Pasadena Catastrophic Injury Lawyers

How Catastrophic Injuries Happen

Catastrophic injuries aren't limited to one type of accident. They have multiple causes and may affect any person of any age, from a child riding a bike to an adult working in a large warehouse. They stem from negligence, carelessness, or even intentional wrongdoing.

In our experience, they most often arise from:

• Car, motorcycle, and truck accidents. High-speed collisions and crashes involving large trucks are among the most common causes.
• Work injuries. Falls from height, being struck by heavy equipment, or getting caught in machinery.
• Plant and refinery accidents. Explosions, chemical exposure, and equipment failures at industrial facilities.
• Premises liability incidents. Serious slip and fall accidents, water-related incidents, and assaults linked to inadequate security.
• Product liability cases. Defective vehicles, machinery, or consumer products can cause harm even when used as intended.

Whatever caused your injury, the path to fair compensation starts with proving what happened and how it will affect the rest of your life.

The Scale of the Problem

Catastrophic injuries are more common than most people realize, and Texas sees more than its share:

• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 68,663 traumatic brain injury-related deaths in the U.S. in 2023, and roughly 214,110 TBI-related hospitalizations in 2020, an average of more than 190 TBI-related deaths every day.
• The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham estimates approximately 18,482 new traumatic spinal cord injuries occur in the U.S. each year, with vehicle crashes the leading cause, followed by falls.
• In 2024 alone, TxDOT recorded 18,218 serious injuries in motor vehicle crashes across Texas.
• Texas recorded 557 fatal occupational injuries in 2024, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data compiled by the Texas Department of Insurance, with construction and transportation/warehousing accounting for the largest shares.

If you or someone you love has suffered a life-altering injury, you don't have to face what comes next alone. Contact SJ Injury Attorneys today to talk through what happened and what your options are.

Frequently Asked Questions About Catastrophic Injuries

How much is my catastrophic injury case worth?

There's no standard number, because every case turns on the specific facts: how severe the injury is, how much care you'll need over your lifetime, what you could have earned if you hadn't been hurt, and how the injury affects your daily life. Texas doesn't cap pain and suffering damages in most personal injury cases, so the value is driven by the evidence rather than a formula. Medical experts, life care planners, and economists can project the real long-term cost of your injury, which is why a first offer from an insurance company rarely reflects what a catastrophic injury case is worth.

How long do I have to file a lawsuit in Texas?

In most cases, Texas gives you two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit, and wrongful death claims generally follow the same two-year deadline. There are exceptions. The clock for a minor is typically paused until their 18th birthday. Claims against a city, county, or other government entity can require written notice within as little as six months, and sometimes sooner under local rules. Because evidence also disappears quickly, especially at industrial sites and crash scenes, it's best to speak with an attorney as soon as possible.

What if I was partly at fault for the accident?

You may still be able to recover compensation. Texas follows a modified comparative fault rule: your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault, and you can't recover anything if you're found more than 50% responsible. Insurance companies often try to shift blame onto injured people to reduce what they pay. We investigate thoroughly and use evidence such as crash data, surveillance footage, and witness statements to protect you from unfair blame.

Can I file a lawsuit if I was hurt at work and my employer has workers' compensation?

Often, yes, just not necessarily against your employer. Texas is unusual because private employers can choose whether to carry workers' compensation. If your employer is a "non-subscriber," you may be able to sue it directly for negligence, and it loses certain defenses it would otherwise have. If your employer does carry coverage, workers' comp is generally your only remedy against it, but you may still have a claim against a third party, such as a contractor, a premises owner, an equipment manufacturer, or a negligent driver. Third-party claims often lead to far larger recoveries than workers' comp benefits alone. Families may also have additional options in fatal work injury cases.

What is a life care plan, and why does it matter?

A life care plan is a detailed projection, prepared by a qualified professional, of the medical care and support you'll need for the rest of your life because of your injury. It can include future surgeries, therapy, medications, equipment, attendant care, and home modifications. An economist can then convert those needs into present-day dollar figures. In a catastrophic injury case, the plan helps make sure a settlement or verdict reflects decades of future costs, not just the bills you've received so far.

How long will my case take?

Catastrophic injury cases usually take longer than routine claims, and often a year or more, sometimes several. A big reason is that it's usually unwise to settle before you've reached maximum medical improvement, meaning your doctors have a clear picture of your long-term needs. Settling too early can leave you without funds for care you'll need later. We'll give you an honest sense of the timeline for your case and keep you updated at every stage.

