Orange County Personal Injury Lawyers

Experienced Personal Injury Attorneys in Orange County, CA

The Easton Law Firm has successfully represented thousands of people in personal injury claims and litigation against all of the largest insurance companies in America. Our decades of negotiating and courtroom experience in all types of injury and wrongful death cases mean we can anticipate and defeat the insurance industries’ tricks, stratagems and defenses. We are ready to put that wisdom and knowledge to work for you — but only if you call. Let us start by discussing how your injury is affecting your life and how we can tell that story.

personal injury lawyers orange county ca

Our Trial Lawyers Have A Proven Record Of Success

We recently settled a wrongful death case for $2.75 million.The decedent was 55 years old with no wife or children, just two surviving parents in their 80’s. Normally a jury, and therefore a defendant, would not pay more than $500,000 to 80-year-old parents for the death of their 55-year-old son where they suffered no economic losses as a result of their son’s passing. But because we were able to demonstrate the unique bond these parents shared with their son by persuasively telling their story, we were able to significantly increase the value of the negotiated settlement. The insurance company knew that taking the elderly couple’s case before a jury could result in a substantially higher verdict based on our preparation. Consequently, we were able to settle the case for an amount far in excess of our clients’ wildest dreams without them having to go through the pain and ordeal of a lengthy trial

We practice only on the side of the injured party and we NEVER represent insurance companies.

Serving Orange County, Los Angeles County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County And San Diego County

For more than 25 years, attorney Douglas Easton has earned Martindale-Hubbell’s highest AV Preeminent* peer review rating for ethical standards and legal ability.

Why Do I Need a Personal Injury Attorney?

A personal injury claim may seem very straightforward at first. Another person or party caused injuries and economic damages to you, and you claim compensation for those damages through a civil action. While this seems like an intuitive process, navigating the California court system can be incredibly challenging for those with no legal experience or training. Missing a filing deadline, failing to make a required appointment, and various other procedural errors can significantly interfere with a case, potentially even leading to a judge throwing it out before it ever really begins.

An experienced Orange County personal injury lawyer will ensure your case filings meet all applicable deadlines with your local courthouse. Your attorney will guide you through the process of developing your complaint, delivering it to the defendant named in your claim, and exploring the full extent of your damages. Ultimately, hiring an Orange County personal injury attorney is an investment in your own peace of mind. You can have the security of knowing your legal affairs are in capable hands while you focus on your recovery.

Proving Negligence in Personal Injury Cases

Your success with your personal injury claim in Orange County hinges on proving the defendant named in your claim was negligent and that their negligence directly resulted in your claimed damages. There are four essential elements your Orange County personal injury attorney must establish in court for you to succeed with your personal injury claim:

  • The first step in succeeding with your personal injury lawsuit is identifying the defendant in your case and proving they owed a duty of care in a given situation. For example, an Orange County driver has a duty of care to abide by the traffic code of California and obey posted traffic signs and signals.
  • The second step is proving how the defendant failed to meet their duty of care. Following the example of a driver, driving under the influence of alcohol, speeding, or committing a moving violation are all potential examples of breach of duty of care.
  • Next, the plaintiff’s legal counsel must show the court the full extent of the plaintiff’s damages. These damages will likely include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and/or property damage.
  • Finally, the plaintiff’s legal team must prove that the damages listed in the claim resulted directly from the defendant’s negligence and not some other cause.

Proving these four elements of negligence in a personal injury case will likely require extensive research and investigation. The plaintiff’s attorney may pull traffic camera footage, dashcam footage, vehicle computer crash data, cell phone records, and various other types of available evidence to build a client’s case. Eyewitness testimony also plays an important role in a personal injury claim. If you sustain a personal injury due to another party’s negligence and another party witnessed the incident, it is imperative to collect their contact information and for your attorney to have them submit testimony on behalf of your claim.

Common Causes of Personal Injury Claims

Personal injury is a broad area of civil law. Ultimately, any incident in which one party injures another in a measurable way can result in a personal injury lawsuit. In Orange County, some of the most common causes of personal injury claims include defective consumer products that lead to product liability claims, intrapersonal violence, and motor vehicle accidents. Car accidents are the most common of these, and it’s essential for anyone who experiences a car accident to know what to do to protect their rights and increase their chances of securing a recovery for their damages.

Three Things You Should Know After An Automobile Accident

Get the contact and insurance information of the other driver.

Do not talk to the insurance company or give a written or recorded statement to the insurance company without talking to the Easton & Easton, LLP.

Call Easton & Easton, LLP as soon as possible so we can advise you what to do next.

