The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker helps people injured in Los Angeles understand their options after car crashes, falls and other accidents. Consulting an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer can help you seek compensation for medical expenses, lost income and other supported losses. Request a free consultation to discuss what happened, the evidence available and the deadlines that may apply.
Request a free consultation | Call the Los Angeles team: (213) 986-9816
Who will help with my Los Angeles injury claim?
Start with a free case review. If we accept your matter, we explain the written representation agreement, the attorney responsible for your case and whom to contact for updates before you decide whether to hire us.
Larry H. Parker founded the firm in 1974. Explore our firm’s history and published verdicts and settlements. The results describe firm-wide work; they are not presented as Los Angeles-only recoveries and do not predict another case’s outcome.
Meet Your Los Angeles Legal Team
Mitchell Beck, Senior Trial Attorney, represents people with serious injury and wrongful death claims. His biography describes experience from investigation through trial and appeals. Review his California State Bar record and explore the firm’s attorney directory. Ask which attorney would oversee your matter; a profile does not establish case assignment or office location.
On this page: First steps · Reports · Cases · Deadlines · Process · Fees · Contact · FAQs
What should I do after an injury in Los Angeles?
Protect your health first, then preserve information about the incident. You can ask for legal guidance before every report or medical record is available.
- Get to safety and seek care. Move away from traffic or hazards if safe, and call 911 in an emergency. Describe symptoms accurately to your provider and keep treatment records.
- Report the incident appropriately. After a collision, note the investigating agency and report number. For an injury on someone’s property, notify the owner or manager and request an incident report.
- Preserve available evidence. When safe, photograph the scene, hazard, injuries and damage. Save witness contact details, relevant messages and damaged belongings.
- Keep a claim file. Collect medical bills, receipts, wage records and insurer correspondence. Record the dates of treatment, reports and important communications.
- Review deadlines promptly. Public-entity claims may require action much sooner than an ordinary injury lawsuit. Requests for records do not automatically pause filing deadlines.
What should I avoid after an injury?
- Do not sign documents you do not understand. A settlement release can give up further compensation for covered claims. Ask about its scope, future losses and any remaining obligations before agreeing.
- Understand insurer requests. Ask who is calling, which insurer they represent and what information they need. Your own policy may impose cooperation duties that differ from requests by another party’s insurer.
- Stay accurate and preserve records. Avoid guessing about fault or injuries. Discuss treatment concerns with your clinician, document reasons for gaps in care and preserve relevant online posts and messages.
How do I obtain an accident report in Los Angeles?
Request an existing report from the agency that prepared it. Have the incident date, exact location and report number ready if known. A road name alone does not establish who investigated.
- LAPD traffic collision report requests: Follow the official online or mail instructions and check eligibility. Some reports cannot be released online. Requesting a copy is different from reporting a new incident.
- CHP crash reports: If CHP investigated, follow its current request process. Check whether the online portal or a Form CHP 190 mail or in-person route applies, along with identification requirements and fees.
If the Sheriff’s Department or another city’s police department investigated, use that agency’s records process. Availability and processing times vary; do not wait for a report to review a legal deadline.
Preserving evidence while a report is pending
A report is one source of evidence. Video, photographs, witness accounts and property records may also matter. Retention periods vary, so ask promptly which records need preservation. Do not assume footage exists or will be released simply because it is requested.
What types of injury cases do you handle?
- Car accidents and truck accidents.
- Motorcycle, pedestrian, bicycle and Uber or Lyft collisions.
- Slips and falls, other unsafe-property incidents and dog bites.
- Defective products, catastrophic injuries and wrongful death claims.
- Work injuries: Workers’ compensation and a possible claim against another responsible party require separate analysis.
Injury alone does not establish a claim. Responsibility, evidence, available recovery options and deadlines affect whether we can accept a matter. Tell us about your situation even if it is not listed here.
How can an injury affect my claim?
Medical records, treatment plans and work restrictions help connect an injury to the incident and explain its effects. Keep bills, pay records and notes about daily limitations. Tell providers about prior conditions and new symptoms. Future care and reduced earning capacity need supporting evidence; an earlier condition does not automatically rule out a claim for new harm or aggravation.
Who may be responsible for my injury?
A negligence claim generally requires four elements: a duty of care, a breach of that duty, conduct that was a substantial factor in causing harm, and legally compensable losses. More than one person or organization may share responsibility.
Potential defendants include drivers, vehicle owners, employers, property owners or managers, contractors, product manufacturers and sellers, and public entities. An employer’s responsibility for an employee’s conduct depends on the circumstances, including the scope of employment.
The legal route depends on how you were hurt
- Negligence: Civil Code § 1714 provides a general ordinary-care rule. The duty and evidence depend on the circumstances.
- Unsafe property: Control of the property, the hazard, notice and reasonable precautions can affect responsibility.
