Law Offices Of Michael Pines

Case Results

Our office has successfully handled many personal injury cases that have resulted in large settlements and verdicts. What makes the United States different from many countries throughout the world? We put "people over property."

Besides tackling insurance company's lowball and hardball tactics everyday, we are tirelessly contributing on behalf of California's consumers in the political arena, where "consumer rights," many which people unfortunately do not fully understand or are taken for granted, are on the chopping block everyday.

Most injured people and their families only want to go to court as a last resort, let alone trial, as they do not want to relive a terrible tragedy, which is why it is very important to hire an attorney as soon as possible. We live in a world where many times what "appears" to be the truth is more important than "the" truth.

Our law firm has represented thousands of injured people and their families (in order to respect our past clients' confidentiality, names will not be listed). Please do not forget that there is a great deal more than the "actual settlement or recovery." What's also very important, after the recovery, reducing medical bills, the client's actual "net recovery" after everything is paid. For example, we go to bat against almost all insurance companies or others requesting subrogation which is payback for monies other have spent on an accident, from State Farm, the US Navy, Kaiser, Medi-cal, Medicare, and others.

Real People, Real Cases

(this does not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your accident). Please re-read the disclaimer for this website. The following is a very small sample of some of the Case Results we have handled or participated in. For privacy protection, former clients names have been omitted:

Freeway - Automobile Versus Pedestrian Accident

Client late at night was trying to help a motorist who was passed out on the freeway (at about 4:00 a.m.). Suddenly, she was struck by three motor vehicles, nearly killing her. Initial offer, nothing, insurance companies argued it was our client's fault for trying to help a person in the middle of the night on a freeway. Policy limits paid, almost $300,000, with a $163,953 reduction from Scripps Memorial Hospital (bill reduced to $15,000) for what we viewed as unlawful billing practices, which we stopped.

Automobile Accident Resulting In The Death Of An 86 Year Old Spouse

A van was broadsided by an uninsured driver. Initial offer: $300,000. Settlement: $940,000.00.

Rear End Automobile Accident

Client wanted to settle for initial offer of $10,000. Explained that since client was in a terrible accident, only had one chance to settle, it would be a good idea to wait and see if she felt better over a period of time. A few months later, the pain returned with a vengeance. The case was tried with almost a $200,000 recovery for a non-surgical case.

Complicated Automobile Accident

Client wanted to settle for $10,000, as his father had just passed away, he needed the money, and felt that he was okay. Reminded client that there was only one recovery, at the end of the entire claim/case, and gave him several options. He decided to wait and make sure that his health was stabilized and to fight allegations that he was responsible for his own accident. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company tried to blame the accident on our client. Shortly thereafter, the case was settled for $100,000, which was the insurance company's policy limits.

Automobile Accident Where Our Client Told the Insurance Company He Was Not Hurt

Automobile accident which client came in and said he had minor knee complaints after telling the responsible party, a government entity, that he was not injured. Initial offer, nothing. We amended the government claim, and after a ridiculously low settlement offer, we obtained about $100,000 for this client. The moral, sometimes a client can be his or her worst enemy, as many people talk before they think. Also, many people are terrible at representing themselves.

Multiple Automobile Accidents Which Result In Spinal Cord Surgery

Insurance companies often hire result-oriented non-treating so-called medical experts. They often state the injuries, if any, are either not present, or if present, were not the result of the accident. We are very experienced with this tactic, and have recovered low to high six figure settlements and trial verdicts. Usually, the first offer is about $10,000 which we can signficantly increase to well over six figures.

Minor Child Strangled Due To Mini-Blind Cord

Initial offer nothing. Insurance company blamed parent for failure to supervise their child. This resulted in a very large settlement which had a nationwide impact on the mini-blind industry and undoubtedly has prevent many unnecessary toddler deaths.

Ford Vehicle Rollover In Which The Seatbelt Broke

Initial offer: nothing. Result: seven figures.

Dirt Bike Motorcycle Accident

As the responsible party had no insurance, it fell on our client's own insurance, called "uninsured motorists," as the only way to secure any type of financial recovery. Client was riding a dirt bike motorcycle. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company argued that they owed nothing as the area where the accident occurred was not a "road" within the meaning of the client's insurance policy and did not owe our client, their insured, anything (a "zero offer"). Result: Six figure policy limit (the maximum they could pay) result.

Insurance Company Dirty Tricks Against An Uninsured Motorcyclist Who Also Had No Insurance

Motorcycle versus motorcycle, our client had no liability insurance or health insurance. USAA insurance company, through their own "in-house attorneys," used what we viewed as "scorched earth tactics" to try to deprive our client of a fair and just recovery by manipulating the judicial process, unlawfully purchasing our client's lien, and also coming up with a strange argument that our client was responsible for this accident. Pre-trial offer of $16,000. Trial result which includes paying off the hospital, about $265,000.

Fifteen Pound Rock Struck A Vehicle On The Freeway In Downtown San Diego

Client's uninsured motorist's insurance company argued that they owed "nothing," as the accident did not involve another vehicle. Result, $30,000 policy limits after our office came up with a theory that destroyed the insurance company's argument.

Vehicle Fatality Where The California Highway Patrol And State Farm Found The Deceased 100% Responsible For This Accident

Initial offer: nothing. Result, 6 figure policy limit which reached the opposite result of the California Highway Patrol report, which was clearly inaccurate.

Vehicle Fatality In Which A Young Passenger In An Uninsured Vehicle Was Struck And Killed

Initial offer: nothing. Progressive Insurance Company attempted to argue that the deceased was responsible by getting into a vehicle with a drunk driver. Result, $750,000 policy limits was paid to the deceased's parents.

Breast Implants Leak Due To An Automobile Accident

Vehicle accident caused breast implants to leak and need repair. Insurance Company argued the implants the accident did not cause any type of rupture. Initial offer: $10,000. We had to prove both that the force of the automobile accident and the seatbelt caused the rupture. Result: $50,000.