Personal injury claims can result from many situations aside from car accidents. Negligent security, slip and fall injuries, dog bite injuries, and medical malpractice are a few of the other most common causes of personal injury claims. No matter what caused your personal injury, you need reliable and experienced legal counsel to help you prove fault for your damages and secure the compensation you need to get your life back on track.

Proving Fault and Collecting Compensation in Your Claim

Whether your personal injury case resulted from a car accident or some other incident, you should know what to expect when it comes to your recovery. Take care of your medical needs before anything else, and then contact an experienced Orange County personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Your attorney can advise you of the best next steps to take toward your recovery, whether that entails filing an insurance claim against a negligent driver or pursuing a personal injury claim directly.

Your Attorney Can Assist with Insurance Issues

Dealing with insurance companies is rarely an easy or pleasant experience. When insurance companies pay out on claims, they lose money, and they employ highly trained claims adjusters to look for all justification for denying claims or reducing payout amounts on them. It’s never a good idea to communicate with an insurance company without legal representation. This is yet another reason why it is important to seek legal representation from an Orange County personal injury attorney as soon as possible following your injury. Most insurance companies require filing claims within a set timeframe after a covered event. Any delay will lead to undue scrutiny on your claim and other delays.

An Orange County personal injury lawyer can not only draft an initial claim to an insurance carrier on your behalf but also handle correspondence with the insurance company and its employees. Insurance companies are far less likely to push back against claimants who have legal representation, so hiring an Orange County personal injury attorney could speed up the claims process significantly if your personal injury resulted from a car accident or other incident covered by another party’s insurance.

Potential Recovery from a Personal Injury Lawsuit

Insurance may or may not fully cover your losses after an injury caused by someone else. In some cases, insurance may not come into play at all. Whether you need more compensation than available insurance coverage can provide, or your personal injury falls outside the scope of any applicable insurance coverage, you will need to pursue a personal injury lawsuit against the party responsible for causing your injuries.

Personal injury claims can pertain to all types of physical injuries as well as psychological trauma. Broken bones, head injuries, spinal injuries, and damage to internal organs are just a few of the reasons why people file personal injury claims. Some of these injuries may heal within a few weeks or months with no lasting damage, while others cause permanent disability and impair one’s ability to work or live independently. California law allows personal injury plaintiffs to recover several types of compensatory damages:

  • A plaintiff in a personal injury lawsuit has the right to seek compensation for all medical costs incurred as a result of a defendant’s negligence. This may include hospital bills, prescription medication costs, and necessary long-term medical expenses such as physical therapy and rehabilitation.
  • Plaintiffs can claim lost income if their injuries force them to miss work, or if they sustain serious enough injuries that they can no longer work in the future. An experienced Orange County personal injury lawyer will likely defer to a financial expert witness to provide the court with a realistic breakdown of a plaintiff’s lost future earning potential.
  • A personal injury claim can yield compensation for pain and suffering in California. While this may seem difficult to assign a monetary value, the court generally awards pain and suffering compensation that reflects the severity of a plaintiff’s injuries. For example, a plaintiff who completely healed within three to four months after an injury will receive far less in pain and suffering compensation than a plaintiff who was forced to undergo amputation or developed a permanent disability from their injury.
  • If a defendant’s behavior damaged or destroyed the plaintiff’s personal property, the plaintiff can claim repair and/or replacement costs as damages in their case.

In the event the court finds a defendant’s behavior to have exceeded the scope of typical negligence, involved criminal activity, or willful disregard for the safety of others, the court may also award punitive damages to the plaintiff. California places no limits or caps on punitive damages, and these damages are paid to a plaintiff alongside their compensatory damages. Typically, wealthy defendants will pay substantially higher punitive damages because this type of compensation exists to punish egregious negligence or criminal actions and discourage such behavior in the future.

personal injury attorney orange county ca

California’s Comparative Negligence Law

Many states uphold comparative negligence laws that allow plaintiffs to still recover damages even if they are partially at fault for causing those damages, but only to a certain extent. Most states with comparative negligence laws uphold modified comparative negligence statutes that bar plaintiff recovery if a plaintiff is 50% or more at fault for causing claimed damages.

