Top-Rated Los Angeles Personal Injury Lawyers
Expert Legal Representation for Your Personal Injury Claim
LOS ANGELES PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER
Angeleno Accident Lawyers is comprised of compassionate legal professionals dedicated to helping victims achieve maximum financial recovery from their injuries.
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident caused by another party’s negligence, an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer from our law firm can guide you through the legal process. Contact us for a free consultation.
Award-Winning Experience
Our dedication to excellence and unparalleled expertise have consistently delivered exceptional outcomes for our clients across Southern California, earning national recognition from our peers and the country's top legal organizations.
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Why Choose Angeleno Accident Lawyers for Your Personal Injury Case?
With decades of experience and a proven track record, our legal team is committed to helping personal injury victims in Los Angeles County achieve maximum compensation.
When working with our award-winning law firm, clients can expect the following:
- Results - Experienced personal injury lawyers who are aggressive in all negotiations with the defendant’s insurance company, yielding a 99% success rate
- Around-the-Clock Support - 24/7 support to address any inquiries that may arise during the case period–day or night, 365 days a year
- Free Consultation - Consult with an experienced attorney for a free case evaluation without worrying about financial stress or contract obligations
- No Win, No Fee Promise - Operating on a contingency fee basis, meaning no upfront fees or billing until compensation is recovered
- Resources - Collaboration with private investigators and expert witnesses, like accident reconstruction and medical specialists, to solidify liability and damages
Our firm's growth and success are rooted in our dedication to treating clients as individuals. We believe in building strong relationships with our clients, fostering an atmosphere of trust and open communication.
Client Reviews and Testimonials
"Big thank you to this law office for taking my car accident case very nice kind generous-hearted people I was very pleased with their work and the outcome of my case and will recommend this law office to family and friends." - Marian Briggs "Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness, Value. It's an absolute pleasure doing cases solved with Angeleno Accident Lawyers! I would recommend them to everyone." - Santiago Warren "I want to thank Angeleno Accident Lawyers for winning my car accident case. it's been a struggle but thank you. l thank the whole team. A good professional group of people. I'll recommend you guys." - Lucille RussellWhen Should I Hire a Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorney?
The sooner an attorney is hired, the sooner compensation may be recovered.
Regardless of the current decision whether or not to pursue legal action, it is strongly recommended to consult with a Los Angeles personal injury attorney promptly after an accident. Here's why:
- Ensure the statute of limitations is met: In California, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases is generally two years. Depending on the circumstances, this deadline can be as short as six months. With the proper legal assistance, these crucial dates will not be missed.
- Prevent the insurance company from taking advantage: Insurance companies often employ tactics to minimize or deny claims, regardless of the severity of victims’ injuries. A qualified attorney helps navigate these challenges and protect clients’ rights.
- Avoid prematurely settling: Insurance companies may offer low settlements before injured victims fully comprehend the true value of their claims. A Los Angeles law firm can thoroughly evaluate each case to accurately assess its worth, preventing clients from accepting inadequate offers.
To avoid compromising your potential personal injury case and to protect your rights, it is crucial to contact a Los Angeles personal injury law firm as soon as possible.
Steps to Take After Suffering a Personal Injury
Whether injuries are severe or seemingly minor, timely action is crucial after a personal injury accident. Follow these steps to protect your rights and maximize your potential recovery.
1. Report the Accident
The incident must be reported, but the appropriate party will vary depending on the type of personal injury accident (motor vehicle accident, truck accident, workplace accident, slip-and-fall accident). In most cases, the police should be contacted to file a police report, and insurance companies will need to be contacted to open a claim.
2. Document the Accident Scene
Gather as much evidence as possible. Take photos and videos of the accident scene and record important details like the date, time, location, and names of those involved.
3. Seek Medical Attention
Even if your injuries seem minor, seek immediate medical attention. Delayed treatment can be life-threatening and offer a justifiable reason for the insurance company to deny most personal injury claims.
