THERE’S A GOOD REASON THEY’RE CALLED “CATASTROPHIC.”

1. THE MOST SERIOUS
INJURIES IN CAR ACCIDENTS
THERE’S A GOOD REASONTHEY’RE CALLED “CATASTROPHIC.”

2. WHAT IS A CATASTROPHIC INJURY?
The term catastrophic injury is
reserved for the most serious
injuries a person can suffer.They are
often permanent, incredibly painful
and limit a person’s ability to
perform everyday functions.

3. WHO USESTHISTERM?
“Catastrophic injury” is used primarily
by attorneys and medical professionals
to distinguish injuries that are in a
different class from minor injuries.The
usage of the term might vary from one
attorney or doctor to another. For
example, one attorney might use the
term only when talking about brain or
spinal injuries, while another might also
use the term to discuss other major
injuries, such as amputations or burns.

4. SPINAL CORD INJURIES
Every year, around 17,000 people in the
U.S. suffer a spinal cord injury.The
most serious cases might result in:
• Paralysis
• Difficulty walking
• Restricted use of limbs
• Dependence on medical devices for
basic bodily functions.

5. TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES
About 1.7 million people suffer traumatic brain injuries each year.They are typically
caused by a blow or jolt to the head. Some, like concussions, are classified as
“minor,” though severe brain injuries might cause:
• Learning difficulty
• Language processing problems
• Chronic headaches
• Paralysis
• Emotional problems, such as
depression and anxiety
• Changes in personality.

6. LOSS OF A LIMB
When an injury leads to an amputation,
the effects can be devastating for a
victim. Every year in the U.S., more
than 1.6 million people lose a limb.
These injuries can lead to:
• Disability
• Inability to perform routine tasks
• Expensive ongoing medical care
• Dependence on others for assistance.

7. BURN INJURIES
More than 1 million people seek treatment
for burn injuries every year in the United
States.The most severe burns can lead to:
• Disfigurement
• Disability
• Extensive medical treatment and
surgeries
• Emotional problems, such as depression,
anxiety and isolation.

8. WHEN A CATASTROPHETURNS FATAL
Serious injuries can also be
fatal.This can be true of any of
the previously discussed
injuries and countless others.
For example, internal injuries
are often deadly because they
are difficult to detect and
treat. Serious lacerations or
some broken bones might also
be fatal if not treated
immediately.

9. TYPES OF CAR CRASHESTHAT RESULT
IN SERIOUS INJURY
Any crash type can cause a catastrophic
injury, though some are notoriously
dangerous for those involved,
including:
• Pedestrian crashes
• Bicycle crashes
• Rollovers
• Head-on collisions
• Large truck crashes
• Side-impact collisions

10. HOW SERIOUS INJURIES AFFECTVICTIMS
As you can see, these injuries all have
common characteristics.They are
incredibly painful, disabling and
permanent.They are also very
expensive injuries, often requiring
extensive treatment and ongoing care.
To make matters worse for the sufferer,
they might also impair a person’s ability
to do their job and make earning an
income even more difficult.

11. PERSONAL INJURY CLAIMS OFFER A
PATH FORWARD
When someone is seriously injured by a
careless driver, they can file a personal
injury claim to recover the costs of the
damage they’ve suffered.These claims
help secure payment that can be put
toward medical treatment, ongoing
care and other bills. When a
catastrophic injury is fatal, survivors of
the deceased can file wrongful death
claims to receive compensation for
costs they face after a loss.

12. CONTACT BERT LOUTHIANTO LEARN MORE…
If you or a loved one has suffered a
catastrophic injury and want to learn
more about filing a personal injury or
wrongful death claim in South Carolina,
contact us today. Bert Louthian has
decades of experience helping clients,
making sure they get the compensation
they deserve.