What Classifies as a Catastrophic Injury in Florida? 

Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers | Personal Injury

What Classifies as a Catastrophic Injury in Florida? 

If you’ve suffered injuries due to an accident, the effects can be devastating. You may sustain long-term or even permanent impairments, affecting your overall quality of life. This type of severe harm is known as a catastrophic injury in a personal injury claim. 

A victim of a catastrophic injury deserves full compensation for their pain and suffering from the at-fault party. Read on to learn about catastrophic injuries and how an experienced personal injury lawyer can pursue a fair financial recovery for a victim’s past and future damages. 

What is Considered a Catastrophic Injury? 

Examples of catastrophic injuries under Florida law are described as injuries causing a “permanent impairment,” such as: 

  • Spinal cord injury involving paralysis of an arm, leg, or trunk
  • Amputation of a limb 
  • Severe brain injuries with symptoms such as severe sensory or motor disturbances, issues with communication or cerebral function, or severe neurological disorders
  • Second-degree or third-degree burns over 25% or more of the body, or third-degree burns of 5% or more of the face or hands
  • Blindness
  • Loss of reproductive organs leading to the inability to procreate

The examples above are not all-inclusive. A catastrophic injury claim in Florida can be brought for other severe life-altering injuries that were caused by another person or entity. 

How Do Catastrophic Injuries Happen? 

Catastrophic injuries can be caused by many factors. 

Common causes of catastrophic injuries include: 

When these incidents happen, serious injuries can result. About 18,000 traumatic spinal cord injuries occur in the United States each year. Among these injuries, the leading causes are vehicle crashes and falls. The lifetime cost of a spinal cord injury can range from $1 million to $5 million for victims. 

If your catastrophic injury was caused by another person, it is critical to hire a skilled personal injury lawyer to recover these costs. 

Catastrophic injury victims have the right to file a personal injury claim in Florida to seek compensation for their harm. They will generally need to prove the legal theory of negligence to be successful. 

The elements of negligence include: 

  • The wrongdoer or careless party owed some duty of care to the plaintiff;
  • The opposing party breached this duty or failed to act in a reasonable manner;
  • The breach of duty caused the harm done to the plaintiff;
  • The plaintiff suffered damages as a result. 

Damages in a Florida personal injury claim can include economic damages such as medical bills, lost wages, costs for therapy and rehabilitation, property damage, and reduced earning capacity. 

Damages can also include non-economic losses such as pain and suffering, loss of companionship, and mental anguish. These types of damages can be especially significant when the injury is catastrophic and permanent in nature.

What to Do After Sustaining a Catastrophic Injury in Florida 

If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury due to another person’s negligence in Florida, the time to act is now. To build the strongest case possible, a Florida personal injury attorney must collect information and identify witnesses early on before crucial pieces of evidence are lost.

Your attorney can develop a strategy for your personal injury claim, locate the person or entity responsible, and proceed with legal action as needed. 

Catastrophic injury cases can be complex and time-consuming in some situations. These cases are difficult, if not impossible, to handle on your own. Luckily, our experienced legal team is here to help you. 

An Experienced Clearwater Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help You Prove Your Catastrophic Injury Claim

We understand that you will be overwhelmed – physically, mentally, and emotionally – if you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury. Our skilled personal injury lawyers can ease your burden and fight for you at every stage of your case. 

Contact the Clearwater Personal Injury Law Firm Of Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers for Help

For more information, please contact the Clearwater and personal injur law firm of Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers at the nearest location to schedule a free consultation today.

We serve Pinellas County and its surrounding areas:

Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers – Clearwater
1875 N Belcher Rd. STE 201,
Clearwater, FL 33765
(727) 796-8282

Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers – St. Petersburg
2560 1st Ave S,
St. Petersburg, FL 33712
(727) 349-1728