Richmond Personal Injury Attorney

If you are the victim of a serious or catastrophic traffic collision, workplace accident, medical malpractice incident, or other personal injury incident, you likely have questions about your options for financial compensation. Lengthy hospital stays, property damage, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other damages add up quickly. At MichieHamlett, our Richmond personal injury attorneys are here to help.

What is a Catastrophic Injury or a Serious Personal Injury?

As a victim of a personal injury incident, you may be wondering what category of severity your injuries fall under. According to the American Medical Association, a catastrophic injury is defined as an injury to the spinal cord, spine (spinal fracture), brain, or skull. A serious personal injury has no specific legal or medical definition, but generally involves an injury that requires an overnight stay, or more, in a hospital. Examples of a serious injury include a traumatic brain injury, a fractured femur, or facial lacerations.

Examples of Catastrophic and Serious Injury Cases We Handle

Examples of injuries our clients have faced include, but are not limited to, the following:

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)—Sadly, 25 percent of those who sustain moderate TBIs do not make full recoveries, according to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Among serious TBIs, 33 percent of patients die, and only 25 to 33 percent have a positive outcome.
Spinal cord injuries—Damage to the spinal cord typically results in some degree of permanent or temporary paralyzation.
Spinal fractures—While a spinal fracture in the neck or back does not always lead to a spinal cord injury and paralysis, it can cause lifelong chronic pain, immobility, and weakness.
Burn injuries—Second and third degree burns can lead to permanent scarring, facial damage, chronic pain, infection, and psychological harm.
Amputations—Any loss of limb is considered a serious personal injury, and should be compensated as such.
Fractures—Fractures of large bones, fractures that require surgery, and multiple fractures are serious injuries that require lengthy healing times and can result in chronic pain, immobility, and loss of function.
Facial injuries—Facial lacerations, broken teeth, fracture bones, and damage to the eyes or other senses are some of the most serious types of injuries we handle.
Serious lacerations—Any substantial laceration is life-threatening.
Torn cartilage, ligaments, or tendons—Unlike bones, the healing ability of tendons, ligaments, and cartilage is very limited. An injury to these soft tissues can be permanent.
Internal organ damage—Damage to internal organs is not only life-threatening, but may not be able to be repaired. Often, the organ must be surgically removed or diminished, resulting in loss of quality of life.

In many instances, victims of personal injury events suffer more than one type of injury. When multiple body parts are injured, the trauma the victim experiences increases. While a broken collar bone, or a herniated disc, or a concussion, or a fractured rib each by themselves may not constitute a catastrophic injury, combined together they create serious pain and suffering and a long road to recovery.

Reach Out to Our Richmond Personal Injury Attorneys

Here at MichieHamlett, we have helped clients receive significant compensation following all types of extreme injuries. To speak with one of our experienced Richmond personal injury attorneys, call or contact us online to schedule a consultation at no cost.

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