Brett C. Drouet | Los Angeles Personal Injury Lawyer

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.

• Member | California State Bar Association

• 2021 and 2022 Elite Lawyer

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Brett C. Drouet has been a Premium Member since April 19, 2022.
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What Are Some Of The Most Common Causes Of Trucking Or Commercial Vehicle Accidents That You See Happen Across California?  (2022-06-06 18:02:21)
Many of the commercial vehicle and/or trucking accidents I see in California are caused by speeding. Some truck drivers have a propensity for driving too fast, for various reasons. They also tend to make lane changes without ensuring that there is proper clearance to make that lane change. I also see many commercial vehicle and trucking accidents in California caused by inattention, texting, and being on a cellphone.

I Was Hit And Injured By A Driver Who Was Under The Influence Of Drugs Or Alcohol. How Will That Affect My Personal Injury Claim?  (2022-06-06 18:16:21)
It depends on how intoxicated the person was. If they were found to be impaired, it could affect the types of claims that you can bring against them. If someone is so impaired that they are legally intoxicated, they could be held responsible based on the negligence per se. This essentially means that they have violated a vehicle code or a criminal statute, which makes them legally responsible for the accident. If that has been established, then they are automatically considered liable for a personal injury claim. The case will just be a matter of proving what damages you’ve suffered through your injuries.

I Am Disabled, What Are My Rights If I Have A Trip And Fall?  (2022-06-06 19:16:36)
California Disabled Persons are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) including 42 U.S.C. section 12102, California Government Code section 12926(m), Unruh Civil Rights Act, California Civil Code section 51, et seq. (“Unruh Act”), and the California Disabled Persons Act, California Civil Code section 54, et seq. (“DPA”). Title III of the ADA provides in pertinent part, “No individual shall be discriminated against on the basis of disability in the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations of any place of public accommodation by any person who . . . operates a place of public accommodation.” (42 U.S.C. § 12182(a).) “The ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in the enjoyment of public accommodations, including with respect to access.” Jankey v. Lee (2012) 55 Cal.4th 1038, 1044.

I’ve Been in a Bus Accident in California. Now What?  (2022-06-09 18:56:40)
Bus accidents involve a unique set of circumstances and considerations, especially when pursuing personal injury damages as an injured party. In California, both private and public busses are classified as “common carriers.” This means that bus drivers and bussing companies are held to a higher standard of care than the average driver, as they “must use the utmost care and diligence for their safe carriage, must provide everything necessary for that purpose, and must exercise to that end a reasonable degree of skill.” (California Civil Code 2100)

What Are The Most Common Causes Of Motorcycle Accidents Across California?  (2022-06-10 17:05:51)
One of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents in California, in my experience, is vehicles making left-hand turns in front of motorcycles. When vehicles make left-hand turns, they often don’t see the motorcyclist, either because they’re not paying attention or because they misjudge the speed.

I Was Hit By An Uninsured Or Underinsured Driver In California. Do I Have A Chance Of Recovering Financially For My Injuries?  (2022-07-14 16:51:42)
In some cases, it is possible to recover financially for your injuries after being hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver. If you were driving your car during the crash, this depends on your insurance coverage. If you were a passenger in someone else’s’ car during the crash, it depends on your insurance coverage as well as the insurance coverage of the person driving the car at the time.

I Was Injured In A Car Accident Near Los Angeles, What Steps Do I Need To Take If I Want To File A Personal Injury Claim?  (2022-07-21 18:27:24)
If you have been injured in a car accident, there are many different steps you can take to support a future personal injury claim. Assuming that you are physically safe and able to move around, the first step to take is to preserve the evidence. There are several important things you can do in order to preserve evidence.

I Was Injured In A Car Accident, And It Is Clear That The Other Driver Was At Fault. Do I Still Need To Hire A Personal Injury Attorney?  (2022-07-28 18:55:26)
Yes, you should still hire a personal injury attorney no matter how clear it is that the other driver was at fault. If you have suffered significant injuries, it will always be in your best interest to be represented by a skilled personal injury attorney.

What Are Some Examples Of Slip-And-Fall Or Trip-And-Fall Accidents That Commonly Occur In California?  (2022-07-29 13:13:48)
In California (as in the rest of the country), the vast majority of the slip-and-fall and trip-and-fall accidents occur in grocery stores and department stores. These accidents mainly occur due to failure to properly maintain the premises and keep it in reasonably safe condition.

How Does Comparative Or Contributory Negligence Impact California Personal Injury Cases Resulting From Slip-And-Fall Or Trip-And-Fall Accidents?  (2022-07-29 13:16:38)
Comparative or contributory negligence can impact the percentage of damages a person may receive in their case.

If You Have A Slip-And-Fall Accident At A Store, Are You Obligated To Sign Anything Or Fill Out Any Forms On-Site At The Time Of The Accident?  (2022-07-29 13:19:08)
You are not obligated to fill out any forms or sign any statements if you have been injured in a slip-and-fall.

Uber Or Lyft Accidents In California  (2022-08-18 18:09:14)
Driving in Los Angeles and San Diego, CA can be a risky adventure. For many reasons, the majority of people have turned to rideshares as their way of transportation. With billions of dollars in marketing, Uber and Lyft have grown substantially. Uber and Lyft have become the more predominant rideshare companies in the on-demand transportation area in Los Angeles, CA and San Diego, CA.

How To Make A Claim In An Uber Or Lyft Accident In Los Angeles, San Diego And Southern California?  (2022-10-03 14:34:16)
When an Uber or Lyft car is involved in a car crash while picking up, transporting or dropping off a passenger, the Uber or Lyft driver as well as passengers are entitled to insurance coverage from the rideshare company under some circumstances. Find out your rights when injured in an Uber or Lyft car accident.