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Injuries detract from every aspect of your life, from financial security to employment to family life and happiness. When the impacts of the injury are severe and long-term, the damages become irreparable. You need to call a Los Angeles personal injury attorney to receive fair compensation.
Personal injury lawyers represent their clients’ best interests. They accomplish this by using their legal insight to determine the claim’s value, build a bulletproof case, negotiate for their client’s benefit and convince a jury of the culpability of the defendant(s).
Nordean Law’s personal injury litigation team handles all types of personal injury cases with potential case damage payouts in the range of five to seven figures. Damages vary widely based on the severity of the injury.
If you have sustained a serious injury, you can expect that the insurance company will attempt to minimize the value of your claim. You need a certified and proven Los Angeles personal injury attorney who understands countering their strategies and tactics.
Contact our law office today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles. Learn more about your legal rights and the money you are entitled to receive after an accident or injury.
California law defines a personal injury as physical, emotional or psychological damage caused by the negligence or intentional actions of another.
The guilty party can be an individual, corporation or other privately held company or government entity. To win, the plaintiff must establish that the defendant caused the injury through a breached duty of care. For instance, all motorists have a duty of care to other drivers. If they miscalculated and caused a collision, they are negligent and liable for the injured party’s damages.
Intentional actions can also form a basis for a personal injury lawsuit. For instance, the victim of an assault may suffer physical, emotional and psychological wounds. All people must refrain from assaulting others, so the perpetrator is responsible civilly and criminally.
Personal injury law encompasses many types of incidents. So, let’s review the most common reasons for a personal injury lawsuit. Nordean Law handles all cases and has extensive experience with the following personal injury categories.
The most important thing is to ensure your safety and the safety of others. If possible, move to a safe location away from traffic and other hazards. Reporting the incident is key. You need evidence demonstrating that the accident occurred. Additionally, calling the police after an auto accident fulfils this requirement. For example, report the incident to the homeowner or manager if the accident occurs on someone else’s residential property or at a business.
It’s always advisable to seek medical help. This serves two purposes. First, it ensures you receive the care you need. Second, it creates documentary evidence showing that the incident caused the injury.
Personal injuries arise from all types of accidents and wrongdoing. Our personal injury attorney in Los Angeles has experience handling personal injury cases involving:
For most people, car accidents come to mind first when they think of a personal injury case. Anyone can be impacted by a vehicle accident, even if they do not drive. For example, pedestrians and passengers often suffer the most grievous injuries from vehicle collisions. Negligence in car accident cases can be easily proven through many forms of evidence, such as the following:
Auto insurers often claim that a substantial portion of the accident was the plaintiff’s fault despite overwhelming evidence against their customer. Many times, they put forward these arguments without even an ounce or shred of evidence. Nordean Law builds cases that make it impossible for unfair accusations of comparative negligence to succeed in court.
Drivers must share the road with big rigs, and this co-existence creates a certain amount of inevitable hazards. For example, the size of trucks alone makes them dangerous and compounds the injuries suffered by victims in smaller vehicles. You might be familiar with the saying “The truck always wins” – it’s 100% accurate. We’ve seen the evidence of what semis do to small cars in a collision, and the impacts are devastating even at relatively low speeds.
Trucks also present a danger because they take longer to stop. Similar to a train, the driver may have extreme difficulty reducing speed even when he senses a collision is likely. This results in truckers being unable to avoid a truck accident, or the accident is far more severe.
In addition, truck drivers work long hours in stressful conditions. Over time, even the most skilled and careful truck driver can be subjected to exhaustion and fatigue that impedes judgment and slows reactions. Tired truck drivers are prone to falling asleep at the wheel, resulting in many fatal accidents. Until self-driving trucks rule the roads, human error will always be the main cause of truck accidents.
In some instances, trucking companies may contribute to dangerous driving. For example, they expect truckers to work long shifts, often up to 14 hours per day. Grueling demands result in tired drivers prone to accidents. Many truckers and logistics companies violate the law by exceeding the maximum hours drivers can work during a specific period. In these cases, the resulting damages are caused not by a simple mistake but by willful disregard of the law, making punitive damages possible.
