The California catastrophic injury lawyers at Bisnar Chase are here to help accident victims and their families win fair compensation for the pain and losses that they have faced.
A catastrophic injury can be completely life-altering, both for the victim and for everyone around them. It can leave a person with chronic pain and permanent disabilities, destroying their quality of life. Even basic daily activities can prove difficult after a significant injury.
Due to the severity of their injuries, many victims suffer a double blow: they must pay for exorbitant medical expenses while also being unable to work. But you do not have to face these challenges alone.
Why Choose Bisnar Chase?
- Rated Best of the Best Law Firms
- 2026 Litigator of the Year
- Over $1B Recovered
- 99% success rate winning cases
- No fee if we don’t win your case
- Free Consultation, no obligation
- Over 48 Years in Personal Injury Law
Contact our catastrophic injury lawyers for a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer. We have a 99% success rate and will fight for you.
$24M Catastrophic Injury Case Result
This video reports on a significant legal victory for Jacqueline Romine, who received $24 million after a car accident left her paralyzed. When Jacqueline was rear-ended, the seatback failed, causing her to be thrown backward, which resulted in severe neck injuries.
California Catastrophic Injury Lawyers Near You
What To Ask a Catastrophic Injury Lawyer Before Hiring Them
- What is your experience with catastrophic injury cases?
- What are your legal fees and payment structure?
- What is your track record of success in and out of court?
- Who will personally be handling my case?
- How will you communicate with me?
- How long will it take to resolve my claim?
- What do you need from me to assist in the case?
- Are you willing to go to trial?
- Are there any issues with the California State Bar?
These are all critical questions to ask when considering hiring a law firm. It’s also essential that your claim is handled transparently. Our personal injury attorneys are all trial lawyers with extensive experience winning tough cases.
What is Considered a Catastrophic Injury?
What does it mean to have a catastrophic injury? There are several different definitions. The American Medical Association says that a catastrophic injury involves damage to the spinal cord, the spine, the skull, or the brain.
The primary difference between catastrophic and non-catastrophic injuries lies in the severity and long-term impact of the injury on the individual.
An accident can be classified as catastrophic if it results in:
- Major trauma to the head, neck, or back
- Damage causing permanent physical or mental disability
- Death
Catastrophic injuries can leave victims dealing with long-term issues that significantly impact their lives, as well as the lives of those around them.
Suppose a person has suffered long-term effects, such as an inability to walk or sustaining brain damage. In that case, this can put an enormous financial and emotional burden on the victim and their family.
Catastrophic Injuries: These are serious injuries that typically result in permanent disabilities and long-lasting effects on an individual’s quality of life and ability to function. They often require extensive medical treatment and can lead to significant lifestyle changes. Examples might include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and amputations, perhaps caused by a catastrophic tree accident. These injuries can involve long-term or lifelong rehabilitation and may severely impact one’s ability to work or perform daily activities.
Non-Catastrophic Injuries: These are less severe injuries that usually result in temporary disabilities, allowing for complete recovery after treatment. They typically do not have a long-term impact on the individual’s quality of life. These injuries might include minor fractures, sprains, or strains that heal with treatment over a short to moderate period.
Bisnar Chase is an outstanding personal injury law firm that helps victims of all kinds. But we excel in handling catastrophic injury cases. It is important to us that we secure justice for those who have endured extreme suffering.
10 Types of Catastrophic Injuries
There are many different kinds of catastrophic injuries. Some might cause significant short-term pain, while others leave lasting effects, from disabilities to physical and emotional scarring.
Examples of catastrophic injuries include:
➤ Burn injuries: Severe burns can result in extreme pain, nerve damage, and disfigurement.
➤ Multiple bone fractures: When someone suffers multiple bone fractures in a single incident, recovery can be slow and problematic. It may lead to long-term effects, such as a loss of strength and mobility.
➤ Amputations: Losing a limb or appendage, such as an arm or leg, can completely change your life. It will take a long time to recover and adapt to an amputation, causing lasting issues.
