As members of a developed society, we all feel a level of safety when leaving our homes.
Unfortunately, this is not always the case when someone's negligent behavior leads to you
coming in harm’s way. Unforeseen accidents can happen while working, engaging in
recreational activities, or during daily commutes. Catastrophic injuries occur more frequently
than they should, and the path to recovery is often arduous. It involves extensive hospital stays,
rehabilitation, long-term care, and a lifetime of medical challenges and limitations.

At Flores Law Group, we have a team of professional catastrophic personal injury teams ready to get
you the compensation that you deserve. We will stop at nothing to ensure that the negligent
party responsible for your catastrophic personal injury is brought to justice.

If you are interested in learning more about filing a personal injury claim for a catastrophic injury
you received, please do not hesitate to contact us and speak with one of our attorneys today!

What is a Catastrophic Injury

A catastrophic injury is much different than your typical personal injury. Most government and
legal experts define a catastrophic injury as an injury that causes a permanent disability that
forever alters the life of the individual. Here are some examples of what a catastrophic injury
looks like.

First, there are spinal cord injuries. An SCI injury is deemed catastrophic when it results in
paralysis of the arms, legs, or trunk. Individuals with SCI experience a loss of function from the
point of injury on the spine downward. Following spinal cord damage, they often need to relearn
fundamental activities of daily living. This includes finding new ways to engage with family,
drive, earn a living, and attend to personal care. Additionally, I have an invested interest in
seeking justice for spinal cord injuries, as my father was paralyzed in a motorcycle collision.

Next, amputations of the arm, hand, foot, or leg are all catastrophic injuries. The loss of a body
part significantly impairs an individual's ability to function. Similar to spinal cord injuries,
amputees must adapt to life with the loss and learn alternative methods of accomplishing tasks.
Amputations lead to lifelong limitations, reduced earning capacity, and considerable
disfigurement.

Thirdly, there are severe brain or closed-head injuries. Severe brain injuries result in cognitive,
motor, physical, communication, neurological, or other impairments. Individuals with moderate
to severe traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) often face decreased life expectancies, diminished
quality of life, and ongoing health issues. The most severe TBIs can result in comas and
vegetative states from which some individuals never recover.

Furthermore, individuals can suffer from Second or third-degree burns covering 25 percent of
the body's surface. Second and third-degree burns are categorized as catastrophic. However,
burns can sometimes cause even more extensive damage. Fourth-degree burns penetrate the
skin and affect the underlying fatty layers. Fifth-degree burns extend to the victim's muscles,
while sixth-degree burns impact muscles and bones. When burns reach such depth, they
destroy external and internal tissues, muscles, and bones. In severe cases, surgical amputation
may be necessary for extensively burned limbs.

Finally, someone can suffer from a total loss of vision and the loss of reproductive organs
resulting in infertility.

Regardless of what catastrophic injury you suffer from, you deserve to be compensated for the
pain and suffering you are experiencing. At Flores Law Group, we have a client-first approach to
everything we do. We understand that a catastrophic injury will forever alter not only your life but
the lives of those around you. That is why we stop at nothing to ensure you receive every penny
you are owed from the responsible party.

What Accidents Can Lead to Catastrophic Injuries

Like with other personal injuries, a catastrophic injury can occur at any time, for any number of
causes. However, there are certain scenarios that create enough trauma to lead to a
catastrophic injury. Here are some of the most common accidents we deal with that often lead
to catastrophic injuries.

Slipping and Falling

Slip and fall injuries can occur in various settings, including public areas, workplaces, and
private residences. For example, instances of slip-and-fall accidents can happen in nursing
homes, department stores, amusement parks, restaurants, residential common areas, and other
public spaces. Here are some examples of how negligence can lead to slip and fall personal
injuries.

● Floors and staircases that are soiled or poorly maintained

● Inadequate warnings about hazards

● Inadequate maintenance

● Insufficient lighting

● Unresolved hazards

● Worn and deteriorating steps and walkways

Both older adults and young children are particularly vulnerable to fall-related injuries. The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified falls as the leading cause of
injuries and fatalities among older Americans. In one recent year, 28% of American adults aged
65 and above reported experiencing a fall, with approximately 8 million of them seeking
emergency treatment. Falls in older individuals can lead to brain injuries, hip fractures, leg
fractures, and other severe harm.

The CDC has also found that falls are the leading cause of non-fatal injuries in children aged 0
to 19. It is estimated that 8,000 American children require emergency treatment for fall-related
injuries every day.

Although not all falls result in catastrophic injuries, they contribute to 28% of traumatic brain
injuries (TBIs) and 32.2% of spinal cord injuries. When older adults suffer hip fractures from
falls, some may never fully recover from the impact.

