In everyday terms, a catastrophic injury is one that permanently changes how someone lives, works, or cares for themselves. Michigan law and insurance policies use the term in slightly different contexts, but generally it points to injuries like:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Amputation or loss of a limb
- Severe burns
- Permanent loss of a vital bodily function
These cases matter because they often require a lifetime of care, not just a few months of recovery, and Michigan's No-Fault system has specific provisions for extended, ongoing PIP benefits in catastrophic cases. They're also the cases where insurance companies fight the hardest, because the stakes for them are the highest too. This is where our trial experience carries the most weight, since these aren't cases you settle for whatever number is offered first.