4. Avoid Discussing Your Case
Refrain from discussing the case with others, especially on social media. Simply saying, “I’m doing fine,” can potentially impact the outcome of a personal injury claim. Also, minimize interactions with the other party. Keep your responses to questions factual and brief, and never admit fault.
5. Consult a Los Angeles Personal Injury Lawyer
It's highly advisable to consult with personal injury attorneys as soon as possible. They can offer guidance on the claims process, keeping victims’ rights and cases protected.
Benefits of Hiring a Los Angeles Personal Injury Law Firm
Personal injury accidents can have catastrophic consequences, altering the lives of victims and their families. California law allows individuals injured due to another person's negligence to seek financial compensation. Unfortunately, victims may face challenges in obtaining fair compensation, often leading to frustration and hardship. Under such circumstances, professional legal assistance becomes most valuable.
A Personal Injury Law Firm Provides Expert Guidance
Experienced personal injury attorneys possess in-depth knowledge of complex legal procedures, enabling them to effectively guide clients through the claims process.
This expertise significantly increases the likelihood of a favorable outcome and helps secure maximum compensation.
In fact, approximately 95% of personal injury cases are resolved through pre-trial settlements, minimizing the duration of the legal process and alleviating the stress associated with courtroom proceedings.
Handles Communication With the Insurance Company
Insurance companies often employ tactics to minimize payouts and protect their profits. Injured victims, who are often in a vulnerable state, may be susceptible to these strategies.
While the at-fault party's insurance company is responsible for covering damages, they will likely attempt to reduce a case’s value if given the opportunity. One common tactic is to bring forward damaging statements from victims during the claims process. Because it is assumed that the insurance adjuster is there to help, many are prone to these tactics.
When working with a trusted attorney, there is no need to worry about what to say and not say. Through skilled negotiations and awareness of how insurance companies operate, a dedicated legal team will fight for fair compensation, covering every loss clients have experienced.
Affordability to Professional Legal
Los Angeles personal injury lawyers who work on a contingency fee basis make legal services accessible to the residents of Southern California. This arrangement means that clients pay no upfront fees and only owe attorney's fees if the case is successful.
Although hiring a personal injury lawyer may initially seem like an added expense, the benefits often outweigh the costs. A successful case can provide injured victims with the financial resources needed to recover from their physical and emotional injuries.
About a Contingency Fee Arrangement
A contingency fee is a percentage of the final settlement paid to the attorney. Once the settlement is reached, the insurance company sends a check to the law firm. The attorney takes their agreed-upon percentage, and the remaining funds are distributed to the client.
Types of Personal Injury Cases
Personal injury law is also known as tort law.
Personal injury law, or tort law, allows an injured person harmed by someone's negligence to seek compensation for sustained damages. In Los Angeles, with its heavy traffic congestion, motor vehicle accidents occur daily and are among the most common cases.
These auto collisions involve passenger vehicles, bicycles, motorcycles, commercial trucks/vehicles, rideshares (Uber and Lyft), and pedestrians. Here are some of the most common types of personal injury claims in which our firm has successfully recovered compensation for our clients.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Workers' Compensation
Common Personal Injury Cases in Los Angeles
Car Accidents
With more than 31.3 million registered motor vehicles in California, being involved in a car accident is statistically imminent. In fact, car accidents are one of the most common types of personal injury claims in Los Angeles.
Motorcycle Accidents
Due to a lack of protection, motorcyclists are more likely to suffer serious injuries in traffic accidents than car drivers. In 2019, 14% of traffic fatalities involved motorcyclists. As a result of bias, a motorcycle accident does not always fall in the rider's favor.
Truck Accidents
A car accident involving 18-wheelers, tractor-trailers, and other large commercial trucks will involve a complex claims process, as damages are often more severe. Additionally, multiple insurance companies will be involved on behalf of the truck driver, trucking company, and other involved parties.
