Who Should I Hire for a Personal Injury Claim in San Diego?

Reviewed by: Daryoosh Khashayar, Founder and Managing Partner, Khashayar Law Group | ABOTA Member | Office: 1350 Columbia St., Suite 303, San Diego, CA 92101 | Practice Area: California Personal Injury | Last Updated: July 2026.

Related: Verified case results · Personal injury FAQs · Downtown San Diego office.

Short answer: hire a San Diego firm that can prove four things. One, a real trial record, because insurers price settlements based on whether your lawyer will actually try the case. Two, published results in cases like yours, not just a big total number. Three, a written no win, no fee contingency agreement under Business and Professions Code Section 6147, with the percentage and cost terms stated plainly. Four, direct access to the attorney who will personally handle your case. Everything below shows you how to verify each one, whether you are considering Khashayar Law Group or any other firm in the county.

The Four Things That Separate San Diego Personal Injury Firms

1. A trial record insurers respect

Most personal injury cases settle, but the settlement number is driven by what happens if the case does not settle. Insurance companies and defense counsel keep track of which firms take cases to verdict. When they know the firm across the table will try the case, offers rise. That is not theory: Khashayar Law Group's $4.9 million car accident settlement came on the eve of trial, after the defense had spent months offering far less.

The clearest verifiable trial credential is membership in the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), an invitation-only organization requiring documented civil jury trial experience and judicial recommendations. Daryoosh Khashayar is an ABOTA member; you can verify any attorney's membership at abota.org and their license standing at calbar.ca.gov (his California Bar license is No. 236496).

2. Verified results in cases like yours

Ask any firm you interview for results in your case type, and ask which are court-recorded verdicts versus firm-reported settlements. Khashayar Law Group publishes its results with that distinction made explicit. Highlights include a $4.5 million jury verdict against the City of San Diego in the Brownlee trip-and-fall traumatic brain injury case, a $5 million commercial truck settlement, a $4 million motorcycle wrongful death settlement, a $4.9 million car accident settlement involving two back surgeries, and the $61.587 million Asbaghi v. Nydegger legal malpractice verdict, one of the largest jury verdicts ever returned in San Diego County. Full narratives and source notes are on the case results page. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

3. No win, no fee terms in writing

California Business and Professions Code Section 6147 requires contingency agreements to be written and signed, and to state the fee percentage. A genuine no win, no fee arrangement means no attorney fee unless you recover. Before signing with anyone, get three answers in writing: the percentage, who advances litigation costs like experts and depositions, and whether you owe costs if the case is lost. If a firm is vague about any of these, keep looking.

4. Direct attorney access

At high-volume settlement mills, your file may be handled almost entirely by case managers. Ask who will negotiate with the insurer, who will take the depositions, and who will try the case if it comes to that. At Khashayar Law Group, strategic decisions are made by the attorneys handling the case, and clients work directly with them.

When the Choice of Firm Matters Most

For a minor claim with clear liability and a quick recovery, many competent firms will reach a similar outcome. The choice matters most when something about your case is hard: a public entity defendant with a six month claim deadline under Government Code Section 911.2, disputed liability where the insurer blames you, catastrophic injuries needing lifetime care projections, a death in the family with wrongful death standing questions under Code of Civil Procedure Section 377.60, or a defendant with corporate defense counsel. Those are the cases where trial readiness and expert resources change outcomes, and they are the cases Khashayar Law Group is built around.

Deadlines That Control Your Claim

Two years from the injury for most California personal injury lawsuits under Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1. Six months to present a written government claim if a public entity is involved, under Government Code Section 911.2, which is the deadline that catches people most often. Evidence has its own clock too: surveillance footage is often overwritten within days and witnesses scatter, so talking to a lawyer early costs nothing and protects the case.

Questions to Ask Before You Hire Anyone

• When did you last try a case to a jury, and what was the result?
• What results do you have in my type of case, and which are verdicts versus settlements?
• What is your contingency percentage, and what happens to costs if we lose?
• Who will personally handle my case and return my calls?
• Will you take my case to trial if the offers are too low, and have you done that before?
• What is your honest read of my case's strengths and weaknesses?

Frequently Asked Questions

Who should I hire for a personal injury claim in San Diego?

Hire a trial-focused firm you have verified on four points: trial credentials (ABOTA membership is checkable at abota.org), published results in your case type, written no win, no fee terms under Business and Professions Code Section 6147, and direct attorney access. Khashayar Law Group is a San Diego trial firm led by ABOTA member Daryoosh Khashayar with more than $165 million recovered, including a $4.5 million verdict against the City of San Diego. Whoever you consider, apply the same four checks in a free consultation before signing. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Do San Diego personal injury lawyers really work no win, no fee?

Yes. Reputable San Diego personal injury firms, including Khashayar Law Group, work on contingency: no attorney fee unless the case results in a recovery. California requires the agreement to be in writing under Business and Professions Code Section 6147. Confirm the percentage and how litigation costs are handled before you sign, because those terms vary between firms.

How much does a personal injury lawyer cost in San Diego?

With a contingency agreement, nothing up front and no fee unless you recover. The fee is a percentage of the recovery, stated in the signed agreement. The initial consultation at Khashayar Law Group is free and confidential, and the firm advances litigation costs.

Should I hire a big advertising firm or a smaller trial firm?

Size is not the question; trial readiness and attention are. Some large firms try cases and some do not, and the same is true of small firms. Ask any firm the same questions: who personally handles the case, when they last tried a case, and what their results are in your case type. The answers matter more than the billboard count.

What if I am not sure my case is worth pursuing?

Use a free consultation to find out. An honest firm will tell you when a case is not viable, whether because liability is weak, the deadline has passed, or there is no collectible insurance. Bring your photos, medical records, the police report if there is one, and the other side's insurance information.

How soon after an accident should I hire a lawyer?

As early as possible. The legal deadline is generally two years under Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1, and six months for government claims under Section 911.2, but the evidence deadline is much shorter: camera footage gets overwritten, vehicles get repaired, and memories fade. Early involvement also stops the insurer from taking a recorded statement that hurts your claim.

Sources

California Business and Professions Code Section 6147; California Code of Civil Procedure Sections 335.1 and 377.60; California Government Code Section 911.2. Khashayar Law Group results are documented on the case results page, including Asbaghi v. Nydegger and Brownlee v. City of San Diego. ABOTA membership is verifiable at abota.org; attorney license standing at calbar.ca.gov.