Mental Health Concerns After an Injury
In the world of personal injury law, it might be tempting to focus primarily or even exclusively on a person’s physical suffering, but what happens when a victim experiences the invisible toll of emotional…
Independent Contractors Injured on the Job in LA — Do They Have Rights?
In 2023, roughly 2.2 million California residents reported that they are primarily self-employed. This figure includes a combination of small business owners, freelancers, and gig workers, many of whom work long, hard hours in…
Who’s Liable in LA’s Frequent Multi-Car Pileups?
If you live in or around Los Angeles, it’s probably no surprise that our city recently ranked 2nd for having the worst traffic in the nation. Since traffic density is one of the most…
What Is a CCP 998 Offer in California, and How Can It Impact Your Case?
A CCP § 998 offer is a written settlement offer that can be used by either the plaintiff or the defendant in a civil case. The primary goal of a 998 offer is to…
Wildfire Evacuation Injuries: Can You Sue for Poor Emergency Planning?
In 2023, there were over 7,000 wildfires reported in the state of California, and this number is still growing in 2024. As experts continue to suggest that the frequency of these disasters will only…
Proving Future Medical Costs in California Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Cases
Brain and spinal cord injuries are among the most serious, life-altering traumas a person can suffer. In California, victims of catastrophic injuries may be entitled to compensation for both immediate medical expenses and the…
Burn Victims and Emotional Trauma
Burn injuries are like no other. These injuries are among the most painful and traumatic experiences a person can endure. Beyond the physical damage, burn victims often suffer from long-lasting emotional harm. These victims…
How California Juries View Brain Injury Claims Without Visible Head Trauma
Unlike a broken bone, a surgical scar, or other visible wound, a concussion or traumatic brain injury can be invisible to the naked eye. Still, the pain is real for victims and can be…
How Prosthetic Costs Impact Settlement Value in Amputation Cases
Losing a limb or requiring prosthetic assistance after an accident is life-changing in every way possible. The physical, emotional, and financial toll is overwhelming, especially the financial burden of prosthetic devices, as they can…
Who’s Liable When a FedEx or Amazon Van Hits You?
Delivery trucks and vans are an unavoidable sight on LA roads. They zip down neighborhood streets, double park in busy commercial areas, and block lanes of traffic during deliveries. In addition to making life…
How Jury Demographics in LA Affect High-Value Personal Injury Verdicts
Los Angeles County is known for a lot of things, including its diversity, booming economy, and dense traffic. When a personal injury goes to trial in Los Angeles, the jury pool—and those who are…
What to Expect at Your Deposition in a Personal Injury Case
If you’re pursuing a personal injury claim, you may find that the deposition is one of the most stressful parts of your case, especially if you’ve never been through one before. Being under oath…
Power Line Fires and Utility Negligence in LA
In California, power line fires caused by utility negligence are a common concern, having led to several lawsuits in recent years. These fires threaten densely populated neighborhoods, but utility fires have also played a…
Discovery Is the Most Important Part of Your Lawsuit
Soon after you file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit, you will enter the pretrial discovery phase (“discovery” for short). For many plaintiffs, this is the most important part of your case–and it…
What Will Insurance Cover After a Fire?
California is a hot and dry state, especially near LA. Devastating fires break out frequently, destroying untold billions of dollars worth of real estate and personal property. Fire insurance is a must in many…
Hit and Run Accidents in Los Angeles
A hit and run in Los Angeles, as in most jurisdictions, involves a driver being involved in an accident with another vehicle, a pedestrian, or a fixed object, and then leaving the scene without…
The Future of Paralysis Treatment
Have you or a loved one suffered an injury to the spinal cord that led to paralysis? You may be wondering what the future holds for you. While many people live full lives with…
The Growing Issues of Jury Internet Access
Today, access to the internet is so widespread that expecting jurors to completely avoid looking up information about a case, the attorneys involved, or even the people giving testimony seems almost impossible. I was…
The Importance of Early Diagnosis in Traumatic Brain Injury Cases
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) happen when the brain experiences a jolt, blow, or impact strong enough to cause damage. A TBI can result from things like car accidents, falls, sports injuries, or any incident…
The Role of Expert Witnesses in Personal Injury Cases
An expert witness is someone with specialized skill, knowledge, experience, training, or education. These qualifications enable the expert to assist the court in understanding the evidence or determining facts at issue in a legal…
How Do Brain and Spinal Cord Bleeds Cause Paralysis?