➤ Spinal cord injuries: Severe back injuries and spinal cord trauma can stop signals from being transmitted from the brain to the rest of the body, sometimes causing partial or complete paralysis.
➤ Traumatic brain injuries: Severe damage to the brain can have permanent consequences. It can cause mental and physical disabilities and comas.
➤ Electrocution injuries: Electrocution occurs when an electric current passes through a person’s body. It can result in major burns, internal injuries, cardiac problems, and even death.
➤ Nerve damage: When significant damage is done to a victim’s nerves, it can impact feeling, movement, and vital bodily functions.
➤ Eye injuries: The eyes are incredibly delicate. Trauma to the eyes may result in a temporary or permanent loss of sight.
➤ Neck injuries: Tears, fractures, and joint damage within the neck can cause pain, loss of mobility, and paralysis.
➤ Internal components: Injuries can occur to a range of components within the body, causing severe and catastrophic damage. Examples include herniated discs, a torn meniscus, or a torn rotator cuff.
These are just a few examples of serious injury types. In addition to those listed above, other serious conditions, such as complex regional pain syndrome, can fall into slightly different categories under the catastrophic injury umbrella.
Is PTSD a catastrophic injury?
Yes, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) can be considered a catastrophic injury, particularly when it severely impacts an individual’s ability to function and significantly alters their quality of life.
PTSD is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, and it can lead to lasting emotional and psychological challenges.
Its effects can be as debilitating as severe physical injuries, affecting the individual’s daily activities, work capability, and social interactions.
To find out if your claim could be successful, contact the California catastrophic injury lawyers at Bisnar Chase now for a free case review.
Common Causes of Severe Injuries
There are many ways for a person to suffer a catastrophic injury. It will probably come as no surprise that vehicular accidents cause a considerable portion of significant injuries.
For example, a car or motorcycle accident involving a rollover, a head-on collision, or a T-bone collision can easily cause extreme bodily damage. Drivers and car passengers should wear seatbelts at all times, while motorcycle riders should always wear helmets.
Catastrophic injury causes include:
- Slip and fall accidents
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle crashes
- Pedestrian collisions
- Workers compensation injuries
- Sporting injuries
- Fires and explosions
- Construction accidents
- Assaults
- Medical malpractice
This is by no means an exhaustive list. If you would like to determine if you have a claim and are seeking a catastrophic injury lawyer in California, please contact the law firm of Bisnar Chase at your earliest convenience.
What Are the 3 Levels of Injury Severity?
1. Minor Injuries: These are the least severe. They typically heal within days to a few weeks with minimal medical intervention and usually do not require hospitalization or long-term treatment. Examples: Bruises, minor cuts, sprains/strains, mild whiplash, soft-tissue injuries, minor burns, and small bone fractures.
2. Moderate Injuries: These are more serious and often require professional medical treatment, possible hospitalization, and a longer recovery period (weeks to months). They can involve time off work, physical therapy, and significant medical bills or lost wages, but full or near-full recovery is generally expected. Examples: More significant fractures, moderate soft-tissue damage, injuries needing surgery or extended rehabilitation, or conditions that temporarily limit daily activities or work.
3. Catastrophic Injuries: These are the most severe and life-altering. They usually cause permanent disability or impairment, require extensive hospitalization and ongoing care (often lifelong), and can prevent a person from working or living independently. Examples: Traumatic brain injuries (TBI), spinal cord injuries with paralysis, severe burns, amputations, significant organ damage, or any injury resulting in permanent total disability.
Catastrophic Injury Statistics As of 2026
A large number of people suffer severe and life-changing injuries every year in the United States. These statistics show how devastating accidents impact people.
Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury
- New traumatic SCI cases per year: Approximately 18,000–18,482 (about 54 cases per million population). This excludes people who die at the scene.
- People currently living with traumatic SCI: Approximately 308,000–311,560 (estimated range roughly 259,000–399,000).
