Brett C. Drouet | Los Angeles Personal Injury Lawyer

• Member | California State Bar Association

• and Elite Lawyer
  2021 / 2022

I received a call from a woman severely injured in a car accident, who was being ignored by her attorney for 5 months. After she retained him, her attorney would not return calls or emails, and when he finally answered her call, the attorney said he had been too busy to gather evidence and make a settlement demand for her. She had been incurring medical expenses, could not work due her injuries and she is getting deep into debt. Unfortunately, I had received these same calls from other trauma victims, who were being ignored by their attorneys. After speaking with her for over an hour to get the facts of her case, she retained me as her new attorney. Unlike her former attorney, I gave her my cell phone number so she could easily reach me. I discovered that her former attorney had done little to gather medical records, damages, and evidence. I immediately went to work obtaining her medical records and damages, police report and downloaded her vehicle’s black box to establish the severity of the crash. Within a couple months of diligently working up her case, I reached a great settlement for her. I have since received referrals from her for other injured persons.

There is no substitute for hard work and compassion for clients. My clients have my cell phone number, so they can reach me at any time via phone or text. My clients are more than their injuries, and I treat them with the respect by taking the time to explain legal issues, make sure they are getting the right medical treatment, and keeping them informed by their case. This seems obvious, but so many attorneys, unfortunately, hand off their clients\\\' cases to paralegals and legal assistants. I have had many clients, who I have taken over their cases from other attorneys, tell me they never actually met or spoke with their attorney for months or even over a year. Simply, I treat my clients like I would want to be treated if I had injured in an accident.

The lawyer should have practiced for at least 20 years representing both sides, i.e., representing injured parties and defending such cases. Such experience gives insight into how properly work up a case to get the best results. Communication with the lawyer is paramount, clients should have their lawyer’s cell phone number, and their lawyer should explain the legal process, help them find medical specialists if needed, provide regular case updates, and guide the client throughout the client’s case. Clients should be able to speak with the lawyer and not be passed off to a paralegal or low paid legal assistants. Clients should expect their lawyer to work diligently, honestly, and integrity on their cases.

Local knowledge of courts and potential jurors through years of experience can make the difference in the success of the case. There are times that a case may be filed in another county based on the defendant\\\'s residence or business location, which can dramatically change the settlement or judgment recovery. It is critical for an attorney to not just robotically file a lawsuit in the county were accident occurred, but instead that attorney should evaluate and investigate the best venue for a lawsuit, and then advise their client the options in where to file their lawsuit. It can make major differences in the amount of your recovery.

Since I have a significant legal experience for over twenty years, I am able to provide information on potential liability issues (who may be responsible and why), potential injury and treatment issues (what kind medical care obtained so far and what potential specialists or evaluations may be available or considered), second opinions when you already have another attorney and general legal issues.

It depends on each person and legal issue, but generally it is who, where, what and why about an accident, injuries, evidence available, legal issue, etc.

Having represented Fortune 500 companies and major insurance companies’ insureds in thousands of catastrophic personal injury and death actions for over a decade, I am seasoned litigation veteran now representing trauma victims for over a decade, who have suffered life-changing injuries. Importantly, my clients can reach me, I provide them my cell phone number, so they contact me at any time. I don\\\'t hand off clients to paralegals or low paid legal assistants - my clients retained me. Most law firms and lawyers use their low paid legal assistants to work up case, which causes many errors due to the lack of knowledge and oversight. When you retain me, I work up your case and I keep you updated on developments, and I guide you through your case to settlement or judgment recovery. There is no substitute for hard work and compassion for clients. That\\\'s the difference.

Helping trauma victims and their families, who have had their lives turned upside down is most rewarding aspect of being an attorney for me. I love guiding my clients, so they can get the best recovery both in health and monetarily and help them get their lives back after suffering catastrophic injuries. Defendants\\\' insurance companies have nearly endless resources to defend claims by trauma victims, I love being the equalizer for my clients.

Spending time with my wife, gardening, playing with my dogs, and going to baseball games.

I provide pro bone legal services for people in need.