California follows a pure comparative negligence statute and has no such limit. Even if a plaintiff is 99% at fault for causing claimed damages, they may still claim compensation. However, they lose a percentage of the case value to reflect their degree of fault:

  • If a plaintiff is 10% at fault for a $250,000 claim, the plaintiff loses 10% of the case value or $25,000 for a net award of $225,000 instead.
  • If a plaintiff is found 50% at fault for a $100,000 claim, the plaintiff loses 50% of the case award and receives $50,000 instead.
  • If a plaintiff is 80% at fault in a $1,000,000 claim, the plaintiff loses 80% of the case award and would only receive $200,000. In this situation, the plaintiff’s high fault percentage may leave the plaintiff vulnerable to a counterclaim from the defendant or a third party.

California’s pure comparative negligence statute can be difficult to manage in cases where liability isn’t completely clear. This is yet another reason why it is crucial to seek legal counsel from an experienced Orange County personal injury attorney as soon as possible after a motor vehicle accident or other injury caused by another party’s negligence.

What to Expect in Your Personal Injury Claim

Once you have hired an Orange County personal injury lawyer, you can begin building your personal injury lawsuit. The first step is to fully outline the plaintiff’s total damages, such as medical expenses, lost income, and property damage. The plaintiff’s attorney will help the plaintiff draft a formal complaint, which is filed with the local court and served to the defendant, providing the opportunity for the defendant to offer a Response.

Many personal injury claims end at the settlement negotiation table before reaching the litigation phase. A settlement is typically preferable to a protracted court battle for both sides. The longer the case takes to resolve, the more both parties will end up paying in legal fees and court fees. If the defendant does not contest the elements of the Complaint, the settlement could proceed relatively quickly.

It is typically in the best interest of the defendant to settle the case as quickly as possible. Some defendants may be willing to pay a bit more in a settlement to simply put an end to a personal injury matter and move on. On the same note, some plaintiffs are willing to accept a slightly smaller case award in exchange for expediency, especially when facing mounting medical bills and living expenses. At the same time, they are unable to work due to their injury. An Orange County personal injury attorney will ensure a client’s settlement negotiations proceed in a fair and reasonable direction.

If settlement fails, the case will proceed to a trial. The litigation phase of a personal injury case is very time consuming and could take months or even years to conclude. Litigation requires both sides of the case to share their available evidence and documentation through the Discovery process, to interview witnesses, and conduct cross-examinations. Eventually, the case will proceed to a trial before a judge and jury who will decide the outcome of the case after a thorough review of the available evidence and testimonies.

Find Reliable Legal Counsel for Your Orange County Personal Injury Case

Regardless of how simple or complex your personal injury claim in Orange County may be, hiring an experienced Orange County personal injury attorney to represent your interests is an investment in security and peace of mind. At Easton & Easton, we provide client-focused, comprehensive legal representation for all types of personal injury claims in the Orange County area. In just the past five years, our firm has secured more than $100,000,000 in damages on behalf of our clients. We can put our resources and experience to work in your case.

Contact Easton & Easton today to schedule a complimentary evaluation of your personal injury claim. Our team will listen to your story and let you know how our firm can help and what to expect in your case.

Your Story Is Important To Us.
CALL US SO WE CAN HEAR IT.

Firm Awards
Accredited Business Bbb Rating A+

The superior client service Easton & Easton provides has earned the firm an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Best Law Firms Orange County 2020

Easton & Easton is honored to have been chosen anew each year since 2014 by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers as one of the "Best Law Firms" for the Southern California Metro Area.

Reader's Choice 2019 Best Law Firm

Easton & Easton is honored to have been chosen by the LA Times Reader's Choice Poll as "The Best Personal Injury Law Firm in Orange County" for 2018.

Top 100 Trial Lawyers

Doug and Brian Easton have been selected as Top 100 Trial Lawyers for California each year since 2014 — honors given to less than 1% of attorneys.

The Best Lawyers in America

Doug and Matt Easton have each been chosen as one of The Best Lawyers in America for Plaintiff's Personal Injury Litigation. Best Lawyers lists attorneys who have earned selection through exemplary legal work that attracts the notice of their colleagues. Lawyers cannot buy their way onto this list.

Top 50 Personal Injury Verdicts in California 2016

Brian and Matt Easton were recently honored for their efforts in securing a $1,850,000 verdict for a client in 2016, which was selected as one of the Top 50 Personal Injury Verdicts in California by TopVerdict.com.

Super Lawyers

Doug and Brian have each been selected by Super Lawyers, an honor given to less than 5% of attorneys. Matt Easton has been selected among Super Lawyers' Up-and-Coming Top 25 in Orange County and Top 100 in Southern Califonia, an honor given to less than 1% of attorneys under 40 years old.

10 Best Personal Injury Law Firms in all of Southern California

Easton & Easton is honored to have been chosen as one of the "10 Best Personal Injury Law Firms” in all of Southern California" each year Since 2015 based on client satisfaction — one of the highest honors we could ever hope to achieve.