Manufacturing and Food Service

Industries heavily rely on machinery and equipment to enhance production speed. However, the
focus on productivity often leads to negligence in prioritizing safety and adequate training.
Injuries frequently arise from the operation of unguarded hazardous equipment, insufficient
training, and inadequate warning systems.

As a result of this negligence, amputations are a common occurrence in factories, industrial
operations, and food production industries. Workers may lose their hands, fingers, or limbs
when they become entangled in power-driven cutting, shearing, pressing, punching, and similar
equipment. These incidents are often a result of improperly guarded mechanisms and the
inherent dangers associated with such machines.

Finally, chemical exposures pose another significant risk in many manufacturing operations
where chemicals are utilized. Employees may suffer lung injuries, chemical burns, or even
blindness due to exposure to toxic or hazardous substances. The absence of adequate
workplace ventilation further amplifies the risk associated with chemical exposures.

Car Accidents

The CDC also identifies vehicle crashes as one of the leading causes of death in the United
States, making them particularly concerning for the safety of children. Fatal crashes often result
in catastrophic injuries, highlighting the severity of such accidents. Typically, these incidents
occur when a driver is either speeding or impaired, rendering them unable to recognize the
impending danger. The combination of excessive speed, inattention, and failure to react
contributes to the occurrence of forceful and destructive crashes.

In cases involving tractor-trailers, the significant discrepancy in vehicle size becomes a primary
factor. Empty tractor-trailers weigh no less than 10,000 pounds. When these large vehicles
collide with private passenger cars weighing between 3,000 and 5,000 pounds, the impact force
is substantial, leading to extensive damage and catastrophic injuries. Here are some examples
of situations that lead to catastrophic injuries due to a car accident.

● Distracted driving

● Driving under the influence of alcohol

● Drug-impaired driving

● Speeding

● Drowsy driving

Serious vehicle crashes result in some of the most debilitating injuries. Motorcycle accidents, in
particular, often cause multiple catastrophic injuries in a single incident. The Traumatic Brain
Injury Model Systems reported that "vehicular crashes" accounted for 50 percent of traumatic
brain injuries among the 18,126 patients in their database. Similarly, according to the National
Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, vehicle accidents caused 38.6 percent of spinal cord
injuries among their 34,130-person database of individuals with spinal cord injuries.

Accidents on Construction Sites

Construction sites, with their combination of heavy equipment, large vehicles, and intricate
operations, present numerous risks to workers. The Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) has identified a list of construction hazards leading to catastrophic
injuries, which is provided below.

First, they identified electrocutions. Construction workers are at risk of electrocution when they
come into contact with electrical lines while working on metal scaffolding, or ladders or
encountering unprotected and uninsulated electrical lines above or below ground.

Next, falls are a major source of catastrophic injuries in the construction field. In fact, falls
account for one-third of construction fatalities and numerous injuries. Workers can slip and fall in
ground-level work areas or from higher to lower elevations during various construction
operations such as roofing, glazing, and steelwork. Falls occur due to unsafe working surfaces,
inadequate wall protection, insufficient scaffolding, and improper ladder use. OSHA mandates
personal fall protection for workers operating at heights of six feet or higher. However, some
construction operations fail to comply with these safety requirements.

Thirdly, there are incidents where construction workers can be struck by a number of objects.
These incidents occur when workers unintentionally drop tools and materials on their
unsuspecting colleagues. Nail gun accidents are a specific type of struck-by incident that
happens more frequently than one might anticipate.

Furthermore, trenching and excavating are problematic when it comes to the safety of
construction workers. For example, trenching and excavation operations are prone to collapses
caused by inadequate safety measures. These collapses can trap workers under the soil,
resulting in fractures from the weight of the soil and anoxic brain damage due to oxygen
deprivation. OSHA requires soil tests to assess the need for trench wall shoring, sloping,
benching, or shielding. Accidents also occur when heavy equipment is positioned too close to
the trench edge, causing the soil to loosen and equipment to fall into the trench, endangering
workers.

Finally, you can have construction workers who are caught in or between machinery and tools.
Workers are at risk of crush injuries when working with heavy construction equipment,
improperly stored materials, and industrial machinery.

It is important to note that in some cases, workplace injuries are covered by worker
compensation. However, it is more common that an employer does not carry workers’
compensation insurance or a third party is responsible for the injury. Separate civil lawsuits
outside the worker compensation system must be brought to ensure you are adequately
protected.

Picking the Right Catastrophic Injury Attorneys

At Flores Law Group, we strive to get you what you are owed, no matter who is at fault. Our team has
the expertise to navigate even the most complicated catastrophic injury claim. We also believe
in having a personal relationship with our clients and ensuring you feel heard and understood
while going through something traumatic, like a catastrophic injury. If you would like to learn
more about how we can help you file a personal injury claim after a catastrophic injury or
several different accidents, please contact us today!