Los Angeles Personal Injury Lawyer

By Michael Shemtoub, trial attorney, Beverly Law. Updated November 2026.

Who represents you at Beverly Law

Beverly Law is a Los Angeles personal injury firm led by trial attorney Michael Shemtoub, California State Bar No. 253948, admitted in December 2007. He founded the firm in 2008, has tried cases to verdict, and speaks English and Spanish. Our office is at 4929 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 960.

Michael Shemtoub earned his B.A. at UCLA in 2004 and his J.D. at UC Hastings in 2007. He was admitted to the California bar in December 2007 (State Bar No. 253948, which you can look up on the State Bar of California attorney search) and is also licensed in Washington. He started Beverly Law in 2008 and has been named a Super Lawyers Rising Star since 2015.

He is a trial lawyer. He has taken injury cases in front of juries and argued them to verdict, and he prepares cases on the assumption that one may have to be tried. Insurance companies keep track of which firms are willing to go to court, and that history follows a claim into every negotiation.

You can talk to us in English or Spanish. Michael speaks both, and so do many of our staff. If you prefer to meet in person, our office is on Wilshire Boulevard in the Mid-Wilshire area, near Hancock Park and the Miracle Mile:

Beverly Law
4929 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 960
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Main line: (310) 552-6959, answered 24/7

The first consultation is free. We work on contingency, so you pay no attorney fee unless we recover money for you. If you can’t come to us because of your injuries, we can talk by phone or video, or meet you where you are. You can read more about the firm on our About page.

Injury cases we handle in Los Angeles

We represent people hurt in car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian and rideshare crashes across Los Angeles, plus store slip and falls, dog bites, burns, brain injuries, nursing home neglect, medical malpractice and wrongful death. Each type of case has its own page with the rules and evidence that matter for it.

Most of our Los Angeles cases start on the road. Others start in a store aisle, a care facility or a hospital. These pages go deeper on each type:

• Los Angeles car accident lawyer: rear-end, broadside and freeway crashes, hit-and-runs and DUI crashes.
• Los Angeles truck accident lawyer: big rigs, delivery vans and work trucks, where the trucking company and its insurer are often in the case. See also our California truck accident page.
• Los Angeles motorcycle accident lawyer: left-turn crashes, lane changes and riders blamed for lane splitting.
• Los Angeles pedestrian accident lawyer: people hit in crosswalks, parking lots and by drivers who flee.
• Uber and Lyft accident claims: passengers, other drivers and pedestrians hurt by rideshare vehicles.
• Store slip and fall cases in Los Angeles: falls at big-box and grocery stores.
• Dog bites under California law.
• Los Angeles burn injury lawyer: scalds from hot drinks, fires, explosions and chemical burns.
• Traumatic brain injury claims in California, including concussions that are missed in the ER.
• Los Angeles nursing home abuse lawyer, with inspection data on Los Angeles County facilities.
• Los Angeles medical malpractice lawyer.
• Wrongful death claims in California when a crash or neglect takes a family member.

For a list of the Los Angeles neighborhoods and nearby cities we cover, see our Los Angeles city page.

How often people are hurt on Los Angeles streets

City data shows about one traffic death per day in Los Angeles. A 2025 City of Los Angeles Vision Zero review reported 336 people killed in 2023. LADOT’s safety study counted 1,658 crashes that killed or seriously injured someone in 2021, and pedestrians were involved in 38% of those crashes from 2017 to 2021.

These numbers come from the City of Los Angeles itself. They cover the city, which is smaller than Los Angeles County.

Two of these numbers shape how we work cases. First, a large share of serious crashes happen at signalized intersections, which is where traffic cameras, business cameras and signal timing records exist. Second, roughly one in five serious crashes is a hit-and-run, which means your own uninsured motorist coverage may end up being the main source of payment.

If you want to know where these crashes cluster, we break it down in the most dangerous intersections in Los Angeles and the most dangerous freeways in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles roads and trauma centers in injury cases

Many of our cases come from the I-405, I-10, I-5, I-110 and US-101 freeways and from surface streets such as Wilshire, Sunset, Western and Vermont. Seriously hurt people are usually taken to a designated trauma center such as Los Angeles General Medical Center, Cedars-Sinai or Ronald Reagan UCLA.

Where a crash happens decides which agency writes the report and who may share the blame. On the freeways (the 405, 10, 5, 110 and 101), the California Highway Patrol usually investigates. On city streets like Wilshire Boulevard, Sunset Boulevard, Western Avenue and Vermont Avenue, the LAPD usually does. Road design can matter too. When a public agency’s road, signal or bus is part of the cause, the short government claim deadline described below applies.

