When you suffer a catastrophic injury due to someone else’s negligence, you face mounting medical bills, lost income, and permanent lifestyle changes. Dordick Law Corporation understands the profound impact these injuries have on you and your family. Our catastrophic injury lawyers in Riverside bring experience handling serious injury cases. We work with medical experts to document your condition and pursue the compensation you deserve.
Why Choose Dordick Law Corporation for Your Catastrophic Injury Case?
Dordick Law Corporation is a leading personal injury law firm serving Riverside, Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, and throughout Southern California. Our team of experienced attorneys has recovered over $1 billion in settlements and verdicts for our clients. We are committed to providing aggressive representation and compassionate support to catastrophic injury victims and their families. Learn more about our firm and our attorneys.
What Constitutes a Catastrophic Injury Under California Law
A catastrophic injury is a severe, life-altering injury that results in permanent disability or significant impairment. Under California law, catastrophic injuries prevent full recovery and fundamentally change how a person lives, works, and functions daily.
Catastrophic injuries include spinal cord injuries causing paraplegia or quadriplegia, traumatic brain injuries causing cognitive or physical impairment, amputations of limbs or digits, severe burn injuries covering significant portions of the body, and loss of sight, hearing, or other critical sensory functions. According to the NSCISC, spinal cord injuries affect approximately 17,700 people annually in the United States.
These injuries require immediate legal representation. They involve complex medical evidence, substantial damages calculations, and long-term care planning. At Dordick Law Corporation, our team has successfully recovered millions for catastrophic injury victims. Our case results demonstrate our commitment to securing maximum compensation for our clients. We have recovered $7.6 million for a TBI victim and numerous other significant verdicts and settlements.
How Dordick Law Corporation Handles Catastrophic Injury Claims
Our approach to catastrophic injury cases begins with thorough investigation and evidence gathering. We obtain accident reports, witness statements, photographs, and video evidence from the incident scene. We preserve evidence at accident scenes and work with accident reconstruction experts when necessary to establish liability. This process aligns with California’s evidence preservation requirements under the California Code of Civil Procedure.
We consult with medical experts early in the case to understand your injuries fully. Neurologists, orthopedic surgeons, rehabilitation specialists, and other medical professionals help us establish the extent of your injuries. They project long-term medical needs and costs. This expert input strengthens your claim and supports higher damage awards. Our team works with leading medical institutions to ensure comprehensive documentation of your condition.
Our negotiation strategy focuses on presenting compelling evidence of liability and damages to insurance companies and opposing counsel. We prepare detailed demand packages with medical records, expert reports, and damages calculations. We negotiate aggressively to achieve fair settlements without unnecessary delay while protecting your interests. Our personal injury attorneys have extensive experience in settlement negotiations.
When settlement negotiations do not produce fair results, we prepare your case for trial. We develop trial strategies, prepare witnesses, and work with experts to present your case effectively to a jury. We litigate every case as if it will go to trial, ensuring we are fully prepared to advocate for you in court. Our litigation team includes Michael Linfield, a retired Superior Court Judge who brings invaluable courtroom experience to your case.
Throughout the process, we maintain regular communication with you and your family. We understand that catastrophic injuries create stress and uncertainty. Our team provides support, answers your questions, and keeps you informed about your case progress at every stage. We are committed to compassionate client service throughout your legal journey.
Types of Catastrophic Injuries We Handle
Our firm represents clients who have suffered various catastrophic injuries across Riverside County and Southern California. We handle spinal cord injury cases involving complete or incomplete paralysis, including paraplegia (lower body paralysis) and quadriplegia (all four limbs affected). Motor vehicle accidents, construction falls, and diving accidents commonly cause these injuries.
Traumatic brain injuries represent another significant category of catastrophic cases we handle. TBIs cause cognitive impairment, memory loss, personality changes, and physical disabilities. We work with neurologists and rehabilitation specialists to establish the full extent of brain injury damages and long-term care requirements. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 69,000 Americans sustain TBI-related deaths annually.
Amputation cases require specialized knowledge of prosthetic technology, rehabilitation costs, and the psychological impact of limb loss. We pursue compensation covering prosthetic devices, ongoing medical care, and the substantial lifestyle adjustments required following amputation. Our Riverside personal injury team has successfully represented amputation victims.
Severe burn injuries affecting large portions of the body demand aggressive representation. Burn victims face multiple surgeries, skin grafts, infection risks, and permanent scarring. We calculate damages including all reconstructive procedures and long-term medical management necessary for recovery and adaptation.
We also represent clients who have suffered multiple trauma injuries—polytrauma cases involving combinations of serious injuries from single incidents. These complex cases require coordinating medical evidence from multiple specialists and calculating damages across multiple injury categories. Our experienced team has handled some of the most complex catastrophic injury cases in Southern California.
Common Causes of Catastrophic Injuries in Riverside
Catastrophic injuries in Riverside arise from various negligent or reckless actions.
- Motor vehicle accidents remain a leading cause, including collisions involving cars, commercial trucks, and motorcycles. High-speed impacts, drunk driving, and distracted driving create the violent forces necessary to cause catastrophic harm. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of traumatic brain injury.
- Construction site accidents frequently result in catastrophic injuries. Falls from heights, equipment malfunctions, electrocution, and crushing injuries on construction sites cause permanent disability. These cases often involve violations of safety regulations and inadequate worker protection measures required by California law. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) enforces strict safety standards for construction sites.
