Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorney

Trusted Support from a Team of Award-Winning Lawyers

Have you been seriously injured or lost a loved one in a preventable accident in Los Angeles? A traumatic and unexpected event like this can present a wide range of seemingly insurmountable challenges. From enduring the physical pain of an injury to worrying about the cost of mounting medical bills to being bothered by insurance companies, it can feel as if your world is crashing down around you.

Don’t lose hope. No matter how dire your situation, Mansell & Mansell APC is here to offer a helping hand and high-caliber legal representation you can trust.

Since 1985, our firm has fiercely advocated on behalf of individuals and families whose lives have been negatively impacted due to someone else’s negligence, recklessness, or misconduct. Backed by more than 90 years’ combined experience, Robert Mansell and his team have dedicated their careers to holding negligent parties accountable and obtaining compensation that is fair and just.

Whereas other law firms rush to settle, we prepare every case as if it’s going to trial. Insurance companies and corporations fear us because we’re willing to fight for every penny that is owed to our clients. With settlements and jury verdicts totaling $50 million, our track record speaks for itself.

Client-Centered Approach

As a small boutique firm, we place a high premium on personalized attention for each and every client. If you choose to retain us, you will never feel like just another face in the crowd. We will treat you with the utmost compassion, dignity, and respect and listen carefully to your concerns, needs, and hopes.

We understand the enormity of the obstacles you face and will work tirelessly to help get your life back on track. While the legal process may seem daunting, we make sure to answer any questions you have and keep you abreast of developments as your case progresses.

Receive a Free Consultation

We offer all prospective clients a risk free initial consultation. If you are too injured to visit our office, we will meet wherever it is most convenient for you whether it be in the comfort of your own home or hospital bed.  Don’t delay in reaching out for assistance. California imposes specific time constraints on filing a personal injury claim or lawsuit, so it’s imperative that you contact us at (323) 591-3777 as soon as possible.

If you are worried about the cost of hiring us for the long-term, don’t be. We work on a contingency basis with our clients, which means that you pay us nothing unless we secure a favorable recovery.

Benefits of Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer

The importance of having a seasoned personal injury lawyer at your side to oversee the claims process cannot be overstated. In fact, studies have shown that accident victims who hire lawyers to handle their personal injury cases receive more than three times the amount of money than those who attempt to handle claims on their own.

Here are just some of the significant benefits you will enjoy if you retain us as your legal counsel:

Legal Support and Guidance

Making a personal injury claim is not as simple as asking the at-fault party’s insurer to cover your expenses. Rather, it requires an in-depth understanding of the local laws, procedures, regulations, and deadlines that govern these types of cases. Without sophisticated knowledge of personal injury law or how the legal process in California works, you risk jeopardizing your ability to recover compensation on a technicality.

When you hire Mansell & Mansell APC, you can have peace of mind in knowing that veteran legal professionals are in charge of your case. You’ll never have to worry about whether you filed and submitted paperwork incorrectly or settled for a recovery amount  far below what you’re entitled to. We have earned accolades and awards for our work including AV Rating® by Martindale-Hubbell®; inclusion in the list of Super Lawyers® for three consecutive years and Southern California Top-Rated Lawyers of 2013 by Legal Leaders Magazine.

After everything you’ve endured since the accident, the last thing you need is the added stress of trying to navigate through a confusing claims process. Let us take this off your hands so you can devote your time and energy to recovering from your injuries and moving on with your life.

Investigative Capabilities 

Determining the cause of your accident and who was at fault is central to building an effective claim. At Mansell & Mansell, we have the time, money and resources to launch an independent investigation of your accident. We work with accident reconstructionists to uncover and preserve evidence and gather witness testimony that supports the theory that someone else is liable for your injuries.

Level the Playing Field Against Insurance Companies

Bringing a personal injury claim against another individual or business means there will be an insurance company on the other side representing them.  Going up against a powerful insurance company on your own is not a fair fight. They have unlimited resources at their disposal and an army of lawyers who are ready to aggressively defend against your claim. It’s important to realize that insurance companies are corporations driven by financial interests. Their goal is not to help you but to pay you as little as possible (or not at all) to protect their bottom line.

