Law Office of Bryman and Apelian Personal Injury Southern California

Case in Point:
Bar fight results in a verdict of $563,144

During an evening of pool playing, our client, along with one of his friends was challenged by individuals they did not know to a fight. Not wanting to be involved in such an altercation, our client attempted to exit the establishment. Once outside, he was confronted by two individuals. Unfortunately, our client was shot by one of the unknown suspects who fled the scene and was never found by the police.

On behalf of our client, we alleged that the pool hall failed to follow it's own policy regarding the method and manner in which 911 calls were to be placed by employees of the pool hall. Our office proved that this failure contributed to our client sustaining his gun shot wound.

It should be noted that the attorney on behalf of the insurance company representing the pool hall only offered $10,000 to our client, stating that the pool hall had no control over what the gun-yeilding suspect did outside of their business establishment. Since the jury returned a verdict in excess of a half million dollars for our client, it is obvious that the jury did not agree with the position being taken by the pool hall's insurance company.

Thankfully, our client has recovered wonderfully from his injuries.

Hiring the right lawyer

During our more than forty years of experience, we've seen it all in our industry- outlandish claims, waiting too long to file a claim, acceptance of low settlements, bad cases and disappointing verdicts. It's important that in your search for the right personal injury attorney a little education goes a long way. Nobody knows the circumstances of your injury, harassment, or malpractice case better than you - and it's your responsibility to thoughtfully choose the right advocate for your personal injury case.

Personal injury law, like medicine, is a specialty. Today, in medicine, the family practitioner provides referrals to specialists in cardiology, rheumatology, urology and the like. But there is no equivalent service widely used when someone needs to find a lawyer. When you are in need of legal assistance, you are on your own. Finding the "right lawyer," a specialist with substantial knowledge and experience in resolving specific legal problems, is what you want when you need a lawyer. It is the sole, most serious pitfall, for the average person. The right lawyer will formulate your case and guide you through the experience. Your understanding of the basic foundation of personal injury law will aid you in assisting your attorney to present the best case for you.

If you are seeking a personal injury attorney, then you've come to the right place. If you are performing research for a potential personal injury claim, or if you are in need of general information, then please read on:

How Insurance Companies Work

After your injury, there is no doubt that you will be contacted by an insurance agency. The 'friendly' adjuster or representative will try to convince you through the most sophisticated psychological means that he or she is your friend, and that the only mission of his company (the insurance agency) is to fairly compensate you fully for your medical needs. Don't believe it!

Regardless of which law firm you retain, you should never give an oral statement or assessment of your injury to an insurance adjuster. It's best that you not talk to them at all. Claims adjusters know that if they give you the impression that they will take care of you, you will not file a lawsuit to seek full and fair compensation as promised under California law. Believe us, you cannot beat them at their own game alone. The insurance company knows that a competent personal injury attorney will usually get a claimant (that's you) many times more than the amount that the insurance company initially offered you prior to retaining an attorney.

Don't Wait Too Long

In California, a claim for personal injury, wrongful death or work-related harassment must be filed within a certain period of time. If you fail to comply with the specific law governing the time in which your claim must be filed, you will forever be barred from presenting a claim. Thus, one of the tactics that insurance company representatives employ is to lead you to believe that your claim will be properly handled with an appropriate sum of money paid to you, all of which will evaporate once they point out to you that you have failed to comply with certain legal requirements.

In regard to injuries sustained as a result of the act or neglect of a governmental entity (for example: a city, county, CALTRANS, State of California, irrigation district, fire district, school district, etc.) a written claim must be filed with the proper governmental office or board within six months of the injury date or your claim may forever be barred.

There is a lot to know if you are trying to handle your case alone.

California is a pro-insurance, anti-victim state as evidenced by it's antiquated statutes. Once again, a competent personal injury attorney is best equipped to determine if your case falls within limitations of certain statutes.

Evidence - or proof you've been injured.

If your injury happened on the highway - take photos. A paper box type throw away camera in the glove compartment could be one of your staunchest allies in preparing your case. Also, if the police haven't been summoned, and if you can safely do so - take measurements and photographs of skid marks. Believe us, it's important and can be the hidden 'witness' to your claim.

Secure evidence immediately. If you are the owner of a defective motorcycle, moped, or other vehicle - be assured that the insurance company will do what they can to obtain control over the potentially defective item. Until you hire an attorney, do not turn over anything to an insurance company.

If you've been injured by a defective product - lock it up. Get a storage facility if you have to if it won't fit in your home. Never assume that no one will want the wreckage of a destroyed automobile. In two cases against BMW alleging the gas tanks in models 1600 and 2002 were defective, the wreckage mysteriously disappeared. In another case in which four teenagers burned to death in a 1978 Dodge Ramcharger equipped with a plastic gas tank, an investigating service believed to have been retained by the Chrysler Corporation appeared at a wrecking yard before the funerals and offered to buy what turned out to be the only evidence that could have proven the case against the car manufacturer. In the case of the BMW, investigators for the car manufacturer photographed the evidence six months before the injured plaintiff retained his own attorney.

Major manufacturers carefully read newspapers and whenever possible secure evidence to deny plaintiffs the ability to pursue claims.

Once again, the injured not represented by a competent attorney is out-gunned and out-maneuvered by the insurance company or manufacturer.

But, I feel okay...

You've heard many stories about injuries that manifest themselves hours, days or even weeks after the injury producing act occurred. Even in a rear-end collision with little or no property damage, bone alignment can be altered in one's neck or back causing pain to sometimes manifest itself days after the accident. You are not a doctor - don't try to assess or diagnose your medical condition. Seek medical help immediately, no matter how slight you believe the incident to be. Don't let the insurance adjustor diagnose your injury as merely a 'soft tissue' type injury. Seek professional medical help, and then call us so we may protect your rights!

With Bryman and Apelian, you have two experienced advocate lawyers and their team who will be as up front with you as you are with them. If your injury has the merit and requires litigation, you will not be turned away.

The Law Office of
Bryman and Apelian
Personal Injury Practice

Call the lawyers to whom
other lawyers refer their clients,
family members, and friends to.

Telephone: (818)225-5151
FAX: (818) 225-5155

e-mail: info@brymanandapelian.com

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