Los Angeles Personal Injury Lawyers - El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers (2024)

Handling Serious Personal Injury Cases Throughout Los Angeles, County

Personal injuries can occur anywhere and to anyone. You may slip on a wet floor while shopping or get hit by a car while crossing the road. In California, personal injury laws cover numerous accidents. At El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers, our Los Angeles injury attorneys assist clients with the following personal injury cases:

We believe in a higher level of service and results, which comes from our belief in providing the best service. If you are the victim of an injury,contact ustoday.One of our Los Angeles personal injury lawyers will be able to meet with you and your loved ones to discuss your case and your options, and help answer any questions you may have.

Personal Injury Statistics in Los Angeles

The Greater Los Angeles area has a population of 19 million people inhabiting its 34,000 square miles. With so many people spread all over this economic hub, it is no wonder that accidents happen regularly. Many of these accidents result in personal injury, which may vary in severity. In 2015, approximately 39,708 people suffered personal injuries from traffic accidents. These accidents claimed more than 260 lives in 2016 in Los Angeles.

Additionally, the number of accidents in LA is higher than that of other cities in California. In 2013, Los Angeles recorded a total of 67,534 accidents, according to the California Department of Public Health. This number was over two and a half times that of San Diego. As the numbers indicate, residents of Los Angeles stand a high risk of falling victim to personal injuries.

Common Personal Injuries in Los Angeles

Accidents can leave you with injuries. Depending on the nature of the accident, they may be mild pains that resolve in a few days or severe injuries that require extensive treatment and rehabilitation. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, slip and fall accidents cause about 40.5 percent of total traumatic brain injuries in the country, while 14.3 percent result from traffic accidents.

After an accident, you may incur personal injuries such as:

What is a Compression Fracture Back Injury?

A compression fracture injury mainly occurs as a result of excessive pressure on the vertebra, physical injury or an impact. If any of these circ*mstances causes a bone to collapse, then the condition is known as a vertebral compression fracture. Sudden pressure or impact on the back can cause a compression fracture.

If you or a loved one has suffered a compression fracture, then you need to consult with a personal injury lawyer. A compression fracture can have far-reaching consequences. You deserve full compensation so that you receive good medical treatment and make necessary adjustments. A deeper understanding of compression fractures will shed more light on why you need to seek legal expertise from our compression fracture back injury lawyers when filing a claim.

Compression fractures can be sustained in accidents such as car accidents. Most fractures are sustained in motor vehicle accidents where the fracture is often combined with other injuries such as an upper bone fracture or whiplash. Slip and fall accidents can also lead to back compression fractures. The elderly are generally more prone to slip and fall accidents, because their bones are more brittle and delicate.

Slip and fall accidents are compensable. In most cases, the owner of the premise or residential building can be held liable, however, the victim must provenegligence. In as much as you have suffered an accident, you still need to determine liability. This involves complex legal procedures and elements. This is why it is best to let a personal injury lawyer handle your case.

What are Symptoms of a Compression Fracture?

People who have suffered a compression fracture complain of acute back pain that can escalate into chronic pain. Other symptoms include loss of height, loss of muscle and crowding of the internal organs. Patients may also suffer the following vertebral fracture symptoms:

• Restricted spinal mobility
• Sudden or sharp back pain
• Intense pain when standing or walking
• Pain when lying on your back
• Disability or deformity

A compression fracture may start as mild back pain, however, with time, it may develop into chronic pain. In fact, most patients are not aware that they have a compression fracture because it mainly manifests as back pain. If you have been injured in an accident and have suffered a spinal injury, it is important to get an MRI or a CT scan. Do not simply dismiss the pain because it can get worse over time.

If you have a stress fracture, you may occasionally experience sharp back pain, and you should get it checked right away. Fairly routine activities such as lifting or bending can also be strenuous and occasioned with pain. A compression or vertebral fracture must be correctly diagnosed.; failure to do this can lead to complications in the future.

Treatment should also be administered immediately so that the back does not deteriorate. Spinal injuries and fractures can be life-altering and in some cases, patients are unable to make a full recovery. Compression fractures and other vertebral fractures are not easy to diagnose. In most cases, the victims need to undergo a series of tests. These tests are expensive and time-consuming.

California’s Comparative Negligence

Under the negligence laws in California, individuals and institutions are liable for the injuries they cause others, even if the damage was not intentional. This provides victims with the right to file a compensation claim for a personal injury caused by the negligence of a specific party. When it comes to how much one may recover, this varies due to California’s comparative negligence laws. Suppose an accident occurs between a pedestrian and a motorcycle driver in downtown Los Angeles.

If the pedestrian was jaywalking and was considered to be 30% at fault for the accident, they will only be able to recover up to 70% of the total damages involved. While every case is different, it’s crucial to understand your rights and do all you can to maximize your compensation.

What Should I Do Following an Accident in Los Angeles?