At Manell & Mansell, we understand the tactics insurance adjusters may use to delegitimize or deny your claim and can protect you from being taken advantage of. By hiring us, it sends a signal to the insurance company that you won’t be pushed around and puts them on the defensive. Insurance companies are more willing to play ball when there’s a lawyer involved.

Maximize Value of Your Claim

We will perform a careful analysis of all the personal and financial costs associated with your accident, including expenses you may incur in the future. We generally do not pursue a settlement until after you’ve completed medical treatment or the full extent of your damages is understood.

We coordinate closely with your doctors and other medical experts to accurately estimate the costs of your care. If your ability to work is in question, we can defer to vocational rehabilitation experts and economists who can speak to future lost wages and diminished earning capacity. In addition, we can pursue damages for the pain and suffering you have experienced

Litigation Experience

While it’s true that the majority of personal injury cases are settled out of court, there are times when it’s necessary to take a case to trial. If the insurance company does not meet our settlement demands, we aren’t afraid to threaten filing a lawsuit and fight for your rights in court.

Pursuing Compensation that is Rightfully Yours

If another person or company is found to be legally responsible for causing your injuries, they will have to pay compensatory damages which are the financial and personal losses you have incurred as a result of their negligence. Damages can be economic or non-economic.  Economic damages refers to money actually lost, debts actually incurred, or those debts which will be incurred in the future. Non-economic damages are the “intangibles” which can include pain and suffering.

A damage award can be agreed upon after a negotiated settlement or may be ordered by a judge or jury following a court trial. The award amount will depend on proof of liability, the severity of your injuries, length of recovery time, and losses suffered.

Medical Expenses:  Medical expenses include all of the health care costs directly related to your injuries. This includes reimbursement for the treatment you’ve already received and compensation for the estimated cost of medical care you’ll need in the future because of the accident.

• paramedics and ambulance transportation to the hospital
• emergency room treatment
• hospital fees
• costs of medical devices
• costs of rehabilitation and physical therapy

Lost Wages: Did you miss work to recover from your injury? Did the accident leave you disabled in some way, forcing you to change occupations, or leave you unable to work at all? You may be able to recover for these losses. Lost wages may include bonuses and overtime. If you are forced to leave your job because of the injury, then damages for lost wages can include job retraining and loss of earning capacity

Property Damages: covers monetary losses for harm done to your personal property; in the case of a car accident, repairs to your vehicle, or its fair market value in the event your car was totaled.

Noneconomic Damages

• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish – post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, fear, nightmares, insomnia, or other disruptions to your life.
• Disfigurement
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of consortium –  being deprived of the intimacy you would normally receive from a spouse or significant other

Personal Injury Cases We Handle

Traffic Accidents

As any local resident knows, driving in Los Angeles is a nerve-wracking experience. According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the California Department of Motor Vehicles, Los Angeles County consistently ranks as number one for having the highest number of traffic accidents and traffic fatalities in California.  The city’s highways are notoriously congested and fraught with a number of dangers, some of which include poor road conditions and construction, inattentive or distracted motorists, fatigued truck drivers, and drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs. These factors all elevate the risk of collisions resulting in catastrophic injury or death.

The personal injury lawyers at Mansell & Mansell have a proven track record of success representing victims of all types of traffic accidents including auto accidents, truck crashes, and pedestrian and bicycle collisions. You can count on us to investigate the crash that caused your injuries; review the police reports and interview eyewitnesses; and work with accident scene recreationists to determine fault and liability. We are well versed in the local traffic laws and motor vehicle insurance policies in the state and will leverage our knowledge and experience to secure the maximum level of financial compensation available.

