Fighting for the Future You Deserve
When you’ve suffered from minor injuries after an accident, such as whiplash in a car crash or a sprain from a fall, you may expect to be inconvenienced for a few days or weeks while you seek medical attention and take time to heal. When you’re suffering from serious and life-threatening injuries, however, your entire future may seem uncertain. If your injuries are permanent, you may be forced to change your lifestyle. You may also be facing tens of thousands of dollars not only in emergency medical expenses but in future costs of care as well.
At Lara Law Firm, our Alhambra catastrophic injury attorney fights for our clients’ rights to compensation after accidents so they don’t have to worry about their futures. We understand the major impact that a severe injury can have on a person’s life and take all damages into consideration when determining how much our clients need to recover. Our team has handled a variety of accidents resulting in catastrophic injuries and can be trusted to handle your case with care and respect. Call Lara Law Firm today at (626) 872-6607 to schedule a free consultation.
Catastrophic Injury FAQs
What is considered a catastrophic injury?
A catastrophic injury is a severe injury that causes long-term or permanent harm and significantly affects a person’s ability to live, work, or care for themselves. These cases often involve life-changing physical, emotional, and financial consequences.
Examples of catastrophic injuries may include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, paralysis, severe burns, amputations, organ damage, major fractures, blindness, birth injuries, and injuries that require long-term medical treatment or future care.
Because these injuries can affect every part of a person’s life, catastrophic injury claims often require a detailed review of medical needs, lost earning ability, pain and suffering, and the long-term impact on the injured person and their family.
How is a catastrophic injury case different from a regular personal injury case?
A catastrophic injury case is usually more complex than a standard personal injury claim because the damages are often much greater and longer lasting. The injured person may need ongoing medical care, surgeries, rehabilitation, assistive devices, home modifications, or help with daily activities.
These cases may also involve future lost income, reduced earning capacity, permanent disability, and major changes to the person’s quality of life. Because so much is at stake, insurance companies often fight these claims aggressively.
Lara Law Firm carefully investigates catastrophic injury cases to understand both the immediate harm and the long-term consequences. This may involve reviewing medical records, consulting experts, evaluating future care needs, and building a case that reflects the full impact of the injury.
Can family members bring a claim after a loved one suffers a catastrophic injury?
In some situations, yes. If a loved one suffers a catastrophic injury, family members may be affected emotionally, financially, and practically. Whether a family member has a legal claim depends on the facts of the case, the relationship to the injured person, and the type of harm involved.
If the injured person survives, the primary personal injury claim usually belongs to the injured person. However, family members may still play an important role in documenting how the injury has changed the person’s life, daily needs, and family responsibilities.
If the catastrophic injury results in death, certain family members may be able to bring a wrongful death claim under California law. These claims can involve losses such as financial support, companionship, guidance, funeral expenses, and other damages. California also recognizes survival actions in some cases, which are separate claims brought on behalf of the deceased person’s estate for harms the person suffered before death.
Lara Law Firm can review the situation and help determine what claims may be available.
What if the insurance company says my injuries are not as serious as I claim?
Insurance companies often try to minimize serious injury claims. They may argue that the injury was pre-existing, that the medical treatment was unnecessary, that the injured person is exaggerating, or that the accident did not cause the full extent of the harm.
You should not assume the insurance company’s position is final or accurate. Catastrophic injury cases often require strong medical documentation, expert opinions, diagnostic imaging, treatment records, and evidence showing how the injury affects daily life.
Lara Law Firm can help challenge unfair insurance arguments by gathering evidence, working with medical professionals when appropriate, and presenting a clearer picture of the injury’s true impact.
How much is a catastrophic injury case worth?
The value of a catastrophic injury case depends on many factors, including the severity of the injury, the cost of medical treatment, future care needs, lost income, reduced earning ability, pain and suffering, permanent disability, and the impact on the injured person’s quality of life.
Other factors may include who was at fault, available insurance coverage, whether multiple parties are responsible, and how strongly the evidence supports the claim.
Because catastrophic injuries can affect a person for years or even a lifetime, it is important not to value the case based only on current medical bills. Future medical treatment, rehabilitation, home care, assistive equipment, and long-term financial losses may also need to be considered.
Lara Law Firm reviews each case individually to pursue compensation that reflects the full extent of the harm.
Does Lara Law Firm handle catastrophic injury cases on a contingency fee basis?
Yes. Lara Law Firm offers free consultations for personal injury matters and handles personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. This means clients do not pay attorney’s fees upfront. Instead, the attorney’s fee is paid as a percentage of the recovery if the case is successful.
Contingency fees are commonly used in personal injury cases, and the State Bar of California explains that this type of fee generally means the lawyer is paid a percentage of the amount recovered through settlement or trial. Costs and expenses can depend on the specific fee agreement, so those details should be reviewed carefully before signing.
During a consultation, Lara Law Firm can explain how fees and case costs work so clients understand what to expect.
What evidence is important in a catastrophic injury claim?
Important evidence in a catastrophic injury claim may include police or incident reports, medical records, diagnostic imaging, photos and videos, witness statements, expert opinions, employment records, wage loss documentation, insurance information, and records showing future care needs.
Depending on the type of accident, other evidence may also be important. For example, a truck accident case may involve driver logs, black box data, maintenance records, and company safety policies. A premises liability case may involve surveillance footage, inspection records, prior complaints, or evidence of a dangerous condition.
Evidence of how the injury affects daily life can also be powerful. This may include journals, caregiver notes, therapy records, photographs of recovery, and statements from family members.
Lara Law Firm works to preserve and review the evidence needed to prove what happened, who was responsible, and how the injury has changed the client’s life.