Filing your personal injury claim is just the first step in a lengthy legal process. The success of your lawsuit is highly dependent on everything you say or do after your accident. Although our team of experts will do most of the heavy lifting, there are several things you can do to help us ensure that you get the best results.

1. Get Immediate Medical Assistance:Regardless of whether your injury is mild or severe, the probability of you making a recovery hinges on you getting an early evaluation. Some injuries may not surface until a few days after the accident, some may be immediate. When receiving medical attention, keep detailed medical documentation to prove that you were injured and examined by a doctor. This includes official prescriptions and diagnosis papers written by your doctor. You will need them to prove the severity of your personal injury and its connection to your accident.
2. Collect and Preserve Evidence:Along with your medical documents, you need to collect and preserve other vital pieces of proof. Take pictures, videos, and witness statements of the accident if at all possible. Don’t repair any defective car parts or dispose of anything material to the accident.
3. Contact the Police and Your Insurance Company:You should report the accident and have the authorities evaluate the scene. While you should report the accident, you should be aware of what you say to the police. Keep from saying anything that may be incriminating, can be used to show you were responsible for the accident, or any other incriminating information. During this time, you should also contact your insurance company to let them know what happened.
4. Call Our Los Angeles Personal Injury Lawyers:Contacting our experienced firm as quickly as possible will allow more time to work with the other parties involved. We will be able to fully evaluate your claim, conduct an investigation if needed, handle all negotiations, and build a strong defense strategy to help you recover fair compensation. With three law offices throughout Southern California, our firm he prepared to help you wherever you may be.
5. Minimize Your Social Media Activity:What you post on your social media about your accident could be used to undermine your case. Try to stay off social media platforms throughout your case proceedings.
6. Follow Your Doctor’s Recommendations:If your doctor recommends you go back for a checkup, or get specific medications, do it. Failing to abide by your healthcare provider’s orders could be misconstrued as an unwillingness to get well. Insurance providers may even argue that your injuries were not severe if you refuse to be treated or follow up.

What Could I Recover Financial Compensation For?

Personal injuries have significant repercussions on a victim’s life and that of their family. Your compensation claim should cover every injury, damage, loss, or expense you suffer as a result of your accident. Our personal injury lawyers in Los Angeles can help you recover compensation for physical damages, non-physical injuries, and punitive damages. Damages are typically categorized into two groups: economic and non-economic damages.

Typical compensation for losses includes compensation for:

• Accident-related medical bills, both present, and future
• Loss of earning ability or income
• Personal property damage
• The cost of retrofitting your vehicle or home to accommodate a permanent disability
• Cost of rehabilitation or physical therapy
• Price of property repair or replacement
• Accident-related transportation costs

Economic damages or “compensatory damages” in personal injury cases do not have a cap, and the jury or judge can award any amount they deem necessary and reasonable. You may also be entitled to damages that cannot be measured in terms of money, such as mental anguish, emotional distress, and pain and suffering. These damages or losses are referred to as “non-economic losses or damages” and according toCivil Code – CIV Section 333.2, (b)“In no action shall the number of damages for noneconomic losses exceed two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000).”

Loss of Consortium

How Much Money Can I Expect to Get in a Settlement?

When you are preparing to make a personal injury claim, you are probably wondering how much your case will be worth. At the very least, your case will be worth the economic damages you have suffered, including current and future medical expenses, lost wages, reducing earning capacity, and loss of future income. Any damages beyond this point are difficult to determine because every injury case is unique.

While an exact value can’t be assigned to your case, an experienced personal injury lawyer can give you a good idea of what you can expect to receive in a settlement.To better understand the value of your case, a good starting point is understanding how insurance companies determine the value of claims to begin negotiations. Most insurance companies use a damages formula explained below.

When you make an injury claim, the adjuster working for the insurance company company will negotiate with you or your injury lawyer to determine a fair settlement amount. To determine a starting point for negotiations, the adjuster will probably start by adding up your medical expenses, or medical special damages. This amount will then be multiplied by a factor of 1.5 to 3 if you have fairly minor injuries that resulted in a full recovery or up to 5 if you suffered long-lasting, very painful, or serious injuries. Lost income will then be added to the figure.

There are several factors that can increase the value of your injury claim. The damages formula will increase based on:

• The length of your recovery
• The amount of pain you suffered
• How invasive or long-lasting the condition
• How visible and serious any permanent effects or scars are (Facial scars, for example, increase the value of your claim more than scars on your legs)
• How obvious the medical evidence in your case. Hard injuries like fractures generally have higher general damages than soft tissue injuries that don’t show up on medical tests

Remember that this formula is just used to determine a starting point for negotiating your claim. Your injury lawyer will represent you throughout this process to present evidence, protect your rights, and seek a fair settlement that fully compensates you. Most injury cases settle before trial or even before a lawsuit must be filed, but it is sometimes necessary to go to court and seek a jury verdict.

What Is A Catastrophic Injury According To The Law?

Catastrophic injury cases are different from ordinary personal injury claims. They can simply be defined as injuries that alter an individual’s life permanently. Such injuries require the attention of an expert medical team to treat. This is because they can disrupt crucial body systems that could lead to death.

