Finding a Personal Injury Lawyer in California

Accidents and injuries are an unfortunate part of life, and when they happen due to someone else's negligence, it can be especially challenging to navigate the legal and healthcare systems to seek compensation and justice. Desiree T. Washington, Esq., explains how you can obtain legal help to initiate and resolve your personal injury claim. 

In Los Angeles County, one of the most populous and diverse counties in the United States, the personal injury process is complex but essential for those who have suffered harm to receive some measure of relief. With this article, Desiree aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the personal injury process in Los Angeles County, from the initial incident to the resolution of a personal injury claim, and how you can utilize Washington Law Firm to find just compensation for your injuries. 

1. Seek Medical Attention 

The first and most crucial step following a personal injury in Los Angeles County, as anywhere else, is to seek immediate medical attention. Your health should always be the top priority. Not only does prompt medical care ensure that you receive the necessary treatment, but it also creates a crucial medical record that can serve as evidence later in your personal injury claim. 

Hospitals may ask you for medical insurance. You should inform them that you were in an accident so that they may ensure all paperwork pertinent to your claim is filled out and that you receive the urgent medical care you need to prevent further harm. Do not worry if you do not have medical insurance. A hospital cannot legally turn you away for not having insurance. Simply inform them that you were in an accident and to forward your invoice to your attorney, Desiree T. Washington at Washington Law Firm. Make sure you receive copies of all documents you sign, and that the hospital gives you, and forward those documents to Washington Law Firm, including any detailed records of all medical bills, prescriptions, and treatment plans. 

2. Gather Evidence 

After seeking medical attention, it's essential to gather as much evidence as possible related to your injury and the incident that caused it. This may include:

a. Photographs: Take pictures of the accident scene, your injuries, and any property damage. These visual records can provide valuable proof later on. 

b. Witness Statements: If there were any witnesses to the accident, collect their contact information and statements. Witness testimonies can corroborate your version of events. 

c. Police Report: If the injury resulted from a car accident, slip and fall, or any other incident where law enforcement responded, obtain a copy of the police report. This report often contains valuable information about the accident's circumstances and the parties involved. 

d. Documentation: Keep records of all relevant documents, such as medical bills, receipts, and correspondence related to your injury. 

3. Consult an Attorney 

Hiring a personal injury attorney is critical to you obtaining the restitution you need to be made whole after your accident. Washington Law Firm will help you understand your rights, evaluate the strength of your case, and guide you through the complex legal process. Desiree T. Washington offers free initial consultations to assess your situation and provide initial guidance. 

Many Los Angeles County law firms now charge a contingency fee of upwards of 50% of your claim. DO NOT agree to those terms. They are exorbitant, unethical and will prevent you from being made whole by any injury award you may receive. Instead, demand the attorneys receive not more than 33% which should include all legal fees and costs. 33% has been the standard for contingency fees for over 100 years. At Washington Law Firm, Desiree will never charge more than 33% on contingency fee cases. 

4. Statute of Limitations 

It's essential to be aware of the statute of limitations for personal injury cases in California. In general, you have two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you miss this deadline, you may lose your right to pursue a claim. However, some exceptions and nuances may apply, so contact Washington Law Firm to understand how the statute of limitations applies to your specific case. 

5. Negotiation with the Insurance Company

In many personal injury cases, the injured party will need to negotiate with the insurance company of the at-fault party. It's essential to have your attorney handle these negotiations to ensure that you receive a fair settlement. Insurance companies absolutely will try to minimize payouts, so it is crucial that you contact Washington Law Firm to deal with your insurers. 

6. Filing a Lawsuit

If negotiations with the insurance company do not result in a fair settlement, Washington Law Firm recommends filing a lawsuit. This formal legal action initiates the litigation process. Desiree will prepare the necessary documents, including a complaint that outlines the details of your case, and file them with the appropriate court in Los Angeles County. 

7. Discovery Process

Once a lawsuit is filed, both parties engage in the discovery process. This involves gathering evidence, questioning witnesses, and exchanging information. Discovery can be a time-consuming and is a detailed process, often lasting over a year based on the nature and extent of your injuries. However, it is crucial for building a strong case. 

