Life doesn’t give warnings. One moment, everything feels routine, and the next, you’re sitting by a hospital bed, trying to understand what happens now. A catastrophic injury doesn’t just affect the person who’s hurt—it reshapes an entire family’s daily life.
The medical care, the time away from work, and the endless decisions can feel like too much at once. You may be asking how to get the proper medical treatment, how long recovery will take, or how to pay for everything when expenses keep adding up. The stress of it all can leave you searching for answers.
Peerali Law is here to make sure you’re not left guessing. If someone else’s reckless actions led to this injury, they should be held responsible. If an insurance company tries to minimize what your loved one has lost, we will challenge them. And if you’re wondering how to get the financial recovery your family needs, we’ll fight to secure every dollar your loved one deserves.
A Buena Park catastrophic injury lawyer at Peerali Law is ready to help.
What Is Considered a Catastrophic Injury in California?
Injuries heal, but some leave permanent damage that alters how a person lives, works, and interacts with the world. So, what is considered a catastrophic injury in California? The state defines it as an injury that causes long-term or permanent disability, affecting mobility, cognitive function, or independence.
Types of catastrophic injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI),
- Loss of limb (amputations),
- Paralysis,
- Burns,
- Vision and hearing loss,
- Organ damage, and
- Multiple fractures.
These injuries bring more than medical bills. They require home modifications, long-term care, and adjustments to everyday routines. A loved one who once took care of others may now need full-time assistance. The law allows families to seek financial recovery, but insurance companies don’t offer what’s fair unless someone pushes back.
Peerali Law doesn’t just settle for what’s easy—we demand what’s right.
How Catastrophic Injuries Happen in Buena Park
Some injuries happen by chance, but many result from negligence. A normal day can take an unexpected turn when someone else’s carelessness causes an injury that won’t fully heal. If someone else caused an injury, they should pay the price—not the family struggling with the aftermath.
In Buena Park, some of the most serious injuries happen in everyday places—on the road, at work, or even during a family outing.
Traffic Accidents
Busy roads like Beach Boulevard and Orangethorpe Avenue see crashes every day. Speeding, distracted driving, driving under the influence, and reckless choices leave victims with spinal cord damage, brain injuries, or permanent mobility loss. A driver who runs a red light or looks at their phone instead of the road should be responsible for the harm they cause.
Theme Park Incidents
Knott’s Berry Farm is a Buena Park landmark, but amusement parks aren’t always safe. Ride malfunctions, slippery walkways, and staff negligence can cause severe harm. A broken safety restraint or an ignored spill can leave a visitor with an injury that lasts a lifetime.
Workplace Accidents
Buena Park’s warehouses, construction sites, and industrial jobs come with risks. Falls from scaffolding, malfunctioning forklifts, and exposure to hazardous materials can leave workers with life-changing injuries. Employers are responsible for maintaining safe conditions; they should be held accountable when they don’t.
Slip and Fall Accidents
Businesses must keep floors safe, but many ignore hazards. A wet aisle, broken step, or loose railing may not seem dangerous—until someone falls and suffers a traumatic brain injury or spinal damage. These incidents aren’t just bad luck; they’re preventable.
Defective Products
An airbag that fails, a power tool with faulty wiring, or a malfunctioning medical device can cause catastrophic harm. Manufacturers have a duty to ensure the safety of their products. If they cut corners, they must answer for the damage they cause.
Medical Errors
A misdiagnosis, a medication error, or a botched procedure can change a person’s life. Families trust doctors to help, not harm. When a healthcare provider’s mistake leads to permanent injury, they should be held responsible.
What Does a Good Settlement for Catastrophic Injury Look Like?
When insurance companies try to settle catastrophic injury cases, they lowball families who may not realize how expensive long-term care can be. A good settlement for catastrophic injury needs to cover more than just medical bills—it should include everything the family will face in the years ahead.
Compensation should include:
- Medical bills—surgeries, physical therapy, medication, mobility equipment, and in-home nursing care;
- Lost wages and future income—if someone can’t return to their job, their financial loss should be accounted for;
- Home and vehicle adjustments—wheelchair ramps, stairlifts, or specialized transportation for daily needs;
- Physical and emotional suffering—chronic pain, emotional distress, and loss of independence all matter; and
- Caregiving costs—family members often take on full-time caregiving roles, which also means they lose income.
Insurance companies push quick settlements because they don’t want to factor in surgeries, in-home care, loss of income, or the fact that life will never look the same. They hope you’ll take whatever they offer and move on. Families need a catastrophic injury lawyer who knows what a fair settlement looks like and isn’t afraid to demand it.
How Long Do You Have to File a Claim?
California law gives injury victims two years from the date of the injury to file a claim. Missing this deadline means losing the right to seek financial recovery, no matter how serious the injury.
Some cases have different deadlines:
- Medical malpractice. These cases have a three-year limit from the date of injury or one year from discovery, whichever comes first.
- Delayed injury diagnosis. If symptoms didn’t appear immediately, the time limit may start when a doctor confirms the injury.
Insurance companies take advantage of delays. The longer a case sits, the harder it becomes to gather evidence and prove what happened. Consulting with a Buena Park catastrophic injury lawyer sooner rather than later can give you the best chance at securing the financial support your loved one needs.
Your Case Deserves More Than a Quick Settlement – Contact Our Buena Park Catastrophic Injury Lawyer Today
A catastrophic injury isn’t just a case—it’s a turning point that affects every part of life. Your loved one didn’t ask for this, and no one should have to accept a lowball settlement that doesn’t even come close to covering what’s ahead. The hospital bills alone are just the start.
At Peerali Law, we don’t wait for insurance adjusters to decide what they think is fair. We calculate every dollar your loved one will need—medical costs, lost income, home adjustments, emotional suffering—and we demand what’s right. If they refuse to be reasonable, we take the fight to court.
Your claim isn’t about paperwork and phone calls—it’s about making sure your family isn’t left picking up the pieces financially while someone else walks away without taking responsibility.
You’ve already got enough on your plate. Let’s make sure your loved one gets the settlement they need.
Call Peerali Law at 818-938-2983 today or fill out our online contact form for a free consultation.