Life-changing injuries are those that have a profound and lasting impact on an individual’s quality of life. These kinds of injuries often lead to permanent disabilities, chronic pain, and significant lifestyle adjustments. They can affect every aspect of a person’s life, from their ability to work and maintain relationships to their independence and mental well-being.
Individuals who suffer life-changing injuries may require ongoing medical treatment, rehabilitation and financial support to manage their new reality.
Here, we’ll explore what life-changing injuries are, provide examples, and explain how to access support and claim compensation if you’ve suffered such an injury in an accident that wasn’t your fault.
What is considered a life-changing injury?
There is no single definition of a life-changing injury, but an injury is usually considered life-changing if it:
- Significantly alters an individual’s ability to function as they did before the injury
- Is a long-lasting or permanent injury
- Is an injury that affects their daily life most days, or every day
These injuries are sometimes referred to as “catastrophic injuries” or “serious injuries”, but the underlying factor is the long-term impact they have on a person’s daily life.
Common characteristics of life-changing injuries include:
- Permanent disabilities that require continuous medical care
- Reduced life expectancy due to health complications
- An inability to return to work or engage in previous hobbies and activities
Life-changing injuries can result from a range of incidents and events, including:
- Accidents in the workplace: Such accidents are more common in industrial and manufacturing settings, but they can occur in commercial, retail and office environments.
- Road traffic accidents: Such as pedestrians being hit by vehicles or drivers or passengers being involved in collisions.
- Violent assaults: Attacks, robberies, and other violent incidents can lead to serious injuries.
- Accidents in public places: Including slips, trips, and falls in unsafe environments.
Examples of life-changing injuries
Life-changing injuries can take many forms, each with unique consequences. Some of the most common include:
- Brain and head injuries: These can lead to permanent cognitive impairment, memory loss, and physical disabilities. They often require significant long-term care.
- Spinal cord injuries: Damage to the spinal cord may result in paraplegia (loss of control and/or sensation in the lower body), quadriplegia (loss of control and/or sensation in the upper and lower body), or other mobility limitations.
- Amputations and limb loss: Losing a limb can cause severe physical issues but also psychological and financial problems, often requiring prosthetics and considerable rehabilitation.
- Severe burns: These can lead to chronic pain, extensive scarring, and emotional trauma that can affect self-esteem and daily functioning.
- Loss of sight or hearing: Such injuries drastically impact independence and may require assistive technologies.
- Birth injuries: Both mothers and children can suffer injuries during childbirth, leading to conditions like cerebral palsy and long-term health issues.
How life-changing injuries can impact your life
The consequences of life-changing injuries typically extend far beyond the physical damage. They can have a profound impact on multiple aspects of an individual’s life, including:
- Employment and financial stability: Many people are unable to return to work after a life-changing injury, leading to loss of income. Compensation is often necessary to cover lost earnings and provide financial security for the future.
- Independence and daily activities: Simple daily tasks, such as dressing, cooking or commuting may become challenging or impossible. Many people require home adaptations, mobility aids or personal care assistance, significantly reducing their independence.
- Emotional and psychological well-being: Coping with the realities of a life-changing injury can lead to various mood disorders, like depression, anxiety, and PTSD. In the worst cases, life-changing injuries can lead to suicidal thoughts and behaviours. Psychological support and counselling often play a vital role in rehabilitation.
- Family and relationships: Loved ones often take on caregiving roles for people with life-changing injuries, which can strain relationships. Families may also experience financial hardship due to medical expenses and lost income.
Claiming compensation for life-changing injuries
If you have, or a loved one has, suffered a life-changing injury due to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. The claims process for compensation for life-changing injuries typically involves several key steps:
- Determining liability: Establishing negligence is important when making a claim. This involves collecting evidence that another party’s actions or inactions caused the injury.
- Assessing the extent of the injury: Medical reports and expert assessments are required to understand the full impact of the injury and future care needs.
- Calculating compensation: When compensation is awarded to cover damages, the level given is based on two different types of damages:
- Special damages: Covers financial losses that can be calculated, such as lost income, medical expenses, home adaptations, and ongoing care costs.
- General damages: Covers non-financial losses, including pain, suffering, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life.
To get an idea of how much compensation you, or a loved one, could be due after an injury, use our compensation calculator. If you’re unsure about your rights or the claims process, visit our personal injury claims page to learn how we can help.
What does compensation for life-changing injuries cover?
A successful compensation claim can provide financial relief to cover:
- Lost income
- Medical and rehabilitation expenses
- Counselling expenses
- Home and vehicle adaptations
- New equipment, such as a wheelchair and new furniture
- Pain and suffering, both physical and emotional
Accessing rehabilitation and support
Compensation not only provides financial security but also enables access to essential rehabilitation services. Rehabilitation for life-changing injuries can be extensive and required for years, or even for the rest of a lifetime, and can include:
- Physiotherapy and occupational therapy: To aid recovery, return mobility, and improve daily functioning.
- Psychological support: Emotional and mental support may well be needed to come to terms with a life-changing injury and its challenges.
- Assistive technology: Potentially including prosthetics, mobility aids, communication devices, and changes that may need to be made to the home.
- Case management services: Ongoing guidance and support may be needed from professionals who can manage your individual case, and who can coordinate with other care and rehabilitation workers.
Defendants providing compensation, or their insurance provider, may be willing to make interim payments. This is where portions of the compensation are paid earlier than the official settlement date. It can be a sensible option to ask for, as it can ensure immediate costs are covered and provide financial support for life-changing injuries whilst a claim has yet to be settled.
Why choose Injury Lawyers 4u for life-changing injury claims?
At Injury Lawyers 4u, we have experience and expertise in handling compensation for life-changing injuries.
Our expert legal team understands the complexities of serious injury claims and is committed to securing the best possible outcomes for our clients. We can offer you a compassionate and professional approach with support through every step of the claims process. Our team can connect you with top medical professionals, case managers, and rehabilitation experts. With our no-win, no-fee promise, you won’t pay any legal fees unless we win your case.
Call us on 0333 400 4445 or fill in a contact form and we’ll get back to you right away.
FAQs about Life-changing injuries and compensation
What’s the difference between life-changing and catastrophic injuries?
Both terms refer to injuries with long-term consequences, and life-changing injury and catastrophic injury are often used interchangeably. In some cases, catastrophic injury is used to refer to a type of life-changing injury that is particularly severe, like paralysis or serious brain damage.
What is the time limit for making a claim?
In most cases, you must file a compensation claim within three years of the injury. Exceptions apply to minors and individuals with diminished mental capacity. Talk to our team and we can advise you on the specifics of your case.
What’s included in a compensation award?
Compensation can cover the specific costs incurred, including medical costs, lost income, rehabilitation expenses, and home adaptations, but will also cover the more general costs of prolonged pain and suffering.
Can I claim on behalf of a loved one?
Yes, if the person who was injured can’t manage the claim themselves due to their condition, a family member or legal guardian can often act on their behalf.