If you were severely injured in an accident anywhere in California, you absolutely need an experienced serious injury lawyer to protect your health, your finances, and your future from powerful insurance companies that are already working against you.

When a crash, fall, or other serious accident leaves you with life-changing injuries, everything can feel like it’s collapsing at once: pain, surgeries, bills, calls from the insurance company, pressure to go back to work, and fear about how you’ll support your family.

At The Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus, our entire mission is to step into that chaos, take over the legal fight, and aggressively pursue maximum compensation for seriously injured people across Los Angeles and all of California.

Our team has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for injury victims over decades of practice and is trusted by clients throughout Greater Los Angeles and across the state.

If you or someone you love was severely injured in an accident in California, do not try to handle this alone. The stakes are simply too high.

👉 Call The Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus now at 818-784-8544 for a free, no-obligation consultation.

What Is Considered a “Severe” or “Catastrophic” Injury in California?

Not every accident claim is the same. Some cases involve minor injuries that heal in weeks. Others involve catastrophic harm that changes every part of a person’s life forever.

A serious or catastrophic injury typically includes:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) – concussions, brain bleeds, cognitive changes, memory loss

• Spinal cord injuries – partial or complete paralysis, loss of function, chronic pain

• Multiple or complex fractures – requiring surgery, hardware, and long-term rehab

• Amputations or loss of limb function

• Severe burns – especially those requiring skin grafts or causing disfigurement

• Crush injuries – often seen in truck, industrial, or construction accidents

• Internal organ damage – requiring surgery or long-term medical care

• Loss of vision or hearing

• Serious psychological trauma – PTSD, anxiety, depression related to the accident

• Wrongful death – where families pursue a claim on behalf of a loved one

These injuries often mean:

• Long hospital stays

• Surgeries and repeated procedures

• Permanent disability or limitations

• Inability to return to your prior job

• Need for ongoing medical care or personal assistance

• Massive medical bills and lost income

That is why you need a serious injury lawyer who understands the true lifetime cost of these injuries and knows how to prove it.

Why Severe Injury Cases Are Very Different From “Regular” Accident Claims

Insurance companies treat serious injury and catastrophic injury claims in California very differently than minor injury claims — because they know the value can be extremely high.

Here’s why these cases are more complex:

1. Much Higher Damages
   You’re not just dealing with an ER bill and a few therapy visits. You may be facing:

   • Future surgeries

   • Decades of physical therapy

   • Lifelong medication

   • Reduced earning capacity or total disability

2. More Aggressive Insurance Defense
   When tens or hundreds of thousands — or even millions — of dollars are at stake, the insurance company will:

   • Dispute fault and blame you

   • Minimize your injuries

   • Hire experts to argue against you

   • Delay, deny, and underpay your claim

3. Multiple Insurance Policies and Defendants
   Serious accidents often involve:

   • Commercial vehicles (trucks, delivery vans, Uber/Lyft)

   • Employers and corporate defendants

   • Property owners and management companies

   • Product manufacturers and distributors

4. Complex Medical and Legal Issues
   A serious injury case may require:

   • Medical experts, surgeons, and life-care planners

   • Accident reconstruction experts

   • Vocational experts and economists

   • Detailed analysis of California personal injury laws and insurance regulations

5. Need for Litigation and Trial Readiness
   Many catastrophic injury cases must be litigated. If your lawyer isn’t ready — and willing — to take your case all the way to trial, you’re at a disadvantage from day one.

This is not the kind of case to hand to a dabbling lawyer or to “handle with the insurance company yourself.” You need a Los Angeles serious injury attorney who knows how to build, value, and fight your case from the ground up.

How a Serious Injury Lawyer in California Protects You

At The Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus, we treat severe injury claims like high-stakes litigation from the very beginning. Here’s how we protect you and strengthen your case:

1. Immediate Investigation and Evidence Preservation

We move fast to lock down critical evidence before it disappears:

• Police reports and CHP collision reports

• Body-cam or dash-cam footage

• Surveillance videos from businesses or nearby homes

• Black-box / telematics data from trucks and vehicles

• Photos of the scene, vehicles, and injuries

• Witness statements while memories are fresh

2. Identifying Every Liable Party

We look beyond the obvious at-fault driver to find every responsible party, including:

• Employers (for commercial or on-the-job drivers)

• Trucking companies and freight brokers

• Rideshare companies (Uber, Lyft)

• Bars or restaurants that overserved alcohol (in certain situations)

• Property owners, management companies, or security companies

• Manufacturers of defective vehicles or products

More defendants and more policies often mean more available insurance coverage.

