBI-related hospitalizations occurred in 2020, while 68,663 TBI-related deaths were reported in 2023. These figures are equivalent to more than 586 TBI-related hospitalizations and about 188 TBI-related deaths per day.
Catastrophic injuries and serious injuries usually differ in the post-accident suffering they cause their victims. But what makes an injury catastrophic?
Normally, cases involving catastrophic injuries require frequent, persistent medical care. Catastrophic injuries have the ability to cause permanent physical disability. Such injuries impact an individual’s ability to function normally on a daily basis indefinitely. Injuries under this classification often impact the daily routines of an individual throughout their life.
Injuries to the brain, spine, and limbs, together with severe burns, are examples of permanent injuries. Each one can create effects that continue long after someone leaves the hospital.
Let’s examine the long-term effects of catastrophic injuries closely.
Traumatic brain injuries and lasting cognitive change
Major head injuries can cause serious issues in how a person functions. There can sometimes be changes in speech, mood, attention, and memory. They may also need support in doing activities that were once easy for them to do. Often, the effects of traumatic brain injuries last.
Some people may miss early signs of this injury. The symptoms may be swelling or internal bleeding, which may occur days or even weeks following the original injury. For that reason, the full extent of harm may not be clear right away.
Spinal cord injuries and permanent loss of mobility
Spinal cord injuries can produce either partial weakness or full paralysis. Some people also get ongoing nerve pain that lasts for a long time. In certain situations, it can leave someone with lasting trouble moving their body.
In the United States, injury records at the national level report about 18,000 new traumatic spinal cord injuries each year. There is often more than loss of movement. Many people with spinal cord injuries struggle with bladder control. Others face breathing problems. Some also have a greater chance of ongoing infection. The presence of these factors means that care is often needed for a long time.
Amputation and adaptive living
Losing a limb affects more than strength and motion. After the injury, many people move on to getting a prosthesis made. The prosthesis is worn in and checked until it fits right. Victims who undergo amputation also often undergo physical therapy. Many people also go through a difficult emotional adjustment at the same time as the recovery of the body. Costs may rise as time goes on since prosthetic parts may need swapping or adjustment as the years pass.
Severe burns and permanent disfigurement
Serious burns may require surgeries to remove the burned skin and repair it with a skin graft. With burn injuries, the pain can be so great, both physically and emotionally draining, that daily pain management may be necessary for months. Other problems may arise aside from the burned skin and tissue.
Depending on the injury’s location and severity, there may be complications with nerves, decreased mobility, and even breathing problems. Healing from a facial or hand burn injury can impact a victim for an extended period beyond the physical symptoms of the injury. Healing can be further prolonged and become emotionally charged. Social isolation can also result from permanent disfigurement caused by the burn injury.
The financial reality of lifelong care
Patients who suffer catastrophic injuries often take months or even years of ongoing treatments. With prolonged medical care, costs are expected to climb far beyond what a family initially expects or can afford.
A catastrophic injury lawyer who wants to build a case has to take into account a client’s future procedures, what will be involved in rehab, and any daily care that will be required. The lawyer will also have to account for any future settlement that will cover costs with respect to mobility devices, in-home nursing visits, and any modifications to the home.
Examples of home modifications include constructing wheelchair ramps and widening doorways that will allow a client to move about in a safe manner. It is important for the settlement to be able to cover future costs.
Lost earning capacity beyond lost wages
A serious injury can change more than a job. It can affect what a person may be able to do for years. To properly account for these losses, one cannot simply rely on lost wages. There usually is a need to conduct a vocational review and professional forecasts about future earnings. These procedures will look at the age, past pay, schooling, and the specific limits caused by the injury. The goal is to estimate what work may be available across the rest of a person’s working life.
The emotional and relational toll
Bills and pain are not the only consequences of catastrophic injury. Such injuries can change how a family interacts and functions. Those effects are hard to value. Still, they matter. A spouse or another close family member may end up taking on extra caregiving. That can throw off work schedules. It can also disturb normal routines at home.
The injured person’s relationships can change as well. Some connections may weaken, while others may take a different shape. Day-to-day freedom may feel less steady. Over time, their overall well-being can decline. This includes the emotional side, not only the physical damage.
Why the long-term view matters from the start
After a serious injury, the worst impact might not arrive right away. Sometimes it shows up months later. Other times it can take years. If the claim gets labeled as small at the start, the plan can miss needs that come later. Seeing the entire long journey from day one helps someone avoid the slow process of patching problems later. That early view can decide whether a person can afford care over the rest of their life.
This content is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. AFP editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content.
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