A catastrophic injury can change your health, your ability to work, your family’s finances, and the future you planned. When someone else is legally responsible, you may be able to seek compensation for your losses and future care needs. An attorney can help investigate what happened, document your losses, and pursue compensation while you focus on recovery.
Miller Wilmers APC represents catastrophic injury victims in Santa Clarita and the surrounding communities. Call (661) 310-1357 to speak with our team.
A catastrophic injury is a severe injury that causes permanent or long-term harm and changes a person’s life in a fundamental way. These injuries may require extended hospitalization, multiple surgeries, rehabilitation, or ongoing care. Some permanently limit a person’s ability to work or live independently.
In personal injury cases, “catastrophic injury” generally describes severe harm with lasting effects, rather than a separate category of claim.
We represent clients with a wide range of life-altering injuries, including the following.
A traumatic brain injury can affect memory, concentration, mood, movement, and personality. Severe cases may require round-the-clock care, and even a moderate injury can end a person’s career.
Damage to the spinal cord can cause partial or complete paralysis, loss of sensation, and chronic pain. These injuries often require lifelong medical care, specialized equipment, and changes to a person’s home and vehicle.
Losing an arm, leg, hand, or foot affects mobility, independence, and employment. Compensation in these cases can account for surgeries, prosthetics that must be replaced over time, rehabilitation, and the lasting adjustment to daily life.
Serious burns often mean skin grafts, repeated procedures, long hospital stays, and permanent scarring. The physical pain is only part of the harm, since disfigurement also takes an emotional toll.
Losing sight or hearing can affect a person’s ability to work, travel, and communicate, and it often requires training, assistive technology, and ongoing support.
Catastrophic injuries can happen anywhere, and they often result from:
Sometimes a catastrophic injury turns fatal, either right away or after a long struggle in the hospital. Depending on the family’s circumstances, eligible claimants may include a surviving spouse, registered domestic partner, children, and descendants of deceased children.
Financially dependent parents and stepchildren may also qualify. If the person left no surviving descendants, certain heirs may be eligible under California’s inheritance laws.
California’s statute of limitations generally gives families two years from the date of death, not the date of the original injury, to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Different deadlines may apply in cases involving medical malpractice or government entities, so having an attorney review the applicable deadlines early can help protect your family’s right to seek compensation.
Liability depends on how the injury happened, and more than one party can be responsible. Depending on the facts, that can include:
If you were injured at work, workers’ compensation generally governs claims against your employer, although a separate lawsuit may be possible against a responsible third party. Limited exceptions may also allow a claim against an employer.
A catastrophic injury claim can seek compensation for the injury’s immediate and long-term effects. Depending on the facts and applicable law, recoverable damages may include:
The damages available depend on the type of claim. Medical malpractice cases, for example, are subject to special rules and limits on certain damages.
What you and your family do early on can protect your health and your claim. Follow these steps:
We treat our neighbors in Santa Clarita like people, not case numbers. Our founders, Caleb A. Miller and Justin R. Wilmers grew up here and built Miller Wilmers APC to advocate for people who have been injured or wronged.
Our approach comes down to three things:
Our personal injury results show how we have challenged denied claims and inadequate settlement offers. We recovered the full $1 million policy limit in a head-on collision case. In another personal injury case, we took over when the offer was just $7,500, pursued litigation while our client underwent extensive treatment, and secured a $175,000 settlement one month before trial. We also recovered $115,000 for a car accident client whose claim was initially denied, obtaining both the at-fault driver’s policy limit and additional underinsured motorist compensation after the client underwent shoulder surgery.
Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a particular outcome. But our commitment stays the same. We prepare thoroughly, push back against inadequate offers, and stand beside our clients throughout the process. If a catastrophic injury has changed your life, call Miller Wilmers APC at (661) 310-1357 for a free consultation. We’re here for the injured, not the insured.
If you or someone you love has suffered a life-changing injury, you don’t have to face the insurance companies alone. We’ll listen to what happened, explain your options, and help you decide on next steps. Contact Miller Wilmers APC at (661) 310-1357 today for a free consultation.
The value depends on the injury’s lasting effects, medical and care needs, lost earning capacity, liability evidence, and available sources of recovery. A severe injury can support substantial damages, but no specific recovery is guaranteed.
California generally gives you two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. Claims against a government entity usually require a written claim within six months, and medical malpractice claims have their own rules, so it’s important to talk with a lawyer promptly.
Often, yes. California follows a pure comparative negligence rule, so your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault instead of being barred. If you were 20% at fault, for example, your recovery would generally be reduced by 20%.
Usually, you’ll have a workers’ compensation claim, and you may also have a separate lawsuit against a third party other than your employer, such as a negligent contractor, an equipment manufacturer, or a driver. A third-party claim can recover damages that workers’ compensation doesn’t, like pain and suffering.
It varies, and these cases often take longer than a typical injury claim. We generally want to understand the full extent of your injuries and your future care needs before settling, and complex liability or disputed damages can add time. We’ll keep you informed about where your case stands.
