Some injuries heal. Others change the entire shape of a life. If you or someone in your family is facing permanent disability, a long-term care situation, or an injury that has ended a career and reordered everything that came with it, you are eligible for compensation.
Kapuza Lighty represents people in Yakima and Eastern Washington who have suffered catastrophic injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, severe burns, and permanent disabilities, caused by someone else's negligence.
John Kapuza and Greg Lighty have spent decades building serious personal injury cases, including a $2,000,000 forklift accident settlement and a $1,950,000 traumatic brain injury recovery .
If the insurance company has already been in contact, do not accept anything yet. Call (509) 866-4166 first.
What Makes a Catastrophic Injury Case Legally Different?
Catastrophic injury cases are not simply large personal injury claims. They require a fundamentally different legal approach because the damages extend far beyond what happened on the day of the accident.
Standard injury claims account for medical bills and missed work during recovery. Catastrophic injury cases account for everything that follows: future surgeries, long-term care, home modifications, lost earning capacity over a full career, and the non-economic cost of a life permanently altered.
Getting those numbers right requires expert testimony, life care planners, vocational rehabilitation economists, neurologists, and sometimes accident reconstruction specialists.
The Gap Between What Insurers Offer and What These Cases Are Worth
Insurance adjusters are trained to close claims quickly and cheaply. In catastrophic injury cases, the gap between an early offer and the actual value of the case is in many cases the largest it will ever be. The reason is simple: the insurer calculates what happened. An experienced attorney calculates what will happen over the next 20, 30, or 40 years.
We have seen this gap play out repeatedly in cases involving workers injured on agricultural equipment, drivers left with permanent neurological damage after highway crashes on I-82, and families dealing with the long-term aftermath of a serious collision on US-12 west of Yakima. In each situation, the insurance company's initial framing of the case bore no resemblance to its actual value.
What Types of Injuries Qualify as Catastrophic?
A catastrophic injury is any injury that permanently limits a person's ability to work, live independently, or function the way they did before the accident. Washington courts and insurance carriers recognize several injury types that typically meet this threshold.
The injuries we see most often in catastrophic cases across Eastern Washington include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) ranging from moderate cognitive impairment to severe, permanent loss of function
- Spinal cord injuries including partial or complete paralysis, paraplegia, and quadriplegia
- Severe burn injuriesrequiring multiple surgeries, long-term wound care, and psychological treatment
- Amputations and crush injuries common in agricultural and industrial accidents in the Yakima area
- Multiple-organ or polytrauma injuries often resulting from high-speed commercial vehicle crashes
- Permanent vision or hearing loss caused by the accident
How Do Catastrophic Injury Cases Work in Washington?
Catastrophic injury cases in Washington follow the same basic legal framework as personal injury claims, but the preparation required is significantly more involved. Here is how the process typically works.
Step 1: Case investigation and evidence preservation.
We begin by securing all available evidence — accident reports, surveillance footage, employer records, equipment maintenance logs, and medical records. In serious injury cases, evidence disappears fast. We move immediately.
Step 2: Medical stabilization and documentation.
We do not rush a settlement while you are still in treatment. The full scope of a catastrophic injury often takes months to assess. Settling before that picture is complete means leaving money — sometimes life-changing money — on the table.
Step 3: Building the damages case.
This is where catastrophic injury cases diverge most sharply from standard claims. We work with life care planners, vocational economists, and medical professionals to document what this injury will cost over a full lifetime. That documentation becomes the foundation of every negotiation and, if necessary, every argument at trial.
Step 4: Negotiation and, if needed, litigation.
Most cases resolve through negotiation. When they do not, John and Greg try cases.
How Long Do You Have to File a Catastrophic Injury Claim in Washington?
Washington's statute of limitations for personal injury claims is generally three years from the date of the injury, under RCW 4.16.080. For wrongful death claims arising from a catastrophic injury, the deadline is also three years from the date of death under RCW 4.20.010.
Important Exceptions That Shorten the Deadline
If the injury occurred on government property or involved a government vehicle or employee, you may be required to file a formal claim notice within 60 days under RCW 4.96.020. Missing this step forfeits your right to sue, regardless of how serious the injury is.
If the injured person is a minor or was mentally incapacitated by the injury itself, different rules apply. Do not assume the standard deadline governs your situation without a legal review.
What Is a Catastrophic Injury Case Worth in Washington?
There is no standard number. The value of a catastrophic injury case in Washington depends on the specific facts, the severity and permanence of the injury, who was at fault, and what the evidence supports. That said, the categories of damages available in Washington are broad.
A full catastrophic injury claim may include:
- Past and future medical expenses — surgeries, hospitalizations, rehabilitation, in-home care, adaptive equipment
- Lost wages from the time of injury through the date of settlement or verdict
- Lost earning capacity projected across the remainder of a working career
- Pain and suffering — both physical and emotional
- Loss of consortium for spouses and immediate family members affected by the injury
- Cost of future care as documented by a life care planner
Why Families Across Eastern Washington Work With Kapuza Lighty
John Kapuza and Greg Lighty did not open a high-volume operation. They built a firm around a small number of serious cases handled with the attention those cases require.
