$36.0M
Fresno pedestrian accident settlement: a commercial delivery van struck a child crossing the street, causing a traumatic brain injury and other serious injuries.
Personal Injury
Los Angeles Catastrophic Injury Lawyer
Facing a life-changing injury? At Wilshire Law Firm — an award-winning, nationally recognized team — our attorneys help catastrophically injured people across Los Angeles pursue compensation for lifetime medical care, lost earning capacity, and pain and suffering. Contact us 24/7 for a free case review with a legal professional — there are no fees unless you get paid.
- $3B+RECOVERED
- 7X"BEST LAW FIRM" AWARDS
- 24/7AVAILABILITY & SUPPORT
- 500+LEGAL PROFESSIONALS
Understanding Your Los Angeles Catastrophic Injury Case
Explore essential resources on your rights, your options, and what to expect — everything you need to navigate the legal process, all in one place.
A catastrophic injury is a severe, often permanent injury that fundamentally alters a person's ability to work, care for themselves, or enjoy daily life. California has no single statutory definition, but courts and medical experts look to sources like the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment and California Labor Code §4662 when assessing severity. These injuries typically require ongoing care and cause lasting disability, pain, or impairment.
Wilshire Law Firm handles the full range of catastrophic injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, paralysis, amputations, severe burns, and birth injuries. Traumatic brain injuries range from concussions to permanent cognitive impairment, and spinal cord injuries can cause loss of function depending on whether the cervical, thoracic, or lumbar region is affected. Learn more about our related practices: Los Angeles Brain Injury Lawyer →, Paralysis Injury Lawyer →, Los Angeles Burn Injury Lawyer →, and Los Angeles Birth Injury Lawyer →.
Most catastrophic injuries in Los Angeles result from high-energy accidents caused by another party's negligence. The leading causes we see include high-speed motor vehicle collisions on freeways like I-10, I-405, and SR-110, construction accidents such as falls and scaffolding collapses, pedestrian and motorcycle accidents, and dangerous property conditions. Establishing who was at fault is central to your claim. Related help: Los Angeles Truck Accident Lawyer →, Los Angeles Construction Accident Lawyer →, and Los Angeles Pedestrian Accident Lawyer →.
Catastrophically injured victims in California can generally recover economic, non-economic, and in some cases punitive damages. Economic damages include past and future medical expenses, lifetime care costs, adaptive equipment, home modifications, and lost earning capacity. Non-economic damages cover pain and suffering, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium under California Civil Code §3333 — and California places no statutory cap on non-economic damages in most personal injury cases. Punitive damages may be available for egregious or intentional misconduct.
A life care plan is a detailed projection of a victim's future medical and personal care needs, prepared by a certified life care planner. Because catastrophic injuries often require decades of treatment, therapy, and assistance, this plan is critical to documenting the true lifetime cost of the injury. Our attorneys work with these experts to make sure your claim reflects the full scope of your future needs.
In most California catastrophic injury cases you have two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit (California Code of Civil Procedure §335.1). Limited exceptions apply for minors, claims against government entities, and injuries discovered later. Because missing a deadline can permanently bar your recovery, it's best to speak with a legal professional as early as possible.
Meet Our Los Angeles Catastrophic Injury Attorneys
Nationally Recognized Powerhouse, Fighting for the Justice You Deserve
Our award-winning attorneys have recovered billions for clients while taking on insurance companies and major corporations.
Learn more about the team
1 of 12
Colin M. Jones, Esq.Senior Partner and Senior Trial Attorney, Chair of the Personal Injury Litigation Department
Jennifer P. Burkes, Esq.Senior Partner & Strategic Advisor, Personal Injury Litigation Department
Mary Lee Caruso, Esq.Senior Partner
Ryan Casey, Esq.Senior Partner and Trial Attorney
Tae-Yoon Kim, Esq.Senior Partner
Philip Andonian, Esq.Partner and Trial Attorney
Alivia E. Abreu, Esq.Partner
Shervin G. Ghanoongooi, Esq.Partner
Christopher Goodroe, Esq.Partner
Nathan A. Guest, Esq.Partner and Trial Attorney
Brian M. Jacobson, Esq.Partner
Ariella Perry, Esq.PartnerRecent wins
1 of 15
$14.5M
Mountain View premises liability settlement: a concertgoer suffered a traumatic brain injury at an event venue. The claim focused on the venue's duty to keep guests safe.
$12.0M
California workplace accident verdict: a hospital explosion left a worker with burn injuries. Claims against the hospital, a utility and an electrical contractor cited code violations.
$8.0M
Santa Monica pedestrian accident settlement: a city tractor struck a person who was on foot on the beach at night, causing serious head injuries.
$5.0M
Hanford motorcycle accident settlement: a pickup turned left in front of a motorcyclist, causing a traumatic brain injury and serious back, neck and hip injuries.
