“Edmond El Dabe, is the best Attorney I know, his Law Firm represented me in a complicated personal injury case. He was aggressive, kind, honest, understanding, and very fair with me. His staff keep me informed at all times with what was going on with my case. I would highly recommend him to anyone who needs a good lawyer. Thanks so very much! Edmond El Dabe Law and Staff.”
If you’re the victim of a personal injury – we want to help you. We work with clients all over California – get the justice, and compensation they rightfully deserve. We have over 30 years of combined experience, helping victims. Our Los Angeles car accident attorneys understand the ramifications of a personal injury, and seek to help you in every way possible. We take on fewer clients, but provide amazing and remarkable results for each and every client.
5 Star Rating on Yelp, and Recognized by Avvo, Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and other lawyer rating services
We handle everything related to your case, including getting your car repaired, getting medical help, and more. We’re here for you.
We’ve recovered ten’s of millions in combined verdicts and settlements on behalf of our clients. Put our experience to work for you.
We never charge any upfront fees, or fees of any kind – unless we win your case. We work on a contingency fee basis – which protects you.
The El Dabe Ritter Law Firm, is a premier team of Los Angeles personal injury lawyers, that has over 30 years of combined experience, helping victims get compensated for their injuries. The secret to our success lies in the fact that we believe in being 100% honest with present, and future clients. If we don’t think you have a case, we’ll let you know upfront. If we think you should settle, instead of going to trial – we’ll let you know that as well. We put the interests of our clients above ours. That’s one of the reasons why we work on a contingency fee basis: meaning we don’t charge a fee unless we win your case. We’re client centric lawyers in Los Angeles who care only about one thing: helping our clients recover, physically, and financially, from their injuries.
The El Dabe Ritter Law Firm, is a premier team of Los Angeles personal injury lawyers, that has over 30 years of combined experience, helping victims get compensated for their injuries. The secret to our success lies in the fact that we believe in being 100% honest with present, and future clients. If we don’t think you have a case, we’ll let you know upfront. If we think you should settle, instead of going to trial – we’ll let you know that as well. We put the interests of our clients above ours. That’s one of the reasons why we work on a contingency fee basis: meaning we don’t charge a fee unless we win your case. We’re client centric lawyers in Los Angeles who care only about one thing: helping our clients recover, physically, and financially, from their injuries.
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Results Matter: Over the last few years, our firm has recovered over $50 million dollars in combined verdicts and settlements. Few firms can say they’ve done that. Fewer firms can say they have over one-hundred 5 star reviews on yelp. We can – it’s because of the service and results we provide, which are unmatched by our competition.
Recognition: Our team of injury lawyers is recognized by many leading lawyer ranking services, such as Million Dollar Advocates Forum, DelanceyStreet, Avvo, and more, as a top ranking law firm
Location: Our personal attorneys can help from our 3 convenient locations, in the state of California. Regardless of where you’re injured, you can visit one of our three convenient locations. In addition, our attorneys can come to you, if necessary – or handle everything over the phone
Service: Regardless of the day, or time, one of our lawyers is available to help. Injuries happen at unexpected times, the first few hours after an injury occurs are crucial – and that’s when you’ll need our team of lawyers.
Our personal injury attorneys believe in providing each client with no-nonsense legal help. Our attorneys are available 24/7, to help you when you’re injured. We pride ourselves on doing our level best to accomodate, and help, each and every client’s legal needs.
What you can expect when you choose El Dabe Ritter Law Offices:
Founding Partner
Founding Partner
From your first call, you speak to a lawyer. We never delegate. In addition, you always have access 24/7 to your assigned attorney.
We offer a risk free initial consultation, in person, over the phone, or even at your home – or the hospital.
Our firm never charges a penny upfront. We only get paid – if, and when, we win your case. If we don’t win, we don’t get paid!
We are one of the few firms to have a 5 Star rating with Yelp – in addition to having over 150 positive reviews.
Our personal injury attorneys can come to you, regardless of where you are – in order to get you the legal help you need.
We’ve won over $20 million in verdicts and settlements for our clients. Put our experience to work with you – when it matters the most.
Our Los Angeles personal injury law firm never charges any upfront fees of any kind. We work on a contingency fee basis. That means unless we win your case, we don’t get paid. If we are unable to get you compensation – we don’t charge any fee at all. We advance all of the fees associated with your case. We do this because we want you to know we’re invested in your recovery. We don’t look at you as a client – we look at you as a partner. We’re in this with you – as long as it takes. Our one, and only goal, is to get you the most compensation possible for your injuries. That’s why you’ll never get a bill for us, until we win your case. It’s our iron-clad promise to you. It’s also why we we’ll never take on a case, unless we truly believe we can help you win.
