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El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers | Personal Injury Blog

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individual with a traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury filing a personal injury claim

How a Brain or Spinal Cord Injury Can Impact Your Injury Claim

When an accident causes damage to the brain or spinal cord, the effects can reach far beyond the moment of impact. These injuries affect the body’s central nervous system and may change how a person moves, thinks, or performs daily activities. Many people require specialized care and extended rehabilitation as part of the recovery process. …

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Court of Appeal Rejects Attorney Fee Award for Lawyer Representing Spouse

A recent California Court of Appeal decision clarifies an issue that occasionally arises in litigation involving attorney spouses: when can a party recover attorney fees if the legal work was performed by their husband or wife? In Honchariw v. PMF CA REIT (2025), the Court of Appeal held that the key question is not whether …

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The “Trojan Horse” Initiative: Why Uber’s 25% Fee Cap Threatens California Accident Victims

In the legal world, a name can be a powerful tool—or a clever disguise. Currently circulating for the November 2026 California ballot is a measure titled the “Protecting Automobile Accident Victims from Attorney Self-Dealing Act.” On its face, the initiative sounds like a win for consumers. It promises to ensure that accident victims retain at …

image divided in half showing a mediation session versus an arbitration session

Mediation vs. Arbitration: How Each Can Affect Your Settlement

Not every personal injury case ends in front of a judge or jury. Many claims are resolved through mediation, and in some cases, arbitration—before a trial date arrives. Understanding mediation vs arbitration can help you see who will decide your case, how the process works, and whether you will have control over the outcome. If …

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Court of Appeal Sanctions Firm for False Notice of Settlement

Division One of the Fourth District Court of Appeal imposed a $3,000 sanction against Laurel Employment Law, APC, after the firm filed a notice stating the case had settled when, in fact, it had not. The misrepresentation led the court to cancel a scheduled oral argument before learning from opposing counsel that no final agreement …

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Ninth Circuit Denies Qualified Immunity Over 36-Day Warrant Delay

In Langham v. Noyd, the Ninth Circuit affirmed the denial of qualified immunity to a police officer who waited 36 days to obtain a warrant to search a seized cellphone. The panel held that the delay violated the Fourth Amendment because it was longer than reasonably necessary under clearly established law. The court relied in …

Profile of woman with illustrated brain and neural network overlay representing traumatic brain injury after car accident

Mild vs. Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: Why “Mild” Doesn’t Mean Minor

Most people assume a “mild” traumatic brain injury is minor. It isn’t. In medical terms, “mild” refers only to how the injury presents in the first hours after a crash — not how it may affect someone months or years later. After a car accident, many people diagnosed with a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) …

The Hidden Risk of Airbags for Children After a Car Accident

The Hidden Risk of Airbags for Children After a Car Accident

No parent expects a safety feature to cause harm. When an airbag deploys during a crash, and a child is injured, the shock can feel overwhelming and confusing. Many families are left asking how this happened, whether it could have been prevented, and what steps they should take next.  This article explains the risks airbags …

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Court of Appeal Vacates $14M Verdict for Expert Disclosure Violation

Division Eight of the California Court of Appeal vacated a nearly $14 million jury verdict in a personal injury lawsuit involving a low-impact traffic accident after finding the trial court improperly allowed a late-disclosed expert to testify. The plaintiff disclosed a new spinal surgeon just seven court days before trial without seeking court permission or …