Major Trauma Awareness Week takes place from Monday 15 September 2025 to Sunday 21 September 2025 is Day One Trauma Support’s flagship annual campaign which aims to raise awareness about the devasting impact of major trauma.

The week aims to highlight how community, support and hope can transform recovery and showcase the incredible major trauma community who give hope to survivors suffering devastating injuries and their loved ones in the most challenging of circumstances.

As personal injury lawyers we encounter many clients whose lives have been upended in an instant by catastrophic injures from a plethora of scenarios ranging from car accidents, falls, accidents in the workplace to violent incidents and many others.

Whilst emergency medical care may save lives, simply surviving a catastrophic injury is only the beginning. Many clients have a long, complex and emotionally draining journey ahead of them which involves rehabilitation, financial upheaval, psychological strain, caregiving burdens and legal intricacies.

Major Trauma Awareness Week shines a light on these challenges as well as on organisations that can help, such as Day One , who fill the gaps that clinical care cannot reach.

What is Major Trauma?

Major trauma is a combination of injuries that might be life threatening and/or a life changing.

Examples of major trauma injuries may include:-

·         Head injuries; such as traumatic brain injuries.

·         Spinal cord injuries.

·         Amputation.

·         Chest injuries; such as collapsed lung

·         Internal injuries; such as damage to liver or abdominal organs

·         Complex fracture.

·         Severe bleeding.

·         Electric shock.

Major trauma also often leads to further psychological symptoms such as PTSD, mood disorders, anxiety and/or avoidance.

There can also be added physical and functional symptoms.

Common causes of major trauma

·         Road Incidents

·         Falls

·         Violence: Stab or gunshot wounds, and assaults

·         Industrial or Workplace Accidents

·         Sporting Injuries

How many people are affected?

There are around 20,000 major trauma cases in the UK every year according to The Trauma Audit and Research Network with the average age of patients just under 40 years old.

Impact of major trauma

The impact of major trauma can be devastating, and not just for the individual, but it is also particularly difficult for friends and family too.

The major trauma injured individual often has a reduced quality of life which can lead into withdrawal, relationship strains and have an impact on daily life. Major trauma often leaves lasting physical health conditions such as; chronic pain, sleep disturbance, neurological and cognitive issues and/or chronic health conditions like diabetes.

There is also a huge employment issue, lots of major trauma injured individuals cannot return to the jobs that they had prior to the accident, even when they can return to work, reasonable adjustments most likely must be made.

Recovery is often prolonged. It can take months and even years. Both practical and emotional support is therefore required. Rehabilitation, case management and trauma focused care is therefore paramount, this is specialised and tailored to the injured individual which can help many individuals to overcome many different challenges.

Specialised legal support

Major trauma injuries are often complex and, in many cases, can be life-changing. Solicitors experienced in cases involving major trauma will have worked with clients with similar injuries on many occasions. This is of particular benefit when arranging rehabilitation and securing the right specialists for your particular needs.

Rehabilitation is vital to providing an injured person with the best possible outcome and a lack of focus on this, especially at a crucial time, might hinder the chance of securing that best possible outcome.

Here at Switalskis, we have a specialised and expert brain and spinal injury team who are at the forefront within the field. We can offer a superior client experience due to focused knowledge, real empathy and experience.