After a serious crash, paramedics in Los Angeles County take patients to designated trauma centers. The California Emergency Medical Services Authority’s list of designated trauma centers (Aug. 22, 2025) includes these in Los Angeles County, among others:

• Los Angeles General Medical Center (formerly LAC+USC), Level I
• Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Level I
• Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, Level I
• Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Level I
• Dignity Health California Hospital Medical Center (downtown), Level II
• Providence Holy Cross Medical Center and Dignity Health Northridge Hospital Medical Center in the San Fernando Valley, Level II
• Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, pediatric trauma center

Trauma center records matter in a claim. They show how you arrived, what the paramedics saw, your first CT scans and the doctors’ first notes on how the injury happened. We request these early, along with the ambulance run report.

Where Los Angeles injury lawsuits are filed

Injury lawsuits from crashes in Los Angeles County are filed in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. The court’s location form lets a personal injury case be filed at the courthouse for the district where the injury happened. The main civil courthouse is the Stanley Mosk Courthouse at 111 N. Hill St.

Most injury claims settle without a lawsuit. When one is needed, it goes to the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, which has courthouses across the county. The Stanley Mosk Courthouse at 111 N. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90012 in the Civic Center is its main civil courthouse.

Every new civil case in this court is filed with a Civil Case Cover Sheet Addendum and Statement of Location (LACIV 109), which the form says is required by Local Rule 2.3. For motor vehicle injury cases, uninsured motorist cases and premises cases like slip and falls, the form lists the location where the bodily injury, death or damage happened as a reason for choosing the courthouse. A crash in the San Fernando Valley and a crash in Long Beach can end up in different courthouses for that reason.

Some cases go to arbitration instead of court because of a contract, as with many Kaiser patients.

Deadlines for a Los Angeles injury claim

In California you generally have two years from the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. If a public agency such as the City or County of Los Angeles, Metro or LAUSD is involved, you usually must file a written claim within six months under Government Code § 911.2.

Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1 sets a two-year limit for an action for injury to, or the death of, a person caused by someone else’s wrongful act or neglect. Miss it and the court can dismiss the case no matter how strong it is. Some cases have different rules, including medical malpractice and claims for minors, so get the date checked early.

Claims against public entities run on a much shorter clock. Under Government Code § 911.2, a claim for death or injury to a person must be presented no later than six months after the cause of action accrues. In Los Angeles this covers crashes with city vehicles, LAPD patrol cars, Metro buses and trains, LAUSD buses, county vehicles, and injuries caused by dangerous public streets or sidewalks. If the agency sends a written rejection, Government Code § 945.6 generally gives you six months from the date the notice was delivered or mailed to file suit.

Example only: if a Metro bus hits your car on March 1, the six-month claim period ends in early September, well before the two-year lawsuit deadline. For a side-by-side look at the deadlines in each state we cover, see personal injury statutes of limitations in California, Texas and Washington.

California fault and damages rules that decide LA cases

California uses pure comparative fault, so you can recover even if you were partly to blame, minus your share. Under Proposition 51, each defendant pays only its share of pain and suffering damages. Uninsured drivers generally cannot recover pain and suffering, and dog owners are strictly liable for bites.

Comparative fault. In Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804, the California Supreme Court adopted “pure” comparative negligence. Your own share of fault reduces your damages but does not bar recovery. Example only: if a jury finds your losses are $100,000 and you were 20% at fault, you would recover $80,000. Insurers often push a higher percentage onto the injured person because every point lowers what they pay. See comparative fault in California, Texas and Washington.

Proposition 51. Civil Code § 1431.2 makes each defendant’s liability for non-economic damages (pain, suffering, emotional distress) several only, in proportion to that defendant’s percentage of fault. Economic damages such as medical bills and lost wages are treated differently. When more than one driver or company is at fault, this rule affects who we name and how we present fault.

Uninsured drivers. Civil Code § 3333.4 (Proposition 213) generally bars recovery of non-economic losses in a motor vehicle case if the injured person owned an involved vehicle that was not insured as the law requires, was the driver and cannot show financial responsibility, or was convicted of driving under the influence for that crash. Medical bills and lost wages can still be recovered, and the statute has an exception for uninsured owners hurt by a driver later convicted of DUI.

Dog bites. Civil Code § 3342 makes a dog’s owner liable when the dog bites someone in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the owner’s property, regardless of whether the dog had ever been vicious or the owner knew about it.

What to do after a crash in Los Angeles

Get medical care, call 911 so LAPD or CHP writes a report, photograph the scene and get witness contacts. Report the crash to the DMV on an SR-1 within 10 days if anyone was hurt. Ask for camera footage fast, because many systems overwrite video within days or weeks.