The brain and spinal cord play a significant role in transmitting messages and controlling movement throughout the body. Therefore, if there is a bleed or injury in either of these parts of the body, there may be a disturbance in the messages…
Wildfire Community Preparedness Day: Protecting Yourself and Your Home
Saturday, May 6, 2023 is Wildfire Community Preparedness Day. This annual campaign – held in the US and in Canada – is sponsored here by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The goal of the campaign is to “encourage people and organizations…
The Role of Vocational Experts in Traumatic Amputation Cases
The physical and emotional toll of a traumatic amputation can be immense. In addition to the challenges of adapting to a new way of lifethere are often significant financial costs associated with medical treatment, rehabilitation, and ongoing care. For amputees who are…
Can Magic Mushrooms Help Treat Migraines Caused by Traumatic Brain Injuries?
Migraines are a debilitating neurological condition that affects millions of people and are a common side effect of traumatic brain injuries (“TBI”). While there is no cure for migraines, researchers at Yale School of Medicine are studying the potential benefits of using…
Is Emotional Distress a Personal Injury in California?
When you file a personal injury lawsuit in California, you may also seek compensation for emotional distress. However, not all cases involving emotional distress involve a physical injury. Today, we want to look more closely at what “emotional distress” entails, who can…
Are Personal Injury Settlements Taxable in California?
Living with a serious personal injury can be challenging for victims and their families. When an award is granted by a jury or a settlement is reached between the parties, the award is typically granted in a lump sum payment or by…
McNicholas & McNicholas Hosts Firm Culture Event at NeueHouse Hollywood
McNicholas & McNicholas gathered for a firm-wide event at NeueHouse Hollywood for a thought-provoking day where attorneys discussed new developments in direct and mass actions law, how to foster a thriving and supportive community in the workplace, long-term goals and shared personal…
Compensation for Organ Damage Caused by Accident or Negligence
Catastrophic injuries often cause long-term pain and require continuing medical care. They can change your ability to function, work, and enjoy life. Organ damage is often considered a catastrophic injury, and if you suffered this injury because of someone else’s negligence, you…
Truck Back-up Accidents in Los Angeles
Trucks regularly need to back in and out of loading docks, parking lots, and other locations. The longer the truck, the more dangerous a reverse maneuver can be. Backing-up accidents are especially dangerous for trucks, often because of operational errors, blind spots,…
What Parents Should Know About Pediatric and Childhood Brain Trauma
It is hard enough when adults suffer a traumatic brain injury. Life can be even more difficult and more upsetting when a toddler or a child suffers a traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBIs are often life changing. Treating a youngster for a…
Fatal Traffic Accidents Are Rising in Los Angeles
There are numerous highways and roads all across Los Angeles. The city has a national reputation for congestion; being stuck in traffic makes the commute to work unbearable. But now the city’s traffic may have a new reputation for being deadly. Despite…
Jay Leno Suffers Severe Burns in Garage Fire Accident
Hollywood was buzzing the week before the Thanksgiving holiday when famed talk show host and car collector Jay Leno was seriously hurt by a gasoline fire in his Burbank garage. According to reports, authorities responded to an emergency call to Leno’s address…
The Severity of a Complete Spinal Cord Injury
An injury to the spine or spinal cord is often considered catastrophic, as it can affect every system of the body, including mobility. Depending on the location of the injury on the spinal cord, this type of injury can even cause full…
The Severity of Limb Loss After a Tragic Accident
Limb loss is a catastrophic injury that causes complications that may be just as serious as traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries. Limb loss is a tricky injury because it is like a double edged sword. If a severely injured limb…
What Is Spastic Hypertonia?
Spastic hypertonia is when a body part has too much muscle tone, making it difficult to move. Spastic hypertonia affects the muscles and may occur as a result of a stroke, brain injury, multiple sclerosis, congenital disability, or spinal cord injury. Other…
Los Angeles Helicopter Tours Can Be Deadly
Los Angeles is full of glitz and glam, and there are services and activities here that you cannot find anywhere else. One of these experiences is air tours. While you can find them in some areas of the country, they seem to…
Teslas and Motorcycles Make for a Bad Combination
Growing up, cartoons and television shows depicted flying cars in the future. While we have not yet reached that level of innovation, we see more and more advances made toward autonomous vehicles. Tesla is leading the charge, but being first comes with…
Screenwriter Dustin Lance Is Taking a Break from Hollywood Due to a Brain Injury
Writer Dustin Lance, known for the television series “Under the Banner of Heaven,” suffered a brain injury in August, and now his entire career hangs in the balance. His doctors have not seen much improvement in his condition, and he must step…
When Brain Bleeds Are Caused by Car Accidents
One of the most misunderstood injuries that may result from a car accident is getting hit on the head. Although you may feel fine at the time, it can be impossible to know just how much damage your brain has actually endured….
What Are Full Thickness Burns?
There is no more painful feeling than a burn injury. Even getting burned at the fingertips can be unbearable. If the pain of being burned at your fingertips is excruciating, what would it feel like if your entire body suffered serious burns?…