Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer in Los Angeles

Catastrophic injuries require lifetime care that costs millions. Insurers send you to their own doctors who minimize severity. Former insurance defense attorneys at Lederer & Nojima know how to prove lifetime costs and defeat lowball offers.

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Brain and spinal cord injuries are the highest-value personal injury cases in California because they require lifetime care. A severe traumatic brain injury can cost $3 million to $5 million over a lifetime when you account for medical treatment, rehabilitation, adaptive equipment, home modifications, and lost earning capacity. Insurers know this. They fight these cases harder than any other claim type.

David Lederer and John Nojima are former corporate insurance defense attorneys. They know the tactics insurers use to minimize catastrophic injury claims. They send you to independent medical examiners who are paid to find that your injuries are less severe than your treating doctors say. They argue your symptoms are pre-existing or unrelated to the accident. They offer settlements before you finish treatment and before the full extent of permanent impairment is known.

These cases require expert testimony from neurologists, orthopedic surgeons, neuropsychologists, and life care planners. We retain the best experts in California. We document every symptom, every lost capability, and every dollar you will need for the rest of your life. We do not settle until we have a full picture of your permanent condition. Insurers rely on victims settling too early. We prevent that.

01

Former Insurance Defense

David Lederer and John Nojima defended insurers for years before switching sides. They know every strategy the adjuster will use to reduce your settlement.

02

No Fee Unless We Win

Zero upfront cost. We work on contingency - our fee comes from your recovery. If we do not win, you pay nothing.

03

Free Consultation 24/7

Call any time. We respond to urgent matters around the clock and take over all insurer communication the day you hire us.

What the Insurance Company Will Not Tell You in Catastrophic Injury Cases

These are tactics we saw when we defended catastrophic injury claims. Now we expose them.

They send you to doctors who minimize your injuries

Independent medical examinations are not independent. The doctor is paid by the insurer and finds that injuries are less severe than your treating physicians documented. We retain our own experts who provide honest assessments and testify to the full extent of your permanent impairment.

They offer a settlement before you know how bad it really is

TBI symptoms can take months to fully manifest. Spinal injuries often require multiple surgeries over years. Insurers offer settlements while you are still in the acute phase, before the permanent deficits are clear. Once you sign a release, you cannot come back for more. We do not settle until you reach maximum medical improvement.

They dispute lifetime care costs with their own life care planners

We retain certified life care planners who calculate the cost of every piece of medical equipment, every home modification, every hour of attendant care, and every therapy session you will need for the rest of your life. Insurers hire their own planners who lowball these figures. Juries believe the higher number when it is backed by credible testimony.

They argue you can return to work when your doctors say otherwise

Lost earning capacity in a catastrophic injury case can be the largest component of damages. If you were 35 years old and earning $80,000 per year, your lifetime lost wages exceed $2 million. Insurers hire vocational experts who claim you can do sedentary work. We prove you cannot.

What We Do in Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Cases

We retain board-certified neurologists and orthopedic surgeons who evaluate you, review your imaging, and provide sworn testimony about the severity and permanence of your injuries. We hire neuropsychologists who administer cognitive testing to document memory loss, processing speed deficits, and executive function impairment. We hire life care planners who calculate every dollar you will need for medical care, equipment, modifications, and attendant care over your lifetime.

We document your lost earning capacity with vocational experts and economists. We prove you cannot return to your prior occupation. We calculate the present value of all future lost wages. These figures often exceed the medical costs. Insurers fight them hardest. We prove them with expert testimony and employment records.

Lederer & Nojima, LLP is located at 12100 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 480, Los Angeles, CA 90025. Call (310) 312-1860 for a free consultation. No fee unless we win.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are brain and spinal cord injury cases worth more than other injury claims?
These injuries are permanent. They require lifetime medical care, adaptive equipment, home modifications, and lost earning capacity that can total millions of dollars over a lifetime. California law allows recovery for all future costs, not just past medical bills.
What if my symptoms did not appear immediately after the accident?
Traumatic brain injury symptoms can appear days or weeks after impact. Headaches, memory loss, mood changes, and difficulty concentrating are all signs of TBI. Document every symptom and see a neurologist immediately. Insurers argue delayed symptoms are unrelated to the accident - we prove otherwise with medical causation testimony.
The insurer sent me to their own doctor who said my injuries are minor. What do I do?
This is called an independent medical examination, but the doctor is paid by the insurer and minimizes injuries. We retain our own medical experts - neurologists, orthopedic surgeons, and life care planners - who provide honest assessments of your condition and future needs.
Can I recover if the accident only caused a concussion?
Yes. Concussions are traumatic brain injuries. Repeated concussions or severe single concussions can cause permanent cognitive impairment, chronic headaches, and post-concussive syndrome. Insurers call them minor. We document the severity and long-term effects with neuropsychological testing.
How long do I have to file a brain or spinal cord injury claim in California?
Two years from the date of the accident under California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. These cases take months to build because they require extensive medical documentation and expert testimony. Do not wait. Call us immediately after the injury.

Related Practice Areas

Results may vary. Every case is unique. This page is for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Contact Lederer & Nojima, LLP at 12100 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 480, Los Angeles, CA 90025 or call (310) 312-1860.

Catastrophic Injury in Los Angeles? Call Now.

No fee unless we win. Former insurance defense attorneys on your side.

Available 24/7  ·  No fee unless we win  ·  (310) 312-1860