What if the at-fault party doesn't have enough insurance to cover my losses?

This is common in catastrophic cases, because the value of the injury can far exceed a basic policy. Texas's minimum auto liability coverage is only $30,000 per person, which can be exhausted by the first days of hospital care. There are often other sources of recovery. They can include additional responsible parties, such as an employer or a trucking company (which are typically required to carry higher coverage), umbrella or excess policies, and your own underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage. Identifying every possible source early is a key part of how we build these cases.

Can I still recover if I had a pre-existing condition?

In many cases, yes. Under Texas law, a negligent party generally takes an injured person as they find them. If an accident made an existing condition significantly worse, such as aggravating a prior back or neck injury, that aggravation can be compensable. Insurance companies often use prior medical history to argue that your injuries aren't really their client's fault, so clear medical documentation and the right expert testimony matter. Be upfront with your attorney about your full medical history so we can plan for it.

Will a settlement affect my Medicaid, SSI, or other benefits?

It can. Needs-based programs like Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income have strict limits on income and assets, so a lump-sum settlement may put your eligibility at risk if it isn't structured carefully. Tools such as a special needs trust or a structured settlement can help protect both your benefits and your recovery. Medicare, Medicaid, health insurers, and hospitals may also have claims against part of your settlement, and those can often be negotiated. It's important to plan for these issues before you settle, and we'll coordinate with financial and benefits professionals when they apply to your case.

Can my family recover compensation too?

Possibly, in two ways. If your injury is serious, a spouse or child may have their own claim for loss of consortium, which covers the loss of companionship, support, and care. Texas law on these claims is more limited for some family members, such as parents of an injured child, so the details matter. If a loved one dies from their injuries, the surviving spouse, children, and parents may be able to bring a wrongful death claim. We'll look at how the injury has affected your whole family and advise you on who has a claim.

What Compensation Can You Recover?

Catastrophic injuries almost always involve far more than a single medical bill. 

Depending on your case, you may be entitled to compensation for:

• Past and future medical expenses, including surgeries, hospitalizations, and long-term rehabilitation
• The cost of assistive devices, home modifications, or long-term care
• Lost income and lost future earning capacity if you can no longer work in the same capacity, or at all
• Pain and suffering, including the loss of enjoyment of activities you could do before your injury
• Loss of consortium or companionship for affected family members
• Wrongful death damages if a loved one didn't survive their injuries

Because catastrophic injuries often affect someone for the rest of their life, calculating fair compensation usually requires more than adding up medical bills. It often means working with life care planners and economists to project decades of future costs, not just what's already been spent. Our Pasadena catastrophic injury lawyers consider every loss, every expense, and every impact.

What to Do If You or a Loved One Has Suffered a Catastrophic Injury

• Get the medical care you need first. Your health comes before anything else, and thorough medical documentation also strengthens your case later.
• Don't wait to talk to an attorney. Evidence, especially at an accident scene or industrial site, can disappear quickly. Involve a local serious injury lawyer in Pasadena as soon as you can.
• Be cautious with insurance adjusters. Catastrophic injury claims are often worth far more than an initial settlement offer reflects, especially before the full extent of long-term care needs is known.
• Keep records of everything. Medical bills, missed work, and notes about how your daily life has changed can all matter later.

Why Choose SJ Injury Attorneys

Catastrophic injury cases require a different level of preparation than a routine claim, and that's where our background makes a real difference. Founding attorney Christopher Soileau spent 12 years as a registered nurse, giving him direct insight into what long-term recovery from a serious injury actually requires. Founding attorney Kevin Johnson spent years as a chemical plant operator and elected union business manager, giving him inside knowledge of the industrial safety failures behind many catastrophic plant and refinery injuries. That firsthand perspective shapes how we approach every case, and it's backed by a network built for complex claims: medical experts, life care planners, vocational experts, and economists who help project the full cost of a lifetime of care.

That combination has produced real results, including an $11 million settlement for a client severely injured in a chemical plant explosion in Pasadena, and we prepare every case as though it's going to trial. We work on a contingency-fee basis, so there's no upfront cost to you, and we offer help in both English and Spanish to help all of our clients and families through every step of a difficult process.