## Catastrophic injury claims in California **Catastrophic injuries** result in permanent or long-term disability, requiring lifetime care + significantly limiting earning capacity. California catastrophic-injury cases involve millions in damages and require specialized legal + medical + financial expertise. ## What qualifies as catastrophic **Generally:** **Severe physical injuries:** - Spinal cord injury (paraplegia / quadriplegia) - Traumatic brain injury (severe TBI) - Amputations - Severe burns (3rd / 4th degree) - Multiple fractures with permanent damage - Internal organ damage - Severe disfigurement - Loss of vision / hearing **Catastrophic medical conditions:** - Wrongful death of breadwinner - Vegetative state - Permanent paralysis - Severe disability - Lifelong dependence on care **Specific workers' compensation definition:** - 50%+ permanent total disability - Specific catastrophic categories - Different state thresholds ## Common causes **Motor vehicle:** - High-speed collisions - Truck accidents (often catastrophic) - Motorcycle accidents - Pedestrian / cyclist hits **Workplace:** - Construction accidents - Industrial accidents - Crushing injuries - Falls from heights - Equipment failures **Medical:** - Surgical errors - Birth injuries - Misdiagnosis - Anesthesia errors - Hospital-acquired conditions **Premises:** - Major slip-and-falls - Drowning - Electrocution - Pool accidents - Negligent security violence **Product liability:** - Defective vehicles - Defective machinery - Defective medical devices - Pharmaceutical injuries ## Damages **Comprehensive recovery includes:** **Past + future medical:** - Hospital bills - Surgery costs - Specialist care - Rehabilitation - In-home nursing - Medications (lifetime) - Medical equipment - Adaptive equipment - Home modifications - Vehicle modifications **Past + future lost wages:** - Time missed from work - Lost earning capacity - Career trajectory changes - Promotion impacts - Retirement contributions lost **Pain & suffering:** - Past + future pain - Mental anguish - PTSD / depression - Loss of enjoyment of life **Disfigurement / scarring:** - Visible scarring - Permanent disfigurement - Body-image impacts - Reconstructive surgery **Loss of consortium:** - Spouse's claim - Children's claim (some states) - Loss of services / companionship - Different state rules **Punitive damages (when applicable):** - Egregious conduct - Drunk driving - Pattern of misconduct - Some state caps ## Life-care planning **Critical for catastrophic cases:** **Life-care planner role:** - Project lifetime needs - Specific medical care - Equipment + supplies - Therapy + rehabilitation - Home modifications - Vehicle modifications - Vocational adaptations - Family support needs **Life-care plan content:** - Detailed medical history - Current condition - Future medical needs - Specific costs (current + projected) - Frequency of services - Geographic location - Quality of care - Alternative scenarios **Cost projections:** - Often $5M-$20M+ for severe cases - Lifetime nursing care - Continuing therapy - Replacement equipment - Home + auto modifications - Inflation considerations ## Critical evidence **Medical:** - All medical records (comprehensive) - Imaging studies - Specialist evaluations - Treatment plans - Medical history - Pre-injury baseline - Specific impact assessments **Vocational:** - Employment history - Education - Earning capacity - Vocational rehabilitation assessment - Reduced earning capacity calculations - Future employability **Family:** - Family member impact - Caregiver demands - Spousal services - Children's adaptation needs - Specific care requirements ## Expert witnesses **Common in catastrophic cases:** - **Treating physicians** (factual) - **Independent medical examiners** (defendant's) - **Specialty consultants** (neurologists, etc.) - **Life-care planner** - **Vocational expert** - **Economist** (lost earnings, present value) - **Accident reconstructionist** - **Engineering expert** - **Mental health expert** (PTSD, etc.) - **Specific industry experts** **Costs:** - $5,000-$50,000+ per expert - $50K-$500K total expert costs - Investment in case ## Settlement vs trial **Catastrophic cases:** - Most settle (95%+) - Insurance company motivations - Reputational risk - Specific damages clear - Lifetime certainty preferred **Trial considerations:** - Higher potential verdict - Higher risk of less than offered - Years of litigation - Emotional toll - Specific judge / jury issues ## Structured settlements **Common in catastrophic:** **Structure:** - Periodic payments over time - Tax-free payments (per IRC § 104) - Customized to needs - Often combination with lump sum **Benefits:** - Tax efficiency - Lifetime income - Inflation protection (sometimes) - Funded by annuities - Specific protection from creditors - Court-protected **Drawbacks:** - Less flexibility - Specific to anticipated needs - Cannot easily change - Specific tax considerations ## Special needs trusts **Critical for many catastrophic cases:** - Preserves Medicaid + Medicare eligibility - SSI eligibility maintained - Specific structures (d4A, d4C) - Specific to disabled beneficiary - Lifetime support without losing benefits **See special needs trust guide.** ## Insurance considerations **Maximum recovery requires:** **Liability insurance:** - Multiple policies often - Stacking when allowed - Excess / umbrella policies - Multiple defendants **UM / UIM coverage:** - Plaintiff's own coverage - Critical when defendants underinsured - Stacked policies sometimes **Workers' compensation:** - Concurrent with PI - Subrogation issues - Specific procedures **Health insurance:** - Subrogation rights - ERISA preemption - Specific reimbursement - Negotiated reductions **Medicare / Medicaid:** - Federal subrogation rights - Specific reporting requirements - Conditional payments - Specific procedures - Significant on settlement amounts ## Wrongful death **When death results:** - Survival action (deceased's pre-death damages) - Wrongful death action (survivors' losses) - ${s.name}-specific procedures - Different damage calculations - Specific eligible plaintiffs **See wrongful death guide.** ## Time-sensitive issues **Statute of limitations:** - ${s.name} typical 2-3 years - Sometimes shorter for specific defendants - Government claims separate (often 6 months) - Don't delay **Evidence preservation:** - Witnesses memories fade - Physical evidence disappears - Document destruction - Specific deadlines **Medical care:** - Document everything - Maintain treatment - Failure to mitigate issues - Compliance with treatment ## Strategic considerations **Hiring:** - Specialist catastrophic-injury attorney - Resources to fund case - Trial-ready firm - Specific expertise - Track record **Cost of representation:** - Contingency fees standard (33-40%) - Plus expenses (often $50K-$500K) - Specific provisions for catastrophic - Negotiate fees with attorney **Long-term thinking:** - Lifetime needs paramount - Tax considerations - Family dynamics - Care transitions - Future medical advances - Inflation ## What you should do If you (or a family member) suffered catastrophic injury in California: hire experienced catastrophic-injury attorney IMMEDIATELY — these cases involve millions of dollars + need specialized expertise. Most California catastrophic-injury attorneys work on contingency. Free consultations standard. Specific firms specialize. Don't talk to insurance adjusters before counsel. --- *This guide is general information about California law as of mid-2026 and is not legal advice. Catastrophic-injury cases require specialized expertise. Talk to a licensed California catastrophic-injury attorney about your specific situation.*