Both attorneys developed their practice at the oldest personal injury firm in the Yakima market before founding Kapuza Lighty together. That foundation matters in catastrophic injury work. It means familiarity with Yakima County Superior Court, with the judges and juries who decide serious cases here, and with the defense attorneys and insurance carriers that appear repeatedly in Eastern Washington litigation.
John Kapuza is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, a distinction limited to attorneys who have achieved verdicts or settlements of $1,000,000 or more. Both John and Greg hold Washington Super Lawyers recognition.
Their intake team, Jasmine and Rosa, are bilingual in English and Spanish. A significant portion of Kapuza Lighty's clients come from Yakima's Spanish-speaking community, and that access matters in serious injury cases where communication and trust are foundational.
No Win, No Fee. You pay nothing unless they recover for you.
The Better Offer Pledge. If Kapuza Lighty cannot get you a higher offer than what the insurance company puts on the table, you owe no attorney fees.
Ask Kapuza Lighty
Q: The insurance company already offered us a settlement. Should we take it?
A: Do not sign anything until you have had an attorney review the offer against the full projected cost of the injury. In catastrophic injury cases, early offers routinely fail to account for future care, lost earning capacity, and long-term medical needs. Once you accept a settlement and sign a release, you cannot go back for more — even if new medical complications emerge. A review costs you nothing. Accepting the wrong offer could cost you everything.
Q: Can I file a claim on behalf of a family member who was catastrophically injured and cannot speak for themselves?
A: Yes. Washington law allows a legal guardian or authorized representative to pursue a personal injury claim on behalf of an incapacitated person. In wrongful death situations, certain family members have the right to file claims under RCW 4.20.020. We have handled cases where the injured person was unable to participate in the legal process at all. Call us and we will walk you through how representation works in your specific situation.
Q: How do catastrophic injury lawyers charge for their services?
A: Kapuza Lighty works on a contingency fee basis. That means no upfront cost, no hourly billing, and no fees unless they recover money for you. The percentage taken as a fee is agreed upon at the start of the case. The Better Offer Pledge adds another layer: if the firm cannot improve on the insurance company's offer, you owe no attorney fees at all.
Q: What if the at-fault party doesn't have enough insurance to cover my injuries?
A: This is a real problem in serious injury cases, and it comes up more often than people expect. Washington requires insurance carriers to offer underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage, which exists specifically to fill this gap. Depending on your own policy and the facts of the case, there may also be additional defendants — an employer, a property owner, an equipment manufacturer — who carry separate coverage. We investigate every available source of recovery before concluding what compensation is possible.
FAQ for Yakima Catastrophic Injury Lawyers
Do I need a lawyer specifically experienced in catastrophic injuries, or can any personal injury attorney handle my case?
Yes, the distinction matters. Catastrophic injury cases require expert witnesses, life care planners, and vocational economists that most standard personal injury practices do not routinely retain. The damages calculation alone is a specialized process. An attorney who primarily handles smaller claims may not have the infrastructure or litigation experience these cases demand. Kapuza Lighty has handled multi-million dollar serious injury cases in Eastern Washington and knows what building one of these cases actually requires.
What if I was partially at fault for the accident that caused my injury?
Washington uses a pure comparative fault system under RCW 4.22.005. You retain the right to recover damages even if you were partially responsible for the accident. Your total compensation reduces in proportion to your percentage of fault. In a catastrophic injury case where the damages are substantial, even a partial recovery can be significant. Do not assume shared fault ends your case.
How long does a catastrophic injury case take to resolve?
Most serious injury cases take between one and three years from the date of filing to resolution, whether through settlement or trial. Cases that go to verdict typically take longer. The timeline depends on how long medical treatment continues, how complex the liability questions are, and whether the defendant's insurance carrier negotiates in good faith. Kapuza Lighty does not push clients toward early settlement to close files quickly.
Can I still file a claim if the accident happened at work?
Washington's workers' compensation system covers most on-the-job injuries, but if a third party outside your employer caused or contributed to the injury, a separate civil claim may still be available. For example, if a delivery driver or equipment manufacturer was at fault, workers' comp does not eliminate your right to sue that party. These situations require careful analysis of how the injury occurred. Call us to discuss the specifics.
What happens if the insurance company denies my catastrophic injury claim entirely?
A denial is not the end of the case. Insurance companies deny and undervalue claims for procedural reasons, liability disputes, or as a negotiating position. An attorney can challenge a denial, conduct an independent investigation, and if necessary, file suit to have the matter decided in court. Yakima County Superior Court has jurisdiction over civil claims arising in Yakima County. We have litigated cases there and know how the process works.
When the Injury Is Permanent, the Legal Strategy Has to Match
John Kapuza and Greg Lighty have represented families in Eastern Washington through exactly this kind of situation. They know what Yakima County juries respond to. They know how defense attorneys approach these cases. And they know the difference between a settlement that looks large and one that actually covers what a permanently injured person needs.
Call (509) 866-4166 or contact Kapuza Lighty online. Our bilingual intake team is available Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday, 8 a.m. to noon.