Most of these injuries affect the nervous system and the brain. Damage could be severe, that you need rehabilitation and medical care to recover. Even if you recover, there are risks that you could endure a lifetime of chronic pain. Examples of catastrophic injuries include:

• Severe burn injuries
• Spinal cord injuries that cause partial or total paralysis
• Traumatic brain injuries or other serious injuries to the head
• Injuries that cause significant scarring or disfigurement
• Injuries that cause permanent disability in an individual’s life

As discussed above, catastrophic injuries have varying effects on people’s lives. Therefore, compensation is based on the severity of these effects. More severe injuries attract more compensation because of their injuries. However, it is the plaintiff’s burden to prove the extent of damages using facts, arguments, and evidence. Catastrophic injuries can involve a long process of recovery, which will involve huge amounts of medical bills.

You will need a lawyer to help you determine anticipated costs and impact on your ability to learn. You will also be compensated for the pain and suffering you experience after an injury.

What Can I Expect To Be Asked in My Deposition?

For individuals who are filing a personal injury lawsuit, there is already a lot of stress and strain involved in just dealing with the injury that is causing the lawsuit. But going through a personal injury lawsuit will never be an easy process just because of the personal nature of the case itself.

Here, the choice of personal injury attorney is critical, because a highly qualified and competent attorney can ease both the learning curve and the sometimes lengthy process of litigation. One key area where choosing the right attorney can really help is to prepare the plaintiff for the personal injury deposition.

Because the deposition is designed as a vehicle through which the defendant can gather as much information about the events leading up to the lawsuit as possible, the questions will likely be geared heavily towards details of this matter.

Questions are very likely to include the following:

• Questions about the incident, including date, time, place, witnesses, injuries.
• Personal questions about the plaintiff including age, work history, education, et al.
• Personal questions about health and fitness level and medical history prior to and after the incident.
• Questions about any medical evaluation and/or care received after the incident.
• Questions about how the incident has changed or impacted daily life.
• Questions about what occurred right after the incident.
• Questions about perspective, such as distance to/from, length of time, pain scales, degree of injury and similar others.

Representing Injured Children and Their Families in Los Angeles

According to a study conducted by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), children tend to suffer injuries due to appliance defects, televisions, and more. A2022 CPSC reportshared the following statistics:

• 71% of child fatalities involved a television
• 62% of fatalities of all age groups involved a television
• 55% of fatalities involved people being crushed
• Head-related injuries accounted for 66% of fatalities

You may wonder who can be held liable for your children’s injuries. Generally, appliance injury-related claims are brought against product manufacturers or appliance installers. Though, other negligent parties can sometimes be held legally liable as well.

Notably, stove tipping, television, dresser, and other accidents can be prevented. A very inexpensive safety product called an ‘anti-tip bracket’ can keep appliances from tipping over and severely injuring children and adults. In addition, a properly designed appliance should not be able to be tipped by small children. If your child was injured, our experienced child injury attorneys in Los Angeles will help you determine who bears liability for the accident. Your family deserves justice

Does the Type of Car Accident Affect My Settlement Amount?

Two of the biggest elements that can affect the amount of money that you walk away with at the conclusion of a car accident claim are fault and the degree of injuries that you suffer. While these two things are independent of the type of car accident, the type of car accident in which you’re involved could have an effect on both of these elements.

• Fault.Depending upon the type of accident in which you were involved, fault may be harder or easier to prove. For example, if you were involved in a head-on crash while your vehicle was lawfully traveling down a roadway and another vehicle, traveling the wrong way down the same roadway in an illegal manner, collided with your car, fault is clear: the other driver was obviously to blame. However, if you are in a side-swipe or T-bone accident, exactly which driver failed to yield, had the right of way, or otherwise acted negligently may be debatable. Because California is an at-fault car accident state, in order to recover compensation from the other party’s insurer, you must be able to prove that the accident would not have occurred but for that party’s fault – this may be complicated depending on the accident type.
• Degree of injuries.While there is no set rule about what type of accident can lead to a serious injury–for example, a person who is in a rear-end collision could, hypothetically, suffer a more serious injury than a person who is in a head-on collision–there are some general trends regarding accident type and injury severity. Generally speaking, rear-end crashes are less serious than are other accident types, and head-on crashes and rollover collisions are two of the most deadly collision types. Because the type of accident in which you are involved could have an effect on the degree of your injuries, and because the degree of your injuries will have an immediate impact on the value of your claim, the type of accident in which you’re involved could have an effect on your settlement.

Contact Our Injury Attorneys in Los Angeles Today

We know how difficult time is following a serious accident. Life is stressful. You may be out of work. You are more than likely facing mounds of medical bills and trying to discuss the incident with your insurance company. Let our experienced personal injury lawyers in Los Angeles help you.

Call our firm now for a free, initial consultation ator you can fill out ourfree case evaluation formand we’ll be in touch with you.