Catastrophic injury in Woodland Hills?Talk to a lawyer for free.

There's no legal category for it in an injury claim: the term describes how severe and lasting an injury is. It usually means one that changes the course of a person's life, such as a severe brain injury, a spinal cord injury or paralysis, the loss of a limb, or severe burns. California's workers' compensation law gives the same examples.

Doctors now describe burns by depth (MedlinePlus): superficial burns (once called first-degree) affect only the outer layer of skin; partial-thickness burns (second-degree) reach the layer underneath; full-thickness burns (third-degree) go through the deep layers, and the skin may be numb. Car fires, electrical and chemical burns, scalding, and fires caused by dangerous property or defective products can all lead to a claim against whoever was responsible. A burn at work is usually a workers' compensation claim, but a claim against someone else, such as a product's maker, can be separate.

It can include the care you're reasonably certain to need in the future (Civil Code §3283): medical care, equipment, therapy, changes to your home and help at home, along with the work you can no longer do. Future medical costs and lost earnings are reduced to their present value, because the money is paid now; pain and suffering isn't reduced that way.

Only in some cases. Punitive damages need proof, by clear and convincing evidence, that the person responsible acted with malice, oppression or fraud; carelessness, even serious carelessness, isn't enough on its own. A driver who chose to drive drunk can qualify. Punitive damages are never awarded against a public agency (Government Code §818).

Yes. A spouse or registered domestic partner has their own claim, called loss of consortium, for the loss of their partner's love, companionship, comfort, care and affection, and of their sexual relationship or the ability to have children (CACI 3920, revised July 2026). It covers that personal loss, not the spouse's own caregiving or the pay they give up to provide care.

Usually, yes. Medi-Cal has to be told about the claim, and a settlement isn't final until Medi-Cal has had the chance to claim its share of the part that covers medical costs. Medicare's payments are "conditional" and must be repaid from a settlement too, and many health plans can claim repayment. Part of our job is to find out who has a claim, and how much, before you sign.

Most injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the injury (Code of Civil Procedure §335.1). If the City of Los Angeles, Metro, Los Angeles County or Caltrans may share responsibility, a written claim is usually due within six months. A late claim can be allowed, within a year, for someone who was a minor or physically or mentally incapacitated during those six months (Government Code §911.6).

Yes. Our office is at 22440 Clarendon St, Suite 200, Woodland Hills, CA 91367, about two and a half miles from UCLA West Valley Medical Center. Come in if you like, or we'll come to you, at home, in the hospital or in rehab. Call (800) 985-9565 any time, 24/7.

Nothing upfront. Your consultation is free, and no attorney's fees are owed unless we recover compensation for you. You may be responsible for case-related costs and expenses; we'll explain them before you sign.