8. Mediation and Settlement Discussions 

Before proceeding to trial, many personal injury cases in Los Angeles County go through mediation or settlement discussions. These processes aim to resolve the case without the need for a court trial. A neutral mediator facilitates discussions between the parties to reach a mutually agreeable settlement. Washington Law Firm will advocate for your interests during these negotiations. 

9. Trial

If mediation and settlement discussions do not lead to a satisfactory resolution, the case will proceed to trial. Washington Law Firm will present your evidence, question witnesses, and make and defend legal arguments before a judge and jury. The trial process can be lengthy, but Desiree and Washington Law Firm effectively represent your interests in court. 

10. Verdict and Compensation

After the trial, the judge or jury will render a verdict. If the verdict is in your favor, the at-fault party will be ordered to compensate you for your injuries and losses. The compensation can include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. 

Conclusion

While the personal injury process can be challenging, it's crucial to remember that it exists to protect your rights. With Washington Law Firm at your side, you will have the right legal representation and a thorough understanding of the process. You will be able to seek the compensation and justice you deserve in Los Angeles County. 

 

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The information contained on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this website is intended as legal advice. Transmission of the information is not intended to create, and receipt does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. No attorney-client relationship will be established with our firm or any of our attorneys unless by a written, fully executed engagement letter provided by our firm.

Internet users and online readers should not act upon this information without seeking professional counsel.

Attorney Desiree T. Washington Announces Run for Los Angeles County Supervisor for the 4th District

Attorney Desiree T. Washington Announces Run for Los Angeles County Supervisor for the 4^th District

Los Angeles, CA, Release: January 9, 2020. For Immediate Release


Attorney Desiree T. Washington is pleased to announce her candidacy for Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for the 4^th District.  This will be Desiree T. Washington’s first bid for public office. Primary Elections will be held March 3, 2020.

Desiree T. Washington is a licensed California attorney. She is a former prosecutor with the State Bar of California, and a former public relations intern for the City of Chicago under the late Mayor Harold Washington. She currently practices business law in the private sector, representing individuals in business and real estate transactions, and consulting with mid-to-large-sized businesses in meeting their large eDiscovery Project Management needs. She regularly manages teams of 30 or more workers to meet high-stakes litigation goals.


Desiree T. Washington obtained a Juris Doctorate from the University of Iowa, College of Law, where she specialized in jurisprudence and civil rights, and where she was appointed research assistant to Professor Kenneth Kress.

Desiree T. Washington received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Chicago, where she majored in Medieval and Early Modern History, with a minor in the ancient world. She also became an Andrew W. Mellon Undergraduate Fellow while studying at the University of Chicago.


Most recently, Desiree T. Washington has worked as a contract attorney for large law firms, providing substantive legal analysis, managing teams of 25-30+ attorneys in matters of productivity, workflow, quality control issues, and managing general human resources.


“I believe my professional experience makes me uniquely qualified to represent Los Angeles County residents because represents new leadership ready to meet the complex challenges Los Angeles County residents now face by harnessing technology, youthful vigor, creative force and moderate values,” Desiree T. Washington said.  


“Homelessness, Rideshare Safety and Wages, Traffic and Over-Crowding, Taxes, and Pollution Abatement are my immediate concerns,” Desiree T. Washington added. 


“I look forward to serving Los Angeles County,” she concluded.

The 4^th District consists of 458 square miles of land and is home to over 1.9 million residents in the following locales:

Artesia La Habra Heights Rancho Palos Verdes Avalon La Mirada Redondo Beach Bellflower Lakewood Rolling Hills Cerritos Lomita Rowland Heights Diamond Bar Long Beach San Pedro Downey Manhattan Beach Santa Fe Springs El Segundo Marina Del Rey Signal Hill East Whittier Norwalk South Whittier Hacienda Heights Palos Verdes Estates Torrance Harbor City Paramount Westchester Hawaiian Gardens Playa Del Rey West Whittier-Los Nietos Hermosa Beach Rancho Palos Verdes Whittier Redondo Beach Wilmington Rolling Hills

Learn more about Candidate Desiree T. Washington, volunteer, and donate to her campaign by visiting her official campaign website at: Washington for Supervisor 2020,  Twitter: @LASupervisor, Facebook: Desiree4LA, and Instagram: Desiree4LA.