We take on fewer clients, because we believe that each and every client deserves the best possible service. All of our clients have 24/7 access to their dedicated personal injury lawyer. We work harder than other firms – because we believe that each client should get the most amount of money possible. We don’t settle for less. We spend as much time as necessary to help build a clients case, and to negotiate the most amount of compensation possible. If we find the opposing insurance company is not negotiating in good faith – we go to court, and win, if needed. Our goal, as your personal injury lawyer – is to help you succeed in life – by getting the financial compensation you’re owed.
Personal injury claims must be filed within a certain amount of time. If you delay, then that time period may run out – and you may be unable to file a claim. If you are nearing the end of the timeframe, we encourage you to contact our law offices immediately. We can advise you on your rights, and if needed – file the injury claim based on the evidence, medical records, and other expert testimony that is available. We can advise you on how strong or weak your case is.
The El Dabe Law Firm is extremely flexible. We don’t want you to feel like it’s a burden working with our lawyers. Often, we come to our clients. Because of their injuries, they might be feeling unwell and cannot travel. Our Los Angeles personal injury lawyers come to them, at their place of work, their home, or even the hospital. Our only goal is to help you heal and recover. We also have offices all over Southern California. That way, regardless of where you’re located, we can help you. We encourage you to visit one of our offices, or
we can come to you.
We typically recommend hiring a personal injury lawyer to handle your case. ABC News once reported that the AllState Insurance Company circulated internal documents which said that an injured person with an attorney, received 3x more money than someone who didn’t use an attorney. This should tell you that it’s better to hire an attorney. When you hire an attorney, you hire someone who has a deep understanding of the law – and can help you in more ways than one. For example, the personal injury attorney might be able to find numerous responsible parties – and thus, sue all of them on your behalf in order to increase the compensation you get. Remember, most lawyers work on a contingency fee basis – that means they don’t win, unless you win. It makes total sense to arm yourself with an expert who can help you get more money.
If you’re involved in a personal injury law suit, you may be entitled to compensation for a wide array of different things. Your final settlement’s value is based on these types of damages. There are two main types of damages that are available: compensatory and punitive. These damages are paid to the plaintiff’s insurance company. Below are some of the more typical types of damages we see.
This is common to many cases. If you’re a victim, you’re entitled to compensation for all of the medical care associated with your accident. You can get compensation for expenses already paid, or future expenses. If you have a disability, or need long term treatment, then it’s important you get all of your future medical expenses covered in your personal injury settlement/verdict. Often, compensation for future medical expenses can dwarf any other compensation you may get.
Many victims often are unable to work, while getting treatment. In the event your injury is very severe – it may hinder your future work capacity. Our attorneys can help you get compensated for lost time from work. If you have a reduced work capacity, then our Los Angeles personal injury lawyers can help you get compensation for what your future estimated income potential would have been.
If any property was lost, damaged, or destroyed, as a result of your personal injury – then we can help you get compensation. Property damages are more straightforward, since it’s easier to recoup and estimate the value of the damaged property.
Most personal injury victims get compensated for the emotional, psychological, mental, pain and suffering they endured as a result of their accident. This is typically in addition to the property damages, medical expenses, lost wages, and other compensation you may receive.
This is less common form of compensation. Plaintiffs have to prove that their accident, or injury, resulted in a negative impact on their relationship with their spouse/partner. If you are unable to maintain a normal sexual relationship, or are unable to maintain a healthy emotional relationship – this could be grounds for loss of consortium damages. The damages for loss of consortium go directly to the affected spouse, or family member, rather than the plaintiff.
This form of damages is given above, and beyond, any compensatory damages. They are only given, in cases where serious injury has occurred – or where the defendant was so negligent, that the judge wants to set an example. The judge does this by adding additional financial penalties, in order to make a “point.” These are hard to quantify, and fall squarely on the judge. Judges use them as a deferent.
Many people think that their injuries are minor, and don’t need medical attention. That might be true. But you don’t know – until you get medical attention. Often, many victims inadvertently harm their future personal injury claim by delaying treatment. It’s crucial to get treatment as quickly as possible. Many injuries, if not treated quickly, can become worse and cause serious pain later on. If you delay getting treatment, it’s common for the other insurance company to deny your claim – saying you delayed treatment. What they mean to say – is that your injuries happened from something after the accident. They don’t believe you. That’s why it’s crucial you get medical attention and treatment immediately after the accident. Any lawyer will tell you this. It creates a documented track record of your injuries – and it’s something that the injury attorney you hire – will expect. Not having this lowers your chance of getting the full compensation you rightfully deserve.