Winning Case Result: Arthur B. v. Barren-$274,592 –  Client suffered a neck injury in a rear-end collision. Although he was ultimately able to return to work as a physical education teacher, the neck pain continued to bother him. The insurance company offered $100,000 to settle the case, but Robert Mansell secured the client nearly three times this amount in court.

Pedestrian and Bike Accidents

Over the last 10 years, pedestrian deaths have risen in Los Angeles, surpassing the rate of fatalities from other traffic accidents.

Winning Case Result:  John H. v. E.O.L.-$750,000 – Client was struck by a limo while riding his bike and sustained a compound leg fracture. Mansell & Mansell recovered the full insurance policy limits of $750,000 in just three months and negotiated the health insurance lien to maximize the recovery to the client.

Premises Liability

Under California’s premises liability laws, owners of residential and commercial property have a legal obligation to keep their premises reasonably free of hazards that could cause harm to a guest or visitor.

If you or a loved one suffered an injury due to a hazardous condition at a personal residence or business establishment, you may be able to bring a premises liability claim against the property owner.

These cases can be won if it can be proven that the property owner was negligent and failed to use reasonable care to maintain their property. This means the owner either caused the dangerous condition, knew of the dangerous condition but did nothing to remedy the situation, or should have known about the hazardous condition.

Premises liability cases can stem from a wide variety of accidents, including slip and fall accidents, dog bite accidents, swimming pool accidents and assaults resulting from inadequate security.

Injury often occurs due to slippery floors, debris in aisles, falling merchandise, broken stairs, icy sidewalks, poor lighting

Winning Case Result: Jean G. v. Vons-$65,000 – The client suffered a knee injury when she slipped and fell at a Vons grocery store. Robert Mansell was able to secure a $65,000 recovery at mediation.

Winning Case Result: Shawn Dearing v. Cabo Cantina $9.25M – The client suffered a TBI injury after being beaten by a security guard at a bar. The injury involved a left temporal fracture and an occipital skull fracture from the back of his head hitting the sidewalk. Client remained at Cedars Sinai for 3 days in and out of consciousness.

Product Liability

Product manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors have a legal duty to provide safe goods to consumers. When a product fails to perform in the manner intended and causes harm, a products liability claim can be brought forth. Products that are commonly known to have defects include automotive parts, children’s toys, industrial machinery, medical devices, fitness equipment and sporting goods, safety equipment, pharmaceuticals, etc.

The potential underlying cause of a defective product may include:

• manufacturing defect: error made during manufacturing or on the assembly line
• marketing defect:  product was labeled improperly or did not contain adequate safety warnings or instructions
• design defect: inherent flaw in design of product that makes it dangerous or unsafe
• negligent training procedures, manufacturing regulations, or safety protocols

Winning Case Result:  Our client was injured while working on a defective machine that caused him to lose 1/8th of an inch of the tip of his finger.

Wrongful Death Actions:

heirs and other beneficiaries may file a wrongful death action against those responsible for the decedent’s death.

What Should I Do After An Accident?

The moments following an accident can be terrifying and stressful. After the initial shock, it’s important to try to remain calm. Although it may be difficult to think clearly, there are certain actions you should consider taking to preserve your right to a claim.

Seek Medical Treatment

Whether your injury was the result of a traffic accident or other event, your first and most important concern should be your health. If you are immobile or unable to get to an emergency room on your own, call an ambulance to transport you there safely. If you do not require immediate care, make sure to visit your primary care physician or urgent care facility as soon as possible after the accident.

Even if you do not believe your injuries are serious, symptoms can sometimes be masked by adrenaline and not appear until days or weeks later. When you are evaluated by a medical professional, be sure to explicitly detail any pain or discomfort you are experiencing.

Report Accident to Authorities

Most often, when you call 911 to report injuries, police also will be sent to the crash scene and will fill out a report on the spot. Once the police respond, get their names and badge numbers and request a copy of the accident report. If you were injured in a store or other public place, alert the manager of your injury and ask them to fill out an injury report and give you a copy.