People Love Us On Yelp

Easton & Easton received the “People Love Us On Yelp” award in 2016 due to the exceptional client satisfaction reviews given by our clients over the years.

Premier 100 Trial Attorneys for 2015

Doug and Matt Easton have each been featured as Premier 100 Trial Attorneys for California since 2015 — honors given to less than 1% of attorneys.

Multi Million Dollar Advocates Forum

Brian and Matt Easton have each earned lifetime appointment to the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum — The Top Trial Lawyers in AmericaTM through the results achieved for their clients. This is an honor given to less than 1% of attorneys in the United States.

Top Rated Lawyers AV Preeminent

Doug Easton has held the “AV Preeminent” Rating for over 30 years and Matt Easton received this prestigious distinction in 2015. The "AV Preeminent" rating is the highest possible rating for both legal ability and ethical standards, and is based on the legal profession’s oldest peer review rating system, dating back to 1887.

10 Best 2015 Client Satisfaction

Doug, Brian, and Matt Easton have all been chosen as one of the "10 Best" Personal Injury Attorneys in Southern California each year since 2015 based on client satisfaction, an honor given to less than 1% of personal injury attorneys - and Easton & Easton houses three of them.

American Board of Trial Advocate

Brian Easton was selected to the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) in 2015. ABOTA is one of the most premier associations of trial attorneys and judges, requiring a certain number of jury trials as lead counsel and approval by a majority vote of the ABOTA board.

The National Top 40 Trial Lawyers Under 40

Matt Easton has been selected each year since 2014 as one of the Top 40 Trial Lawyers Under 40 for California by The National Trial Lawyers — an honor given to less than 1% of attorneys.

Avvo Rating Top Attorney Personal Injury

Doug and Matt Easton have each been chosen as one of The Best Lawyers in America for Plaintiff's Personal Injury Litigation. Best Lawyers lists attorneys who have earned selection through exemplary legal work that attracts the notice of their colleagues. Lawyers cannot buy their way onto this list.

Nation's Premier Top Ten Attorney Personal Injury

Both Doug and Matt Easton have been selected as Top Personal Injury Attorneys by Avvo with scores of 10 out of 10 based on their skill, experience, results, peer evaluations, and client reviews.

Nation's Premier Top Ten Attorney Personal Injury

Matt Easton has been selected as one of the Top 10 Personal Injury Attorneys Under 40 in California for 2015 by the National Association of Personal Injury Attorneys — an honor given to less than 1% of personal injury attorneys under the age of 40.

Nation's Top One Percent

Doug, Brian, and Matt Easton have all been selected by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel among the Nation's Top One Percent of Attorneys each year since 2017.

Orange County Personal Injury Lawyer | Costa Mesa Auto Accident Attorney | Catastrophic Injuries

“We look for the human story behind every injury or wrongful death. We prepare our cases for trial; reaching out to the jury with the most compelling evidence possible for the best verdict possible. Insurance companies know this and come to the table prepared to negotiate in good faith. Call us to see how we can turn your story into fair compensation.”

Partner W. Douglas Easton

What Our Clients Say

Coming out of my first auto accident as an adult, a very difficult and scary time to navigate and understand, I was so incredibly thankful to have been put in contact with Easton & Easton. I honestly was lost with how to handle paperwork, doctors, medical costs and what next steps were, and from the moment I spoke with Travis Easton and my case manager Katie, my mind was put at ease. They have made the entire process stress free for me as I recovered, and I am so grateful for them and their genuine care for my case. Communication from the start has been fantastic, especially making clear what my expectations for the entire process would look like, and I truly believe they have my best interest at heart. 100% I would recommend their firm for anyone that is needing representation! Read more…

Sara McClelland
My experience with Easton & Easton has been amazing! Gabriel Mendoza and my case manager Katie have been so helpful and taken so much stress off my plate. They’ve been super informative and honest and given me very clear expectations. They’ve taken such a terrible experience (my accident) and eased my mind about the outcome. I can’t thank them enough!! Read more…
Caila Dean

Ive used them twice and never been disappointed. Read more…

Lisa Bluemel

The Easton & Easton Law Firm is amazing! The entire team is very helpful and caring. They were always there to answer all my questions. They directed me through the entire process and stayed with me every step of the way. This team is outstanding and were wonderful to work with. Because of the tremendous effort they put on my case they were able to win my difficult personal injury case. I couldn’t have asked for a better law firm to handle my case. They are the Best! Thank you for your patience, professionalism, & guidance! I definitely recommend this firm to handle your case. They go out of their way to fight for your rights. THANK YOU… Read more…

