Personal Injury Lawyer FAQ, Los Angeles Questions, Straight Answers

Lederer & Nojima works on a contingency fee basis, you pay nothing unless we win your case. Our fee is a percentage of the settlement or verdict, collected only if we recover money for you. There are no upfront costs, no hourly billing, and no out-of-pocket expenses. If we do not win, you owe us nothing.

A contingency fee means the attorney's payment is contingent on winning your case. We only get paid if we recover money for you. The fee is a percentage of the total recovery. This allows injury victims to hire experienced attorneys without paying anything upfront or out of pocket.

Most personal injury cases in California settle within 6 to 18 months. Complex cases involving serious injuries, disputed liability, or government entities can take longer. Cases that go to trial can take 2+ years. We give every client an honest timeline during the free consultation based on the specific facts of their case.

Once you retain Lederer & Nojima, we take over all communication with insurance companies, gather evidence, consult medical and accident experts, document your losses, and build your case. You focus on recovery. We handle everything else. The insurance company will no longer contact you directly.

California law gives you two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Miss this deadline and your case is gone, regardless of how serious your injuries are or how clear the liability is. Government entity claims (like accidents involving city buses or MTA) have a six-month claim filing deadline. Call us immediately.

Case value depends on your injuries, medical bills, lost wages, future medical costs, and pain and suffering. There is no average, every case is different. Serious injuries, permanent disabilities, and high medical bills increase case value. Lederer & Nojima provides a candid assessment of your specific case during a free consultation. We do not inflate expectations to get you to sign up.

You may recover economic damages (medical bills, lost wages, property damage, future medical costs) and non-economic damages (pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, scarring and disfigurement). In cases involving drunk driving or extreme recklessness, punitive damages may also be available. California law allows recovery of all damages directly caused by the accident.

Car damage is handled separately from your injury claim. The at-fault driver's property damage coverage pays for repairs or replacement. We help coordinate this process, including rental car coverage, so it does not slow down your injury claim. Property damage claims are usually resolved faster than injury claims.

Yes. California requires uninsured motorist coverage. Your own policy may cover your injuries even when the at-fault driver has no insurance. We identify every available source of recovery, including your UM coverage, underinsured motorist coverage, and any other liable parties.

Do not give a recorded statement without an attorney. Adjusters are trained to get you to say things that reduce your claim value. Call Lederer & Nojima immediately at (310) 312-1860. We take over all insurer communication the moment you hire us. Every statement you give without representation can be used against you later.

Yes. California follows pure comparative negligence, even if you were partly at fault, you can still recover damages reduced by your percentage of fault. If you were 20% at fault in an accident worth $100,000, you recover $80,000. Do not assume you have no case because of partial fault. Call us for a free case review.

Yes. Monica Behnejad is a bilingual attorney who handles personal injury cases in Spanish. We conduct consultations, client interviews, and settlement negotiations in Spanish. Language should never be a barrier to legal representation after an injury.