September 25, 2026 | Personal Injury
A catastrophic injury can have lasting effects on a person’s health, work, and daily life. In an Arizona personal injury claim, those effects can be important when determining damages.
Catastrophic injuries may require ongoing medical treatment, rehabilitation, personal assistance, or changes to daily life. The exact effects vary from person to person.
What Qualifies as a Catastrophic Injury Under Arizona Law?
Arizona law does not provide one general definition of a “catastrophic injury” for personal injury claims. The term is commonly used to describe severe injuries that cause permanent or long-term effects on a person’s health, independence, ability to work, or need for future care.
As a result, whether an injury is described as catastrophic depends on the facts and consequences of each case.
Why Do Severity and Permanence Matter for Catastrophic Injuries?
A catastrophic injury is usually distinguished by its long-term effects rather than its name alone. The same type of injury may affect two people very differently.
Important considerations may include whether the injury causes permanent disability, loss of bodily function, lasting disfigurement, or a need for ongoing medical care. The effect on the person’s work and ability to live independently may also matter.
What Injuries Are Commonly Considered Catastrophic?
Severe injuries can affect the brain, spinal cord, limbs, organs, or other parts of the body.
Examples may include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
- Amputations
- Severe burns
- Organ damage
- Loss of vision or hearing
The diagnosis alone does not determine the value of a claim; the injury’s long-term effects also matter.
Why Can a Catastrophic Injury Affect the Value of a Claim?
Catastrophic injuries can create losses that continue long after the initial accident. A claim may therefore involve both current losses and harm expected to continue in the future.
Depending on the case, damages may include medical expenses, lost income, reduced future earning capacity, pain and suffering, and other accident-related losses.
The attorneys at KRLG Injury Lawyers have over 100 years of combined experience. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for injured clients.
How Do Long-Term Care and Future Earning Capacity Affect Damages?
Some people with catastrophic injuries need future surgeries, rehabilitation, therapy, medical equipment, medication, or personal care. These expected needs may be part of a claim when supported by evidence.
An injury may also prevent someone from returning to the same job or working at all. Evidence about the person’s occupation, abilities, limitations, and expected career can help establish the effect on future earning capacity.
What Evidence Can Separate a Catastrophic Claim From a Standard Injury Claim?
Strong evidence can show both the severity of an injury and its potential future effects. This may include medical records, diagnostic testing, treatment plans, employment records, and testimony from qualified experts.
Evidence may also document how the injury affects mobility, work, household tasks, and other daily activities. The evidence needed depends on the injury and the losses being claimed.
What Should I Do if I Am Not Sure Whether My Injury Qualifies?
You do not need to decide for yourself whether an injury should be called catastrophic. Medical treatment can help establish the diagnosis, prognosis, and expected care needs.
A personal injury lawyer can review the accident, medical evidence, financial losses, and long-term effects. This can help determine what damages may be available based on the facts of the claim.
FAQs
Does an Injury Have to Be Permanent to Be Catastrophic?
Not necessarily. Permanence can be an important factor, but a severe injury that causes major long-term effects may also be described as catastrophic.
Can Future Medical Care Be Included in an Arizona Injury Claim?
Future medical needs may be considered when they result from the injury and are supported by appropriate evidence. Arizona law recognizes future health care costs as a type of future economic loss in applicable cases.
Can Lost Earning Capacity Be Part of a Catastrophic Injury Claim?
Yes. When an injury limits a person’s ability to earn income in the future, loss of earning capacity may be relevant to the damages claimed.
Contact the Arizona Personal Injury Lawyers at KRLG Injury Lawyers for Help Today
A catastrophic injury can affect your health, work, independence, and future needs. Understanding the full impact of the injury is important when evaluating a claim.
KRLG Injury Lawyers can investigate what happened, review your losses, and explain your legal options. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with an Arizona personal injury attorney.
We serve Scottsdale, Phoenix, Maricopa County, & Arizona’s surrounding areas.
KRLG Injury Lawyers
7702 E Doubletree Ranch Rd #150, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
(623) 303-5754
