Los Angeles Personal Injury Lawyer

Whether you’re searching for a skilled Los Angeles Car Accident Lawyer or a legal team to handle other complex injury claims, our attorneys are ready to pursue the justice you deserve. For over 50 years, Jacoby & Meyers has served Los Angeles with a team of experienced California attorneys.

An injury, even a minor one, can mean months of medical bills and lost work. From a car accident to a slip and fall, from a boating accident to a dog bite, or even medical malpractice, there are a number of incidents that can cause serious trauma. If your injury was due to someone else’s negligence, you may be able to pursue compensation for your accident.

When Should I Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer in L.A.?

Accidents and injuries happen every day. Oftentimes, they’re linked to negligence. When someone else’s negligent or reckless actions cause your injury, they may be liable for medical bills, lost work, and other related damages.

If you think someone else was responsible for your injury, no matter how small, you can request a free consultation with one of our L.A. personal injury lawyers. They can assess your case and discuss potential next steps.

California Statute of Limitations for Personal Injuries

Don’t wait too long to get in touch with a lawyer. According to California Code of Civil Procedure (CCCP) § 335.1, in most cases, you have two years to file a personal injury claim. After that deadline, your claim may be barred.

While there are some exceptions to the statute of limitations, such as delayed discovery of negligence or claims involving minors, you should consider contacting a lawyer once you believe you were injured due to a negligent party. Evidence can disappear and memories can fade, so early action may help preserve important information.

Our Main Office in Los Angeles, California

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We serve the whole of California with 14 satellite offices.
You can visit us at our Main Los Angeles Office at 2000 Avenue of the Stars
Jacoby & Meyers
2000 Ave of the Stars, # 1150S,
Los Angeles, CA 90067
Call us +12132960792

Fill out a form today for a free case assessment or give us a call to talk to a live legal expert at +12132960792

How Much Does a Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorney Cost?

Your fees will depend on the specifics of your case and how long your matter lasts. Our lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. This means we do not collect attorney’s fees unless there is a recovery.

Before work begins, your lawyer will agree with you on a percentage of your recovery that will go toward attorney’s fees. After a settlement or award is received, that agreed-upon percentage is deducted, and the remaining amount is provided to you.

What Types of Cases Does a Personal Injury Lawyer in Los Angeles Handle?

Car accidents are among the most common causes of personal injury claims in this city. According to the California Highway Patrol, 277,160 people were injured in car accidents in 2017.

In addition to car accidents, our personal injury lawyers in L.A. handle cases involving:

• Car Accidents
• Truck accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Dog bites
• Pedestrian accidents
• Scooter accidents
• Premises liability accidents
• Hit and run accidents
• Bus accidents
• Construction accidents
• Bicycle accidents

Check out a list of our practice areas here.

Our lawyers can help you understand your legal options and pursue compensation that reflects your documented injuries and losses.

What is a Good Settlement for a Personal Injury?

What one person may consider a favorable settlement could be viewed differently by someone else. Our firm evaluates case outcomes based on factors such as:

• Whether the injured person receives prompt medical attention.
• Whether appropriate medical treatments are performed without unnecessary delay
• Whether the case value accounts for current and future documented losses
• Whether medical bills and related expenses are addressed through the recovery

Each case is unique. The appropriate settlement amount depends on the specific facts, injuries, and damages involved. Partnering with a professional personal injury lawyer can provide the advocacy you need.

Is a Personal Injury Lawyer in LA Worth It?

Some personal injury victims may not be able to get a lawyer. This can be caused by various misconceptions: the process takes too long, the investment will be too high, and they will be left with little money in their settlement. Furthermore, some people simply don’t want to spend the time to find a personal injury attorney in Los Angeles, nor do they want something else on their plate to deal with during stressful times.

However, industry data suggests that working with a personal injury lawyer may increase the likelihood of recovering more compensation compared to handling a claim alone through the insurance companies, though results depend on the specific facts of each case.

The fact is that a successful personal injury case is one in which the settlement amount reflects the extent of your injuries, your prognosis, documented losses, and how the injury has impacted your family and your ability to live your life. Our team considers these key points when building a case and pursuing a resolution supported by the evidence.

Compensation You Could Get For a Personal Injury in Los Angeles

Compensation is intended to support your recovery. This may include addressing the level of health, work, activity, and lifestyle you enjoyed before the injury. In cases of serious injury or wrongful death, a personal injury lawsuit may also include compensation for the physical and mental pain and suffering caused by the accident, where permitted by law.