The industry also has a shortage of drivers, and as a result many new drivers are being hired who are short on training and experience. For instance, a trucking company may demand an inexperienced driver work a route going through very steep mountains. However, because of inexperience this driver may not know how to brake properly on a downslope, leading to a runaway truck situation.
Runaway trucks lead to some of the most horrific tragedies because the driver has lost control of the vehicle’s speed. Without proper brake training, this driver cannot regain control to mitigate potential accident damage. Companies that put inexperienced drivers in situations and conditions that they are unprepared to handle put innocent lives at risk.
With so many big rigs and vehicles sharing the roads, crashes are unfortunately common and can have serious consequences. That’s where a Los Angeles truck accident lawyer comes in. They know the ins and outs of handling these complex cases, helping victims get the support they need to recover from their injuries and losses. Whether it’s dealing with insurance companies or fighting for fair compensation in court, having a seasoned lawyer by your side can make all the difference.
While trucks create peril for other drivers with their size, motorcyclists face peril from other drivers because of their lack of protection. California law prohibits the defense from denying responsibility for a biker’s injury because of their choice to ride a motorcycle. Instead, they must pay the full damages determined by the court.
Bus accidents involve bus companies or municipalities. As with trucks, buses present peril for other motorists because of their size. Additionally, many bus drivers can work long hours and drive while fatigued, creating a dangerous situation.
In an accident involving a city bus, the plaintiff must follow different procedures because the defendant is a government entity. A complaint must be filed directly with the responsible agency within 10 months of the accident. This complaint is a prerequisite for filing a lawsuit. The plaintiff may take the case to court when the complaint yields no settlement agreement. However, if he misses the deadline for the complaint, he loses the right to collect damages.
Southern California can be a cyclist’s dream. Clement weather, blue skies and natural beauty abound. But Southern California also has some of the most congested roadways in the world. Heavy traffic means more risk for cyclists.
Bicycle rider injuries are not always from vehicle-to-bike collisions. Bicycle accidents result from contact with pedestrians, other cyclists and objects in the bike’s path. Also, bike accidents happen because of poor road and sidewalk maintenance and mechanical failure. A legal claim exists when another party’s negligence causes any bike accident.
These cases are one of the sad facts of life. Accidents get people killed, and no amount of money can truly compensate for the loss of a loved one. The law provides the family of wrongful death victims compensation for their permanent, tragic loss.
Wrongful death damages include the following:
Premises liability claims arise when a property owner is negligent, and that negligence causes the plaintiff’s injury.
For instance, a shopper at a retail store may trip on a cracked sidewalk, causing injury. The store is liable for providing a safe sidewalk. Leaving the pathway in a hazardous condition makes it responsible for the injury. On the other hand, if a person trips on their own accord and establishes no negligence, the store avoids culpability.
Most slip and fall accidents result in a premises liability claim, provided the property owner was negligent. In these cases, insurance applies. Homeowner’s policies cover slip and fall accidents at a residence, and commercial liability policies cover claims against businesses.
Brain injuries cause some of the most tragic damages. When severe, traumatic brain injuries destroy cherished memories, disable active people and alter personalities. Treatment helps in some cases, though many victims are never the same.
Often, a lifelong stay in a nursing home is needed. The financial, emotional and psychological impacts overwhelm families. A brain injury settlement or award allows the family to weather the financial storms while caring for the afflicted member. This reduces stress and allows for the best medical results and caregiver arrangements.
Each brain injury case presents challenges for the injured party and his family. Some of the common damages include the following:
Older people find themselves in a vulnerable position after a life of independence. Physical and mental decline can make living on their own impossible, requiring admission to a long-term care facility or nursing home.
Sadly, an increasing number of long-term care and nursing home residents have been subjected to harsh and sometimes even injurious treatment. Eldercare companies and their employees have to ensure the safety and well-being of their residents. When this duty is neglected, elder abuse occurs.
Elder abuse takes many forms, including the following:
Children are also vulnerable to abuse. They cannot physically resist an adult and may be unable to report the abuse to authorities. Consequently, some children are too young to understand they are the victims and blame themselves.
Child abuse can take many forms, including the following:
Rideshare accidents continue to become more commonplace because so many people use Uber and Lyft, and the public needs to understand their rights when injured on a ride.
As with taxi companies, Uber and Lyft must carry liability insurance. This insurance covers anyone injured by the rideshare vehicle, whether a rider, someone in another vehicle, or a pedestrian or cyclist. These policies cover up to $1 million in damages.
