A catastrophic injury changes everything at once: permanent disability, ongoing medical care, lost income, and the daily reality of a life that no longer works the way it used to. At Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers we handle these cases with the depth they require. We focus on serious traffic-accident injuries so you and your family can concentrate on care and recovery while we build the full financial picture of what the future will cost.
Why Choose Sally Morin Law for Your Catastrophic Injury Case
We are a five-star rated, all-female California personal injury firm that has represented seriously injured clients since 1997. Our practice is limited to cases involving life-altering harm: traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, severe burns, amputations, multiple fractures, and other permanent disabilities.
These claims demand more than a standard personal-injury approach. They require accurate projection of lifetime medical needs, lost earning capacity, home modifications, attendant care, and the non-economic cost of a permanently altered life. We bring in the right experts early and refuse to accept valuations that stop at past medical bills.
Fee promise: We work on a pure contingency fee. You pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. We also negotiate medical liens so more of the recovery stays available for future care.
Notable Results in High-Severity Cases
$4,250,000 – Scooter Collision with Catastrophic Injuries
A young couple suffered severe pelvic, hip, and lower-extremity injuries requiring multiple surgeries after a taxi struck their scooter in San Francisco.
$1,650,000 – Pedestrian with Traumatic Brain Injury and Multiple Fractures
A pedestrian in a San Francisco crosswalk was struck by a vehicle whose autonomous features failed. Injuries included severe TBI, shattered pelvis, and ruptured knee.
$841,500 – Rideshare Passenger, High-Impact Collision
A passenger was struck by an intoxicated driver at high speed. Recovery combined multiple coverage layers.
$750,000 – Scooter Rider, Road-Surface Hazard
Serious injuries caused by construction-related damage to the roadway.
$700,000 – Pedestrian, Crosswalk Impact
Marked-crosswalk collision with distracted driver; recovery included umbrella coverage.
Key California Rules That Shape Catastrophic Injury Claims
Duty of ordinary care – Civil Code § 1714
Anyone who fails to use ordinary care can be held responsible for the resulting injuries.
Pure comparative negligence
You may still recover even if you were partly at fault. Your recovery is reduced only by your percentage of responsibility.
Statute of limitations – Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1
Most personal-injury claims must be filed within two years of the injury. Claims against government entities usually require formal notice within six months. Early action protects both the claim and the evidence needed for long-term damages.
Multiple liable parties
Catastrophic cases frequently involve more than one responsible party: drivers, employers, vehicle owners, product manufacturers, property owners, or public entities. Identifying every source of coverage is essential when lifetime costs are high.
Future damages are recoverable
California law allows recovery for future medical care, future lost earnings, and future pain and suffering when they are proven with reasonable certainty. This is where life-care planning and economic analysis become central.
San Francisco and Bay Area Context for Catastrophic Injuries
High-speed corridors, dense urban traffic, steep grades, and heavy mixes of cars, trucks, rideshare vehicles, motorcycles, scooters, bicycles, and pedestrians all raise the risk of high-impact collisions. Many of the firm’s most serious cases arise on or near freeways such as US-101 and I-280, major arterials, and the city’s High Injury Network streets identified by Vision Zero.
Injured people are often taken by ambulance to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital or other regional trauma centers. Cases filed in San Francisco are generally heard in San Francisco Superior Court. Collisions in the East Bay, Peninsula, or South Bay may be in the appropriate county superior court.
Local knowledge of trauma-care patterns, common insurance-carrier practices, and the practical cost of living with permanent disability in the Bay Area informs how we value these claims.
How a Catastrophic Injury Claim Works and What To Do Now
Immediate steps
- Obtain emergency and ongoing medical care. Follow all treatment recommendations.
- Preserve evidence: vehicle damage, scene photos, witness information, clothing, helmets, or other gear.
- Report the incident and secure the police or incident report.
- Avoid recorded statements to any insurance company without legal advice.
- Keep a simple record of symptoms, limitations, and expenses.
- Contact counsel experienced in high-value, long-term injury cases as soon as practical.
What our firm handles
- Full investigation and, when needed, accident reconstruction
- Coordination with treating physicians and retention of specialists
- Life-care planning to project lifetime medical and support needs
- Economic analysis of lost earning capacity
- Identification of every available insurance policy and responsible party
- Negotiation of medical liens and special-needs or settlement structures when appropriate
- Litigation if a fair resolution cannot be reached
Life-care planning and future damages
In catastrophic cases the largest part of the claim is often the future. A life-care plan prepared by a qualified expert sets out the medical care, therapies, medications, equipment, home modifications, and attendant care a person is reasonably likely to need for the rest of their life. An economist then converts those needs into present-day dollars and calculates lost earning capacity. This work is what separates a complete valuation from an offer that only covers bills already incurred. We treat it as standard practice on these files, not an optional extra.
Typical timeline
These cases rarely resolve in a few months. Medical stability, expert reports, and thorough documentation of future needs take time. We move the case forward steadily while refusing to settle before the long-term picture is clear.
Frequently Asked Questions – Catastrophic Injury Claims
What counts as a catastrophic injury?
Injuries that produce permanent disability or require lifelong care: moderate to severe traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, major burns, amputations, multiple complex fractures, and similar harm.
How is the value of a catastrophic case determined?
Past medical costs are only the starting point. Future medical care, lost earning capacity, home and vehicle modifications, attendant care, and non-economic damages for permanent life changes make up the bulk of a proper valuation.
What is a life-care plan?
A detailed, expert-prepared projection of the medical and support services a person will need over their lifetime because of the injury. It is the foundation for proving future economic damages.
Can I recover if I was partly at fault?
Yes. California’s pure comparative negligence rules still allow recovery, reduced by your share of fault.
How long do these cases take?
Longer than ordinary injury claims. We prioritize accuracy of the future-damages picture over speed.
Do you handle traumatic brain injury cases?
Yes. TBI is one of the core catastrophic categories we handle. Detailed TBI information lives on our dedicated TBI page, which links back to this hub.
[Traumatic Brain Injury resource]
What if there are multiple insurance policies?
We identify and pursue every applicable layer: liability, umbrella, employer coverage, product liability, and UM/UIM where available.
How long do I have to file?
Most claims must be filed within two years. Government claims have shorter notice deadlines. Early contact protects both the claim and the evidence needed for life-care planning.
What Clients Say
Related Resources and Hub-Spoke Links
TBI subpage
This page owns the broader “catastrophic injury lawyer” term. Our TBI-specific page owns traumatic-brain-injury detail and search demand. The two pages should link to each other clearly so users and search engines understand the relationship.
High-severity case studies
Contact a California Catastrophic Injury Lawyer Today
If you or a family member suffered a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, amputation, severe burns, or other permanent disability in a traffic accident, speak with our team. We will explain how life-care planning and future-damages proof work, identify every available source of recovery, and pursue the compensation required for long-term care and stability.
Meet Our Team
Get the settlement you deserve
Since 1997, Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers have helped clients recover compensation for serious injuries from car, motorcycle, scooter accidents, and more. Contact our expert team for help with your California injury case.
Our Location
We serve clients throughout Oakland and the East Bay from our San Francisco headquarters.