Gather Evidence

In a future claim, you’re likely going to have to prove that you were hurt and/or that your property was damaged, and that your injuries or damage were caused by the accident.

If you were in a traffic accident, take photos of the vehicles involved, intersection, signs, and area where the accident occurred. Exchange information with the other driver/s including names, addresses, phone numbers, insurance policy numbers, driver license numbers and license plate numbers. Obtain contact information from any relevant witnesses.

If you were hurt in a slip and fall accident, take photographs of the floor and object that caused your fall, since the site will likely be changed. If witnesses saw you fall, ask for their contact information.

If you were injured by a defective product or drug, it is important to preserve the product without repairing or altering it. Take a picture or write down as much information about the product as possible including the make, model number, manufacturer, and retailer.

In all cases, take pictures of your injuries.

Notify Your Insurance Company 

Failure to notify the insurance company in a timely manner could be grounds for denial of your claim. Preserve your claim by telling your insurance company what happened.

Document Everything

The insurance company will want proof of the damages you’ve suffered. Start a file where you can collect medical bills, medical records, auto repair bills, rental car receipts, insurance policies, written correspondence between you and insurance companies, written statements from key witnesses, photographs, or any other documents that shows what happened to you.

If you have missed time from work, request a letter from your employer that states your job title, rate of pay, how many hours you typically work per week, including overtime; how many days of work you missed, including vacation and sick days you used; and the total amount of wages you lost.

What NOT to Do After Accident

Never admit fault to the other parties involved, to medical personnel or to law enforcement officials.  Be t, do not try to analyze your own case and determine who is legally at fault.  This is for determination at a later time and admissions can be used against you later.

Do not give a recorded statement to insurance company: An insurance adjuster from the at-fault party’s insurance carrier may contact you shortly after the accident and ask you to provide a formal statement about your claim. Do not agree to this request. You are under no legal obligation

Do not sign a medical release form: An insurance company may try to obtain your medical history. If your medical records include any evidence suggesting you might have suffered from one of your current conditions or injuries prior to the accident, this can be used to deny your claim or offer you less compensation.

Injuries Sustained in a Personal Injury Case

When the body is exposed to trauma in an accident, there is a wide array of injuries that can occur.

Common Injuries in Motor Vehicle Accidents

Head and Brain Injuries: A high-impact collision can cause a person’s head to slam into the steering wheel, dashboard, windshield, or window. In some instances, an object may become loose and pierce the victim’s skull. Traumatic brain injuries can result in concussion, bruising, swelling or bleeding of the brain, skull fracture, 

Symptoms of a head injury may include headaches, dizziness,  mood swings,  loss of consciousness, blurred vision, slurred speech, extreme drowsiness and confusion

Whiplash and other Neck Injuries  When someone is rear-ended in a crash, it can cause their head and neck to jerk back and forth stretching the muscles beyond the normal range of motion. This jarring movement resembling the cracking of a whip can cause damage to cervical (neck) portion of the spine, the neck muscles, ligaments, and/or nerves. Common symptoms associated with neck injuries include stiffness of the neck, headache, dizziness, pain that spreads from the shoulder into the arms and nausea.

Back Injuries:

• Back sprain
• Torn back muscle
• Ruptured disc
• Herniated disc
• Broken back bone

Chest Injuries: 

cause the ribs and sternum to break

Severe chest injuries include broken ribs and injury to internal organs.

Facial Injuries:  making contact with the steering wheel, airbag, windshield, side window, dashboard, or broken glass. Minor facial injuries might include bruises and scrapes, while more serious injuries might include fractures, deep cuts/lacerations, dental injuries, and jaw damage.

Injuries Commonly Sustained in Fall Accidents

Head Injuries

Spinal

Hip and Pelvis

Knee Injuries

Bone Fractures

Injuries Commonly Sustained in Accidents involving the Use of Industrial Equipment

Amputation

Shoulder :

• Rotator cuff tears
• Muscle tears
• Dislocated shoulders
• Injuries requiring arthroscopy surgery

Wrist

Burns