Don’t wait to get started on your claim. Instead, contact our office today to schedule a free consultation with our attorney. We will review your case and advise you of your legal options. Let us help you get the justice you deserve.
The pure comparative negligence standard governs California personal injury law. Under this framework, each party has a theoretical liability between 0% and 100%.
Some cases have clear one-sided liability for instance a driver running down a pedestrian in a crosswalk. In this example, the driver broke the law and violated his duty of care. The pedestrian followed the law and did nothing to cause the incident.
But many cases result in split liability. For example, if the driver struck a pedestrian outside the crosswalk, there could be a responsibility on both sides. The driver may have been proceeding too fast, but the pedestrian may also have entered the roadway inappropriately. In this example, a jury can find one party mainly responsible or split the liability roughly equally.
No 51% bar exists under California personal injury law. This means you can collect damages even if you bear the majority responsibility. However, for each percentage of liability attributed to you, you lose the equivalent in damages. For example, if you are 80% at fault, you only receive 20% of your damages.
To prove negligence, your legal team must establish four elements:
There is no negligence unless the defendant has a legally recognized duty of care. For instance, drivers have a duty of care to prevent collisions, homeowners have a duty of care toward guests and businesses have a duty of care toward patrons.
Plaintiffs must provide convincing evidence that the duty of care was breached.
In a traffic court case, this may take the form of witness testimony or video footage. For example, if a guest tripped on a poorly maintained patio, a picture of the broken concrete shows a breach. In a product liability claim, the defective product itself provides evidence.
A causal link between the breach of the duty of care and the injury must exist.
Often, medical records provide the most compelling proof of a link. For instance, the fire department transports a car accident victim to the hospital, where doctors determine the injuries sustained in the collision.
There would be no claim unless the plaintiff sustained damages. Damages are both economic and non-economic. Medical bills are an example of economic damages, and pain and suffering is an example of non-economic damages.
Personal injury lawyers provide invaluable services to their clients that bring about the best possible result. Key duties include the following:
Every case is unique: some result in quick settlements, while others must go through trial and appeal.
Sam Nordean has made a commitment to helping victims get back what was taken away from them. He fights for people that are injured and can’t fight for themselves.
“Going to court or negotiating a settlement is not akin to my client winning a lottery ticket. It’s about balancing the scales; it’s what they’re owed.”
Sam NordeanWhen you or a family member is injured in an accident, you need an experienced Los Angeles personal injury attorney fighting for you. The insurance company is not interested in paying you a fair amount for your personal injury claim. Instead, it wants to resolve the claim for as little money as possible. To accomplish this, they employ an entire team of professionals working to protect their company from being liable for your claim.
Our Los Angeles personal injury attorney at Nordean Law evens the playing field against a large corporate insurance company. When you hire us to handle your personal injury case, you do not need to worry about missing deadlines or trying to prove a legal claim. Our legal team knows how to develop your case to give you the best odds of achieving your desired outcome.
Call us today to schedule your free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles. Your initial consultation does not cost you anything. We answer your questions, offer legal advice and give you the information you need to decide how you want to proceed.
We’re proud to have helped countless clients across California achieve justice and compensation.
"After my car accident in Irvine, I didn’t know where to turn. This team took care of everything, from dealing with insurance to getting me a fair settlement. Highly recommend!"
"I was injured in a truck accident on the freeway near Riverside. They fought hard for me and won my case in record time. Professional and caring every step of the way."
"Nordean Law is working in my injury case and can't thank them enough. Sam and his team have been reaching and keeping me informed with all pending matters. I appreciate that because with all that is currently going in right now, I need some stress off my shoulders. Thank you Nordean Law!!!"
"The best lawyer in the area! He and his team will take great care of you. They are very good with taking questions and answering them without lying to you. I will use Sam and his firm for any cases I might encounter. Highly recommend!!"
"If you are worried about your claim you should contact Nordean Law. Sam Nordean and his team are not only true professionals with integrity, but also sincerely care about their clients well being and state of mind throughout the process."
We understand that you have questions about personal injury cases. Our personal injury attorney in Los Angeles answers some of the most frequently asked questions about personal injury claims for you.