We can help you determine the value of your claim
Understanding the value of your claim is an important question. During your initial consultation with one of our lawyers, we can help clarify what your personal injury claim might be worth. There’s not exact way of predicting it, but we can tell you the general things judges/insurance companies given compensation for. For example, you can get compensation for past/future medical bills, lost wages (past and future), loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering – and in some cases, if you go to trial – punitive damages. There’s no real blueprint on what a case’s value is worth. Some cases which could be worth a lot – end up being worth nothing, because the client didn’t follow the suggested medical treatment plan. As a result, the insurance company didn’t believe the client was truly hurt. Based on our experience, we may be able to estimate the value of your case once we gather you medical records, witness statements and other evidence – which will improve, or worsen, your case. Typically, the severity of your injuries, your degree of fault, your employment history and ability to work, in addition to your life expectancy, are all factors which can result in a higher than expected settlement/verdict.
Our personal injury lawyers can help you get compensation
When you’re in an accident, you’re hurt, you’re confused, and you don’t know what to do. One of the best decisions you can make is speaking to a lawyer. Our firm has the experience, resources, and ability to help victims of all accidents. Our lawyers can help you win compensation from the responsible party. We have years of experience and ten’s of millions in verdicts and settlements. We have a history of handling tough cases, and going to trial if needed. We handle all types of injury matters, regardless of how the accident happen. Above all, our lawyers have a track record of winning. We have a long history of getting compensation for our clients – which should be important to you, if you’re going to work with us. We have investigators, and evidence experts, who can help us reconstruct the scene of the accident – in order to prove you’re not at fault – whether it be to the opposing insurance company, or the judge and jury. We’re 100% committed to our clients. From the minute you call our office, you speak to one of our trial attorneys who want to meet you, and learn more about your case. Our lawyers can meet you at any hour of day, at any of our offices.
When most people become victims of car accidents, the first thing they think about is whether they need a lawyer. While it’s possible to get compensation without hiring a personal injury lawyer – it’s not a great idea. Many people mistakenly believe they can’t afford a lawyer. Most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. That means they don’t collect any money upfront. They only get paid if they are able to get compensation on behalf of the victim. In exchange for this, the lawyer takes a % of the final proceeds as payment.
Often, we find people who try to negotiate directly with an insurance company get paid less than those with representation. The thing to remember is that insurance companies make money – by making the lowest payout possible. Many victims often sustain lifelong injuries. Some victims incur serious damages, like spine problems, joint damage, and even brain damage. Some have permanent disabilities and can never work. When this happens, the victim loses his/her income and has to live on measly disability checks.
In addition, with rising medical costs – it’s crucial you ensure that not only current expenses – but future medical expenses as well be covered. It’s likely that if you work with a personal injury attorney, you’ll be able to secure a much higher final verdict/settlement.
Personal injury litigation can take months, or years, before it concludes. After you pay the medical liens and legal fees, the plaintiff ends up with a lump sum, or a structured settlement. The next big question you probably have, is “will my settlement be taxed.” The answer is yes, and sometimes – no. It all depends on what the settlement money is for.
Any settlement which is for compensation for a physical injury, or illness, is not taxed. On-going medical costs, past+future lost wages, and compensation for mental anguish – can be included in the untaxed component of your settlement – so long as it was the result of a physical condition.
It’s always good to speak to a personal injury law firm to get the answer, since each case is different. If a settlement is compensation for the effect of a mental condition – not related to a physical injury, then it will be taxed. In large mass tort cases, the time between filing and the final verdict can be years. In cases like this, it’s common for the interest that’s accrued to be awarded to the plaintiff. The base compensation may not be taxed, but the interest on this settlement can be taxed.
If you have received proceeds from a settlement that may qualify to be taxed, then it’s important you realize that the funds will be taxed as capital gains – not income.
The El Dabe Law Offices work on a contingency fee basis, this means that we do not charge any upfront fees. If we do not win your case, we do not charge anything at all. It’s that simple. By working on a contingency fee basis, we make it possible for victims of injuries to focus on recovering – instead of worrying about legal fees.
Your first step after being injured, is to get medical treatment. If you delay getting treatment – the opposing insurance company may argue that you’re really not hurt – and that this is just an attempt at trying to get “free money.” It’s in the interests of the insurance company to pay you as little as possible, and this is one way for them to do that.
If you’re the victim of a personal injury, then you may be eligible to get compensation. Unfortunately, in order to file a lawsuit to get that compensation – you must file a claim within a period of time. If you don’t, you forfeit your right to file a claim – and get that compensation. Each state has different deadlines, when it comes to filing a personal injury lawsuit. The statute of limitations is very strict, and there are no exceptions to it. Many victims often lose their opportunity to get compensation because they don’t file a lawsuit in time. The statute of limitations is applied to your case from the day you experience your injury. This time limit can range anywhere from 1-6 years, depending on your state. If you’re intending on suing the government, the statute of limitations is typically much less.
The statute of limitations can be extended in some cases. With the discovery rule, the deadline to file a personal injury claim can be extended if the injured person wasn’t aware of the injury. If it was only discovered after the statute of limitations that the defendant had a part in causing the injuries – this can be a cause for which the statute of limitations can be extended.
