Does a catastrophic injury have to be permanent to qualify for compensation?

No, a catastrophic injury does not necessarily have to be permanent to qualify for compensation in California. According to California law, a catastrophic injury is defined as “an injury of a serious nature that has caused permanent, long-term disability or disfigurement.” This means that an injury that is not necessarily permanent, such as a spinal cord injury or brain injury, could still qualify as a catastrophic injury and thus be eligible for compensation. In California, there are specific criteria that must be met for an injury to be classified as a catastrophic injury. Depending on the circumstances, an individual may qualify for compensation if the injury was caused by a serious accident, resulted in permanent and significant physical impairment, and/or caused significant mental disfigurement. In some cases, an injury may not be permanent, but can still be classified as catastrophic and thus eligible for compensation. For example, an individual whose leg was amputated in a car accident does not necessarily have a permanent injury, as the individual could receive a prosthetic leg. However, the individual may still be eligible for compensation for the traumatic event and long-term effects of the injury on their life. In short, a catastrophic injury does not need to be permanent to qualify for compensation in California. It must, however, meet certain criteria and cause permanent, long-term disability or disfigurement.

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