What Constitutes a Catastrophic Sports Injury in NJ?

December 7, 2021

There’s nothing better than playing a sport or participating in recreational activities. As fun as it can be to get moving, many residents of New Jersey suffer from catastrophic sports injuries every year. Catastrophic injuries can happen unexpectedly in a single moment or from repeated injury over a long period of time.

No matter how it happens, catastrophic sports injuries can completely change your life. That’s because a catastrophic disability can affect your ability to work, care for others, and live a normal life. Whether it’s a child who was injured playing in school sports or an adult who was just messing around with friends, there are ways to recover damages as a result of a catastrophic sports injury.

3 Types of Catastrophic Sports Injuries in NJ

Some sports are more dangerous than others, with contact sports like basketball, football, and soccer leading the pack. While minor injuries are relatively common when playing any sport, catastrophic sports injuries are no average scraped knee or black eye. A catastrophic sports injury is one that results in permanent injury or disfigurement. These injuries can be life-altering, preventing the injured person from working, participating in the same activities that they used to, or enjoying life. Here are three types of catastrophic sports injuries that are common in NJ.

1. Traumatic Brain Injuries

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a catastrophic sports injury that is caused when the brain smashes against the side of the skull. This causes swelling, and the brain is injured as pressure increases inside the skull. A TBI can affect motor, verbal, and cognitive skills and even cause death. TBIs are a common injury in football and wrestling, where blows are repeatedly taken to the head. TBI’s might be mild, like a concussion, and then turn into a more serious injury that affects one’s quality of life.

2. Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries are common in sports and can happen when a hard blow strikes someone or when they fall to the ground. It is particularly common in ice hockey, wrestling, cheerleading, and snowboarding to sustain this injury. Spinal cord injuries can include a slipped disk, broken vertebrae, or a severed spinal cord. Athletes who suffer from spinal injuries may lose the ability to use a particular limb or become completely paralyzed. This is catastrophic and can completely change the course of your life, leaving you to suffer both physically and financially.

3. Torn Ligaments

While tearing a ligament is an injury that can usually be helped with surgery and physical therapy, it can still be life-altering and cause permanent injury and financial loss. When torn ligaments are healed, they rarely return to normal and can still cause pain and severe mobility issues. A series of surgeries might be necessary to get back to normal, and your enjoyment of certain activities and quality of life may be forever impaired.

Hoyt & Hoyt Helps You Achieve the Justice & Compensation You Deserve

If you’ve suffered from a catastrophic sports injury, you should immediately call Hoyt & Hoyt at (973) 490-4844 to help you achieve justice and compensation for your suffering. While money won’t make everything go back to normal, it can pay the bills and get you the medical care and treatment that you need to live a happy and fulfilling life.