What Are the Most Common Catastrophic Car Accident Injuries?

A detailed list of the many possible catastrophic injuries that can result from a car crash would be vast beyond measure. The most common injuries, however, are the following:

• Traumatic brain injury (TBI) or other head trauma
• Spinal cord injury (SCI)
• Accidental amputation
• Deafness/blindness
• Paralysis (paraplegia or quadriplegia)
• Severe and multiple bone fractures
• Organ damage
• Neurological disorders
• Severe burns

The above are considered catastrophic when they cause long-term or permanent injuries that significantly impact the victim’s life.

Does Michigan No-Fault Insurance Help?

Before insurance reforms in 2020 in Michigan, every driver in Michigan was required to buy unlimited Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage. This meant that the cost for caring for catastrophic car accident injuries (medical expenses, lost wages, and replacement services) was fully covered.

Now, however, drivers can choose their level of PIP medical coverage. For those who choose unlimited and can afford to pay the premiums, they’re still covered. But many drivers opt instead for coverage limits of $500,000, $250,000, or $50,000 (with certain conditions) because they’re more affordable.

But given the cost of medical care along with calculated lost wages and other long-term care needs, even $500,000 runs out quickly when you’re dealing with a catastrophic car accident injury. Meanwhile, those who receive benefits through the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan are limited to just $250,000 in medical expense coverage.

The Crushing Costs for Care

Obviously, the more severe the injury, the more medical coverage the victim will need.

The average emergency room visit costs around $1,500. If the victim is admitted and surgery is required, the cost can skyrocket quickly. Depending on the complexity of the injury and recovery needs, a surgery can range from thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Then there’s the ongoing medical treatment, mental health support, vocational rehabilitation, home modifications, and case management that are part and parcel of the long-term care needs for those with catastrophic car accident injuries. Again, depending on the nature and severity of the injury, this cost can range from thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

In cases where there is a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) or severe spinal cord injury, the costs are significantly higher right at the onset. An emergency department visit for a TBI averages $18,000-$25,000, and could exceed $100,000 if surgery and ICU are required. After that, the lifetime cost of care for a victim with a TBI can easily surpass $3 million.

As for a severe spinal cord injury, initial hospitalization costs average between $140,000 and $200,000. The lifetime cost of care for this sort of injury, based on severity and age, is in the $1 million to $5 million range.

This leaves many victims in a financially dire situation. To say the least.

How a Car Accident Injury Lawyer Can Help

In Michigan, victims who have sustained a catastrophic car accident injury may be able to recover compensation. They must first be able to prove that the at-fault driver who caused the automobile crash was negligent.

Proving this fault typically involves showing that the driver failed to drive with the care that a reasonably careful driver would. In other words, the driver was speeding, driving distracted, under the influence, or engaged in another act of negligence. A car accident injury lawyer can collect this evidence, conduct investigations, and present the case on behalf of the victim who may be otherwise incapacitated.

Second, to receive compensation for pain and suffering, the victim must prove that their current catastrophic injuries resulted in a “serious impairment of body function.” This is known as the legal tort threshold law for those bringing a lawsuit for major life-altering injuries suffered in a serious car accident. Once again, the car accident attorneys at Kajy Law understands these laws inside and out know how to prove this and fight for the victim’s rights to get them the compensation they so richly deserve.

Consult With an Experienced Car Accident Injury Lawyer Today

If you or a loved one is suffering from catastrophic car accident injuries, you need attorneys on your side. You need Kajy Law.

We recently had a seriously injured client who was offered $100,000 from the insurance company. We fought and won 12.5 times that amount for the client. Don’t you deserve that kind of effort too?

So call us now at 877-KAJY-CARES or fill out our online form for a free consultation with one of our experienced lawyers who’s ready to fight for your right to long-term (or a lifetime of) care.