An injury can be so severe that the person will never have the same level of health or ability to perform normal activities that they were able to perform before the accident. In those cases, a personal injury settlement may include:

• The costs of long-term medical care
• The costs of physical rehabilitation
• The payment of wages the victim would have earned if they had not been injured
• The costs of vocational training so that the victim can find work in a different field with a long-term disability
• Compensation for long-term pain, as well as mental and emotional anguish, when supported by evidence

IIf you or someone close to you has suffered medical and other expenses as a direct result of injuries from an accident, a Los Angeles personal injury attorney can help you understand what types of compensation may be available under the law.

What Should You Do After You Have Suffered a Personal Injury?

In any accident, time can be important. This means that you should gather as much information and document the facts at the accident scene when it happens.

Collecting as much detail as possible right away is a critical step in preparing your case and seeking a fair resolution after an accident.

How to Gather Information after an Accident

Here are some guidelines for documenting what happened:

• Note the time, date, and location of the accident
• Describe any unusual conditions. Rain, fog, ice, construction, heavy traffic, etc. in a motor vehicle accident. Any hazards, wetness, construction, or other conditions in case of accidents in a workplace, home, or public place.
• Gather as much information at the scene as you can. Include contact information for people involved in the accident, witnesses, or owners of the vehicle or property.
• Take pictures. Cell phones and computers have cameras. Use them to document the details of the scene. Pay particular attention to any hazards or unusual conditions in the area.
• Identify witnesses. Get their names and contact information.
• Get medical care for yourself and anyone else involved in the accident. Even if you feel okay, consider seeing a doctor or visiting an urgent care facility after the accident.
• In a vehicle accident or act of violence, make a police report if there were no police at the scene. This creates a record of the accident and the parties involved. Avoid admitting responsibility or blaming others. Discuss only the basic facts of the accident: who, what, where, and when.
• Contact a personal injury lawyer.
• Let your insurance company know that there has been an accident, but consider speaking with a lawyer before accepting any settlement.

Should I Get a Personal Injury Attorney for a Minor Accident?

In many personal injury cases, injured individuals choose to represent themselves without consulting a lawyer. This is especially common when the claim involves a relatively small amount of money and the person who caused the accident has insurance.

However, it is not always possible to know the seriousness of your injuries at the time of an accident. What appears to be a relatively small event can later turn out to involve more significant medical issues.

Small injuries can develop into problems that carry long- and short-term costs. Speaking with a lawyer who handles injury cases—even when the injury seems minor—can help you better understand potential contributing factors and the possible long-term effects.

Why Get a Personal Injury Lawyer after an Accident?

Here’s why you should contact a lawyer after an accident:Here’s why some people choose to contact a lawyer after an accident:Here’s why you should contact a lawyer after an accident:

• A lawyer can help identify factors that may have contributed to the accident. A delay of even a day or two can result in the loss of important information.
• Injuries and damage may not be apparent at the accident scene. People can experience an adrenaline rush that masks injuries for 36 to 48 hours.
• Individuals may later modify their statements after realizing they could be financially responsible. Others may unintentionally forget details over time.
• Insurance companies may move quickly to settle a claim.
• Responsibility for an accident can be more complex than it first appears. For example, a defective part or improper repair may not be obvious at the scene.

Consulting a lawyer who handles these types of cases soon after an accident can help ensure you understand your rights and the options available under the law.

For example, our experienced Los Angeles car accident lawyers have handled many cases involving vehicle collisions. This experience allows our team to guide clients through the claims process and explain available legal options based on the specific facts of each case.

Who Is Liable for My Personal Injury?

Reimbursement for healthcare and property costs caused by an accident depends on who was negligent or at fault. That determination is often not as clear-cut as it seems at the time of the accident.

Many factors can cause an accident, and some may not be immediately apparent. An injury lawyer can help identify potential contributing factors and investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Examples of Specific Accident and Personal Injury Scenarios

Here are examples of individuals or organizations that may be liable for a specific accident and personal injury:

• The owner of a vehicle or property
• The business that rents a space
• Parents, if the person who caused the accident was underage
• Service organizations that provide services to buildings or parks, if their carelessness contributed to the accident
• Employers, when employees cause an accident within the scope of employment
• Third parties at a worksite, product manufacturers, or companies providing services to another company
• Government agencies responsible for the care and maintenance of streets and public areas (subject to specific notice requirements and deadlines)
• Agencies responsible for oversight of certain industries, if legally applicable
• Manufacturers responsible for defective design or manufacture of a part or product
• Repair services that improperly repair a vehicle or product

Claims involving sources of compensation beyond insurance often require legal knowledge and investigation. Attorneys who handle personal injury matters can evaluate potential sources of responsibility and determine how to pursue a claim.

