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When Is a Personal Injury Considered Catastrophic?
Robert Stahle • January 3, 2024
Understanding when an injury is considered catastrophic is crucial in personal injury cases. An injury’s severity plays a significant role, as it determines the value of your claim and the compensation you may be entitled to.
Defining a catastrophic injury case can be challenging, as there is no precise legal or medical definition. But, it generally involves physical trauma that requires extensive medical intervention and may result in long-term complications. Here are some common catastrophic injuries:
- Brain or Spinal Cord Damage
Injuries involving trauma to the brain or injury to the spine can have lifelong effects, including cognitive and visual impairments, permanent brain damage, and paralysis. These conditions often require significant medical treatments and rehabilitation, resulting in costly expenses and long-term care. - Loss of a Digit or Limb
Losing a hand, arm, leg, or even a toe or finger can be life-altering and lead to severe emotional trauma. Amputation injuries result in physical limitations, which can significantly impact a person's ability to perform daily routines and maintain their quality of life. - Permanent Scarring or Disfigurement
Regardless of the specific cause, permanent scarring and disfigurement can negatively affect a person's life, both physically and mentally, thus making it catastrophic. These injuries may result from severe burns, lacerations, and displaced bone structure. - Loss of Bodily Function
Any impairment or loss of bodily function may also be considered a catastrophic injury case, as it can have long-term consequences and require extensive treatments. This includes injuries that damage to organs such as the lungs, stomach, intestines, bowel, bladder, or liver. - Permanent Disability
Untreatable injuries, even through extensive medical care, can result in a lifelong disability. These disabilities are considered catastrophic, as they limit mobility, prevent individuals from performing their jobs, and require significant adjustments and accommodations to continue their everyday lives.
Consult a Trusted Catastrophic Accident Lawyer
Learning about catastrophic injuriescan help you determine the compensation you deserve when pursuing a personal injury case. Still, navigating legal claims is best done with the help of a professional. Contact our experienced team at Fitch & Stahle Law Office in IA and NE to learn about our services.
Including Dram Shop Liability
How a Sioux City Personal Injury Attorney Can Help You Seek Justice Each year, drunk driving crashes leave thousands injured or killed—causing devastating emotional, physical, and financial consequences. Despite strict DUI laws and public awareness campaigns, impaired drivers continue to pose a serious threat across Iowa, Nebraska, and the country. For victims, the aftermath of a drunk driving accident is more than just painful—it can be life-altering. At Fitch & Stahle Law Firm , we fight to hold negligent drivers (and sometimes even the businesses that served them) accountable under the law. If you’ve been hurt in a crash involving a drunk driver, we’ll explain your legal options, including how Nebraska’s Dram Shop law may play a role in your case. Why File a Drunk Driving Lawsuit? Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is not just illegal—it’s a reckless act that endangers everyone on the road. When a driver chooses to get behind the wheel impaired, they can (and should) be held civilly liable for the damage they cause. While a criminal DUI case focuses on punishing the offender, a civil personal injury lawsuit is about helping you rebuild. It allows you to pursue compensation for: Medical expenses (past and future) Lost wages and diminished earning capacity Pain and suffering Emotional trauma Property damage Rehabilitation costs Punitive damages (in cases of extreme recklessness) Nebraska’s Dram Shop Law: Holding Alcohol Providers Accountable Under Nebraska’s Dram Shop Law , victims of drunk driving accidents may also be able to file a lawsuit against the business or establishment that overserved the intoxicated driver. Here’s how it works: A licensed alcohol vendor (such as a bar, restaurant, or event venue) can be held liable if they served alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person or a minor , and that person later caused injury or death. Nebraska law limits these claims to commercial sellers of alcohol—not social hosts. A dram shop claim can help recover damages if the drunk driver lacks adequate insurance or personal assets. This area of law is complex, and not all attorneys are familiar with how to navigate the strict requirements and timelines involved in dram shop litigation. That’s why working with a firm like Fitch & Stahle , which handles cases in both Nebraska and Iowa , is crucial. What Needs to Be Proven in a Drunk Driving Case? To recover damages in a drunk driving lawsuit, your legal team must prove the following: Duty of care – The driver had a legal responsibility to drive safely. Breach of duty – That responsibility was violated by driving impaired. Causation – The impairment directly led to the accident and your injuries. Damages – You experienced real harm—such as medical costs, lost income, or emotional distress. In dram shop cases, your lawyer will also need to demonstrate that the bar or establishment served a visibly intoxicated individual who went on to cause the crash. Why You Need a DUI Injury Lawyer in Nebraska or Iowa Drunk driving cases are rarely straightforward—especially when multiple parties may share liability. Insurance companies will often try to minimize payouts, shift blame, or dispute your injuries altogether. At Fitch & Stahle Law Firm , we will: Preserve key evidence such as police reports, BAC results, surveillance video, and eyewitness accounts Analyze potential dram shop liability Work with medical and accident reconstruction experts to build your case Identify all available sources of compensation Aggressively negotiate with insurance companies—or take your case to trial if needed Our team has deep experience with Nebraska’s unique dram shop provisions and Iowa’s liability standards. We understand what it takes to hold all negligent parties accountable. What Damages Can You Recover? Depending on the specifics of your case, compensation may include: Economic damages : Medical bills, lost income, future treatment costs, property loss Non-economic damages : Pain, suffering, mental anguish, loss of companionship Punitive damages : Intended to punish especially reckless conduct—like drunk driving In cases where dram shop liability applies, these claims can be especially valuable when the at-fault driver is underinsured or has no assets. Time Is Critical – Act Now In Nebraska, the statute of limitations for personal injury and dram shop lawsuits is typically four years , but specific timelines may apply depending on the facts of your case. Evidence like surveillance footage and eyewitness memories can fade fast—so it’s essential to speak with an attorney right away. Get Help from a Sioux City Personal Injury Attorney Who Understands Nebraska Dram Shop Law If you or a loved one has been injured by a drunk driver—especially one who may have been overserved at a Nebraska bar or restaurant—you have the right to seek full and fair compensation. At Fitch & Stahle Law Firm , we’ve helped countless clients across Sioux City , Iowa , and Nebraska recover after devastating crashes. We’ll handle the legal details so you can focus on healing. Call us today for a free consultation — and let’s start fighting for the justice you deserve.