Reviewed by Adrianos Facchetti, Esq. · Updated November 2026
When a crash or fall causes a brain injury, paralysis, an amputation or severe burns, the bills don’t stop when you leave the hospital. You may need years of therapy, home changes and someone to help with daily care. As a Burbank catastrophic accident lawyer, Adrianos Facchetti builds claims around that lifetime cost, not just the first round of medical bills.
We’ve represented injured people from our office at 4444 W Riverside Dr in Burbank since 2006. Results include a $5 million truck crash settlement and $2.75 million for a motorcyclist, more than 27 times the at-fault driver’s policy limits. Clients rate us 5.0 stars across 280+ reviews, we were voted Burbank’s Best in 2026, and our team speaks English, Spanish and Portuguese. You pay nothing up front and no fee unless we win.
Call (626) 793-8607. Someone answers 24/7.
Key Takeaways
- ✓Catastrophic injuries such as brain, spine, burn and amputation injuries are valued on lifetime costs, not just today’s bills.
- ✓Most California injury lawsuits must be filed within 2 years. Claims against a city or transit agency need a government claim within 6 months.
- ✓Our recoveries include $5 million in a truck crash and $2.75 million in a motorcycle crash.
- ✓The consultation is free, and you pay no fee unless we win.
What Makes an Accident “Catastrophic”?
An injury is catastrophic when it causes permanent or long-lasting loss of function. It changes how you move, think, work or care for yourself. In legal terms, these cases are different because most of the damages lie in the future.
Common catastrophic injuries include:
- ✓Traumatic brain injury, which can affect memory, mood and movement for life (CDC)
- ✓Spinal cord injury and paralysis (NINDS)
- ✓Amputation
- ✓Severe burn injuries needing grafts and repeat surgery
- ✓Loss of vision or hearing
- ✓Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
- ✓Multiple fractures and internal organ damage
18,000
New spinal cord injuries a year in the U.S.
$6M+
Lifetime cost for a young person with high tetraplegia, before lost wages
The numbers show why these claims need careful valuation. The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center estimates about 18,000 new spinal cord injuries a year in the U.S., with vehicle crashes as the leading cause. Its lifetime cost estimates for a young person with high tetraplegia exceed $6 million, before lost wages.
Where Do Catastrophic Accidents Happen in Burbank?
Our Burbank Crash Map analyzed every police-reported injury crash in the city using UC Berkeley’s TIMS data. From 2022 to 2024, Burbank city streets saw 1,186 injury and fatal crashes, with 1,723 people injured and 7 killed. On I-5 and SR-134 within Burbank, there were 671 injury and fatal crashes from 2020 to 2024, injuring 1,043 people and killing 4.
1,186
Injury and fatal crashes on Burbank streets (2022–2024)
1,723
People injured on Burbank streets
671
Injury and fatal crashes on I-5 and SR-134 in Burbank (2020–2024)
The busiest crash corridors are Glenoaks Blvd (126 crashes), Hollywood Way (99), Victory Blvd (97), Alameda Ave (92) and Olive Ave (78). The single most crash-prone intersection is Glenoaks Blvd and Olive Ave. The catastrophic cases we see most often come from:
- !Truck and car crashes on I-5 and SR-134
- !Motorcycle collisions
- !Pedestrians and cyclists hit near downtown and the Media District
- !Rideshare and delivery vehicles
- !Bus and transit accidents
- !Accidents at or near Hollywood Burbank Airport
- !Construction and studio-lot accidents
- !Defective products
- !Dangerous property and falls
- !Medical errors, including birth injuries
Wherever your accident happened, the key question is who was responsible. We start by securing the police report, video and vehicle data before they’re lost.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Catastrophic Accident?
Catastrophic claims are valued on what your injury will cost over your lifetime. In California you can pursue:
| Category | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Future medical care | Surgeries, medication, equipment, rehab and follow-up care for life |
| Attendant and home care | Part-time aides up to 24-hour nursing |
| Home and vehicle changes | Ramps, accessible bathrooms, wheelchair vans |
| Lost income | Wages to date and lost future earning capacity |
| Pain and suffering | Physical pain, emotional distress, disfigurement |
| Loss of enjoyment of life | Activities, independence and relationships you’ve lost |
| Loss of consortium | Your spouse’s loss of companionship |
| Punitive damages | Possible when there’s clear and convincing evidence of malice, oppression or fraud (Civil Code § 3294) |
To prove these numbers, we work with neurologists, physiatrists (PM&R), burn and spine specialists, life care planners, vocational experts and economists.
Our Results in Serious Injury Cases
These are some of our largest recoveries for clients with severe injuries. You can see all 21 results on our Case Results page.
$5,000,000
Car vs. Truck Crash
Confidential settlement.
$2,750,000
Motorcycle vs. Auto
More than 27 times the at-fault driver’s policy limits.
$1,250,000
Pedestrian in a Crosswalk
Full policy limits.
$1,000,000
Severe Burn From Hot Liquid
Full policy limits in under six months, before filing suit.
