What Qualifies as a Catastrophic Injury in Louisiana?

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Aug 22, 2025

Some people are fortunate enough to experience only minor injuries after an accident. Others are not so lucky. Catastrophic injuries are an unfortunate reality for many. These injuries seriously limit what they can do and their quality of life. Learning what qualifies as a catastrophic injury in Louisiana can help you determine whether you can recover damages for your injuries.

Experienced Catastrophic Injury Lawyers in Louisiana

When dealing with a catastrophic injury, you need to work with attorneys who understand local laws. One catastrophic injury claim might turn out differently in two different states. That’s why it’s important to hire a Louisiana-based firm, like the Cox Law Firm, to represent your catastrophic injury claim.

What Is a Catastrophic Injury?

A personal injury can arise from multiple types of circumstances. A catastrophic injury is a form of personal injury. These are usually some of the most severe kinds of injuries.

Many victims of catastrophic injuries cannot work or perform basic tasks for longer than the average victim of a personal injury. Some victims might be prevented from returning to work at all. Their former role may be impossible to perform anymore due to their injuries.

Where Do Catastrophic Injuries Occur Most?

Catastrophic injuries can happen almost anywhere, but there are a few places where they regularly occur. Some of the most frequent include:

  • Accidents at work. Sometimes, accidents at work are simply flukes, but this is rare. Usually, several safety protocols were ignored if a workplace accident happened. It could be the fault of a fellow employee or the business itself if it did not properly train its staff.
  • Injuries from products. To qualify for a product liability claim, you must be using the product as it was meant to be used. The product must have had a defect in some way. It could be flawed by design, or it could malfunction during regular operations.
  • Injuries on a property. The most common form of these injuries is a slip and fall, but other types of injuries can apply here as well. If an injury happens on someone else’s property because the owner didn’t do their job in maintaining it, they could be liable for your injuries.
  • Car accidents. Car accidents are quite frequent, but they rarely involve catastrophic injuries. Unfortunately, these injuries do happen, and they can seriously affect victims and their families. They can be complicated due to multiple parties being involved with several insurance policies.
  • Exposure to hazards. Several toxic chemicals can cause serious injuries when victims are exposed to them. It can happen at home or at work. These claims can be difficult to prove because the injuries often don’t show themselves until significantly after the exposure.

24.8% of people who went to the emergency room in 2019 lived outside a metropolitan area. These individuals are often in rural areas of Louisiana, so they often suffer from a lack of access to medical care.

Why Hire a Catastrophic Injury Lawyer?

Catastrophic injury cases are often more difficult to prove than standard personal injury claims. Not only do you have to establish your injuries, but you must also show how someone else caused them while knowing better.

These types of claims are complex, and they require serious evidence. They often necessitate professional testimony from people like medical doctors. It can be difficult to find someone to explain your situation without a catastrophic injury attorney.

One of the most important parts of a catastrophic injury is getting enough compensation to cover the true costs. Some insurance companies try to settle quickly with less compensation. A Louisiana catastrophic injury attorney can see through their deceptive practices to recover more damages.

Many people don’t realize the expenses that pile up after a catastrophic injury. Attorneys can calculate intangible losses, like future medical expenses, that are hard to evaluate without professional attention.

Generally, it’s better to file a catastrophic injury claim when represented by an attorney. These claims tend to have lower rates of denial from insurance companies and higher damage amounts.

Why Choose Us?

Our success record at the Cox Law Firm includes a $3 million and a $10 million settlement for victims of serious accidents. These incidents left them unable to perform basic daily tasks. This income helped them work through their recovery with dignity and respect, and we can make that happen for you, too.

FAQs

What Qualifies as a Catastrophic Injury?

What qualifies as a catastrophic injury is more intense than a personal injury. Some personal injuries can be recovered from relatively quickly. However, catastrophic injuries often take significantly longer to heal from. Sometimes, victims do not heal from their injuries at all. They usually permanently change the victim’s life in some way.

Do I Need a Lawyer for a Catastrophic Injury Claim?

Most people do need a lawyer for a catastrophic injury claim. Recovering from an injury of this magnitude takes a lot of time and energy. It leaves very little left to file a legal claim. An attorney can place their full attention on your claim and seek full compensation on your behalf. This often results in a better outcome for your case.

What Should I Do After a Catastrophic Injury?

After a catastrophic injury, prioritize yourself and your injuries. Get to a safe spot, and call emergency services immediately. The faster you receive medical care, the more likely they can prevent lasting damage. After you are treated, save all documents related to your injury, and speak with a catastrophic injury attorney.

How Do I Prove a Catastrophic Injury?

To prove a catastrophic injury under the state’s catastrophic injury laws, you need to establish that the accident happened and that it directly caused your injuries. You also need to show how the person or party that you are filing your claim against caused the accident and should have known better. This is often called negligence in the legal world.

We Back Up Our Clients

22.7% of adults in the South visited the emergency room at least once in 2019. For some people, these visits were caused by severe injuries that fundamentally changed them. If this sounds like you, schedule a consultation with the Cox Law Firm for more information.

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