3. Maximizing All Available Insurance Coverage

We search for and pursue every possible source of recovery, including:

• At-fault driver’s liability insurance

• Commercial auto policies

• Umbrella or excess policies

• Rideshare coverage

• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM)

• Med-pay benefits

• Homeowner or renter’s insurance (in some cases)

4. Coordinating Your Medical Care and Documentation

We work closely with your medical providers to:

• Make sure your injuries are thoroughly diagnosed and documented

• Obtain complete medical records and opinions

• Connect you with specialists (orthopedic surgeons, neurologists, pain management, etc.) where appropriate

• Develop a life-care plan for long-term needs in catastrophic cases

5. Calculating the Full Value of Your Damages

A severe injury lawyer looks at the entire picture, including:

• Past and future medical expenses

• Rehabilitation, physical therapy, and assistive devices

• Lost wages and loss of future earning capacity

• Loss of benefits and career opportunities

• Pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life

• Emotional distress and mental health treatment

• Scarring, disfigurement, and loss of independence

• Home modifications, in-home care, and personal assistance

6. Dealing With the Insurance Company for You

You should be focusing on healing, not arguing with adjusters. We:

• Stop the calls and letters

• Handle all communication and negotiations

• Protect you from recorded statements and trick questions

• Push back against lowball offers and delays

7. Preparing Your Case for Trial

From day one, we prepare your case like it’s going to trial. That alone often:

• Increases settlement value

• Forces insurers to take your claim seriously

• Puts pressure on the defense to pay full value

If the insurance company won’t pay what your case is worth, we are ready to go to court and fight in front of a jury.

👉 Injured in a serious accident in Los Angeles or anywhere in California? Call 818-784-8544 now to speak directly with a serious injury lawyer.

Common Types of Severe Injury Accidents We See in California

Serious injuries can arise from almost any type of accident, but some are especially common in Los Angeles and throughout California:

• Car accidents on the 405, 101, 5, 10, 210, and other busy freeways

• Truck and big-rig crashes involving 18-wheelers and commercial vehicles

• Motorcycle accidents – often leading to catastrophic injuries for riders

• Pedestrian accidents in crosswalks, intersections, and parking lots

• Bicycle accidents involving cars, trucks, and rideshare vehicles

• Uber and Lyft accidents – as a passenger, driver, or third party

• Bus and transit accidents (Metro, school buses, tour buses)

• Construction and workplace accidents resulting in serious injuries

• Slip and fall or premises liability accidents causing fractures, head injuries, or spinal damage

• Dog attacks and maulings leading to severe wounds or permanent scarring

What Compensation Can You Recover After a Severe Injury in California?

Every case is different, but if you were severely injured in a California accident, you may be entitled to significant compensation for:

Economic Damages (Financial Losses)

• Emergency room treatment and hospital stays

• Surgeries, follow-up visits, and specialist care

• Physical therapy, chiropractic care, and pain management

• Prescription medications and medical equipment

• In-home nursing care or personal assistance

• Lost wages and lost business income

• Loss of future earning capacity (if you can’t return to your old job)

• Vehicle repair or total loss, and other property damage

Non-Economic Damages (Human Losses)

• Physical pain and suffering

• Emotional distress and mental anguish

• Loss of enjoyment of life

• Loss of independence and mobility

• Scarring and disfigurement

• Loss of consortium (harm to your relationship with your spouse or partner)

Punitive Damages (In Some Cases)

In cases of gross negligence or reckless behavior — such as drunk driving at high speeds or racing — California courts may allow punitive damages to punish and deter extreme misconduct.

A serious injury lawyer helps you identify, document, and prove every category of damages so you’re not leaving money on the table.

Insurance Company Tactics in Serious Injury Cases

When your injuries are severe, the insurer’s goal is simple: pay you as little as possible. They may:

• Blame you for the accident using California’s comparative negligence rules

• Claim your injuries are pre-existing or “not that bad”

• Push you toward a quick, lowball settlement before you know the full extent of your injuries

• Use things you post on social media to argue you’re “not really hurt”

• Spy on you or hire investigators to follow you

• Delay your claim to pressure you financially

Having The Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus in your corner lets the insurance company know you’re not an easy target.