What Damages Can I Get for a Personal Injury?

A personal injury lawsuit seeks compensation for the mental, physical, economic, and emotional harm caused by another person’s decision or action. In cases involving severe or life-changing injuries, compensation may also account for long-term effects on a person’s ability to care for themselves, maintain employment, or participate in activities they previously enjoyed.

Damages in a personal injury case generally fall into three categories:

• Special damages are specific, measurable costs that can be documented, primarily medical costs and lost wages.
• General damages are not as easy to measure because they include factors like pain and suffering, emotional distress, and long-term costs, if a person can no longer work or follow the lifestyle they had before the accident.
• Punitive damages are awarded in limited circumstances involving intentional misconduct or egregious behavior. Punitive damages are not commonly awarded in ordinary accident cases.

How Do You Determine the Amount of Compensation?

Compensation for a personal injury primarily depends on the severity of the injury and the evidence supporting the claim. A serious injury such as loss of a limb, spinal cord injury, or brain damage may involve greater long-term medical care, physical effects, and lifestyle changes.

Determining appropriate compensation and identifying responsible parties can become a complex process. Lawyers who handle these cases have experience evaluating medical records, financial losses, and other evidence to determine how to pursue a claim under applicable law.

How to Find a Good Personal Injury Lawyer

Working with a personal injury lawyer can help protect your rights as you pursue compensation. It may also provide guidance as you seek appropriate medical treatment.

However, knowing how to find the right personal injury lawyer in California can be challenging. Here are five questions that may help guide your search.

How Long Has the L.A. Personal Injury Law Firm Been in Business?

When searching for the best personal injury attorney, ask how long the firm has been in business. Longevity may reflect experience and stability.

Our firm has been serving accident victims all over California for more than 50 years.

Who Will Work on My Personal Injury Case?

Look for a personal injury attorney who has access to appropriate resources. For example, a lawyer may work with insurance professionals, medical record reviewers, investigators, researchers, and expert witnesses when necessary.

Your attorney should be able to explain who will be involved in your case and how they will work together to evaluate and present your claim.

How is the Personal Injury Attorney Publicly Represented?

If you grew up in Southern California during the 70s and 80s, you may remember Jacoby & Meyers TV commercials. While advertising can increase name recognition, it is important to evaluate a firm based on experience, community involvement, and professional background.

Review an attorney’s LinkedIn profile and other professional listings to learn about their connections, memberships, and areas of focus. You can also review the firm’s website and social media content to determine whether it is professional and relevant to injury victims.

Has the Firm Won Any Awards?

When reviewing awards, look closely at who issued the recognition and what criteria were used. Some awards are editorial or marketing-based, while others are based on peer review or independent research.

For example, partner Laura Sedrish has been recognized by Super Lawyers. (Recognitions are based on published selection criteria. Past recognitions do not guarantee future results.)

You may also review verified client feedback on platforms such as Google or Yelp to better understand other individuals’ experiences. Client experiences vary based on the facts of each case.

Trust Your Own Instincts

After a consultation with an attorney, consider whether the attorney explained matters clearly and answered your questions. Was the communication understandable? Did you feel comfortable discussing your situation?

If the other points in this article align with your expectations, you may have found a firm that fits your needs.

Our firm is available to take your call and discuss your situation. We aim to provide clear information about your options and potential next steps.

Do I Need a Personal Injury Lawyer in Los Angeles?

Due to the size of Los Angeles and its surrounding county, insurance claims can involve multiple parties and complex issues.

If you’ve been injured due to another’s negligence, you may benefit from speaking with a personal injury lawyer about your rights and legal options. Our Los Angeles legal team handles injury claims and can evaluate your situation based on the specific facts involved.

Talk to a Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorney Today

Our firm reviews personal injury claims involving serious accidents and injuries.

Contact Jacoby & Meyers for a free consultation with our team. We are committed to serving members of our community and providing information about personal injury claims under California law.

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