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Catastrophic injuries at work: What are they?
Most workplace injuries can be fixed with short-term treatment and care. However, there are instances when a workplace injury can be life-altering.
Life-altering injuries that require ongoing support and therapy are known as catastrophic injuries. If you sustain a catastrophic injury at work, you may be entitled to financial restitution under California’s workers’ compensation program.
So what constitutes catastrophic injuries?
Workplace injuries come in all kinds of forms. Basically, catastrophic injuries result in permanent disability and prevent the injury victim from getting back to work. These injuries can be caused by employee negligence, equipment malfunction, poor safety standards or sheer accident. Whatever the cause, catastrophic injuries can leave the victim with:
- A permanent disability
- Need for specialized or long-term care
- Severe scarring or disfigurement
Here are examples of catastrophic injuries you can sustain at work.
Brain injuries
Brain injuries happen when the head is subjected to sudden trauma that leads to damage to the brain tissue. This may be caused by a blow, a bump or a jolt to the head. Depending on the severity, a traumatic brain injury can lead to disability and death. Brain injury can happen when the employee is not wearing the right protective gear or during a car accident. Symptoms of brain injury include blurred vision, memory loss, nausea and loss of sensation.
Injuries to the spine
Spinal cord injuries happen when the vertebral column is subjected to a blow that fractures the vertebrae. This can happen when the worker falls from an elevated spot, during a car accident or following a slip-and-fall incident at work. Symptoms of spinal cord injuries may include paralysis, twisted back or neck, numbness of the limbs and loss of bladder and bowel control.
A catastrophic injury can do irreparable damage to your body. Knowing your legal options can help you pursue the compensation you deserve for your damages.