- Products and dog bites: Statutory or strict-liability rules may apply without the same proof required for ordinary negligence. Civil Code § 3342 can impose liability for a dog bite in a public place or while someone is lawfully on private property, subject to requirements and exceptions.
- Public entities: Government Code § 835 governs qualifying dangerous-public-property claims. Causation, foreseeable risk, qualifying employee conduct or sufficient notice, and statutory defenses require review. The City and County of Los Angeles are separate entities.
- Work injuries: Workers’ compensation and a claim against a responsible third party follow different rules. See the California workers’ compensation overview.
What if I share some of the fault?
California generally applies pure comparative negligence. Sharing responsibility can reduce compensation without automatically preventing recovery. The evidence and legal theory affect how responsibility is allocated; an insurer’s assessment is not a binding finding.
Illustration only: If legally recoverable damages were $60,000 and your share of fault were 30%, the reduction would leave $42,000 before fees, costs or other applicable deductions. This example does not predict a case value or outcome.
What losses may a claim cover?
Economic losses
Supported medical expenses, rehabilitation, reasonably necessary future care, lost earnings and reduced earning capacity may be recoverable. A claim may also include applicable property damage and reasonable injury-related expenses, such as travel for treatment.
Non-economic losses
Physical pain, emotional distress, physical limitations, scarring, disfigurement and loss of enjoyment of life may be part of a claim where legally recoverable. Notes about daily limitations can help explain these effects alongside medical and other evidence.
Recoverable medical damages are not necessarily the total amount billed. Applicable law and payment evidence can affect the calculation. There is no fixed formula for every claim; responsibility, supported losses and sources of recovery all matter.
Are punitive damages available?
Punitive damages are different from compensation for losses. Civil Code § 3294 generally requires clear and convincing proof of oppression, fraud or malice. A serious injury or evidence of intoxication alone does not automatically establish that standard.
What deadlines could apply to my injury claim?
- Personal injury lawsuit: Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1 generally provides two years. Accrual rules, exceptions and certain claim types can change the calculation; do not assume every claim runs from when you discover the full extent of an injury.
- Government claim: Many public-entity injury claims must be presented within six months after accrual under Government Code § 911.2. Identify the correct entity and recipient; an ordinary insurance claim may not satisfy this requirement.
- Lawsuit after rejection: Under Government Code § 945.6, a compliant written rejection generally starts a six-month period from delivery or mailing to sue. Different rules may apply without proper written notice. Have the specific dates reviewed promptly.
Pitfall Alert: A police report does not replace the DMV SR-1
California requires a DMV SR-1 accident report within 10 days when a collision causes any injury or death, or more than $1,000 in property damage. This is separate from a police report, insurance claim or lawsuit. Do not assume another report completes this step for you.
If the City of Los Angeles may be responsible
Use the City Clerk’s Claim for Damage instructions when the City is the proper entity. Presenting a government claim is separate from filing a lawsuit, and a police report does not replace it. Claims involving the County, a state agency or another entity may use a different process.
How can a lawyer help with a disputed claim?
A lawyer can evaluate responsibility, preserve available evidence, review coverage, document losses and explain settlement terms. Legal help can be especially useful when injuries have lasting effects, facts are disputed, several parties may be involved or a deadline is approaching.
When the injury evidence is questioned
Vehicle damage alone does not resolve whether a collision caused an injury. Relevant evidence may include the crash circumstances, symptom history, medical findings and treatment progress. An earlier condition or a gap in care may need explanation. Ask which evidence is missing and how it could affect the claim.
What happens after I contact the firm?
1. Inquiry
Call (213) 986-9816 or use our consultation form. Share the date, location, injuries and any report or claim number you have.
2. Free case review
We review the available information, discuss whether the firm can help and identify urgent evidence or deadline questions. A consultation does not by itself establish representation.
3. Written engagement
If we accept your matter and you choose to hire us, we explain the scope of work, attorney fees, case expenses, responsible attorney and communication arrangements in writing.
4. Investigation and documentation
We seek relevant reports, witness accounts, available recordings, and medical and employment records. Expert evaluation may help address medical or technical questions.
5. Negotiation or mediation
We evaluate offers and explain what a proposed release would cover. Mediation may help the parties explore an agreement. The decision to accept a settlement is yours.
6. Litigation when appropriate
A lawsuit may be needed to protect a deadline or pursue a disputed claim. Filing does not make trial certain; cases may resolve during litigation. The work may include discovery, depositions, expert review and trial preparation in the appropriate court.
Negotiation and litigation can overlap. If funds are recovered, the final accounting addresses attorney fees, expenses and applicable liens or reimbursement claims before the remaining funds are distributed.
