A catastrophic injury is a physical injury or illness that is regarded as extreme or particularly serious, has a considerable impact on the victim of the injury or illness and needs a considerable amount of medical treatment. Catastrophic injuries may not always be permanent, but take months or years to heal.

What does it mean if injuries are catastrophic?

An injury that is considered catastrophic is typically more severe than other types of personal injuries. While many types of trauma will heal and allow for a complete recovery, when catastrophic, the result is often significant disfigurement, permanent disabilities, or death.

Can you recover from a catastrophic injury?

Catastrophic injuries are those with consequences so severe that they prevent a victim from returning to their pre-injury way of life or earning a gainful income. Since catastrophic injuries affect victims permanently, it's rare to recover from one completely.