A catastrophic injury changes everything. Not just for a few weeks while you recover, but permanently. When that happens, the legal claim you pursue is fundamentally different from a typical car accident case or a slip-and-fall. The financial stakes are higher, the medical picture is more complex, and the consequences of an undervalued settlement can follow you and your family for decades.
At Ross, Midian & Breitmayer, LLC, we represent people across Columbus, Franklin County, and Central Ohio who have suffered life-altering personal injuries caused by someone else’s negligence. Negligence, in plain terms, means that another person or company failed to act with reasonable care and that failure caused your injury. Our attorneys understand what these cases require, and we are prepared to pursue the full scope of what you may be owed.
If you or a loved one is dealing with a catastrophic injury, contact us for a free consultation. There is no fee unless we obtain a recovery for you.
Not every injury rises to the legal level of “catastrophic”. Generally speaking, a catastrophic injury reshapes a person’s life and the survivor often suffers from:
Ohio law also treats catastrophic injury claims differently when it comes to damages, meaning compensation for losses suffered. In many personal injury cases, non-economic damages, which cover things like pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life, are subject to statutory caps. In catastrophic injury cases, those caps may not apply, which means a jury could award compensation that more accurately reflects the true scope of harm suffered.
If you are unsure whether your situation qualifies, contact a Ross, Midian & Breitmayer catastrophic injury lawyer for a free case evaluation.
A severe traumatic brain injury, or TBI, can affect memory, speech, personality, motor skills, and cognitive function. Some TBI survivors require around-the-clock care. Diffuse axonal injuries, which occur when the brain’s connective fibers are sheared during rapid movement, are among the most serious and often the most difficult to diagnose on initial imaging. Permanent cognitive impairment, memory loss, and behavioral changes are common long-term consequences. These injuries demand careful medical documentation and often require expert neurological testimony to properly convey the full impact to a jury or insurance adjuster.
Depending on the location and severity of the injury, a spinal cord injury may result in partial or complete paralysis. Quadriplegia affects all four limbs and often involves respiratory complications. Paraplegia affects the lower body and may require lifelong wheelchair use and assistance with daily activities. Even injuries that fall short of full paralysis, such as herniated discs and significant nerve damage, can cause chronic pain and permanent functional limitations that prevent a return to prior employment or physical activity.
Burns that cover large portions of the body or cause permanent scarring and nerve damage are generally recognized as catastrophic. Thermal burns from fires or scalding, chemical burns from workplace or product exposure, and electrical burns each present their own medical challenges. Survivors often endure multiple surgeries, extensive skin grafting, and long-term rehabilitation. The psychological impact of disfigurement is also significant and should be reflected in any claim.
Traumatic amputations and crush injuries that result in the permanent loss of a limb carry consequences that extend far beyond the physical. A person who loses an arm, hand, leg, or foot faces immediate challenges in daily life, career options, and mental health. Prosthetics, adaptive equipment, and ongoing therapy are long-term needs that must be factored into the value of a claim. In some cases, crush injuries may preserve the limb anatomically while causing permanent loss of function, which can be equally disabling.
Multiple fractures sustained in a high-impact event, pelvic fractures, and complex joint injuries can result in permanent mobility limitations even after surgical repair. Someone involved in a serious collision on Interstate 70 or U.S. Route 23 who sustains multiple orthopedic injuries may face a long road of surgeries, hardware placements, and physical therapy, only to find that their ability to walk, stand, or work is permanently compromised.
Catastrophic injuries can result from many different types of incidents and accidents including:
One aspect that many injured people and families overlook is that multiple parties can sometimes share responsibility for a single catastrophic event. A truck accident might involve a negligent driver, a fleet company with inadequate maintenance practices, and a cargo loader. Identifying all potentially responsible parties can open access to additional insurance coverage and increase the likelihood of a full recovery.
This is often the most important aspect of a personal injury claim. A settlement or verdict that only accounts for current costs can leave a survivor financially devastated years down the road. Calculating and negotiating for long-term care is vitally important before settling or going to trial. Your claim may include:
Immediate medical expenses in a catastrophic injury case can be substantial. These include:
These costs are relatively straightforward to document, but they represent only a portion of what a complete claim should address.
This is where catastrophic injury claims diverge most sharply from typical personal injury cases. Future care costs are often calculated with the help of a life care planner, a medical professional who projects what treatment, equipment, and support a survivor will need over their lifetime. This may include:
These projected future costs can represent the largest portion of a catastrophic injury claim’s total value, and they require careful expert documentation to present effectively.
There is an important distinction between wages already lost and the long-term reduction in earning capacity. Lost wages cover the income a person did not receive while they were unable to work. Lost earning capacity addresses what they may never be able to earn again because of permanent limitations. A person who was mid-career at the time of their injury, or who had years of professional advancement ahead, may have a substantial lost earning capacity claim that requires economic expert analysis.
Pain and suffering refers to the physical discomfort and emotional distress a person experiences because of their injury. It is a non-economic form of damages, meaning it does not correspond to a specific bill or receipt. Ohio courts and juries consider the nature of the injury, its duration, and its impact on daily life when evaluating these damages. In catastrophic injury cases, where pain may be chronic and permanent, this component of a claim can be significant.
Separate from pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life addresses the activities, hobbies, relationships, and experiences a person can no longer participate in because of their injury. A parent who can no longer coach their child’s sports team, a person who can no longer pursue an active lifestyle, or someone who has lost the ability to work in a field they were passionate about, all of these losses are real and may be compensable under Ohio law.
Catastrophic injury claims are not routine. They involve complex medical evidence, long-term financial projections, and the kind of litigation preparation that takes time, resources, and experience to do well. Choosing the right law firm can affect not just how much compensation you may recover, but whether your claim reflects the true, lasting impact of your injury.
Ross Midian & Breitmayer is a Columbus-based law firm focused on serving injured individuals and families throughout Franklin County and Central Ohio. Our attorneys bring:
If you or a member of your family has suffered a life-changing injury in Columbus or anywhere in Central Ohio, contact us to talk to an experienced personal injury attorney. A free consultation costs nothing and gives you the information you need to make a confident decision about how to move forward.
