Victim of a personal injury?

When someone else’s carelessness leaves you injured in Los Angeles, California law gives you the right to seek payment for your losses. This includes everything from the immediate medical bills and lost paychecks to the less obvious costs, like the impact on your future earning ability and your daily physical pain.

The value of your claim depends entirely on the specific details of your accident and the full extent of your injuries, both what they are today and what they will be tomorrow. Calculating that value involves gathering evidence, documenting every loss, and building a case that stands up to the scrutiny of insurance companies.

Our role is to manage this process for you. We build your case, handle the adjusters, and make sure your claim reflects the true cost of the injury. If you have questions about what happened and what your options are, we’re available to provide guidance.

Call Sweet James Accident Attorneys for a free, no-obligation review of your case at (800) 900-0000.

Key Takeaways for Los Angeles Personal Injury Claims

1. The deadline to file a lawsuit is shorter than you think. California law generally gives you two years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit, but if a government employee or agency is involved, you have only six months to file an initial claim.
2. You can recover money even if you were partially at fault. California uses a pure comparative negligence system, which means your compensation is simply reduced by whatever percentage of fault is assigned to you.
3. The first settlement offer is rarely the best one. Insurance companies may offer a quick payout before the full extent of your injuries is known, potentially leaving you with unpaid medical bills down the road.

Why Choose Sweet James for Your Los Angeles Injury Claim?

Our Results Are Clear

With a 98% success rate, our firm has recovered over $2 billion for clients. 

We are not afraid to take a case to court if a fair offer isn’t on the table. Our attorneys secured a $17.4 million jury verdict, the largest in Kings County history, for two sisters injured by a city truck. This willingness to go to trial is a powerful motivator for insurance companies to negotiate fairly from the start.

We Understand How the Other Side Thinks

Our founding partner, James Bergener, started his career defending insurance companies. That experience gave him firsthand knowledge of how they evaluate, devalue, and deny claims. We use that insider’s perspective to build your case in a way that anticipates and counters their arguments.

This level of preparation and experience is why our personal injury lawyers are consistently recognized as Super Lawyers, Top Lawyers in California, and members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an honor held by less than 1% of trial lawyers in the United States.

Our Promise to You

We operate on a simple, client-focused principle.

• No Win, No Fee Guarantee: You pay us nothing unless and until we win your case. It’s our shared risk and our commitment to you.
• Personal Attention: Your story matters. We invest the time to understand exactly how this injury has rewritten aspects of your life so we can represent you effectively.
• A Clear Explanation: We will review your case for free and explain your legal options in plain English, with no pressure or obligation.

• A Respected LA Presence: We’re known as the Heavy Hitters for a reason. Our Los Angeles office is at 16133 Ventura Blvd Suite 700, right in the Financial District near Downtown LA.

How Is the Value of an Injury Claim Determined?

A personal injury claim is designed to provide the financial resources to cover every single loss the accident caused. Some losses are easy to see, like the bill from the emergency room. Others are less obvious but just as real, like the income you won’t be able to earn years from now or the daily pain that changes how you live your life.

California law allows you to pursue compensation for a range of damages, which fall into three main buckets:

• Economic Damages: These are the measurable financial losses you’ve sustained. If you have a receipt, invoice, or pay stub for it, it likely falls into this category.

• Medical bills you’ve already paid and will pay in the future
• Lost wages and income from time off work
• Diminished future earning capacity
• Damage to your vehicle or other property
• Costs for rehabilitation and physical therapy

• Non-Economic Damages: These damages compensate for the human cost of the injury, the personal losses that don’t have a clear price tag.

• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress and mental anguish
• Loss of enjoyment of life’s activities
• Permanent scarring or disfigurement

• Punitive Damages: In uncommon situations where the person or company that caused the injury acted with extreme recklessness or malice, a court might award punitive damages. The purpose of these is not to compensate you, but to punish the wrongdoer and discourage others from similar behavior.

What If I Was Partially at Fault?

This is a common worry, but it doesn’t prevent you from recovering compensation in California. The state follows a legal rule called pure comparative negligence.

Simply put, a court determines the percentage of fault for each person involved. Your total compensation award is then reduced by your percentage of fault. So if a jury found you were 20% responsible for the accident, your award would be reduced by 20%. Our job is to present the evidence that ensures no blame is unfairly shifted to you.

What Does the Personal Injury Claim Timeline Look Like?

While every case moves at its own pace, the progression typically follows these steps.

