Catastrophic Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents
By its very designation, a catastrophic injury is one that is more serious than a broken bone, sprained ankle or neck or some cuts and abrasions. An injury that prevents you from permanently engaging in gainful employment or that seriously diminishes your enjoyment of life is indeed catastrophic.
A catastrophic injury can have drastic effects on you as well as your family. A permanent disability may mean constant supervision, rehabilitation or assistance for the rest of your life along with the associated financial costs. In many cases, future surgeries may be necessary attended by the risks they entail as well as the recovery time following it along with medications, the risk of addiction and possible complications from the medicine or other forms of treatment.
Catastrophic injuries include:
- Permanent disfigurement
- Loss of eyesight or hearing
- Partial paralysis
- Paraplegia or quadriplegia
- Amputation of a limb
- Multiple bone fractures
- Internal organ damage
- Brain injuries
- Severe burns
- Neurological disorders such as loss of motor skills
- Severe PTSD
Victims may be bed-ridden for months or confined to a wheelchair for the rest of their lives or permanently require the use of a cane or walker. If capable, you may be re-trained to perform some kind of work, though your income may be substantially less than you were earning before you were injured.
You can sue for damages from the responsible party or parties. Damages usually include past and future medical expenses and income loss and pain and suffering coupled with an evidence of how your quality of life has been significantly diminished. You may also need expenses for:
- Psychological counseling to cope with your pain and altered lifestyle
- Mobility assistance and devices
- In-home care
- Expenses for rehabilitation and new career opportunities
In cases where the damages are significant, it is essential to find the resources to compensate you. Experienced attorneys can investigate every aspect of a serious injury and may uncover parties whose culpability was not readily apparent immediately following the accident. For example, defective roadway design may have contributed to the accident and involve a municipality. The motorcycle may have been poorly serviced by a dealership or bike mechanic shop or have a defective design or a piece that was not manufactured properly. If a truck was involved, its commercial policy could also provide substantial funds.