- Average age at injury: About 44–44.3 years (up significantly from ~29 years in the 1970s). Sex: ~78% male. (Source)
Leading causes (since 2015):
- Vehicle crashes: ~37%
- Falls: ~32–33%
- Violence: ~15%
- Sports/recreation: ~7–8%
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- TBI-related hospitalizations: Approximately 214,110 in 2020 (more recent hospitalization figures not fully updated in the same series).
- TBI-related deaths: 68,663 in 2023 (about 190 per day). Earlier figures were around 69,000 for 2021.
- Daily impact: More than 586 TBI-related hospitalizations and 190 deaths per day (based on the above years).
- Highest risk groups: People age 75+ have the highest numbers and rates (about 32% of hospitalizations and 28% of deaths). Males are nearly twice as likely to be hospitalized and about three times as likely to die from TBI compared with females.
- Leading causes: Falls account for nearly half of TBI-related hospitalizations. Other major causes include motor vehicle crashes, assaults, and (for deaths) firearm-related injuries/suicide. (Source)
Severe Burn Injuries
- Hospital admissions for burns: Roughly 29,000–33,000 per year at burn centers (e.g., ~29,165 weighted estimate; ABA reports ~32,000–33,000 cases recently across participating centers).
- Emergency department visits: Estimates vary widely by source (roughly 200,000–400,000+ annually, depending on the database and definition).
- Fire/smoke inhalation deaths: Approximately 3,800.
Additional Resources (PDF)
Catastrophic injuries are surprisingly common and incredibly expensive, putting an extreme burden on victims and their families. Contact our California catastrophic injury lawyers at Bisnar Chase to get the legal representation you deserve.
Who is Liable for a Catastrophic Injury?
Only if negligence is involved can you file a lawsuit for an injury. That implies that a person’s careless or reckless actions or inactions must have contributed to the accident, at least in part.
One of the first steps after being injured in an accident is identifying the liable party. The task is not always easy. Multiple people might be at fault, or the circumstances of the accident might make it unclear whether negligence played a part.
Contact Bisnar Chase for help in filing a catastrophic injury lawsuit. Our personal injury lawyers will help identify the liable parties and take action.
Examples of catastrophic injury liability include:
- Reckless or careless drivers
- Employers
- Manufacturers and distributors of dangerous/defective products
- Property owner
- Dog owner
- Companies and corporations
You might be able to receive compensation, for instance, if you suffered harm as a result of a car accident that another driver caused, an attack and bite from a dog whose owner failed to restrain it, or a trip and fall on someone else’s property due to damaged flooring.
Contact our California catastrophic injury lawyers now for immediate help.
Winning Fair Compensation for a Serious Injury
If you have suffered a catastrophic injury due to another person’s negligence, it is only fair that you are compensated. The scope of a lawsuit can cover a wide range of factors to ensure injury victims are not shortchanged by their suffering.
As your personal injury attorneys, it is our job to win catastrophic injury compensation that covers:
- Your medical bills
- Any lost wages as a result of the injury
- Your lost capacity to earn in the future
- Rehab and recovery costs
- Ongoing short or long-term care costs
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Emotional trauma
- Compromised quality of life
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Wrongful death
- Punitive damages
We believe victims should be compensated for their losses and the pain and suffering they have endured. Contact a top-rated catastrophic injury lawyer in California at 800-561-4887.
Catastrophic Case Results By Bisnar Chase
- $38,650,000 Motor Vehicle Accident
- $32,698,073 Auto Product Liability
- $30,000,000 Motorcycle Accident
- $24,744,764 Defective Seatback Failure
- $16,444,904 Catastrophic Pedestrian Accident
- $14,443,205 Auto Product Liability
- $12,248,000 Auto Product Liability
- $11,000,000 Negligence Facility Death
Brian Chase, Senior Partner and trial lawyer:
"Each case is different, with different variables and factors playing a part. But with the resources we have, not to mention our track record of securing top settlements and verdicts, I can guarantee that we will maximize the value of your case."