Bicycle Accidents
Bike accidents, like motorcycle accidents, can result in significant damages. However, like pedestrian accidents, negligent drivers often overlook bicyclists, making them more susceptible to collisions. These accidents often cause serious injury, consequently leading to costly medical bills.
Pedestrian Accidents
Between locals and tourists, Los Angeles experiences high foot traffic. Additionally, the city is constantly under construction, with slow improvements to enhance bicyclist and pedestrian safety. As a result, pedestrian accidents are a common occurrence.
Uber and Lyft Accidents
Rideshare services have become a popular mode of transportation throughout Southern California. Although convenient, these cases are not treated like a standard car accident case in the event of a crash. Due to Uber and Lyft's unique insurance policies, the claims process is very complex.
Slip and Fall Accidents
This type of accident occurs when someone slips and falls on a slippery or poorly maintained surface. These accidents, often referred to as premises liability cases, can happen in both public and private spaces, including grocery stores and office buildings.
Medical Malpractice Claims
This type of personal injury case is a lawsuit against a healthcare provider when a patient is injured or suffers an illness due to the provider's failure to meet the standard of care.
Dog Bites
In California, personal injury cases involving pets are treated similarly to motor vehicle accidents. The pet owner may be liable for negligence like a reckless driver. A dog bite case does not necessarily require a bite to occur; personal injuries caused by a pet can potentially lead to a legal claim.
Wrongful Death
Wrongful death cases arise when the negligence or wrongful actions of another cause a person's death. Under California law, the deceased person's family can file a wrongful death claim to recover losses.
Common Personal Injuries Suffered
Because personal injury accidents can range from minor to serious events, the level of injuries also varies.
The most common personal injury types include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Broken bones
- Back injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Facial trauma
- Internal injuries
- Neck injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Burns
- Lacerations
- Mental turmoil
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
A serious injury can result in significant financial losses. In such cases, filing a personal injury claim can be a means of recovering compensation for lost wages and medical bills. However, choosing not to work with the best personal injury attorneys may jeopardize the success of a case.
How Much Is Your Personal Injury Case Worth?
Civil courts can award financial compensation to injured victims based on the specific circumstances of their personal injury cases. However, insurance companies may attempt to minimize the severity of an accident, potentially leading to inadequate compensation for plaintiffs.
There is no average personal injury settlement amount, as cases depend on overall losses. To determine how much a case is worth, meet with an experienced personal injury attorney.
Our experienced legal team meticulously evaluates each case to identify all direct and indirect damages caused by the other party's negligence. This thorough approach ensures that our clients receive the full compensation they deserve.
Recovering Compensation for Injuries
After being injured in an accident in Los Angeles, CA, personal injury victims have the legal right to recover compensation to account for the full extent of their losses.
After being injured in an accident, victims have the legal right to recover compensation to account for sustained losses. This may include the following:
- Medical Expenses: Includes medical bills for emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, pain management, ongoing treatment, and future healthcare costs
- Loss of Wages and Lost Income: Earnings that could not be made while injured, resulting in lost wages or reduced earning capacity
- Pain and Suffering: The physical and emotional impact serious injuries cause, affecting a victim’s quality of life
- Property Damage: Personal items damaged in the crash, like a motor vehicle, that require replacement or repair
- Punitive Damages: Exemplary damages awarded at the court’s discretion when the defendant’s behavior is found to be especially harmful
Filing a Personal Injury Claim
After an accident, immediately seek medical attention. This is the first step in filing a successful personal injury claim.
Even if the injuries appear minor, do not self-diagnose. Only a medical professional can accurately determine the severity and treatment of accident injuries. Additionally, medical bills and documentation are crucial evidence in a personal injury case.
During this process, liability must also be proven. Because California is an at-fault state, negligence laws require proof that the other party was responsible for causing the accident that resulted in injuries.
