Look for a lawyer who handles your case personally, works on contingency so you owe nothing unless there's a recovery, and is willing to take the insurance company to trial if that's what the facts call for. The right fit is someone you can actually reach, not a name on a billboard who hands you off to a case manager.
A few things worth checking before you sign anything. Ask who will actually work your file. At some firms you meet a partner and never speak to them again. Ask how they handle fees. Most injury cases here are contingency, meaning the fee comes out of the recovery and you pay nothing up front. Ask whether they know San Diego, from the courts downtown to how local adjusters and defense firms operate.
It also helps to work with someone who knows the specific type of case you have, whether that's a car accident, a motorcycle crash, or a slip and fall. California is a pure comparative-fault state, so even if you were partly at fault you may still recover, just reduced by your share. And most injury claims fall under a two-year filing deadline (California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1), though claims against a public entity can have much shorter deadlines. That's another reason not to wait to talk to someone.
Joe Crudo is a San Diego native who gives clients direct access and takes on the insurance companies himself. This is general information, not legal advice, and every case is different.
Talk it through with us. Call (858) 622-7280 or reach out through our contact page for a free, confidential consultation.