1. Investigation and Evidence Gathering: After our initial consultation, our team begins a deep dive into the facts. We collect police reports, interview witnesses, obtain medical records, and may hire experts to reconstruct the accident. This is the foundation upon which your entire claim is built.
2. Calculating Your Damages: We work with you and your doctors to understand the full scope of your injuries. This includes tallying up all current and future medical costs, lost income, and putting a value on your pain and suffering.
3. The Demand Letter: Once we have a clear picture of your total losses, we draft and send a formal demand letter to the at-fault party’s insurance company. This document lays out the legal basis for your claim and specifies the amount of compensation we are seeking.
4. Negotiation: The insurance company will respond to the demand, usually with a lower counteroffer. This begins a period of negotiation. Our experience with insurance company tactics becomes particularly valuable here as we argue the facts and the law on your behalf.
5. Filing a Lawsuit: The majority of claims are settled during negotiation. But if the insurer refuses to make a fair offer, we will file a personal injury lawsuit. This doesn’t mean your case will definitely go to trial; negotiations can continue even after a suit is filed.
6. The Discovery Process: If a lawsuit is filed, both sides enter a phase called discovery. We will exchange evidence, take depositions (sworn testimony outside of court), and continue to build the case for a potential trial.
7. Settlement or Trial: Most cases settle before the trial date. However, if a settlement can’t be reached, we are fully prepared to present your case to a Los Angeles jury and ask them to determine a fair outcome.

Where Do Most Injury Accidents Occur in Los Angeles?

Los Angeles is defined by its traffic, and that sheer volume of vehicles contributes to thousands of injury accidents every year. While a crash could happen on any street, data reveals that certain locations are far more hazardous than others.

Common Accident Hotspots in Los Angeles

The city’s Vision Zero initiative, aimed at eliminating traffic fatalities, maintains a High Injury Network (HIN). This data shows that just 6% of L.A.’s streets are responsible for nearly 70% of all deaths and severe injuries to pedestrians. We see accidents cluster in these areas:

• High-Volume Intersections: According to an analysis of LAPD data, the intersection of South Figueroa Street and West Slauson Avenue has one of the highest collision rates in the city.
• Major Freeway Interchanges: The convergence of freeways like the I-10, I-110, I-405, and US-101 are notorious for high-speed collisions and multi-vehicle pile-ups, especially during peak commute times.
• Congested Boulevards: Major thoroughfares like Wilshire Boulevard, Sepulveda Boulevard, and Ventura Boulevard see a disproportionate number of accidents involving pedestrians and cyclists.

Factors Behind L.A.’s Accidents

• Time of Day: The afternoon commute, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., is consistently the most dangerous time on the road as congestion peaks and drivers become fatigued.
• Weather: Los Angeles is a sunny place, which makes even light rain unexpectedly hazardous. When rain mixes with oil and dust that have built up on the pavement for weeks, the roads become slick.
• Distracted Driving: In a city where people spend countless hours in their vehicles, driver distraction is a primary cause of preventable accidents.

Personal Injury Claims We Handle in Los Angeles

Our firm is equipped to handle a broad range of personal injury matters. If someone’s failure to be reasonably careful caused you harm, you might have a valid claim.

Common Types of Accidents:

• Car Accidents: Collisions involving passenger cars, frequently resulting from speeding, distracted driving, or driving under the influence.
• Motorcycle Accidents: We are familiar with the unfair stereotypes motorcyclists sometimes face and work to ensure the evidence dictates the outcome, not bias.
• Truck Accidents: These cases are layered, sometimes involving the driver, the trucking corporation, and multiple insurance carriers.
• Rideshare Accidents: Claims involving Uber or Lyft are governed by specific insurance rules that change depending on the driver’s activity at the time of the crash.
• Slip and Fall (Premises Liability): Property owners have a legal duty to maintain a reasonably safe environment. This means they must address hazards like wet floors or broken staircases.
• Wrongful Death: If an accident leads to a person’s death, we help eligible family members file a claim to pursue justice and financial security.

Common Injuries We See:

• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): Ranging from concussions to severe, life-altering brain damage.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: These catastrophic injuries might result in partial or total paralysis.
• Back and Neck Injuries: Including herniated discs and whiplash from the force of impact.
• Broken Bones and Fractures: These injuries may require surgery and months of rehabilitation.

Key California Legal Deadlines

Statute of Limitations

This is the legal term for the deadline to file a lawsuit. In California, you generally have two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. 

But if your claim is against a city, county, or state government body, the deadline is much shorter, you usually have just six months to file an initial government claim.

Let Us Handle the Legal Work, So You Can Focus on Healing

Your energy belongs to your health and your family. Let our team take on the work of building your case and dealing with the insurance companies.

We are here to listen and provide explanations. Your consultation is confidential, free, and comes with no obligation. 

If you have questions about your options after an injury in Los Angeles, call Sweet James Accident Attorneys today at (800) 900-0000.