Is My Injury
“Catastrophic”?

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are the result of a disruption in the normal function of the brain that can be caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or penetrating head injury. These injuries are particularly significant, as the victim may develop more symptoms with age, such as Alzheimer’s or dementia prematurely. TBIs are serious public health issues in Florida, and contribute to a significant number of deaths and cases of permanent disability, or future disability.

The affects that TBI victims may experience from their injury include, but are not limited to:

• Problems thinking clearly
• Difficulty forming new memories
• Chronic headaches
• Nervousness or anxiety
• Insomnia or hypersomnia
• Nausea or vomiting
• Sensitivity to noise or light

Approximately 17,000 reported spinal cord injuries occur each year in Florida. These tragic injuries can have serious consequences, sadly with many diagnoses of partial to total paralysis. Unfortunately, many, with use of mobility assistance devices, and non stop medical check-ups. Spinal cord injuries also run the risk of other future medical events:

• Impaired blood flow and heart rate
• Blood clots
• Stroke
• Brain Aneurysms
• Respiratory disability
• Skin injury (bed sores)
• Osteoporosis
• Difficulty speaking or communication
• Issues swallowing food

A severe burn injury is quite possibly one of the most painful injuries to endure. Depending on the severity of the burn injury, victims may experience nerve loss and mobility. These injuries can destroy careers of the victims and cause intense psychological problems, including depression and anxiety and treatment for such.
Devastating burn injuries often require long-term hospitalization, surgery, and inpatient care with specialized treatment, including the treatment for psychological turmoil.

Amputation surgeries performed as a result of a catastrophic injury are known as “traumatic amputations.” These are unexpected and painful for all victims. As imagined, these injuries can cause extreme psychological pain and suffering for the rest of the victim’s life in addition to life-long physical pain, nerve damages, rehabilitation treatment, bionic device costs, and even with the best possible care, victims will never be able to return to life before this type of injury.

Since some traumatic amputations do not take place in safe environments, serious complications may occur and result in long-term problems, including severe bleeding and infections, and possibly death from complications.