Encino Personal Injury Lawyer

If you were hurt in a car crash on Ventura Boulevard, a fall at a local business, or another accident caused by someone else’s carelessness, you may be facing medical bills, missed work, and calls from insurance adjusters all at once. An Encino Personal Injury Lawyer can help you understand your rights and pursue compensation while you focus on healing.

The Law Offices of Adrianos Facchetti represents injured people in Encino, California, and throughout the San Fernando Valley from our office in nearby Burbank. We offer a free consultation, and there’s no fee unless we win your case.

Personal Injury Representation in Encino, California

Our firm was founded in 2006 by attorney Adrianos Facchetti. He earned his history degree with departmental honors from UCLA and his law degree from Pepperdine University School of Law. He holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, was named to the Southern California Super Lawyers Rising Stars list in 2014, 2015, and 2016, and is a member of the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles.

Adrianos also serves as a transportation commissioner for the City of Burbank, where he advises on traffic safety. That work gives him a close view of how road design and driver behavior contribute to crashes in this part of Los Angeles County.

When you call our office, you speak with our own legal team, not a call center. If we take your case, an attorney from our firm handles it.

Why Clients Choose Our Firm

Choosing a lawyer is a personal decision, and it helps to know what you can expect. Clients often come to us for these reasons:

• Experience Since 2006: Our firm has focused on representing injured people for nearly two decades.
• Attorney-Handled Cases: Your case is handled by an attorney, with support from our legal team.
• Recognized Credentials: Adrianos holds an AV Preeminent rating and is a member of the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles.
• Clear Communication: We explain where your case stands and what comes next.
• Multilingual Service: We work with clients in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
• No Upfront Cost: We offer a free consultation and work on a contingency fee basis, so there’s no fee unless we win.

These commitments shape how we handle every case, from the first call through the final resolution.

Personal Injury Case Results

Results matter when you’re deciding who to trust with your case. Some examples of outcomes our firm has obtained include:

• $5 Million, Auto vs. Truck: A confidential settlement in a truck collision case.
• $2.75 Million, Motorcycle vs. Auto: A settlement for more than 27 times the policy limits.
• $1.25 Million, Pedestrian Hit in Crosswalk: Full policy limits secured despite challenges in the case.
• $500,000, Rear-End Collision (UIM): The injuries first seemed minor, but further testing revealed a thoracic spine fracture.

You can review more outcomes on our case results page. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a similar outcome in any future case.

What Our Clients Say

Hearing from people who have worked with us can help you decide whether we’re the right fit. Here’s what some clients and colleagues have shared in their Google reviews:

Reviews reflect individual experiences and don’t guarantee a particular result in your case.

Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle in Encino

Encino sees heavy traffic along Ventura Boulevard and near the US-101 and I-405 interchange, along with busy shopping centers, apartment buildings, and construction sites. Our firm handles many types of injury claims that come from these settings, including:

• Vehicle Crashes: Help after a car accident in Encino, a truck accident, a motorcycle crash, a bus accident, or an Uber or Lyft crash handled by our Encino rideshare accident lawyer team.
• Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents: Claims for people hit while walking or riding, including pedestrian accidents and bicycle accidents.
• Property and Animal Injuries: Falls and hazards covered by premises liability law, and attacks covered by our Encino dog bite lawyer work.
• Workplace Injuries: Third-party claims after a construction accident, in addition to any workers’ compensation benefits.
• The Most Serious Cases: Life-changing harm handled by our Encino catastrophic accident lawyer team and fatal incidents where families may need an Encino wrongful death lawyer.

If your situation doesn’t fit neatly into one of these categories, it may still be worth a conversation. Many injury claims overlap, such as a rideshare crash that also injures a pedestrian.

How Personal Injury Claims Work in California

A personal injury claim is a way to seek compensation when someone else’s carelessness causes you harm. In most cases, you’ll need to show four things:

• Duty: The other person or company had a responsibility to act with reasonable care, like a driver following traffic laws.
• Breach: They failed to meet that responsibility.
• Causation: That failure caused your injury.
• Damages: You suffered real losses, such as medical bills, lost income, or pain.

California also uses comparative fault. If you’re found partly responsible, your compensation may be reduced by your share of fault, but you can still recover.

Settlement vs. Going to Court

Most personal injury claims are resolved through a settlement with the insurance company rather than a trial. A settlement is an agreement to resolve the claim for a set amount, and it usually requires signing a release that ends your right to pursue the claim later.

If the insurer won’t offer a fair amount, a lawsuit may be filed. Filing a lawsuit doesn’t always mean going to trial, since many cases still settle during the litigation process.

How Long a Case May Take

There’s no single timeline. A case may move faster when liability is clear and treatment is finished, and it may take longer when fault is disputed, injuries require ongoing care, or the case goes to litigation. It’s often wise not to settle until your doctors have a clear picture of your recovery.

Common Injuries in Personal Injury Claims

Accidents can cause a wide range of injuries, from short-term pain to permanent harm. Some of the most common injuries in personal injury claims include:

• Neck and back injuries, including whiplash
• Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
• Spinal cord injuries
• Broken bones
• Burns
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Amputations
• Internal injuries
• Emotional trauma, such as anxiety or PTSD symptoms

Some injuries, like the spine fracture in one of our past cases, aren’t obvious at first. Prompt medical care and follow-up testing can make a real difference for both your health and your claim.

What Compensation Can You Recover After a Personal Injury?

What you may recover depends on your injuries, the evidence, how fault is divided, and the insurance available. Most damages fall into two main groups, with a third category reserved for rare cases.

