About Catastrophic Injuries

Lakeland Catastrophic Injury Lawyer Dean Burnetti provides professional Catastrophic Accident and Injury Attorney legal services in Polk County, including: Lakeland, Auburndale, Bartow, Davenport, Dundee, Eagle Lake, Fort Meade, Frostproof, Haines City, Highland Park, Hillcrest Heights, Lake Alfred, Lake Hamilton, Lake Wales, Mulberry, Polk City, and Winter Haven; in Highlands County, including: Avon Park, Lake Placid, Lorida, Sebring, Venus, Placid Lake, and Sylvan Shores; and in Hardee County, including: Bowling Green, Ona, Wauchula, Zolfo Springs, Gardner, and Limestone; and all of the Greater Central Florida Area.

The term “catastrophic injury” refers to severe injury to the spine, spinal cord, or brain. The National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research classifies catastrophic injuries based on the following three outcomes associated with them:

• Fatal catastrophic injuries or catastrophic injuries that result in death.
• Catastrophic injuries that cause severe permanent functional disability.
• Catastrophic injuries causing immediate severe head or neck trauma without permanent disability.

Spinal Cord Injuries

The two types of spinal cord injuries are: Incomplete and Complete. Each category encompasses specific types of spinal injuries that define the degree of function the victim may lose.

With an incomplete spinal cord injury, the cord is partially severed. With a partial detachment, it is possible for the victim to regain function, either to some degree or completely. The amount of function retained depends on the severity of the spinal cord injury as well as other injuries.

More than 60% of all spinal cord injuries are incomplete, meaning the spinal cord is not completely severed. Luckily, recent advances in medicine have decreased complete spinal cord injuries by far.  Nowadays, first responders and doctors have better knowledge and insight about what to do with a suspected spinal cord injury.

Knowing the location and severity of the spinal cord injury allows the victim to achieve their best prognosis.

The most common types of incomplete or partial spinal cord injuries include:

• Anterior Cord Syndrome
• Brown-Sequard Syndrome
• Central Cord Syndrome
• Tetraplegia
• Paraplegia
• Triplegia
• Injuries below the lumbar area

Traumatic Brain Injuries

A Traumatic Brain Injury is a complex injury.  It can result from a violent blow or jolt to the victim’s head or body.  But it can also be caused by an object penetrating the victim’s brain tissue.  What’s more, this “object” can include a shattered piece of the victim’s own skull.

A mild traumatic brain injury might only affect the victim’s brain cells for a short time. But a serious traumatic brain injury can result in long-term complications or even death.

Traumatic brain injuries may cause symptoms to appear immediately following the traumatic event.  Nevertheless, sometimes, symptoms don’t appear until days or weeks after the trauma.

Burn Injuries

The American Burn Association reports that an estimated 450,000 Americans seek medical attention for burns every year. However, this statistic does not account for burn injuries treated in hospital clinics, private medical offices, or community health centers. Additionally, of these burn injuries, over 3,400 a year fatal!

Severe burns are often classified as “catastrophic injuries” because of the permanent effect they can have on the victim. As a result, burns victims often suffer skin damage, nerve damage, and tissue damage. Furthermore, burns can penetrate areas beneath the skin, damaging muscle, fat, bones, and even organs.

Severe burns can lead to complications including respiratory problems, infections, shock, amputation, and even death. Moreover, surface burns can cause painful blisters, loss of skin or hair, permanent disfigurement, inflammation, physical scars, and excruciating pain.

A burn victim may be physically impaired for life.  Additionally, they may lose their ability to work for months or more.  As a matter of fact, they may require one or multiple surgeries.  They may also require mobility equipment as well as months of grueling physical therapy.  Finally, they may also suffer severe mental trauma from the event that burned them.

Dean Burnetti Law Can Help...

No matter how you were injured or if a loved one was killed in a catastrophic incident and you aren’t sure what your options are, the attorneys and staff at Dean Burnetti Law are familiar with every aspect of your case.  They are eager to navigate the legal system for you as you travel down the road to physical and financial recovery.  Call Dean Burnetti Law at 863-287-6388 or 813-287-6388 today to schedule your free and confidential consultation.

The attorneys and staff at Dean Burnetti Law are familiar with every aspect of Catastrophic Injuries, including spinal cord damage, brain damage, burn injuries, and even death. Our team is highly qualified and waiting to serve you.