At Bisnar Chase, we know that no amount of money can bring back a lost loved one, or completely compensate for a lost limb and other catastrophic injuries. But we are dedicated to securing justice, and winning the maximum possible compensation for you.
Catastrophic Injury FAQs
Do not be daunted by taking legal action after suffering an injury. Our team is here to help you through every step of the process. Some of the most frequently asked questions by prospective clients are answered below.
If you have a query that has not been covered, do not hesitate to contact us.
A catastrophic injury often involves damage to the head, neck, or spinal cord. The term can also be used to describe a range of injuries, including burns, eye damage, and many more. Some catastrophic injuries can result in permanent physical and mental disabilities. Bisnar Chase is here to help severe injury victims.
The statute of limitations under California law gives injury victims two years from the date of their accident to file a catastrophic injury lawsuit. There are some exceptions to this rule that can reduce that timeframe. Contact a catastrophic injury lawyer as soon as possible for guidance.
You may still be able to file a claim if you were partly at fault for an accident causing a catastrophic injury. A rule called comparative negligence is used in California. This means that a plaintiff can recover compensation for the percentage of fault owned by the defendant.
Many people are reluctant to file a legal claim because they find the process daunting. That is completely understandable, but the catastrophic injury attorneys of Bisnar Chase are here to shoulder the burden. We will take care of every aspect of your case, allowing you to focus on recovery.
If you choose the right attorney, it will cost you nothing to hire an attorney for a catastrophic injury lawsuit. Bisnar Chase works on contingency. We advance many of the costs required to win your case and rely on winning for you to recoup our expenses.
Soft tissue injuries (such as whiplash, sprains, and strains) and mild traumatic brain injuries (concussions/mTBI) are generally considered among the hardest injuries to prove in personal injury claims. Psychological injuries (PTSD, anxiety, and depression stemming from trauma) are also frequently cited as very difficult.
Why are they difficult to prove?
- Limited objective evidence
- Subjective nature
- Delayed or fluctuating symptoms
- Insurance skepticism
- Credibility issues
What Strengthens Proof
Successful claims for harder-to-prove injuries typically rely on:
- Prompt and consistent medical treatment with detailed records.
- Specialist evaluations and objective testing where possible (neuropsychological testing for TBI, functional capacity evaluations, etc.).
- Expert medical testimony linking the injury to the incident.
- Corroborating evidence (witnesses, before-and-after accounts from family/employers, and symptom journals) is also needed.
- Ruling out alternative causes.
Rated Best California Catastrophic Injury Lawyers
We take pride in being one of California’s top-rated personal injury law firms . Our team is dedicated to securing maximum compensation for victims of catastrophic injuries.
Many law firms talk about getting top results for their clients. But with Bisnar Chase, it is more than just talk. We have the numbers to back it up, with a 99% success rate. We help people in cities throughout California, including:
| Los Angeles | Long Beach | Anaheim | Orange |
| Irvine | Santa Ana | Fresno | Riverside |
| Santa Monica | Chula Vista | Fullerton | Fontana |
| Oxnard | San Diego | Glendale | Corona |
| Moreno Valley | Huntington Beach | San Bernardino | Garden Grove |
Our firm was started more than 46 years ago. Over the last four decades, we have helped more than 12,000 clients, winning settlements and verdicts totaling more than $1B.
We firmly believe no one should be left out of pocket because of another person’s negligence. Our mission is to make sure victims get the compensation they deserve by filing a risk-free ‘no win, no fee’ lawsuit.
Brian Chase
Articles, blogs, and content have been reviewed by legal in-house staff. Brian Chase is the managing partner of Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys, LLP. He is the lead trial lawyer and oversees cases handling dangerous and defective products that injure consumers. Brian is a top-rated injury attorney with numerous legal honors and awards for his work relating to auto defects and dangerous products. His firm has recovered over $1B for its clients. Brian is a frequent speaker for CAOC, Dordick Trial College, and OCTLA, covering personal injury trial techniques.
