Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorney Blog

🔍 Quick Summary The most common mistakes California personal injury claimants make fall into three broad categories: mistakes in the immediate aftermath of the accident, mistakes during the claims process, and mistakes in the attorney-client relationship. Each category contains errors that can reduce or eliminate a valid claim. This guide covers 15 of the most…

Reviewed and Updated by Steven M. Sweat, October 2026 ARTICLE SUMMARY (QUICK ANSWER) ▸ You likely have a valid California personal injury case if another party owed you a duty of care, breached that duty through negligence, caused your injuries, and you suffered real damages (medical bills, lost wages, pain, etc.). ▸ California follows pure…

Reviewed and Updated by Steven M. Sweat, October 2026 ARTICLE SUMMARY — California clients can discharge their personal injury attorney at any time, with or without cause (Fracasse v. Brent (1972) 6 Cal.3d 784). This guide explains how the substitution works, what the former attorney is paid (the reasonable value of their work, and only…

Reviewed and Updated by Steven M. Sweat, October 2026 ARTICLE SUMMARY — Yes — and the difference is substantial. In most cases involving real injuries, representation increases what the injured person takes home, even after the contingency fee. Attorneys know how to document injuries, counter insurance tactics, and calculate the full value of a claim…

The Short Answer: No. You should not accept the insurance company’s first settlement offer without legal review. Initial offers are typically 30 to 70 percent below the actual value of a well-documented claim. The only exception is a genuinely minor claim — no injury, clear liability, minimal property damage — where the offer fully covers…

Reviewed and Updated by Attorney Steven M. Sweat, October, 2026 ARTICLE SUMMARY After a California car accident, never apologize, admit fault, speculate about what caused the crash, minimize your pain, or say you ‘feel fine’ to an insurance adjuster — even your own. These statements are recorded and routinely used to reduce or deny injury…

Reviewed and Updated by Steven M. Sweat, October 2026 Article Summary — Personal injury lawyers in California work on a contingency fee basis — no upfront cost, no hourly rate, and no attorney fee unless and until compensation is recovered on your behalf. The standard contingency fee in California personal injury cases is 33% (one-third)…

Reviewed and Updated by Steven M. Sweat, October 2026 Article Summary — Personal injury lawyers in California work on a contingency fee basis — no upfront cost, no hourly rate, and no attorney fee unless compensation is recovered. The contingency fee is a percentage of the total recovery. In California, the typical range is 33%…

Reviewed and updated by Steven M. Sweat, October 2026 KEY TAKEAWAYS Injury in a rear-end crash depends on the acceleration forces on the occupant (delta-V), not on how much the vehicle was damaged. Whiplash involves hyperextension followed by hyperflexion of the cervical spine, which can cause ligament micro-tears and facet joint compression. Neck pain is…

When you are driving down the 405, the 10, or the 101 in Los Angeles, it is nearly impossible to ignore the towering billboards. They feature stern-looking attorneys, catchy slogans, and promises of massive financial settlements. For a victim of a car accident, a motorcycle crash, or a slip and fall across Los Angeles County…