A catastrophic injury? We fight for your whole future.
Some injuries don't just heal and fade — they reshape the rest of your life. A spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, amputation, or severe burn can mean surgeries, therapy, adapted housing, and lost earning power for decades. When the stakes are this high, the case has to be built for a lifetime, not a season.
No fee unless we win. Hospitalized? We come to you.
United Citizen Law represents Sacramento clients and families facing the most serious, life-altering injuries — spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injury, amputation, severe burns, and other permanent harm. We build these cases around the full lifetime cost of the injury, on a contingency basis, so you pay nothing unless we win.
Why catastrophic cases demand a different level of preparation
When an injury is permanent, the biggest number in your case isn't today's hospital bill — it's the decades of care, equipment, home modification, and lost income ahead. Insurers know this, which is why they move quickly to settle catastrophic claims cheaply before the true, lifelong cost is ever documented.
We do the opposite. We bring in the medical, economic, and life-care experts needed to prove exactly what your future requires and what it will cost, and we prepare every case as if it is going to trial. That preparation is what forces insurers to value your recovery honestly instead of hoping you'll accept less while you're overwhelmed.
Our proven three-step process
We bring the same tested framework to every case while accounting for the details of your unique situation.
We preserve everything
We secure the evidence and get you connected with the right specialists immediately, documenting the injury and its trajectory from the very start.
We prove the lifetime cost
We work with medical and life-care experts and economists to build a complete picture of your future — surgeries, care, equipment, home changes, and lost earning capacity.
We pursue full value
We negotiate from a position of trial-ready strength and go to court when insurers won't be fair, so your recovery reflects a lifetime — not a moment.
Common questions
What counts as a catastrophic injury?
Generally, an injury that causes permanent impairment or long-term disability — such as spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, amputation, or severe burns. These cases involve far higher lifetime costs, which is why they need specialized handling.
How is compensation different in a catastrophic case?
Beyond medical bills and lost wages, catastrophic claims account for future medical care, in-home assistance, assistive equipment, home and vehicle modifications, lost earning capacity, and the pain and loss of quality of life over your lifetime.
What is a life-care plan?
A life-care plan is a detailed, expert-prepared projection of every treatment, service, and piece of equipment you'll need for the rest of your life, with costs. It's central to proving the true value of a catastrophic injury claim.
How soon should we call after a serious injury?
As early as possible. Critical evidence and medical documentation are strongest early, and building a catastrophic case takes time. California generally allows two years to file, but earlier is always better.
What does it cost to hire you?
Nothing up front. We work on contingency — the consultation is free and our fee comes only out of what we recover for you. If we don't win, you owe no attorney fee.