What Is Considered a Catastrophic Injury?

A catastrophic injury is a severe life-changing injury that significantly impacts the victim’s life, often resulting in long-term or permanent disability. These injuries usually lead to extensive medical bills, lost wages, and a need for lifelong medical care. Catastrophic injuries can occur due to various causes, such as motor vehicle accidents, rear-end collisions, construction accidents, workplace accidents, or medical malpractice. These injuries are also more likely to impact the entire family compared to less severe injuries.

Victims of catastrophic injuries often face physical pain, emotional distress, and financial burdens, such as mounting medical bills and loss of income. These injuries can drastically alter a victim’s life, requiring emergency treatment, physical therapy, and possibly even lifelong medical care due to spinal cord injuries. The legal process for pursuing a catastrophic injury claim can be complex, necessitating the assistance of an experienced catastrophic injury attorney or catastrophic injury law firm.

These legal professionals work to ensure that victims receive fair compensation for their injuries, including coverage for medical expenses, lost wages, and future medical expenses. A catastrophic injury lawyer can help navigate the legal system, provide a free consultation, and work on a contingency fee basis to seek maximum compensation and a fair settlement for the victim.

When pursuing a personal injury lawsuit related to catastrophic injuries, the legal team will conduct a thorough investigation to determine the at-fault party and prove that the other’s negligence caused the injuries. Victims and their family members may also seek compensation for emotional trauma, mental anguish, and the overall impact on their normal lives.

Examples of Catastrophic Injuries

Catastrophic injuries often describe permanent injuries, such as a spinal cord injury that causes permanent paralysis below the injury’s point (e.g., quadriplegia or paraplegia). Any injury with a poor prognosis for full recovery could constitute a catastrophic injury under California’s civil laws. If the injury prevents the victim from working, it may be legally catastrophic.

Common catastrophic injuries in injury claims in Los Angeles include:

• Traumatic brain injuries

• Severe head or skull injuries

• Broken bones

• Spinal cord injuries

• Third-degree burns

• Workplace accident injuries

• Significant scarring or disfigurement

• Temporary or permanent disabilities

• Losses of significant bodily functions

• Vision or hearing damage

• Losses of limb

• Any injury that requires intensive or long-term medical care

The definition of a catastrophic injury in a civil claim can be relative. The same injury that could be catastrophic to one victim may be only moderately harmful to another, depending on the victim’s age, health, pre-existing conditions, and many other factors. Whether or not an injury is catastrophic depends on how much it impacts the victim’s life. If you are uncertain whether you or your loved one’s injury qualifies as catastrophic in California, talk to an attorney. A Los Angeles catastrophic injury lawyer will know how to recognize catastrophic injuries and understand the state’s related laws.

Why Do I Need a Catastrophic Injury Lawyer?

A catastrophic injury lawyer specializes in representing clients who have suffered severe injuries that have long-term or permanent consequences, such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations, or severe burns. These injuries typically require extensive medical treatment and may result in significant financial and emotional burdens for the victim and their family.

Catastrophic injury attorneys can help clients pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages caused by those injuries. They handle complex legal processes, negotiate with insurance companies, and often take cases to court to secure fair settlements or verdicts for their clients.

If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury and needs legal representation, Novian & Novian is here to help. Our commitment to fighting for the compensation you deserve stems from our understanding of the challenges you face. Our experienced Los Angeles catastrophic injury lawyers can help you make your case and collect the maximum possible financial compensation. Contact us today for a consultation to discuss your case and explore your options.

Catastrophic Injury Cases We Handle

At Novian & Novian, our experienced catastrophic injury attorneys represent victims facing life-changing injuries caused by another’s negligence. We handle a wide range of personal injury cases, helping clients recover the financial compensation they need for medical treatment, lost income, and long-term care. The cases we handle include:

Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis Cases

Our spinal cord injury attorneys help clients recover damages for paralysis, loss of mobility, and permanent disability resulting from severe accidents.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Cases

If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury, our legal team of traumatic brain injury lawyers will fight to secure compensation for ongoing medical care, rehabilitation, and emotional distress.

Amputations and Limb Loss Injuries

Our legal team protects the lifelong needs of victims who have suffered amputations or limb loss due to negligence, workplace accidents, or defective products.