- Workplace injuries beyond construction also cause catastrophic harm. Industrial accidents, machinery entanglement, chemical exposure, and falls in warehouses or manufacturing facilities result in life-altering injuries. These injuries require immediate medical intervention and long-term care. Our workplace accident attorneys understand the complexities of occupational injury claims.
- Premises liability incidents—slip and falls, inadequate security leading to assault, or structural failures—can cause catastrophic injuries. Property owners have a legal duty to maintain reasonably safe premises for visitors and guests. When property owners fail to maintain safe conditions or warn of hazards, serious injuries result. California premises liability law requires property owners to exercise reasonable care in maintaining their properties.
- Product liability cases arise when defectively designed or manufactured products cause severe injuries. Defective machinery, vehicles with safety system failures, or dangerous consumer products can cause catastrophic harm to users and bystanders. Our product liability attorneys have recovered millions for victims of defective products.
Damages Available in Catastrophic Injury Cases
Catastrophic injury cases involve significant damages reflecting the severity and permanence of your condition.
- Medical expenses form the foundation of damages calculations. This includes emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgeries, rehabilitation, ongoing medical care, medications, and medical equipment. For catastrophic injuries, we calculate lifetime medical costs, not just immediate treatment expenses. Our case results show how we calculate comprehensive medical damages.
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity represent significant damages. If your injury prevents you from returning to your previous employment, we calculate the income you would have earned throughout your working life. This includes consideration of promotions, raises, and career advancement you would have achieved absent the injury. We work with vocational rehabilitation experts to establish accurate earning capacity projections.
- Pain and suffering damages compensate for physical pain, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and psychological trauma resulting from your injury. Catastrophic injuries cause ongoing pain and permanent lifestyle restrictions that justify significant pain and suffering compensation. Note that while pain and suffering damages are uncapped in non-medical malpractice cases, medical malpractice claims are subject to statutory caps of $430,000 for non-death cases and $600,000 for wrongful death cases (with annual increases).
- Permanent disability compensation addresses your reduced capacity to work and earn income. We establish the extent of your disability through medical evidence and calculate appropriate compensation reflecting your diminished earning potential. Our attorneys work with disability experts to quantify your permanent impairment.
- Rehabilitation and care costs cover physical therapy, occupational therapy, vocational rehabilitation, and in-home care services. Many catastrophic injury victims require ongoing assistance with daily activities. We pursue compensation for these necessary services throughout your lifetime. Our Riverside injury attorneys ensure all future care needs are accounted for in damage calculations.
Frequently Asked Questions About Catastrophic Injuries
What is the statute of limitations for filing a catastrophic injury claim in California?
California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1 establishes a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. The clock starts from the date of injury. However, certain circumstances may extend or shorten this deadline.
For example, if the injury was not immediately apparent, the statute may begin when you discovered the injury (the “discovery rule“). We recommend contacting an attorney promptly to ensure your claim is filed within applicable deadlines and to protect your legal rights. Our Riverside personal injury lawyers can evaluate your specific situation.
How much is my catastrophic injury case worth?
The value of your catastrophic injury case depends on multiple factors. These include the severity of your injury, your age, your pre-injury earning capacity, the extent of medical expenses, the clarity of liability, and the jurisdiction where your case would be tried. We evaluate each case individually and provide honest assessments of potential value based on comparable cases and the specific facts of your situation.
Catastrophic injury cases typically involve significant damages due to lifetime medical costs and lost earning capacity. Review our case results to see examples of settlements and verdicts we have secured for catastrophic injury victims. Our attorneys have extensive experience valuing complex catastrophic injury claims.
Do I have to go to trial for my catastrophic injury case?
Most personal injury cases, including catastrophic injury cases, settle before trial. However, we prepare every case as if it will go to trial. If the opposing party refuses to offer fair compensation, we are prepared to litigate your case aggressively. Going to trial is sometimes necessary to obtain the full compensation you deserve for your injuries and losses. Our litigation team includes experienced trial attorneys.
What should I do immediately after suffering a catastrophic injury?
Seek immediate medical attention—your health is the priority. If possible, document the accident scene with photographs or video. Obtain contact information from witnesses to the incident. Report the incident to relevant authorities or property owners as appropriate. Preserve any physical evidence related to the accident. Contact an attorney as soon as possible to protect your legal rights and ensure evidence is preserved for your claim. Our catastrophic injury lawyers are available for immediate consultation.
Can I still file a claim if I was partially at fault?
California follows comparative negligence rules under California Civil Code Section 1431.2. You can recover damages even if you were partially at fault for the accident. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault.
For example, if you were 20% at fault and your damages total $100,000, you could recover $80,000. We evaluate fault carefully and present evidence supporting your position to maximize your recovery. Our personal injury team has successfully defended clients in comparative negligence situations.
How long does a catastrophic injury case typically take?
The timeline varies significantly depending on case complexity and whether settlement is reached. Cases that settle typically take six months to eighteen months from filing to resolution. Cases that proceed to trial may take two to three years or longer, depending on court schedules and case complexity. We work efficiently to resolve your case while ensuring we pursue maximum compensation for your injuries. Our Riverside attorneys manage cases efficiently while maintaining aggressive advocacy.
Contact Dordick Law Corporation Today
Contact Dordick Law Corporation today for a free consultation about your catastrophic injury case. Call (310) 341-7176 or complete our online contact form to speak with an experienced attorney about your situation and your legal options. Our attorneys represent catastrophic injury victims throughout Riverside County and Southern California.
Our award-winning team of catastrophic injury attorney in Riverside are ready to fight for your rights and help you recover the compensation you deserve.