Washington Law Firm is a Los Angeles-based law practice providing legal representation to a diversified client base that includes corporations, small local businesses, individuals, e-commerce brands, hospitals, charities and financial institutions.  Founded in 2001, Washington Law Firm is headquartered in Los Angeles, representing Californians throughout the Southland.


Contact info:
Name: Desiree T. Washington
Organization: Washington Law Firm c/o Washington for Supervisor 2020
Address: 8033 W Sunset Blvd., # 581, Los Angeles, CA 90046
Phone: +1-877-276-4835

Website: https://desireewashington.org

Email: info@desireewashington.com

Equifax Sued for Leaking Consumer Information to Lexis/Nexis

Equifax Information Services claims LexisNexis slipped up in selling its reports on a civil judgment, prompting a consumer to file a Fair Credit Reporting Act claim against it. Equifax says it was sued by a consumer who claims the credit agency failed "to adopt reasonable procedures to ensure maximum possible accuracy in its reporting of the status of judgments that have been set aside, vacated or dismissed with prejudice." Equifax sued LexisNexis, a "public records vendor," in Federal Court. It says LexisNexis has not responded to its demand for indemnification.

According to the complaint, the two companies have a 2008 agreement that requires "LexisNexis to provide Equifax with the 'status' of judgments." more

ABC Faces Revived Defamation Suit by Rev. Fred Price

Last Tuesday, the United States Court of Appeals overturned a federal judge's controversial ruling that ended Rev. Frederick K. C. Price’s defamation lawsuit against ABC "20/20" and correspondent John Stossel. According to the Court, Judge R. Gary Klausner had erroneously ruled in the matter.

In the lower court's decision, Judge Klausner found that even though Stossel's broadcast took Price’s words out of context, the prominent national television evangelist could not establish that the broadcast was false or misleading, as Price had made similar statements elsewhere.

But a three-member panel at the Federal Ninth Circuit Appeals Court determined that Judge Klausner had overreached. The Court found that Klausner erred both by comparing the statements in the clip with Price's actual wealth and possessions, and by agreeing with the network that the clip was "substantially true" based on that comparison.

"Under controlling Supreme Court precedent on when journalists' misquotations of statements made by public figures are false for purposes of establishing actual malice, there is a substantial likelihood that Price can establish that the publication of the clip was false," Judge Mary Schroeder wrote.

Price’s litigation stems from a heavily edited March 2007 broadcasted clip, wherein he states:

"I live in a 25-room mansion. I have my own $6 million yacht. I have my own private jet and I have my own helicopter and I have seven luxury automobiles."

The clip was edited to conceal that Price was speaking hypothetically about a wealthy person who was spiritually unsatisfied.

It is reported that ABC later apologized. However, the Ninth Circuit has ordered the case reopened.

Paul Weiss and Lowenstein Ordered to Pay $1.96 Million for Filing Frivolous Suit

Bergen County, N.J., Superior Court Judge Ellen Koblitz doesn't seem too worried about sparing the reputations of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison and Lowenstein Sandler. In June, you'll recall, she found that the two firms had filed a frivolous suit on behalf of billionaire Ronald Perelman in a family dispute over hundreds of millions of dollars. On Friday she issued a final opinion (pdf), rejecting the firms' arguments for mercy and ordering them to pay $1.96 million in legal fees to the defendants, Perelman's former father-in-law and brother-in-law.

"Paul Weiss and Lowenstein Sandler argue that since they are both such important, well-regarded law firms, the mere finding that they engaged in frivolous litigation is deterrence enough," Koblitz wrote. "They argue that this court's finding of frivolous litigation has been widely publicized and besmirches their reputation, which will cost them untold, unspecified damages. A monetary sanction, however, is clearly appropriate here." more

EFF Urges Supreme Court to Block NASA's Invasive Background Checks

Washington, D.C. - Earlier this month, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) urged the United States Supreme Court to uphold an appeals court decision that blocks invasive and unnecessary background checks at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), arguing that the over-collection of personal data puts employees' privacy at risk.