1. Get checked. Go to the ER or urgent care the same day if you can. Head, neck and back injuries often feel worse a day or two later, and a gap in care is something the insurer will point to.
2. Get a police report. City crashes are usually handled by the LAPD and freeway crashes by the CHP. The LAPD releases reports to victims and their representatives through its traffic report request page, online or by mail. The CHP uses form CHP 190 or its online crash portal, explained on its crash report request page.
3. Document the scene. Take photos of every vehicle, plates, the road, signals, skid marks and your injuries. Get names and phone numbers of witnesses.
4. File the SR-1 with the DMV. The California DMV requires a report within 10 days if anyone was injured or killed or property damage was over $1,000. This is separate from the police report.
5. Ask for video right away. Traffic cameras, Metro buses, gas stations and storefronts may have recorded the crash. Our guide on how to get traffic camera footage in Los Angeles covers who to ask and how fast to move.
6. Be careful with the other driver’s insurer. You don’t have to give them a recorded statement. If your case goes forward, the defense may later ask you to attend a defense medical exam with a doctor they choose and pay.

If you aren’t sure whether you need help, read do I need a personal injury lawyer? and when to hire a personal injury lawyer.

How fees work with a Los Angeles injury lawyer

Beverly Law works on contingency. You pay no attorney fee up front and no fee unless we recover money for you. The fee is a percentage of the recovery, set in a written agreement. California law requires that agreement to say the fee is not set by law and is negotiable.

Under Business and Professions Code § 6147, a contingency fee contract in California must be in writing, signed by both lawyer and client, with a copy given to the client. It must state the fee rate, explain how case costs affect the fee and your recovery, and say that the fee is not set by law and can be negotiated. If those terms are missing, the client can void the contract.

Ask any lawyer you’re considering these questions before you sign:

• What percentage do you take, and does it change if a lawsuit is filed or the case goes to trial?
• Are case costs (records, experts, filing fees) taken out before or after your percentage?
• Do I owe costs if we lose?
• Who will handle my case day to day, and who will try it if it doesn’t settle?

For worked examples of how a settlement is divided, see how much a personal injury lawyer costs and how much of a $50,000 settlement you keep.

What to look for in a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer

Search results full of “best” claims don’t tell you much. Check the lawyer’s State Bar record, ask whether they personally try cases, find out who will actually work your file, get the fee terms in writing, and make sure they can talk with you in your language.

California bars lawyers from making misleading claims, and no state agency ranks injury lawyers. So when you search for the best personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles, you are mostly reading advertising. These checks tell you more:

• State Bar record. Look the lawyer up on the State Bar attorney search. Check that the license is active and whether there is any public discipline.
• Trial experience. Ask how many cases the lawyer has personally tried to verdict. Insurers track this.
• Who does the work. Ask who will answer your calls, gather records and prepare you for deposition.
• Local knowledge. A Los Angeles lawyer should know the six-month claim rule for city and Metro cases and how LAPD and CHP reports are obtained.
• Language. If you are more comfortable in Spanish, you should be able to talk directly with your lawyer in Spanish.

We go into more detail in how to choose a personal injury lawyer, what a personal injury lawyer does and how long a personal injury case takes.

Recent Los Angeles crashes we covered

We track serious crashes across Los Angeles on our accident news blog, in English and Spanish. Recent posts include a multi-car crash on the 5 Freeway near Elysian Park, a semi-truck crash in Sylmar, and hit-and-runs that struck a pedestrian and a motorcyclist in South Los Angeles.

Each post explains what was reported, what evidence tends to matter in that type of crash, and what the people hurt and their families can do next:

• Nov. 2, 2026: multi-car crash on the 5 Freeway near Elysian Park
• Sept. 25, 2026: hit-and-run that struck a pedestrian on 60th Street
• Aug. 17, 2026: semi-truck crash on the 5 Freeway at Roxford Street in Sylmar
• Aug. 16, 2026: motorcyclist hit-and-run at Broadway and 91st Street

If you or someone in your family was hurt in one of these crashes, call (310) 552-6959. We can talk in English or Spanish.

Common questions

Related pages

Los Angeles car accident lawyer · Los Angeles truck accident lawyer · Los Angeles pedestrian accident lawyer · Los Angeles motorcycle accident lawyer · How to get traffic camera footage in Los Angeles · Most dangerous intersections in Los Angeles

Important: This page is general information, not legal or medical advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different; talk to a lawyer about yours. Texas cases are handled by the firm’s Texas-licensed attorneys, Joyce Ondich and John Efstathiou. Last reviewed: November 8, 2026.