Preserving parking-structure video
Hypothetical example, not a client matter: A shopper is struck by a delivery van in a parking structure. A lawyer could identify who controls the cameras, request preservation of relevant footage and seek delivery or vehicle records. Witness accounts and reconstruction expertise may help clarify how the incident happened. Availability and retention periods vary; this example does not describe a firm result.
What should I ask before hiring a lawyer?
Ask which attorney will supervise your claim, who will provide routine updates and how to raise urgent concerns. Discuss experience with similar incidents, injuries and disputed evidence. Confirm available communication and meeting arrangements before signing.
How are attorney fees and case expenses handled?
The consultation is free. The firm offers contingency-fee representation, with fees depending on the recovery and written agreement. Case expenses are separate. Ask who advances expenses, whether they are deducted before or after the fee calculation, and what you could owe if no compensation is recovered.
California generally requires a written contingency-fee agreement under Business and Professions Code § 6147. Review the percentage, scope of work and expense terms. The fee is negotiable and is not set by law; no attorney fee does not necessarily mean no case costs.
What do clients say about their experience?
“I did nothing, they took care of everything. I would definitely use them again.”
Jesse M., client testimonial excerpt
Read client reviews. Testimonials reflect individual experiences and do not guarantee, warrant or predict another matter’s outcome.
What results can the firm document?
The firm publishes these selected results in its case-results collection. They are firm-wide matters, not Los Angeles-specific outcomes. Figures do not establish the net amount a client received after fees, costs and other deductions.
- $1,500,000 — Automobile accident
- $1,375,000 — Automobile accident
- $1,500,000 — Water skiing accident
Every matter depends on its own facts and applicable law. Past results do not guarantee, warrant or predict future outcomes.
Where do you help injury clients?
We review injury matters arising in Los Angeles and nearby communities. Contact the team to discuss case fit and consultation arrangements, including if you live elsewhere and were injured while visiting the area.
Larry H. Parker Accident Attorneys
Contact address: 355 S Grand Ave Ste 2450 – PMB# 800
Los Angeles, CA 90071
Phone: (213) 986-9816
Confirm the meeting location and arrangements with the team before traveling. A listed contact address does not establish walk-in availability. Ask about building access and any accessibility or language needs when arranging a meeting.
View the listed Los Angeles address on a map | Request a free consultation
Where can I find Los Angeles claim resources?
- LAPD traffic collision report requests: Request an existing report for a collision investigated by LAPD.
- CHP crash reports: Use this process when CHP investigated.
- California DMV SR-1 reporting: Complete the separate report for qualifying collisions.
- City of Los Angeles Claim for Damage: Find the City Clerk’s instructions when the City is the proper entity.
- Los Angeles Superior Court: Find civil services and filing information. Jurisdiction, venue and case type determine the appropriate court and division.
These links are provided for convenience. The firm is not affiliated with these agencies or the court. Check current instructions before submitting requests or filings.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer cost?
The consultation is free. Fees and case expenses depend on the written agreement. See the fee explanation and ask what happens if there is no recovery.
How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit?
Many California injury lawsuits have a two-year deadline, but claim types and exceptions can change it. Public-entity claims may require earlier action. See the deadlines section and have your dates reviewed.
What if a public entity may be responsible?
Identify the correct entity promptly. Many injury claims must be presented within six months after accrual. A compliant written rejection generally starts a separate six-month lawsuit period from delivery or mailing. Different notice circumstances require individual review.
Can I recover compensation if I share fault?
Sharing responsibility does not automatically bar recovery in a California negligence claim. It may reduce compensation. See the shared-fault explanation and ask what evidence supports any proposed allocation.
Do I need the police report before requesting a consultation?
No. Share the incident details, report number if known, photographs and insurer correspondence. See LAPD and CHP report guidance. Waiting for records should not delay a deadline review.
How much is my injury case worth?
There is no standard payout. Responsibility, supported losses, lasting effects and available sources of recovery all matter. Ask which records are missing and what could change the assessment. An early estimate does not promise a settlement or verdict.
How do I request a free consultation?
Call (213) 986-9816 or complete our contact form to request a free consultation. Tell us what happened and what you need help understanding. We will discuss whether the firm can assist and explain the next step.
Gather what you have:
- The incident date and exact location.
- The investigating agency and report number, if known.
- Photographs, witness details and insurance information.
- Treatment information, bills and records of missed work.
- Letters, offers or notices that mention a deadline.
You do not need a complete file to start the conversation. Request a free consultation | (213) 986-9816
Attorney Review
Reviewed by Mitchell Beck, Senior Trial Attorney
California State Bar information — Mitchell Phillip Beck, No. 292349
Attorney profile
Last reviewed: October 29, 2026
This content provides general information, not advice about a particular matter. Contacting the firm does not by itself create an attorney-client relationship. Legal services are provided by attorneys licensed to practice in California.
