Understanding the Costs of Catastrophic Injury Care

Catastrophic injuries can permanently alter a person’s life. These types of injuries, which can include but are not limited to traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injuries, burns, amputations and organ damage, leave the patients affected in financial turmoil. If the patient was injured due to negligence, they should seek legal counsel to obtain the necessary compensation they need. It is essential to have an attorney who can adjust their legal strategy to meet the client’s unique needs while still providing the care, attention, and advocacy they deserve.

Keep reading to understand the costs of catastrophic injury care and how the personal injury attorneys at the Fitzgerald Law Firm can help victims seek proper compensation.

The Financial Costs of Catastrophic Injury

A study conducted by the National Library of Medicine shows that treatments for catastrophic injuries such as TBI can cost millions of dollars, depending on the severity of the injury. These injuries require long-term care, resulting in a heavy financial strain over many years. Individuals who have suffered from a catastrophic injury will have to handle a multitude of expenses that include:

Short-Term Medical Expenses: Emergency room visits, surgeries, intensive care unit (ICU) stays, diagnostic imaging such as CT or MRI scans, and initial hospitalization following the injury.
Long-Term Medical Expenses: Ongoing physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, follow-up surgeries, prescription medications, and long-term in-home care or nursing support.
Accessibility Equipment: Mobility aids, such as wheelchairs and walkers, prosthetics, communication devices, and home modifications, including wheelchair ramps, stair lifts, widened doorways, and accessible bathrooms.
Psychological Support: Counseling and therapy to address depression, anxiety, PTSD, or other emotional impacts stemming from the injury, as well as support for the mental and emotional challenges of chronic pain and reduced independence.

In addition to mounting medical expenses, many catastrophic injury victims are unable to return to their previous jobs, or they have to stop working altogether. This sudden loss of income, whether due to permanent disability or the need to change careers, creates significant financial strain for both the injured person and their family.

The Attorney’s Role In Proving Damages

Insurance companies often do not support requests for aid to address the long-term needs of individuals with catastrophic injuries. Your personal injury attorney’s role is to ensure that all damages are accurately calculated to protect you from being undercompensated. This includes both economic damages, such as medical bills, lost wages, and the cost of future care, as well as non-economic damages, including mental anguish, pain, suffering and loss of enjoyment of life. In particularly egregious cases, punitive damages may also be pursued to hold the at-fault party accountable and deter similar conduct in the future.

Contact Our Personal Injury Attorneys

When a catastrophic injury occurs due to someone else’s negligence, the injured party or their loved ones have the right to pursue legal action and seek full compensation for the harm caused. Building a strong case requires timely evidence collection and a legal strategy tailored to the unique challenges of long-term, life-altering injuries.

With more than forty years of experience, The Fitzgerald Law Firm is committed to representing individuals and families facing the aftermath of serious, permanent injuries or the wrongful death of a loved one. We hold the record for the largest verdicts ever upheld on appeal by the Wyoming Supreme Court for injuries and wrongful death. Our focused approach ensures every case receives the attention, resources, and care it deserves.