This includes demonstrating the four legal elements of negligence. Los Angeles personal injury lawyers can assist by conducting a personal investigation, collecting substantial evidence, and identifying the at-fault party.
Understanding Personal Injury Law
Professional legal representation is not mandatory when seeking damages through a personal injury claim or lawsuit. However, in cases of severe or life-altering injuries, recovering a settlement that fairly compensates victims for sustained losses is a challenging process.
Personal injury law is classified as tort law, which is a set of rules that address the legal consequences of a person's actions that cause harm to others or their property.
Tort law aims to compensate victims for the physical, mental, economic, and emotional damages suffered due to another person's negligence or wrongful actions.
What Is Personal Injury Law?
Personal injury law encompasses a range of cases, including a car accident, medical malpractice, and wrongful death. Essentially, personal injury law applies to any situation in which one party is harmed by another's negligence or wrongdoing.
California Personal Injury Laws
California has special rules regarding personal injury claims that limit how long one party has to seek damages from another party and how compensation is affected when fault is shared between multiple parties. These rules pertain to California’s statute of limitations and comparative negligence laws.
Comparative Negligence in California
California follows a pure comparative fault system. This means compensation may still be recovered even if the injured person is partially responsible for the accident.
The court will determine each involved party's percentage of fault, and the amount of compensation will be reduced by the injured party’s degree of fault.
For example, if a victim is found to be 10% at fault in a $10,000 case, $9,000 in compensation would be awarded.
California Statute of Limitations for Personal Injuries
The statute of limitations for personal injury claims in California is generally two years from the date of the accident. While there may be exceptions that extend this deadline, in some cases, the filing period can be as short as six months.
Failing to file a claim within the applicable statute of limitations can result in losing the right to seek compensation, regardless of the other party's negligence.
Determining Liability and Damages
A qualified attorney will know the legalities and unique circumstances surrounding personal injury cases. Additionally, the best Los Angeles personal injury lawyers can identify the at-fault party to determine liability.
Who Is Liable for My Injury?
In a personal injury case, multiple parties, such as motorists, business entities, or government/city agencies, can be found liable. To prove which party is at fault, negligence must be proven.
Proving Negligence in a Personal Injury Case
The four legal elements of negligence must be demonstrated to prove fault in a personal injury case.
- Duty of Care: Indicate how the other party owed a duty of care not to create unsafe or hazardous situations. For example, drivers have a duty of care to other road users not to speed. Similarly, commercial property owners also owe a duty of care to take reasonable steps to protect their customer's safety.
- Breach: Present how the other party breached the duty by failing to exercise reasonable care. “Reasonable” refers to the level of care that other responsible pirates would exercise in similar circumstances.
- Causation: There must be a correlation between the other party’s breach of duty of care and the personal injury accident. If a speeding driver loses control of the vehicle and collides with another driver, it is reasonable to say that the driver’s speeding caused the accident.
- Damages: Economic or non-economic losses must have been sustained. These damages typically include, but are not limited to, medical bills, lost income, and physical and emotional pain and suffering.
Calculating Damages in a Personal Injury Case
Damages in a personal injury case can include financial losses, out-of-pocket expenses, and compensation for emotional trauma.
Future costs, such as ongoing medical treatment, physical therapy, and lost earning potential, may also be recoverable.
In cases of wrongful death, the surviving family may seek compensation for their losses, including funeral expenses, loss of financial support, and emotional distress.
Personal Injury FAQs
- How do personal injury lawyers get paid in California?
California personal injury lawyers are typically paid on a contingency fee basis, which means they only receive payment for successful case outcomes. Additionally, the lawyer's fee is a smaller percentage of the awarded settlement, ranging between 33% and 40%. Other attorneys may bill by the hour or charge a flat fee.
- How do I file a personal injury lawsuit?
