What is a catastrophic injury?

A catastrophic injury generally means a physical injury that is extreme or particularly serious, has a devastating impact on the injury victim, and requires extensive medical treatment. Catastrophic injuries do not have to be permanent, but they usually require months and more typically years to heal. In many of these cases involving catastrophic injury, a complete knowledge of the extent of the physical injury can not be determined for a long time. Catastrophic injuries typically have long lasting physical and emotional effects. 

There are many kinds of catastrophic injuries, including severe burns, limb loss, permanent traumatic brain injuries, and injuries to the spinal cord. Catastrophic injuries can affect almost any area of the body including the musculoskeletal, central nervous system, urinary, respiratory, gastrointestinal, circulatory, excretory, and reproductive systems.

The severity rather than the type of personal injury accident determines whether an injury is classified as catastrophic. Many accidents can result in catastrophic injuries including automobile accidents, motorcycle accidents, workplace accidents, defective products, birth injuries, fire or other disaster injuries.