Severe Burn Injuries

Our personal injury lawyers assist victims of catastrophic burns in seeking justice for extensive medical bills, pain, and the emotional trauma that follows.

Rear-End Collision Injuries

Our rear-end collision lawyers help accident victims injured in rear-end collisions recover financial compensation for physical injuries, vehicle damage, and long-term recovery expenses.

Motorcycle Accident Injuries

Our catastrophic injury attorneys represent injured riders and passengers, holding negligent drivers accountable for devastating motor vehicle accidents.

Dog Bite

We pursue justice for victims of severe dog attacks, ensuring they obtain compensation for medical treatment and lasting physical or emotional scars.

Motor Vehicle Accidents

Whether you were injured in a car, truck, or rideshare accident, our motor vehicle accident lawyers will help you navigate the claims process and recover damages.

Pedestrian Accident Injuries

We advocate for pedestrians struck by vehicles, ensuring they obtain maximum compensation for severe injuries and emotional trauma.

Bicycle Accident Injuries

Our personal injury attorneys represent cyclists hit by negligent drivers, helping them recover for medical expenses, lost wages, and long-term disabilities.

Slip, Trip, and Fall Injuries

Our slip and fall lawyers assist victims injured on unsafe properties due to poor maintenance or hazards, holding property owners accountable for their negligence.

Workplace Catastrophic Injuries

If you suffered a catastrophic injury on the job, our workplace accident attorneys will help you pursue all available compensation under California law.

Construction Site and Industrial Accidents

We represent workers and contractors who sustained significant injuries due to unsafe job sites, defective equipment, or employer negligence.

Damages for Catastrophic Injuries

The average catastrophic injury can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical care alone over a victim’s lifetime. This does not include the added costs of lost wages and property repairs. Securing a monetary award could enable you to cover the costs of your catastrophic injury and look forward to a more peaceful future. It could also provide justice by holding the at-fault party accountable. A catastrophic injury can make a victim eligible for greater compensation for his or her losses than a minor injury. The damages available for your catastrophic injuries will depend on the circumstances of the case and your losses.

• Past and future medical expenses: The total costs of a catastrophic injury could exceed $1 million over a victim’s lifetime. As a plaintiff, you could recover 100% of the medical and treatment costs related to your catastrophic injury.

• Lost wages and lost capacity to earn: You could recoup the costs of wages you have already lost from missing time at work, as well as foreseeable future lost earnings if a disability prevents you from returning to your job.

• Pain and suffering: Catastrophic injuries cause immense pain and suffering. This type of award could cover physical suffering, emotional distress, mental anguish, psychological trauma, inconvenience, humiliation, lost quality of life, diminished enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium.

• Property repairs: If the accident that caused you a catastrophic injury also damaged your property, such as damage to your vehicle in a car accident case, the defendant may owe you compensation for property repairs or replacement.

• Out-of-pocket costs: If your accident or the legal process led to out-of-pocket costs, such as travel expenses, legal fees, court filing costs, health care deductibles, or property repairs, you can list these expenses as part of your personal injury lawsuit.

• Punitive damages: A judge may grant a punitive damage award to punish a defendant for gross negligence, maliciousness, intent to harm, recklessness, or wanton disregard for others’ safety. Punitive damages are more common in catastrophic injury cases than ordinary injury claims.

Damages in catastrophic injury cases in California are often substantial. It is important not to accept an insurance settlement offer before bringing it to a lawyer for review. Insurance companies often offer amounts that do not provide fair value for the victims, especially for serious or catastrophic injuries. Your lawyer can negotiate with an insurance company for a fair settlement for your past and future losses. At Novian & Novian, we always fight for maximum compensation on behalf of our clients.

How Do Catastrophic Injuries Differ From Other Types of Injuries?

The main difference between a catastrophic injury and another type of injury is its severity. Catastrophic injuries cause major disruptions to a victim’s life. In contrast, an ordinary injury will only impact the victim temporarily. A victim will make a full recovery from a noncatastrophic injury over the course of several weeks or months, while a catastrophic injury will impact a victim for the foreseeable future and possibly for the rest of his or her life.

