According to the CDC, approximately 5,100 people have died, and 1,176,300 others suffered non-fatal injuries in 2020. Of the non-fatal injuries, 18 percent resulted in days off work. While not all injuries resulting in days off work are severe, some can have a long-term effect on a person’s life.
What Are Catastrophic Injuries
The simplest definition of a catastrophic accident is a devastating event that results in death or lasting physical injuries that alter the life of the victim. As a result, navigating claims for injuries suffered in catastrophic injuries can be pretty challenging due to the nature of damages suffered.
Common injuries that may fall under catastrophic injuries include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations, neurological injuries, and crash injuries, among others. If a loved one dies from a catastrophic accident, you can file a wrongful death claim against the liable party.
Liability for Workplace Accidents
Typically, the employer will be liable for catastrophic injuries that occur on their premises. But, there are circumstances where a third party may be liable for damages, for example, if an independent contractor injures a worker or defective machinery causes the accident.
Most states have laws requiring employers to carry a workers’ compensation coverage that compensates employees for workplace-related accidents on a no-fault basis. There is a flip side to the arrangement. You can only recover economic damages but lose out on non-economic damages. Where liability is on a third party, you can recover both economic and non-economic damages, and in rare circumstances, punitive damages.
Get Medical Attention and Report the Accident
Your health should always come first. So, the first thing after an accident should be getting medical help. Besides upholding your health, getting medical help ensures you get documentation such as bills, doctor notes, and receipts, which is critical to building a strong case.
The other important thing to do while at the scene is to document it by taking pictures and videos using your smartphone. If there are witnesses to your accident, you should consider taking their testimonies and contact information.
Also, ensure that you report your accident to the relevant office. States have different laws on reporting workplace-related injuries, so you will want to ensure you are compliant. If your injuries can’t allow you to report in person, you can have someone do it on your behalf, for example, a lawyer.
With the increasing number of road accidents and the vulnerable nature of cyclists, bicycle safety is a key area of concern. You can actively increase your safety on the road by wearing appropriate attire and the right safety gear,” says says accident attorney Dennis Abrams .
A Lawyer Can Help
Not all work-related injuries will require working with a lawyer when pursuing a claim. Minor injuries such as a few scrapes and bruises may not be worth much, so hiring a lawyer may not make much economic sense. If you suffer injuries that keep you off work for months or suffer temporal or permanent disabilities, you can expect to have a highly contested case, so it’s a good idea to have a personal injury lawyer with you.
Having a lawyer helps in several ways. First, it helps command respect from the lawyers of the opposite side. Besides commanding respect, a lawyer will help in evidence collection and case valuation. Personal injury lawyers only charge after winning your case, and you recover damages, so you do not have to worry about legal fees in the beginning.
