Representing Military Families in Personal Injury Cases
At the Law Office of William Bruzzo, we understand that military injuries don’t just affect service members. They devastate entire families. For over 30 years, our Orange County personal injury lawyer team has represented military spouses, children, and families throughout the area when accidents cause serious harm. We know the unique challenges military families face in Orange County.
Military Families Have Different Legal Rights
Here’s what most military families don’t realize: spouses and children can sue for injuries even when active-duty members cannot.
The Feres Doctrine blocks active-duty service members from suing the government for injuries “incident to service,” but that restriction doesn’t apply to family members.
When a military spouse gets injured in a car accident on I-5, slips and falls in unsafe base housing, or a child suffers harm from negligent daycare, they have full rights to pursue compensation under California law. An Orange County personal injury attorney who understands military family rights can explain these important distinctions.
While your spouse might be blocked from suing the military directly, you and your children can hold negligent parties accountable. This includes drunk drivers who cause crashes near Camp Pendleton, private housing contractors who ignore dangerous conditions, or civilian companies whose defective products cause harm.
Common Personal Injury Claims for Orange County Military Families
Military families face the same risks as civilians, plus unique dangers connected to military life. We regularly represent military families injured in:
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Drunk drivers strike military spouses leaving base, rear-end collisions occur on I-5, and motorcycle accidents injure service members and families throughout Orange County.
Base Housing Accidents
Nearly 99% of military housing is now managed by private contractors. Common hazards include:
- Slip and falls from broken stairs and poor lighting
- Toxic mold exposure causing respiratory illness
- Lead paint poisoning affecting young children
- Faulty wiring causing fires or electrical shocks
- Collapsing ceilings and structural failures
When these companies fail to maintain safe conditions, military families can sue them directly without federal immunity protections blocking recovery.
Medical Malpractice
When military doctors or civilian providers make mistakes treating military dependents, spouses and children can file claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act.
Loss of Consortium Claims for Military Spouses
When your active-duty spouse suffers serious injuries in an accident, you lose more than income. California law recognizes these losses through “loss of consortium” claims that your Orange County personal injury lawyer can pursue.
A loss of consortium claim compensates spouses for:
- Loss of companionship and emotional support
- Loss of sexual relations
- Loss of household services and assistance
- The burden of providing care for an injured spouse
When a civilian driver causes catastrophic injuries to an active-duty Marine, the spouse can pursue a separate claim for how those injuries damaged the marriage. These claims often recover substantial compensation beyond what the injured service member receives.
How TRICARE Affects Military Family Injury Claims
TRICARE provides excellent medical coverage but creates complications in personal injury cases. When TRICARE pays for treatment after an accident caused by someone else, they want reimbursement from any settlement.
TRICARE’s right to reimbursement is called “subrogation.” Unlike some health insurers, TRICARE can automatically attach liens to settlements without notice. There’s no cap on what they can recover.
An Orange County personal injury attorney who understands military benefits and TRICARE can negotiate these liens. We regularly reduce TRICARE reimbursement claims and ensure you keep maximum compensation.
TRICARE doesn’t cover everything. Personal injury claims recover compensation for lost wages, pain and suffering, permanent disability, lost future earnings, and emotional distress. Relying on TRICARE alone leaves substantial money on the table.
Special Challenges Military Families Face
Military life creates unique obstacles when pursuing personal injury claims:
- Frequent Relocations: PCS orders and deployments mean families often move before cases resolve. We coordinate cases across distances to keep your claim moving forward.
- Deployment Complications: When the injured family member or key witness deploys, securing statements becomes urgent. We work quickly to file claims before deployments interrupt the process.
- Jurisdictional Confusion: Many military families mistakenly believe they must file claims through military channels. Most civilian-caused injuries fall under California state law, which offers better protections and no damage caps.
- Fear of Career Impact: Personal injury settlements do not impact military careers, promotions, security clearances, or VA disability benefits.
Proving Damages for Military Family Claims
Military families often have unique damages. We document every loss including:
- Medical bills from both military and civilian providers
- Lost wages if the injured spouse works
- Childcare costs during recovery and medical appointments
- Travel expenses for treatment
- Costs of relocating while managing the injury
Many military spouses sacrifice careers to support the service member’s duties. When injuries prevent returning to work, we calculate those losses. Military spouses often earn less due to frequent moves. Injuries compound that financial disadvantage.
We fight for compensation that recognizes how accidents devastate military family stability, the extra burden on service members balancing duties and family care, and the impact on children who lose normal experiences.
California Law Protects Military Families’ Full Rights
When civilians cause injuries to military family members, California personal injury law applies fully. That means no federal damage caps, full recovery for pain and suffering, compensation for all economic losses, and the right to jury trials in state court.
Orange County military families shouldn’t accept less because of their connection to the military. We demand full compensation that reflects the true impact of injuries on military family life.
Why Military Families Choose Our Orange County Personal Injury Attorney
As a former Major in the United States Marine Corps Reserve, we understand military family challenges that civilian attorneys miss. We know how PCS orders complicate cases, how TRICARE liens work, how to coordinate military disability ratings with personal injury claims, and how to value losses unique to military families.
We’ve recovered millions for Orange County military families. We never charge a fee unless we win. Consultations are always free, and we come to you at Camp Pendleton, Los Alamitos, or anywhere in Orange County. Spanish-speaking staff stand ready.
Contact an Orange County Personal Injury Lawyer Today
If you or your family member suffered injuries anywhere in Orange County, you deserve full compensation. The Law Office of William Bruzzo offers free, confidential consultations seven days a week. Call us right now at 760-307-4233 or contact us online. There is never a fee unless we recover money for you.
