Frequently Asked Questions After Catastrophic Injury

Families facing catastrophic injury often have similar questions, especially when they are unsure where to begin. The answers below are intended to provide general information about how this service works and when it may be helpful.

  • Anna Elmers, MD, JD, is a physician and California-licensed attorney who helps individuals and families navigate medical and legal systems after catastrophic injury.

    Her work is limited to education, navigation, and referral. She does not provide medical care, medical advice, legal advice, or legal representation through this service.

  • Medical navigation is an education-focused support service that helps families understand the medical landscape after a life-altering injury.

    Medical navigation may help families:

    • understand different care settings and specialist roles

    • identify what types of medical expertise may be relevant

    • prepare for conversations with medical teams

    • distinguish between time-sensitive decisions and those that can wait

    Medical navigation does not include diagnosis, treatment, or clinical recommendations.

  • Legal navigation is an education-focused and referral-based service that helps families understand when legal guidance may be appropriate after catastrophic injury and how to identify experienced legal counsel.

    Legal navigation does not involve legal advice, case evaluation, or representation. It is intended to support informed decision-making, not to encourage or discourage legal action.

  • Whether legal guidance is appropriate depends on the circumstances of the injury. Many families are unsure whether they need to speak with a lawyer at all.

    Legal navigation is designed to help families understand:

    • when legal guidance may be relevant

    • what experience matters in complex injury cases

    • how to avoid early missteps

    Families are never obligated to pursue legal representation.

  • No. This service does not include legal advice or legal representation, and no attorney-client relationship is formed.

    When requested and appropriate, referrals may be made to attorneys with experience in catastrophic injury matters, with full transparency and client consent.

  • No. This service does not include medical care, diagnosis, treatment, or medical advice, and no physician-patient relationship is formed.

    All medical decisions remain between the patient, family, and their treating healthcare providers.

  • This service is designed for individuals and families affected by catastrophic or life-altering injuries, including:

    • spinal cord injury

    • traumatic brain injury

    • severe burns

    • pediatric catastrophic injury

    • complex trauma with long-term care implications

  • An initial 15-30 minute conversation is offered at no cost to determine whether this service may be helpful.

    In some situations, families may need more and choose to schedule a longer navigation session, or even ask for a referral to a catastrophic case manager who can be with and guide the family the whole way.

    There is no cost to families for attorney referrals.

  • Anna Elmers is licensed to practice law in the State of California only. She is not licensed to practice law in other jurisdictions.

    Referrals to attorneys in other states are made in compliance with applicable professional rules and with full disclosure and informed client consent.

  • Many families who reach out are unsure what type of help they need — and that uncertainty is normal.

    If you are feeling overwhelmed, unclear about next steps, or unsure whether medical navigation, legal navigation, or another form of support may be appropriate, you are welcome to request a confidential conversation to explore whether this service may be helpful.