$500,000
Rear-End Crash (UIM)
Further testing revealed a thoracic spine fracture.
$250,000
T-Bone Crash in Brea
Multiple fractures, internal bleeding and emergency surgery; policy limits plus a UIM recovery.
Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Want a rough idea of value? Try our Settlement Calculator, then call us for a real review.
What Should You Do After a Catastrophic Accident?
What you do in the first days and weeks can protect both your health and your claim:
- 1Get treatment and follow every medical order. Gaps in care give insurers room to argue.
- 2Keep records. Save bills, discharge papers and a short daily journal of symptoms.
- 3Don’t give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer before talking to a lawyer.
- 4Don’t sign a release or accept an early offer. It may end your claim before the full cost is known.
- 5Call a lawyer quickly. Video and vehicle data can be overwritten within days.
If you’ve already talked to an insurer or signed something, call us anyway. We’ll review it and explain your options.
How Does Our Burbank Catastrophic Accident Lawyer Build Your Case?
Catastrophic claims are won with evidence and expert proof. Here’s how we build yours:
- 1Preserve evidence fast. We send preservation letters and collect 911 audio, CCTV, black-box and telematics data, and scene scans.
- 2Find every liable party. Drivers, employers, property owners, product makers and public agencies can all share fault.
- 3Build a life care plan. Medical experts map your future treatment and costs.
- 4Calculate full damages with economists, present and future.
- 5Handle the insurers and file every required claim, including government claims.
- 6Negotiate from a trial-ready file, and take the case to trial if the offer falls short.
We keep you updated at every stage, so you always know where your case stands.
How Long Do You Have to File a Catastrophic Injury Claim in California?
California’s deadlines are strict, and missing one can end your claim however serious your injury. The main limits are:
| Claim | Deadline | Law |
|---|---|---|
| Most injury lawsuits | 2 years from the injury | CCP § 335.1 |
| Claim against a city, county or transit agency (City of Burbank, Metro, BurbankBus) | 6 months to file a government claim first | Gov. Code § 911.2 |
| Medical malpractice | 3 years from injury or 1 year from discovery, whichever is first | CCP § 340.5 |
| Wrongful death | Generally 2 years from the death | CCP § 335.1 |
| Injured minor | Generally paused until 18, except government claims | CCP § 352 |
In medical malpractice cases, MICRA limits non-economic damages to $470,000 for non-death cases resolved in 2026. That cap can apply up to three times depending on who was at fault.
Because some deadlines are as short as six months, it’s best to call as soon as you’re able.
Some deadlines are as short as six months. Get a free case review today.
What If You Were Partly at Fault?
You can still recover. California’s pure comparative fault rule reduces your award by your share of blame. Even a police report that blames you isn’t the end. In one Burbank case, the report faulted our client, an e-bike rider hit in a crosswalk, and State Farm still paid the full policy limit within two months.
How Much Does a Burbank Catastrophic Accident Lawyer Cost?
Nothing up front. We work on contingency, so our fee is a percentage of what we recover. If we don’t win, you owe no attorney’s fee.
Why Burbank Families Choose the Law Offices of Adrianos Facchetti
Families facing a catastrophic injury need a firm with local roots and a record in serious cases. Here’s what we bring:
- ✓Local: our office is at 4444 W Riverside Dr #308, and we’re active in the community through Bikes for Kids and Burbank events
- ✓Proven: 20 years and more than 1,000 personal injury cases since 2006; selected to Southern California Super Lawyers
- ✓Rated 5.0 stars across 280+ reviews; voted Burbank’s Best 2026
- ✓Direct access: a real person answers 24/7, and Adrianos reviews every case
- ✓Multilingual: English, Spanish and Portuguese
★★★★★
“They guided me through every step and made sure I was treated well and cared for medically and financially.”
Barrett Carroll · Google review
Frequently Asked Questions About Catastrophic Accident Claims
+How Long Will My Catastrophic Injury Case Take?
Many catastrophic cases resolve in one to three years. We usually wait until your doctors can predict your long-term needs, so the settlement covers them.
+Can I Afford to Wait for a Settlement?
We can help arrange treatment on a lien basis, so you get care now and providers are paid from the recovery.
+Can a Family Member Handle the Claim?
Yes. A spouse, parent or conservator can act for someone who can’t. If the injury was fatal, see our wrongful death page.
+What If I’m Also on Workers’ Comp?
If you were hurt at work, you may have both a workers’ comp claim and a separate injury claim against a negligent third party.
Talk to a Burbank Catastrophic Accident Lawyer Today
A catastrophic injury changes your family’s future, and evidence like video and vehicle data can disappear within days. Let us handle the insurers, the deadlines and the experts while you focus on recovery.
- Free, confidential case review
- No fee unless we win
- Someone answers 24/7, in English, Spanish or Portuguese
Call (626) 793-8607 or tell us what happened. Most people talk to a lawyer the same day.
Law Offices of Adrianos Facchetti
4444 W Riverside Dr #308, Burbank, CA 91505 · (626) 793-8607
