Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers | February 17, 2026 | Personal Injury
A catastrophic injury is a life-altering injury that permanently changes a person’s ability to function, work, or live independently. In Maryland, including St. Mary’s County, these injuries often involve long-term disability, extensive medical treatment, and lasting physical or cognitive impairment.
Unlike minor injuries that heal over time, catastrophic injuries frequently require ongoing care and may affect every part of a person’s daily life.
What Is Considered a Catastrophic Injury Under Maryland Law?
Maryland law does not provide one simple definition of “catastrophic injury.” Instead, courts and insurance companies look at how serious the injury is and whether it causes permanent or substantial impairment. An injury is more likely to be considered catastrophic if it results in long-term disability, loss of a major bodily function, or the inability to return to work.
Catastrophic injuries often involve severe or permanent damage, particularly to the brain or spinal cord. In Maryland personal injury claims, the focus is often on how the injury affects a person’s earning ability and long-term independence.
The greater the long-term impact, the more likely the injury will be treated as catastrophic in a legal case.
Common Types of Catastrophic Injuries
Catastrophic injuries can result from serious car accidents, truck crashes, motorcycle collisions, construction incidents, or dangerous falls.
Some of the most common examples include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries causing partial or total paralysis
- Amputations or loss of use of a limb
- Severe burn injuries requiring grafts or reconstructive surgery
- Multiple complex fractures with lasting complications
- Internal organ damage
- Permanent loss of vision or hearing
These injuries often require multiple surgeries, extensive rehabilitation, and assistive medical devices. Many people cannot return to their previous careers or must significantly adjust their work responsibilities.
Each case must be evaluated based on medical evidence and long-term prognosis.
How Catastrophic Injuries Affect Victims and Families
The effects of a catastrophic injury extend far beyond the initial hospital stay. Victims and their families often face years of adjustment and financial strain.
Injured individuals may deal with:
- Ongoing and future medical expenses
- Long-term physical or occupational therapy
- In-home nursing or personal care assistance
- Home and vehicle modifications for accessibility
- Loss of income and reduced earning capacity
- Emotional distress, anxiety, or depression
Family members frequently take on caregiving responsibilities, which can reduce household income and increase stress. In some cases, complications from catastrophic injuries may lead to wrongful death claims under Maryland law.
Because these consequences can last for decades, catastrophic injury claims often involve complex financial and medical evaluations.
What Compensation Is Available for Catastrophic Injuries in Maryland?
When someone else’s negligence causes a catastrophic injury, Maryland law allows victims to seek compensation for both economic and non-economic losses.
Economic damages may include:
- Past medical bills
- Projected future medical care
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Rehabilitation expenses
- Costs of assistive devices and home modifications
Non-economic damages may include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
Maryland places caps on certain non-economic damages in personal injury cases. These limits can change over time, so reviewing the most up-to-date information from Maryland Courts is important when evaluating a claim.
Proving a Catastrophic Injury Claim
To recover compensation in Maryland, an injured person must generally prove the elements of negligence:
- The at-fault party owed a duty of care
- That duty was breached through careless or wrongful conduct
- The breach directly caused the injury
- The injury resulted in measurable damages
In catastrophic injury cases, proving damages often requires:
- Detailed medical records
- Testimony from treating doctors
- Expert opinions on future medical care
- Vocational evaluations about work limitations
Insurance companies may dispute both liability and the severity of the injury. Strong documentation and expert testimony are often essential to demonstrate the full impact of the harm.
Contact the St. Mary’s County Catastrophic Injury Lawyers at Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation Today
A catastrophic injury can change everything in an instant. If you or someone you love is coping with permanent disability, mounting medical costs, or uncertainty about the future after an accident in St. Mary’s County, MD, you deserve clear information and strong legal guidance.
At Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers, our attorneys have 125 years of combined experience and have recovered over $100,000,000 in compensation for injured clients throughout Maryland. Our team understands the stakes in catastrophic injury cases and prepares each claim with the seriousness it deserves.
When your future, your family’s stability, and your long-term care are on the line, you need more than answers—you need a strategy. Contact our St. Mary’s County catastrophic injury attorneys to schedule a free consultation today.
We proudly serve Charles County, Prince George’s County, and its surrounding areas. Visit our law offices at:
Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers – Waldorf Office
8 Post Office Rd Waldorf, MD 20602
(301) 932-9997
Available 24/7
Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers – Lanham Office
4600 Forbes Blvd Ste #200 Lanham, MD 20706
(301) 936-0011
Available 24/7