Sofia Sanchez

I could not be more pleased with the services provided by the Law Offices of W. Douglas Easton. The senior partner Mr. Easton took the time to meet with me and my wife while I was still in the hospital, where he gave my family hope that there was light at the end of a very long, and very dark tunnel. Matt Easton then worked my case, and because of his dedication, experience and expertise I received a settlement that was larger than I EVER thought possible. It was truly astounding! Matt and the entire team at Easton & Easton looked out for me throughout my recovery, and in the end they gave me my life back. Five stars is not enough. Thanks Matt! Thanks Easton & Easton! Read more…

Dan Campbell

Brian and everyone at Easton and Easton are simply the BEST at what they do. Brian is thorough, easy to talk to, and truly cares about his clients. If you want a family of attorneys with perseverance and determination to fight for you, give Easton and Easton a call. I am glad I did. Read more…

Kyle Keith

What an amazing law firm, talk about going above and beyond to make such a painful experience go so well. I have referred a co-worker and a family member to them as well and everyone had such a great experience as I had. Read more…

Logan Ross

I can’t say enough amazing things about my experience with Travis Easton at Easton & Easton. Travis and his entire team (Katie, Amy, Dee, Michelle, & Araceli) are phenomenal. It provided me a lot of comfort to know I was being so well taken care of. I was especially impressed that every document for the case was perfectly written and specific to me. Nothing was generic, which shows the level of care and attention they put into each individual case. I had such a great experience and would highly recommend Travis Easton and his firm to anyone going through a personal injury. Travis took a bad situation and made the best of it for me. Thank you again, I’m forever grateful!!

-Allee

Ashlee A.

Retaining Easton and Easton was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! From the initial consultation to our final meeting, they were nothing short of exceptional. I was forced to retain their services after firing my previous attorney for not handling the case properly. I dealt with Gabriel and Brian (partner) exclusively throughout the case. They did as promised and were great communicators throughout the entire process. I will recommend them to anyone I know going through a personal injury case. They were ultimately able to untangle the mess caused by my previous lawyer and get a result that I was extremely happy with. Their staff is exceptional as well and provided top notch customer service. Amera was also extremely helpful and easy to deal with as well.

Jeffrey N.

I was in a pretty bad car accident and decided to have Easton & Easton represent me, Travis Easton to be specific. Travis Easton and his paralegal made the whole process effortless. They were so understanding and helpful! The entire thing was a gigantic mess, yet Travis managed to make it run like clockwork. I would HIGHLY recommend Easton & Easton! If you are ever in need of a personal defense attorney Easton & Easton is the firm to represent you!

Mark B.

They are the best law firm in Orange County period. Choosing them to represent me was the best decision of my life.
My life changed in a matter of seconds after a catastrophic spinal cord injury that left me disabled. Brian Easton and his team worked on my case non stop for 3 years and provided me the justice I deserved. I couldn’t have been more content.
I was treated with utmost respect and I felt like I was being represented by a close family member. The responses to my questions were quick and clear. What E & E has done for me is phenomenal.
My sincere thanks to Brian, Matt, Travis, Doug, Gabriel and Amera. They are what they are because of their dedication to provide high quality and professional service to their clients.

Vamsi P.

Brian Easton and his team, Gabe Mendoza and Amera Hajali, helped me during a very difficult time in my life. I had a significant injury from a car accident, and wound up seeking out Easton & Easton when I was having difficulties getting help from my doctors. The Easton team took a lot of stress off of me while acting as my advocates to help me get the care I needed, and saw my case all the way through to a healthy settlement.

They are the BEST!

Jennifer P.

I have nothing but good things to say about Easton and Easton. Brian handled my case professionally and communicated with me effectively throughout the process. He made sure that the process was effortless and as hands free as possible. This was super important for my busy schedule. I highly recommend Easton and Easton if you are ever found in a situation that you need an attorney.

Claudia C.

I would highly recommend Easton & Easton.
I was rear ended on my home and pushed into a semi-truck. I was not sure how to go about even using an attorney.
Brian, Gab and Amera were so good about helping me thru the process and representing me.
I was able to concentrate on getting myself better knowing they had my back, taking care of the details and keeping me informed along the way

Linda M.

The best Law firm by far. I would highly recommend Easton & Easton, LLP and ask for Gabriel Mendoza and staff. He and his colleagues did and exceptional service. Thank you for everything. Job well done!

Ericka P.

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