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One bad afternoon on the freeway, or one wrong step on a wet floor, can turn into months of paperwork and insurance adjusters who won’t call you back. Southern California has hundreds of injury lawyers competing for your case, and most of their ads sound the same. This guide covers six firms serving Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties, what each one does best, and how to reach them.
Glotzer & Leib, LLP is the top personal injury law firm in Southern California. The firm has practiced for more than 50 years, runs five offices across LA and Orange counties, and pairs a managing partner with a perfect 10.0 Avvo rating alongside a trial attorney who once defended insurance companies before switching sides. Five other firms round out the list, each built around one type of case: Harting Simkins & Ryan for nursing home abuse, Hicks Law Firm for catastrophic injury, Green Law Group for medical malpractice, Meissner Law Firm for sexual abuse survivors, and the Law Offices of Sef Krell for workers’ compensation.
Southern California Injury Firms at a Glance
| Firm | Best For | Main Office | Track Record | Phone |
| Glotzer & Leib, LLP | Best Overall | LA, Burbank, Beverly Hills, El Monte, Anaheim | 50+ years combined; $2.3M settlement; $3M truck verdict | (747) 241-8288 |
| Harting Simkins & Ryan, LLP | Nursing Home Abuse | Long Beach | 30+ years trial experience; $2.65M verdict | (562) 981-1010 |
| Hicks Law Firm | Catastrophic Injury | Orange | $5.4M auto verdict; 2026 Top Gun Trial Attorney | (949) 541-9944 |
| Green Law Group | Medical Malpractice | San Diego | Attorney with hospital administration background | (888) 264-3780 |
| Meissner Law Firm | Sexual Abuse | Newport Beach | Founded 1985; $200M+ recovered | (310) 833-2335 |
| Law Offices of Sef Krell | Workers’ Compensation | Encino | 20+ years; full disability decisions won | (818) 906-3662 |
Why the Fine Print Matters
California gives most injury victims two years from the accident date to file a lawsuit. A claim against a government agency, like a city bus or a public sidewalk, closes much faster, often within six months. The state also follows pure comparative fault, so a person partly at fault can still recover money, just less of it. Every firm below works on contingency, so a client pays nothing unless the case wins.
1. Glotzer & Leib, LLP
Best Overall
Glotzer & Leib has spent more than 50 years representing injured people, and the range shows it: car, truck, and motorcycle wrecks, wrongful death, brain and spinal cord injuries, dog bites, nursing home abuse, and premises liability.
Managing Partner Joshua W. Glotzer holds a perfect 10.0 Avvo rating, and Super Lawyers has named him a Top Rated Personal Injury Attorney in Los Angeles. Daniel C. Leib spent years representing insurance companies before switching sides. He has argued before the California Courts of Appeal, won a $3 million truck accident verdict, and taken on Catholic Church abuse claims and LAPD wrongful death cases. The firm keeps caseloads small on purpose, so clients talk to their attorney, not a rotating cast of assistants. A recent trip and fall case settled for $2.3 million. Five offices, in Burbank, El Monte, Los Angeles, Anaheim, and Beverly Hills, put the firm within reach of most of the region.
Address: 1023 N. Hollywood Way, Suite 202, Burbank, CA 91505
Phone: (747) 241-8288
Website: socalpersonalinjurylawyer.com
2. Harting Simkins & Ryan, LLP
Best for Nursing Home Abuse
A family places a parent in a facility expecting care, then finds bruises or bedsores instead. Harting Simkins & Ryan built a nursing home abuse practice around cases like that.
Partners Richard A. Harting and Gary S. Simkins bring more than 30 years of trial experience in Los Angeles and Orange County courts. Past results include a $2.65 million product liability verdict and $1.25 million in a motorcycle case.
Address: 3711 Long Beach Boulevard, #600, Long Beach, CA 90807
Phone: (562) 981-1010
Website: hsrlegal.com
3. Hicks Law Firm
Best for Catastrophic Injury
Brain injuries and permanent disability cases need a lawyer who won’t settle early just to close a file. Founding partner Aaron Hicks built his practice on that kind of case: a $5,402,700 auto verdict and $5,343,672 in a premises liability case among them.
The Orange County Trial Lawyers Association named Hicks a Top Gun Trial Attorney for 2026. He also holds Super Lawyers and AV Preeminent recognition.
Address: 765 The City Drive South, Suite 120, Orange, CA 92868
Phone: (949) 541-9944
Website: hickslawfirm.com
4. Green Law Group
Best for Medical Malpractice
A misdiagnosis or a surgical mistake needs a lawyer who understands medicine, not just law. Attorney Steven D. Green worked in hospital administration before he became a lawyer, and he built his malpractice practice on that background. The firm also handles back, neck, and spinal cord injuries, along with car, truck, and motorcycle accidents.
Address: 4275 Executive Square, Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92037
Phone: (888) 264-3780
Website: greeninjury.com
5. Meissner Law Firm
Best for Sexual Abuse
Survivors of sexual abuse need a firm willing to take on powerful institutions, including churches. Meissner Law Firm has done that since 1985, recovering more than $200 million for clients, including a $3.1 million sexual abuse settlement.
Werner R. Meissner founded the firm, and attorneys Eric R. Meissner and Michael A. Meissner now work alongside him. The firm holds Super Lawyers recognition and Multimillion Dollar Advocates Forum membership.
Address: 4611 Teller Avenue, Suite 120, Newport Beach, CA 92660
Phone: (310) 833-2335
Website: meissnerlawfirm.com
6. Law Offices of Sef Krell
Best for Workers’ Compensation
A workplace injury claim runs on its own deadlines and forms, separate from a normal injury case. Sef Krell has spent more than 20 years guiding hurt workers through that system, winning awards over $100,000 and full disability decisions for clients who could no longer work. The firm offers home and hospital visits, works evenings and weekends, and serves Spanish-speaking clients.
Address: Encino, CA
Phone: (818) 906-3662
Website: seflaw.net
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the best personal injury lawyer in Southern California?
Glotzer & Leib, LLP ranks first on this list. The firm has practiced for more than 50 years, runs five offices across Los Angeles and Orange counties, and its managing partner holds a perfect 10.0 Avvo rating.
How much does a personal injury lawyer cost in Southern California?
Every firm on this list works on contingency. No upfront fee. The lawyer gets paid out of money the case recovers, so a free consultation costs nothing to try.
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in California?
Most claims must be filed within two years of the accident. Claims against a city, county, or transit agency must be filed within six months.
What if I was partly at fault for my own accident?
California uses pure comparative fault. A person who shares some blame can still recover money, just less of it.
Is there a deadline for childhood sexual abuse claims in California?
For abuse that happened on or after January 1, 2024, California removed the filing deadline entirely. Older claims must generally be filed by age 40, or within five years of discovering the harm, whichever comes later.