Los Angeles Soft Tissue Injury Lawyers, Insurers Minimize These. We Don't.
Insurance adjusters are trained to dismiss soft tissue injuries as minor. Medical records and expert testimony prove otherwise. We build that case.
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Former Insurance Defense
David Lederer and John Nojima defended insurers for years before switching sides. They know the exact playbook adjusters use to dismiss soft tissue injuries as minor.
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.
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Call any time. We review your case at no charge and take over all insurer communication the day you hire us.
What Our Clients Say
“John Nojima was very attentive and made sure that my well-being and my vehicle were well taken care of. Mr. Nojima and his staff often worked extended hours to accommodate my schedule.”
“My experience with John Nojima was excellent and I would recommend him to anyone.”
What the Insurance Company Will Not Tell You About Soft Tissue Injuries
These are tactics we used when we defended insurers. Now we expose them.
The quick nuisance settlement offer
Insurers make fast offers of $500 to $2,000 before you understand that a soft tissue injury can involve herniated discs, chronic pain, and months of treatment. Once you sign a release, you cannot come back for more. We know this tactic because we used it.
Using your prior medical records out of context
If you ever treated for neck or back pain before this accident, the adjuster will pull those records and argue your current injuries preexisted the collision. We document your pre-accident baseline and demonstrate exactly how the accident changed your condition.
The 'Independent' Medical Examination
Insurers demand an IME with a physician their side pays. This exam is designed to generate a report minimizing your injuries. We prepare you for this examination and retain our own medical experts to counter the findings.
What to Do After a Soft Tissue Injury in Los Angeles
- 1
Seek medical attention the same day as the accident, adrenaline often masks pain for 24 to 48 hours after impact. A same-day medical record is critical evidence.
- 2
Tell your doctor about every symptom in detail, including any delayed pain that develops in the days after the crash. What you report is what gets documented.
- 3
Follow every treatment recommendation without gaps, missed appointments are used by adjusters as evidence you weren't seriously hurt.
- 4
Keep a daily pain diary describing exactly how your injuries affect your sleep, ability to work, and daily activities. Specificity matters.
- 5
Do not give the at-fault insurer a recorded statement about your condition. Every word can be used to reduce your claim.
- 6
Save every medical bill, prescription receipt, and documentation of missed work or reduced hours.
- 7
Call Lederer & Nojima at (310) 312-1860. We direct you to qualified medical providers and work with experts who document soft tissue severity.
How We Handle Your Soft Tissue Injury Case
Free Consultation
We review your case at no charge and give you an honest assessment of what your injuries are worth, not a number designed to get you to sign.
We Take Over
We send a representation letter to all insurers. From this point forward, every call, every letter, every request goes through our office, not to you.
Medical Documentation
We work with your treating physicians and, when necessary, retain independent medical experts to build objective documentation of your injuries. This is what wins soft tissue cases.
Demand and Negotiation
We prepare a demand package that anticipates the insurer's standard soft tissue defenses, because we wrote them. When they lowball, we escalate.
Settlement or Trial
Most cases settle before trial. When they do not, we take them to verdict. Adjusters know this, and it affects every negotiation from the first offer.
Compensation You May Be Entitled To
California Law and Soft Tissue Injury Claims
California follows a pure comparative fault rule under Civil Code section 1714. Even if you were partially at fault in the accident, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault rather than eliminated. A soft tissue injury claim worth $100,000 where you were 10% at fault still recovers $90,000.
Soft tissue injuries are fully compensable personal injury claims under California Civil Code section 3333, which provides for the full measure of compensatory damages. This includes past and future medical expenses, lost wages, future lost earning capacity, and pain and suffering. The fact that an injury does not appear on an X-ray does not reduce its compensability, California courts regularly award significant damages for soft tissue injuries with proper documentation.
The statute of limitations for personal injury claims in California is two years from the date of the accident under California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. Do not wait. Evidence becomes harder to gather, medical records become harder to connect to the accident, and witnesses become harder to locate. Call us immediately after the injury.
Frequently Asked Questions
The other driver's insurer is calling my whiplash 'minor', how do we fight that?
Can soft tissue injuries cause permanent or long-term disability?
Why do insurers specifically target soft tissue injuries for lowball offers?
What medical treatment is most important for proving a soft tissue case?
Should I wait until my treatment is complete before settling?
Case Results
The following results are from actual Lederer & Nojima cases. Every case is different.
The case results displayed are not a guarantee or prediction of the outcome of any future case. Every case is different. Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Related Practice Areas
Insurer Calling Your Soft Tissue Injury Minor? Call Now. We've Heard That Before.
No fee unless we win. Former insurance defense attorneys on your side.
Available 24/7 · No fee unless we win · (310) 312-1860