While an ordinary injury could still result in significant medical costs and pain and suffering, these losses have an end date in sight. Catastrophic injuries, on the other hand, will affect a victim without any foreseeable end. The permanency of a catastrophic injury results in greater damages for the victim, such as lifelong medical care rather than a temporary treatment regimen. Thus, the settlement and verdict values for catastrophic injury cases typically exceed those of ordinary injury claims in California.

A catastrophic injury case may have to address California’s cap on noneconomic damages. The California legislature has a noneconomic damage cap of $250,000 on medical malpractice cases. This damage cap means no victim can recover more than $250,000 in noneconomic damages for a medical malpractice claim. For other types of claims, however, there is no cap on noneconomic damages. Although any type of injury claim for medical malpractice may encounter this cap, it is more often an issue during catastrophic injury cases.

Why Should You Choose Novian & Novian’s Catastrophic Injury Attorneys?

Novian & Novian has successfully represented clients in catastrophic injury cases for over 35 years. We have handled complex national lawsuits and achieved favorable results for injured plaintiffs across California. Our experienced personal injury attorneys provide personalized attention to every client, ensuring each case receives the care and dedication it deserves.

We understand the life-altering consequences of a catastrophic injury and are committed to recovering maximum financial compensation for medical bills, lost wages, long-term care, and emotional suffering. With deep legal expertise and a compassionate approach, Novian & Novian stands by your side every step of the way—fighting for the justice and recovery you deserve.

Decades of Experience in Catastrophic Injury Cases

With decades of experience, our catastrophic injury lawyers have handled some of the most complex personal injury claims involving traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, amputations, and severe burns. Our law firm’s extensive knowledge of the legal process allows us to build strong cases that stand up to insurance companies and negligent parties.

Proven Track Record of Maximum Settlements and Verdicts

At Novian & Novian, our attorneys have secured significant verdicts and settlements for personal injury victims, ensuring they receive the financial compensation needed to rebuild their lives. We fight aggressively to hold negligent parties accountable and pursue every available legal avenue to obtain justice.

Personalized Legal Strategy for Every Client

Every catastrophic injury case is unique. Our legal team takes the time to understand your situation, review your medical records, and create a tailored strategy designed to achieve the best possible outcome. You’ll receive one-on-one guidance from a dedicated personal injury lawyer who genuinely cares about your recovery and well-being.

No Fees Unless We Win Your Case

We handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. This allows you to focus on your medical treatment and recovery while we handle the legal action and negotiations on your behalf.

Trusted by Families Across California

For decades, Novian & Novian has been a trusted catastrophic injury law firm serving clients throughout Los Angeles and across California. We have built our firm’s reputation on genuine care, professionalism, and consistent results for individuals affected by serious personal injuries caused by someone else’s negligence.

FAQs

Below are answers to some of the most common questions about catastrophic injury claims, personal injury cases, and how Novian & Novian’s catastrophic injury attorneys can help you recover the financial compensation you deserve:

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Catastrophic Injury Attorney?

At Novian & Novian, our catastrophic injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no upfront costs. You only pay legal fees if we successfully recover compensation for your catastrophic injury case.

What is Considered a Catastrophic Injury?

A catastrophic injury is a severe, life-changing injury that results in long-term or permanent disability, such as a spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, or amputation. These injuries often require lifelong medical care, physical therapy, and significant lifestyle adjustments.

What is the Hardest Injury to Prove?

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are often the hardest to prove because symptoms may not appear immediately and can be difficult to document with medical imaging alone. Our personal injury attorneys work with medical experts to establish clear evidence of your injury’s impact on your health and earning capacity.

How Much Do Most Personal Injury Cases Settle For?

The value of a personal injury case varies depending on the severity of the injuries, liability, and financial losses. Most personal injury victims can expect settlements that cover medical expenses, lost wages, and compensation for pain and suffering.

What Is Considered Catastrophic Damage?

Catastrophic damage refers to the extensive physical, emotional, and financial harm resulting from an unexpected accident. This can include permanent disability, chronic pain, or the inability to return to work, requiring long-term legal assistance to recover full damages.

How Long Do I Have to File a Claim for a Catastrophic Injury?

In California, most personal injury claims must be filed within two years from the date of the accident. However, it’s best to contact a catastrophic injury attorney in Los Angeles as soon as possible to protect your legal rights and preserve crucial evidence.