Economic Damages

These cover losses with a clear dollar value, such as medical bills, future treatment, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, property damage, and out-of-pocket costs like transportation to appointments.

Non-Economic Damages

These cover losses that are real but harder to measure, including physical pain, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and permanent scarring or disability.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are meant to punish especially harmful conduct, not to repay losses. Under California Civil Code § 3294, they generally require clear and convincing evidence of malice, oppression, or fraud, so most injury cases don’t include them.

No attorney can honestly promise a specific amount. A careful review of your records is the only way to understand what your claim may be worth. You can also use our settlement calculator for a general starting point.

Who Pays for Your Injuries?

California is an at-fault state, which means the person or company that caused the accident is generally responsible for the harm. In most cases, that means making a claim against their liability insurance.

You should still notify your own insurer after a crash, since most policies require it. Your own coverage may also come into play in a few situations:

• Uninsured Motorist Coverage: May help if the at-fault driver has no insurance or flees the scene.
• Underinsured Motorist Coverage: May help when the at-fault driver’s limits aren’t enough to cover your losses.
• Medical Payments Coverage: May help with medical bills regardless of fault, if your policy includes it.
• Collision Coverage: May repair your car sooner while fault is being sorted out.

Which coverage applies depends on your policy and the facts of the accident, so it’s worth reviewing early.

Common Insurance Company Tactics

Insurance adjusters often sound friendly, but their job is to limit what the company pays. Some tactics to watch for include:

• Early Lowball Offers: A quick settlement before you know how serious your injuries are.
• Recorded Statements: Questions on a recorded call that may later be used out of context.
• Broad Medical Authorizations: Requests for years of unrelated records to look for pre-existing conditions.
• Minimizing the Crash: Arguing that minor vehicle damage means you couldn’t be badly hurt.
• Disputing Treatment: Claiming some of your care wasn’t necessary.
• Delays: Dragging out the process in hopes you’ll accept less.

It’s also wise to stay off social media while your claim is open. Even a smiling photo at a family event can be used to argue your injuries aren’t serious.

What Should You Do After an Accident in Encino?

The steps you take soon after an accident can protect both your health and your claim. If you’re able, try to:

1. Get Medical Care: Some injuries, like concussions or back injuries, don’t show up right away.
2. Report the Accident: Crashes on Encino streets are generally handled by the Los Angeles Police Department. Crashes on the US-101 or I-405 are generally handled by the California Highway Patrol.
3. Document the Scene: Take photos of vehicles, injuries, road conditions, and any hazards.
4. Get Contact Information: Collect names, phone numbers, and insurance details from drivers and witnesses.
5. Keep Your Records: Save medical bills, repair estimates, and proof of missed work.
6. Follow Your Treatment Plan: Keep appointments and tell your doctor about every symptom.
7. Be Careful With Insurers: Avoid recorded statements or quick settlements before you understand your injuries.

If you weren’t able to do all of this right away, that’s okay. Many records, like police reports and medical files, can still be gathered later.

How Long Do You Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in California?

California sets firm deadlines for injury claims, and the right one depends on your situation. The most common rules include:

• General Deadline: Many personal injury lawsuits generally must be filed within two years of the injury under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1.
• Government Claims: If a public agency may be responsible, a formal claim generally must be presented within six months under Government Code § 911.2.
• Medical Malpractice: Claims against health care providers follow separate, often shorter timing rules.
• Injured Children: Some deadlines may be paused until a minor turns 18, though exceptions apply.

Settlement talks with an insurer don’t pause these deadlines. Because they vary, it’s best to have yours confirmed early rather than assuming two years applies.

Local Considerations for Personal Injury Claims in Encino

Two local details can affect an Encino injury claim in ways people don’t always expect.

First, Encino is a neighborhood within the City of Los Angeles, not a separate city. If a broken sidewalk, poorly maintained street, or malfunctioning traffic signal contributed to your injury, the claim may be against the City of Los Angeles, which triggers the six-month government claim deadline.

Second, where a crash happens affects which agency documents it. A collision on Ventura Boulevard or a residential street usually involves LAPD, while a crash on the US-101 or I-405 is usually investigated by CHP. Knowing which agency responded helps you request the right report quickly.

How an Encino Personal Injury Attorney Can Help

Hiring a lawyer means someone else handles the legal and insurance work while you recover. In a typical case, our firm can:

• Investigate Liability: Determine who caused the accident, including companies or agencies you may not know were involved.
• Gather Evidence: Request police reports, video, medical records, and witness statements before they’re lost.
• Evaluate Your Losses: Document current and future medical costs, lost income, and how the injury affects your daily life.
• Negotiate With Insurers: Handle adjuster calls, send a demand, and push back on low offers.
• Pursue Litigation When Needed: File a lawsuit and prepare the case for court if a fair settlement isn’t reached.

For you, this means fewer stressful calls, a clearer picture of your options, and a claim built on evidence instead of guesswork.

Proudly Serving Encino and Surrounding San Fernando Valley Communities

Encino | Encino Hills | Encino Village | Amestoy Estates | Royal Oaks | Sherman Oaks | Tarzana | Lake Balboa | Reseda | Van Nuys | Studio City | Valley Glen | Valley Village | Woodland Hills | North Hollywood | Bel Air | Brentwood

Speak With an Encino Personal Injury Lawyer

If you were injured in Encino or elsewhere in the San Fernando Valley, you don’t have to sort through the insurance process alone. The Law Offices of Adrianos Facchetti offers a free consultation, available 24/7, and handles personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning there’s no upfront fee and no fee unless we win.

Call (626) 793-8607 to talk with our team about what happened and what your next steps may look like. Se habla español. Falamos português.