Catastrophic Injury And Death

Last updated on May 28, 2026

We understand the profound impact that catastrophic injuries and wrongful death can have on you and your family. These life-altering events demand a compassionate, dependable and experienced legal team to guide you through the complexities of the legal process. Our firm is committed to providing personalized and empathetic service to help guide you through the challenges you face.

Understanding Catastrophic Injuries

Catastrophic injuries are severe injuries that have a lasting impact on victims and their families. These injuries often result in long-term or permanent disability, significant medical expenses and a lifetime of specialized care. In Ohio, the courts consider your injury as catastrophic if it meets any of the following criteria:

• Your injury permanently prevents you from returning to your previous job or engaging in any other meaningful work.
• Your injury involves a loss of a limb.
• Your injury results in severe, permanent scarring or disfigurement.
• Your condition requires you to receive daily assistance with basic living activities.
• Your condition depends on life-support systems or continuous medical intervention to survive.

Generally, catastrophic injury cases often involve:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Severe burns
• Organ damages
• Amputations
• Permanent sensory loss

Because catastrophic injuries require long-term or permanent medical management, standard insurance settlements rarely cover the true cost of recovery. Aside from the current and future medical expenses, you also have to consider home modifications, lost wages and earning capacity, nursing care, and diminished quality of life. We aim to help you secure the compensation you need to cover these costs and support your recovery.

Types Of Catastrophic Injuries

These are some of the most common:

Amputations

Amputation injuries, or the loss of a limb, can be caused by truck accidents, medical negligence or workplace incidents. No question, suffering the loss of a limb is one of the most catastrophic injuries imaginable. Beyond obvious physical restrictions, these types of injuries can be life-altering and lead to several other physical or mental issues.

Beyond the healing of your surgical wound, your expenses often include prosthetic refittings and physical and occupational therapy to manage phantom limb pain. These alone can already cost thousands of dollars. If you suffer from amputation, we can help you pursue the compensation you deserve.

Our focus shifts to preserving vital evidence related to your accident. With help from accident reconstructionists and industrial safety engineers, we can pinpoint where the at-fault party’s negligence lies and build the case from there.

Brain Injuries

Brain injuries, including traumatic brain injuries (TBI), can have devastating effects on cognitive and physical abilities. Symptoms may include:

• Memory loss
• Difficulty concentrating
• Mood changes

Due to the severity of brain injuries, you may need neurocognitive rehabilitation, speech therapy, mental health counseling and home aides to ensure safety. If you or a loved one suffers a brain injury, we can help.

Our team can collaborate with neurologists and other medical professionals to map out the exact trajectory of your deficits. Additionally, you can rely on us to drive impact to a jury by presenting advanced neuroimaging results and testimonies from family members to vividly demonstrate your shift in behavior.

Fractures And Broken Bones

A severe fracture can require extensive healing, recovery and rehabilitation time, and resources. Some of the most common types of these injuries can include:

• Rib fractures
• Leg fractures
• Arm fractures
• Wrist fractures
• Hand fractures
• Finger fractures
• Foot fractures
• Ankle fractures
• Hip fractures
• Pelvic fractures
• Collar bone fractures

As your legal advocates, we will vigorously fight for the money you need to cover doctor’s visits, medications, physical therapy, counseling, lost wages and more.

Spinal Cord Injuries And Paralysis

Serious car accidents can lead to severe paralysis injuries that can be detrimental to your quality of life. Losing the ability to control your body parts can limit many skills you may have taken for granted. Depending on the extent of the damage, the result can be quadriplegia or paraplegia.

From physical therapy to urological and bowel care, you’re facing multiple rounds of specialized care. Unfortunately, these come with high prices, which do not include the costs for modified vehicles, home renovations and personalized wheelchairs.

We look beyond your current state by assessing the future. Partnering with life-care planners and vocational experts can help us calculate the exact costs of your claim.

Scars, Burns And Disfigurement

Burn injuries and disfigurement can lead to physical and emotional challenges. Whether due to medical negligence, a faulty product or another type of accident, they can alter your life in many ways. You may feel like you have no help or support when dealing with these injuries.

With third- and fourth-degree burns, you often require multiple skin graft surgeries, scar revisions and physical therapy. The medical bill increases when you factor in the long-term psychological support for trauma.

Fortunately, we are here to help. We are dedicated to helping you seek justice and compensation for your injuries, including coverage for medical treatments and reconstructive procedures. Our team documents your physical limitations and emotional trauma to prove the full, uncapped extent of your damages to the insurance adjusters or a jury.

Wrongful Death

There’s nothing worse than losing a loved one due to someone else’s carelessness. While no amount of compensation can replace the loss of a loved one, our attorneys can help you seek financial security by holding negligent parties accountable for their actions.

Our fatal accident lawyers are here to provide the legal support you need to handle the aftermath. Additionally, we have experience handling surgical malpractice resulting in death. Ohio law dictates distinct rules regarding who can file a claim, what damages are recoverable and how compensation is distributed among surviving family members. To find detailed answers regarding these specific statutory requirements, please visit our comprehensive wrongful death page to learn how we protect your family’s future.

Legal Representation For Catastrophic Injuries

Having the proper legal representation is crucial when dealing with catastrophic injuries. At Colley Shroyer Abraham, we are well-equipped to handle all these cases with the professionalism and compassion you deserve.

Once we understand your situation and what you would like to achieve, we get right to work determining the amount you will need to recover and how we need to pursue that amount. In our experience, we know how insurance companies undervalue catastrophic injury claims. We are more than willing to go to trial because we know you deserve more than a fast, cheap check.

Why Choose Colley Shroyer Abraham?

Our firm stands out due to our extensive trial experience and a track record of positive results in significant cases. We pride ourselves on staying in touch with our clients and providing regular updates. Backed by over 50 years of complex case experience, handling catastrophic, life-altering injuries is our core strength, and we never hesitate to go to trial to secure the justice your family deserves.

There’s a reason we have built such a strong reputation with our clients over the years. We are relatable, hospitable and knowledgeable. We can also offer a personalized service that is both empathetic and accommodating. Furthermore, we go out of our way to secure critical evidence for recovering your economic damages – such as medical bills, lost wages and documented rehabilitation costs – and fight for your nonmonetary losses, including physical pain, suffering and emotional distress.

Start Down The Road To Recovery Today

Serious injury cases are often complex and take time to build. Please don’t wait to get the legal help you need. Contact us online or call us at 614-678-5072 for a free initial consultation.