What to Do Right After a Serious Accident in California

If you or a loved one has been severely injured, here are crucial steps to protect your health and your case:

Step-By-Step Guide

1. Call 911 Immediately
   Get police and emergency medical services on scene.

2. Get Emergency Medical Care
   Even if you think you’re “okay,” serious injuries — especially brain or internal injuries — can be hidden at first.

3. Follow All Medical Advice
   Attend all appointments, follow restrictions, and keep copies of everything.

4. Document Everything You Can

   • Take photos and videos of the scene, vehicles, hazards, and visible injuries

   • Save contact information for witnesses

   • Keep all bills, receipts, and written instructions

5. Do NOT Talk to the Insurance Company Alone
   Don’t give recorded statements or sign anything before speaking with a lawyer.

6. Contact a Serious Injury Lawyer As Soon As Possible
   The earlier we get involved, the more we can do to protect your rights and strengthen your claim.

DOs and DON’Ts After a Severe Accident in California

DO:

• Get immediate medical treatment and follow your doctor’s orders

• Keep a journal of your pain, limitations, and how the injury affects your daily life

• Save all bills, letters, and documents related to the accident

• Talk to a Los Angeles personal injury attorney before discussing your injuries with an adjuster

DON’T:

• Apologize or admit fault at the scene

• Post about the accident or your injuries on social media

• Return to heavy work or activities without medical clearance

• Accept the first settlement offer from the insurance company

• Wait too long to call a lawyer — deadlines apply under California law

Why Choose The Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus for a Serious Injury Case?

When you’re severely injured, you don’t just need a lawyer — you need a serious injury law firm that knows how to win big cases in California.

At The Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus:

• We have decades of experience representing accident victims across Greater Los Angeles and California.

• We’ve recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for injury victims.

• We are available 24/7 — because serious injuries don’t follow business hours.

• You pay no fees unless we win money for you (contingency fee).

What you can expect from us:

• Aggressive representation against insurance companies and corporate defendants

• Personal attention — you’re not just a file number

• Honest case evaluation and straightforward communication

• A legal team that is ready for trial when necessary

👉 Call 818-784-8544 now to find out how much your serious injury case may be worth and how we can help you move forward.

Q & A: Severely Injured In an Accident in California

1. Do I really need a lawyer if I was severely injured?

Yes. Severe injury and catastrophic injury cases are high-value, high-stakes claims. Insurance companies will do everything they can to avoid paying full compensation. A serious injury lawyer in California can:

• Investigate the accident

• Preserve critical evidence

• Work with medical experts and life-care planners

• Calculate your full damages — including future losses

• Negotiate or litigate aggressively for maximum compensation

2. How much does it cost to hire a serious injury lawyer?

At The Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus, there are:

• No upfront fees

• No hourly bills

• No costs unless we win

We work on a contingency fee basis, which means our fee is a percentage of the recovery. If we don’t win, you don’t pay attorney’s fees.

3. How long do I have to file a serious injury lawsuit in California?

In many California personal injury cases, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit, but there are exceptions:

• Claims against government entities often have much shorter deadlines (as little as six months to file a claim).

• Claims involving minors or certain types of injuries can have different timelines.

Because these rules are complicated and missing a deadline can destroy your case, it’s important to talk to a lawyer as soon as possible.

4. What if I was partially at fault?

California uses comparative negligence, which means you may still recover compensation even if you were partially at fault, but your recovery can be reduced by your percentage of fault.

Insurance companies love to exaggerate your share of the blame to cut their payout. A serious injury lawyer fights to minimize any unfair fault placed on you.

5. What if the at-fault driver doesn’t have enough insurance?

In severe injury cases, it’s common for the at-fault party’s policy to be far too small. We look for additional sources of compensation, which may include:

• Multiple defendants

• Commercial or corporate policies

• Umbrella or excess insurance

• Your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage

Ready to Fight Back After a Serious Injury? We’re Here for You

If you or someone you love was severely injured in an accident in Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley, Calabasas, or anywhere in California, you don’t have to face the insurance company alone.

At The Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus, we focus on serious injuries and serious results. We take on the legal and insurance battles so you can focus on what matters most — your health, your family, and rebuilding your life.

🔥 No win, no fee. No excuses. Just results.

👉 Call 818-784-8544 or contact us online 24/7 for a free consultation and case review.