The case was originally filed by federal contract employees working at CalTech's Jet Propulsion Lab, which houses NASA's robotic spacecraft laboratory. The workers were low-risk, by NASA's own admission, and did not work on classified projects. Yet the government instituted sweeping background checks, including a requirement to list three references who were then questioned about the employees' general behavior. NASA said it needed the information to assess "suitability" for government employment, and would check factors like "carnal knowledge," "homosexuality," "cohabitation," and "illegitimate children." more

Beyond the Loan Modification: Options for Distressed Homeowners

Talk radio airwaves are inundated with ads peddling loan modifications as a panacea for mortgage woes. While loan modifications may be appropriate for some, loan modifications are in fact merely one of many ways a distressed homeowner may find relief. Moreover, loan modifications may be one of the more difficult and least successful tools a borrower can use to obtain relief.

Generally, loan modifications are appropriate when a borrower has faced long-term changes in income. If the borrower can make payments on an existing loan, but finds himself behind in payments and doesn’t have enough money to bring the account current, a loan modification is a good option. In some instances, a loan modification might also be appropriate when a borrower can't afford the current payment, but has a steady source of income that insures an adjustment to the loan will not be in vein. In such instances, a lender may agree to change the terms of the original loan to make the payments more affordable. In such instances, a loan could be permanently changed in one or more of the following ways: (A) adding the missed payments to the existing loan balance; (b) changing the interest rate, including making an adjustable rate into a fixed rate; or (c) extending the number of years you have to repay.

Lenders will often tack on fees associated with servicing the loan modification in a loan modification. Lenders may also demand an up front payment of between 5 and 50% of the arrears. With loan modification agencies charging fees up to $3,000 before it is clear what kind of deal a lender may demand, a borrower may pay $3,000 for a loan modification and not have enough cash left over to meet the lender’s demand.

Lenders are often reluctant to agree to loan modifications because such deals often mean lenders must agree to permanently reduced payments, basically resulting in a drop in revenues for the lender.

Rather than leaping blindly into a $3,000 loan modification negotiation that may not be successful, a borrow might want to explore other options, such as a partial claim.

If a mortgage is insured, a lender might help a borrower get a one-time interest-free loan from the mortgage guarantor to bring the account current. A borrower may be allowed to wait several years before repaying this loan. To qualify for a partial claim loan, a borrower’s loan must be between 4 and 12 months delinquent, and the borrower must be able to begin making full mortgage payments again. If the borrower qualifies, HUD will pay the borrower’s lender the amount necessary to bring the mortgage current. The borrower must sign a promissory note, and a lien will be placed on the borrower’s property until the promissory note is paid in full.

Another option to a loan modification is reinstatement. Lenders are always willing to discuss accepting the total amount owed in a lump sum by a specific date. Borrowers should explore this option before considering a loan modification because negotiations are usually straightforward and lenders typically require nothing more than the missed payments and late fees.

Forbearance is another possibility. With forbearance, the lender may allow a reduction or suspension of payments for a short period of time and then agree to another option to bring the loan current. A forbearance option is often combined with a reinstatement when the borrower knows she will have enough money to bring the account current at a specific time. Again, these negotiations are pretty straightforward and typically easy to settle because the lender is merely postponing payments rather than losing payments altogether.

A borrower will also want to consider obtaining a repayment plan. With a repayment plan, a lender may agree to allow the borrower to resume making regular monthly payments, plus a portion of the past due payments each month until the borrower is caught up.

Often, especially when a borrower is severely behind in payments, lenders may be hostile to the idea of a loan modification, particularly because the modification means the lender must reduce the interest rate or write off a portion of the principle. In such instances, a loan modification agency will not be able to adequately represent a borrower, and the borrower will need to confer with a litigation attorney familiar with foreclosure defense, unlawful detainer, and landlord tenant law.

Welcome

Welcome to Desiree Washington's legal blog, a source for people interested in current affairs from a political and legal point of view.

Desiree is a California attorney working at Washington Law Firm located in Century City at 1800 Century Park East, Suite 600, Los Angeles, CA 90067. Her email is dwash@dtwlaw.com