Personal Injury

From small cases to the most severe catastrophic injuries, the trial lawyers at The Cochran Firm Los Angeles have successfully represented injured plaintiffs in an array of personal injury lawsuits, including matters involving:

• Medical malpractice
• Products liability
• Premises liability
• Automobile, truck, and motorcycle accidents
• Train collisions
• Plane crashes
• Construction site injuries
• Veterinary malpractice
• Dental malpractice
• Elder abuse

At the core of any personal injury case is the fact that a person or company owed a duty of care to another individual, and that by acting negligently or recklessly, that duty was breached.  When this breach of duty causes property damage or personal injury, the law recognizes the right of the injured person to seek compensation for his or her injuries.  This compensation, known as damages, is classified as economic and non-economic.  Economic damages include items such as property damage, present and future medical expenses, and lost wages from missed work due to the injury or a long-term disability.  Noneconomic damages reflect other aspects of the injury, such as pain and suffering and emotional distress.

The job of the plaintiff's lawyer is to show that there was a duty which was breached, and that this breach was the factual and legal cause of plaintiff's injuries.  The facts of the injury and the nature and severity of the damages must be proven.  In addition, the lawyer must be aware of certain defenses which could limit or cut off the defendant's liability altogether.  For instance, if an injured plaintiff does not file a lawsuit within the applicable statute of limitations period, he or she will be prohibited from ever filing suit and obtaining a judgment or verdict of compensation.  In most cases, the statute of limitations in a personal injury matter in California is two years from the date of injury, but this timeframe can be longer or shorter depending upon the specific type of case and the parties involved.  An experienced and conscientious trial attorney will know which period is applicable and ensure that important deadlines are not missed.  It is important to contact an attorney as soon as possible after an injury to make sure that the proper deadlines are established and followed accordingly.

Another question is whether the plaintiff somehow contributed to the accident or made the injuries worse by his or her own negligence.  In California, the rule of pure comparative negligence operates to hold a defendant liable for only that portion of the injury to which the defendant's conduct contributed.  For instance, if the plaintiff was 40, 50, or 60% responsible for the accident, the plaintiff could still recover the difference from the defendant.  Allocating fault is an important key component of the personal injury case which must be handled carefully from the insurance claims adjuster all the way to the courtroom.

The attorneys at The Cochran Firm Los Angeles are experienced trial lawyers who have tried all types of personal injury cases throughout California and have an outstanding record of attaining successful verdicts and settlements on behalf of our clients.  We represent personal injury clients on a contingency fee basis, meaning that you do not pay a legal fee unless and until we recover for you.  If you have been injured due to the negligence or wrongful acts of another, contact The Cochran Firm Los Angeles for a free consultation.