Another example where the statute of limitations may be extended – is where there is delayed symptoms. If you have been exposed to a chemical which didn’t create symptoms until many years, then the discovery rule would come into play. Even though the statute of limitations may have passed years ago – it can allow you to get compensation for your injuries.
In addition to the ways mentioned above, there are other ways to extend the statute of limitations. In the event the responsible party left the state after committing the injury – then the statute of limitations are temporarily frozen, while the party is outside of the state boundaries.
The statute may also be extended in the event the plaintiff was under the age of 18, mentally ill, or has a disability.
The top question we often hear is: how long will my case take. Many people wonder about this, even after they hire a reliable attorney. On average, the length of the case depends on a number of variables.
Your attorney’s workload: The more work your attorney has, the harder it is for him to expedite proceedings, and other legal tasks associated with your case. Many sole practitioners take longer to handle cases because they don’t have the necessary support staff. Less resources means the attorney is spending his time doing basic tasks, instead of focusing on your case.If you choose a bigger firm, they’re more likely to have enough resources to handle your case on a normal timeline.
Your medical treatments: Personal injury cases cannot be settled until medical treatments have concluded – or have entered into a long-term care. That means the bulk of the urgent care has been done, and now depending on your injuries – all that’s left is the long term care and maintenance, based on the disabilities you have incurred. It’s hard for a personal injury lawyer to settle a case – when a client is still incurring treatments. If your medical bills are going to continue to grow, it’s best to wait.
Fault: In some cases where liability isn’t clear, your attorney may need to conduct an investigation. When liability is clear, and evident – it’s easy to assign blame, and collect funds. In some cases, where there is partial fault on both sides, an attorney will need to conduct an investigation into the accident. That means finding witnesses, who can support the attorney’s claim that you weren’t at fault. Or, it might mean reconstructing the accident – based on forensic evidence. Typically, the longer this phase takes, the longer your case will take to settle.
When people are injured in vehicle accidents and the other party is clearly to blame, it is common for the at-fault party’s insurance company to call and offer a settlement. To some people, the settlement amount may sound like a decent amount of money as a lump sum. However, it is always the minimum amount that an insurance company could offer. Do not take any settlements from insurance companies without consulting an attorney first. There are several reasons to avoid taking an insurance company’s settlement.
Future Medical Bills
While some people have apparent injuries immediately after an accident, there are often long-term repercussions that do not fully appear until several years later. These are due to damages from the accident. Injuries that develop and worsen over time usually have painful and permanent consequences. Attorneys who specialize in car accidents work with experienced doctors who can predict what types of future problems may arise from car accident injuries. The costs of treatments, medications and specialist visits for these issues may not be covered completely by health insurance. When they have the potential to be very costly, it is important to factor in those costs for a settlement.
Loss Of Income
Most people lose income after an accident. They may take time off from work. In some cases, people who are injured so badly that they cannot continue in their line of work are left to find another job or accept disability income. A settlement should cover training for another career and replace income while the injured party develops a new career. If this is not possible, the settlement should cover a considerable enough portion of lost income that it will compensate for the fractional nature of disability payments. Disability benefits from the government are never enough to completely replace previous income. In some cases, people receive about 60 percent of their previous income. Only an experienced attorney who is familiar with the process of car accident injury claims can recover a sufficient settlement.
Never accept an insurance company’s settlement offer. Insurers may claim that it is impossible to receive a larger settlement or that the offer is their final offer. Do not let them instill fear or anxiety. Call an experienced personal injury attorney. The consultation is free, and the attorney only collects payment if a settlement or judgment is awarded from the lawsuit.
Often, many victims decide to take legal action after they are hurt. They wonder if they should hire an attorney or not. The person who injured you is most likely going to have an insurance provider. That company will also have their own lawyers, who are going to attempt to squash your case. When you realize this – you’ll understand it behooves you to hire an attorney. It’s crucial you have someone who understands the legal system, and who can help you obtain a settlement based on your injuries. Filing a claim is more than just filing forms. You have to make sure you can prove liability and in addition, damages. If there are no damages, the claim has significantly less value. Not only must you show there are damages, you have to prove those damages are from the defendant. That means you have to conduct a very extensive investigation that covers all your bases. Insurance companies know that most injured victims are ignorant, when it comes to the law. Having an attorney on your side means you won’t be bullied, or swayed to settle for a minor settlement. It increases your bargaining power, and can lead to a much larger settlement.
In some instances, it might be necessary to go to court. When that happens, you have to not only identify witnesses, but have to litigate the case in court. This may sound easy – but this isn’t small claims court, it can be difficult to know all the procedures. At the end of the day, while you can try handling your case on your own – it’s going to get messy real quick.