Courts in California are divided between counties. First, establish the location of the court to file. This should be determined based on jurisdiction, or the area where the accident occurred. Then, determine the type of court to file the lawsuit:
- Small Claims Court for cases involving claims up to $5,000
- Superior Court (Limited Case) or “Municipal Court” for cases involving claims up to $25,000
- Superior Court for all other cases involving claims over $25,000
- What if I’m partially responsible for the accident?
Under the state’s comparative negligence laws, plaintiffs who share liability in the accident are still eligible for compensation. The courts will assign an exact percentage of fault and deduct that percentage from the final verdict.
- Should I hire a Los Angeles personal injury attorney for a minor accident?
Legal representation may not be necessary, depending on how “minor” the accident is. However, consulting with a personal injury attorney is advisable to properly assess damages. This initial consultation can determine a case’s value and confirm whether an attorney’s services are needed.
- How long do personal injury lawsuits take to settle?
The duration of a personal injury lawsuit can vary significantly, depending on factors such as the complexity of the case, the severity of the injuries, and whether a trial is required. More complex cases may take longer to settle, and trials can extend the timeline. In some instances, an appeal may be filed, which can further delay the process.
- What should I expect from a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer?
The role of personal injury attorneys is to guide clients through the legal process, protect their rights, gather evidence, and negotiate with insurance companies. By handling these tasks, a dedicated legal team can alleviate the stress associated with the claims process, allowing clients to focus on their recovery.
- Were you injured at work in California?
In the event of a workplace accident, the employer’s workers' compensation insurance is responsible for any injuries or illnesses their employees sustain while performing their job duties. If an employer does not have work comp insurance or fails to provide the necessary medical care, a lawsuit may be filed against the company.
Finding the Right Personal Injury Lawyer in Los Angeles, CA
Qualities to Look for in the Best Personal Injury Lawyers
Experience, expertise, and effective communication are essential qualities that the best personal injury lawyer must possess.
- Experience: The most qualified personal injury lawyers should possess extensive experience handling cases similar to the one at hand, prepared to approach the complexities of the legal system head-on. This experience can be invaluable in navigating the intricacies of personal injury lawsuits by anticipating potential challenges and developing effective strategies for success.
- Expertise: Ensure the ideal Los Angeles personal injury attorney deeply understands the laws governing the case according to state standards. Personal injury attorneys with specific expertise will possess in-depth knowledge of relevant laws, regulations, and case limitations. This expertise enables them to effectively represent each victim's best interests, identify potential weaknesses in the opposing party's case, and advocate for the maximum financial recovery that clients deserve.
- Communication: Choose a personal injury lawyer who will be responsive and communicative throughout the claims process. Clear and open communication is crucial in a lawyer-client relationship. A skilled communicator will keep clients informed and address any concerns that may arise through the case proceedings. Effective communication fosters trust and ensures that goals and priorities are aligned with the legal team's strategy.
Researching and Evaluating Potential Personal Injury Lawyers
Conduct online research on prospective personal injury lawyers and review testimonials from previous clients. Evaluate each candidate's experience, expertise, and communication style. Then, schedule a consultation to discuss your case and assess whether that particular personal injury attorney fits your needs.
Contacting the Top Personal Injury Attorneys in Los Angeles, CA
Personal injury accidents can range from minor to catastrophic, resulting in life-changing consequences. At Angeleno Accident Lawyers, our award-winning law firm is dedicated to helping accident victims recover from the physical and psychological trauma caused by these devastating events.
With a 99% success rate, our experienced personal injury attorneys are committed to protecting the rights of injured victims and seeking maximum compensation on their behalf. Contact our law office today for a free consultation, and speak with a Los Angeles personal injury attorney today.
Get Help From Our Personal Injury Lawyers
Only the best personal injury lawyers understand the complexities of your case. With our years of experience, 99% success track record, and devotion to defending your rights against insurance companies and negligent parties involved, you stand a chance to win the financial compensation owed to you.
If you have sustained a serious injury, don't hesitate to contact our law firm in Los Angeles for a free initial consultation.