$4.4M
Redondo Beach slip and fall settlement: a visitor walking down the stairs at a waterfront restaurant fell and suffered permanent catastrophic injuries.
$2.8M
California truck accident settlement: a box truck driver fell asleep and hit a lamp post and a building, leaving a passenger with burn injuries and a serious leg injury.
$2.5M
Kings County car accident settlement: a driver passing other cars on a two-lane highway hit another driver head-on, causing multiple serious injuries, including leg injuries.
$2.3M
Los Angeles premises liability settlement: a person facing a blocked exit jumped from a second-floor apartment during a fire and suffered extensive burn injuries. No fire alarm sounded.
$2.0M
San Diego County premises liability settlement: scalding tap water left a child with extensive burn injuries in a rental apartment where tenants had complained about the water temperature.
$2.0M
Orange County truck accident settlement: a big rig driver crashed while avoiding people from an earlier wreck, suffering a brain injury. Defendants included an individual and a restaurant franchise.
$1.5M
Porterville pedestrian accident settlement: a vehicle struck a pedestrian, causing catastrophic injuries, including a brain injury and serious leg injuries. Several defendants faced claims.
$1.3M
Gardena premises liability settlement: a tenant walking to a car at a rental home stepped on nails spilled during roof renovations, causing catastrophic injuries.
$990K
Bakersfield truck accident settlement: a big rig rear-ended and side-struck a driver's vehicle at a red light, causing a brain injury and serious neck and other injuries.
$101K
Sacramento dog bite settlement: a large dog that escaped its owner's backyard bit a person, causing a traumatic brain injury and other serious head injuries.
*Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Each case is unique and evaluated on its own facts.
How Do I Know If I Have a Catastrophic Injury Claim in California?
Three factors determine whether you have a valid catastrophic injury claim — fault, severity, and proof. Fault means another party's negligence caused your injury. Severity means the injury is serious and lasting, such as a brain injury, spinal cord injury, paralysis, amputation, or severe burn requiring long-term or lifetime care. Proof includes medical records, accident reports, expert opinions, and a life care plan. Because California's statute of limitations applies, contact Wilshire Law Firm for a free case evaluation with a legal professional.
Start Your Free Los Angeles Catastrophic Injury Case Review
- Available 24/7
- Hablamos Español
- Nationally-Recognized Powerhouse Team
As seen in:
We'll contact you within minutes
No fees unless you get paid.
Record-breaking results
Winners of #1 Settlements in California
Our attorneys have recovered billions of dollars, including some of the biggest settlements in California.
17#1 Settlements in California, 2022–2024*
TopVerdict #1TopVerdict.com #1 settlements
1 of 17
#1 Truck v. Pedestrian Accident Settlement
2024
#1 Multi-Vehicle Accident Settlement
2024
#1 Equipment Malfunction Settlement
2024
#1 Car v. Stationary Object Collision Settlement
2024
#1 Bus v. Passenger Accident Settlement
2024
#1 Whistleblower Retaliation Settlement
2023
#1 Underinsured Motorist Settlement
2023
#1 Slip & Fall Accident Settlement
2023
#1 Negligent Security Settlement
2023
#1 Ladder Accident Settlement
2023
#1 Hotel Premises Liability Settlement
2023
#1 Car v. Car Collision Settlement
2023
#1 Bicycle Accident Settlement
2023
#1 Pregnancy Discrimination Settlement
2022
#1 Age/Disability Discrimination Settlement
2022
#1 Wrongful Termination Settlement
2022
#1 Meal & Rest Breaks Settlement
2022
*#1 settlements in California have been awarded by TopVerdict.com. Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Los Angeles Catastrophic Injury FAQs
Our Most Frequently Asked Questions
We've answered the most common ones below. If yours isn't here, call us — we're available 24/7.
Most catastrophic injuries in Los Angeles come from high-energy events — freeway collisions on corridors like the I-405, I-10, and US-101, commercial truck crashes, motorcycle and pedestrian accidents, and serious falls or workplace incidents. The greater the forces involved, the more likely an injury is permanent.
A life care plan is a detailed projection of a victim's future medical and personal-care needs, prepared by a certified life care planner. Because catastrophic injuries bring decades of costs, this plan — supported by medical and economic experts — is central to valuing the claim so nothing is left out of a settlement.
Catastrophic injuries frequently exceed a single insurance policy. Additional recovery may be available through your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, umbrella policies, or other at-fault parties, depending on the facts. Such motorist coverage is governed by your policy and the Insurance Code.
Generally two years from the date of injury under California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1, with a shorter six-month deadline to file a written claim when a government entity may be responsible. Exceptions can apply for minors and delayed discovery, so confirm your deadline promptly. Common examples include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, paralysis, severe burns, and amputations.