When someone else's negligence causes you injuries, California law gives you the right to hold them accountable. We handle every part of the claim — the investigation, the insurance company, the legal strategy — so you can focus on getting better.
A personal injury doesn’t announce itself. It happens in a second — a crash, a fall, a dog bite, a fatal collision — and then you’re dealing with hospital bills, missed work, insurance adjusters who call before you’ve left the ER, and an injury that may take months or years to fully understand.
California personal injury law exists for exactly this situation. When another person’s or entity’s negligence causes harm to you, you have the legal right to recover full compensation — not just your medical bills, but your lost income, your pain and suffering, and the impact on your life that no dollar amount fully captures.
Court House Lawyers is a Glendale-based personal injury firm. George Mkrtchyan, the firm’s Managing Attorney, has spent over a decade representing injury victims across Glendale and Los Angeles County in car accidents, slip and falls, dog bites, pedestrian accidents, wrongful deaths, construction accidents, and premises liability claims. Every client speaks directly with him. Every case is prepared for trial from day one.
The insurance company on the other side of your claim handles hundreds of claims every month. They have teams of adjusters and lawyers whose job is to pay as little as possible, as fast as possible. You need someone whose job it to ensure your pain and injuries are fully considered.
You generally have two years from the date of your injury to file most personal injury claims (CCP §335.1). If a government entity is involved, that window can drop to six months. The clock starts on the day of the incident — not when you realize the injury is serious.
Every personal injury claim in California — regardless of the type of accident — requires proving four elements under California’s negligence framework:
01
The defendant owed you a duty of care. Drivers owe a duty to other drivers and pedestrians. Property owners owe a duty to people who enter their property. Dog owners owe a duty to the public.
02
The defendant failed to meet that duty — through carelessness, recklessness, or intentional conduct. Such as running a red light, failing to repair a known hazard, not controlling a dog, driving drunk.
03
Their breach of duty was a substantial factor in causing your injury. This is where insurance companies focus their defense — arguing that your injury had a different cause, or that you had a pre-existing conditions or prior injuries.
04
You suffered economic and non-economic harm as a result — medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other compensable losses.
In California, if you were partially at fault, your recovery can be reduced by your percentage of fault — not eliminated. You can recover even if you were 50% or more at fault. Insurers routinely overstate a victim’s fault to reduce payouts.
2
years
Private Party Defendants
from date of injury
CCP §335.1
6
months
to file a government tort claim
Gov. Code §911.2
2
years
Wrongful Death
from date of death; 6-month rule applies to government entities
* These are general deadlines. Always note your specific circumstances, statute of limitations, and speak with an experienced attorney to know the deadlines that pertain to you and your case.
Court House Lawyers handles the full range of personal injury cases across Glendale and Los Angeles County. Each practice area below has a dedicated page with detailed information about the law, the evidence, the liable parties, and what your case may be worth.
The most common personal injury case in Glendale. Whether you were rear-ended on the 134, hit at a Brand Boulevard intersection, or involved in a rideshare accident, we handle the full claim — including diminished vehicle value, every insurance coverage layer, and the UM/UIM coverage most victims don't know to pursue. → Glendale Car Accident Lawyer
Property owners have a legal duty to maintain safe conditions under California Civil Code §1714. Wet floors, broken stairs, inadequate lighting, and cracked pavement are the most common hazards we handle at grocery stores, restaurants, parking structures, apartment complexes, and government buildings across Glendale. → Glendale Slip and Fall Lawyer
California's strict liability law (Civil Code §3342) holds dog owners responsible for bites regardless of the dog's history. We recover medical bills, plastic surgery costs, scarring compensation, lost wages, PTSD, and cynophobia damages — including injuries that don't show up on an X-ray. → Glendale Dog Bite Lawyer
Glendale ranks among California's most dangerous cities for pedestrians. When a vehicle strikes a pedestrian, the driver's insurer immediately begins building a case to minimize the payout. We counter-investigate from day one and pursue every category of compensation — including long-term care and lost earning capacity. → Glendale Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
When negligence takes a life, California's wrongful death statute (CCP §377.60) gives the surviving family the right to hold the responsible party accountable. We handle both the wrongful death claim and the survival action — recovering lost financial support, lost companionship, pre-death suffering, and funeral expenses. → Glendale Wrongful Death Lawyer
Landlords are legally required to maintain safe buildings under Civil Code §1714 and the implied warranty of habitability (§1941). Broken stairs, unlit hallways, wet breezeways, and ignored repair requests are the most common landlord-negligence claims we handle in Glendale's high-density apartment corridor. → Glendale Apartment Fall Lawyer
Uber, Lyft, and Waymo accidents involve layered insurance structures that most injured people don't understand — and that rideshare companies exploit. We identify the correct coverage tier, map every applicable policy, and treat the rideshare insurer as the opposing party from day one. → California Rideshare Accident Lawyer
Waymo and other autonomous vehicle accidents involve the AV company's insurer, the technology itself, and a claims process built to confuse. We handle the full investigation — including the vehicle's operational data — and pursue every responsible party. → California Self-Driving Car Accident Lawyer
There are dozens of personal injury firms in and around Glendale. Here’s what makes the difference with ours.
Every client speaks directly with an attorney. Not just a case manager, a paralegal, or assistant. From the first call through final resolution, you know who is working your case and you can reach them directly.
We give you our honest assessment the same day you call. You'll learn what your case is worth, what the liable parties are, and what every available coverage layer looks like. Even if you don't retain us.
Our fee is contingency-based. If we don't recover for you, you pay nothing. No retainer, no hourly billing, no upfront costs of any kind.
California law recognizes both economic and non-economic damages in every personal injury case. We pursue every category that applies, including future costs that insurance companies routinely try to minimize or exclude entirely.
Punitive damages are available in cases involving DUI, gross recklessness, or intentional conduct — where the defendant’s behavior warrants punishment beyond compensating the victim.
Almost every personal injury claim in California ultimately goes through an insurance company — the at-fault driver's policy, the property owner's liability policy, the dog owner's homeowner's coverage, the general contractor's commercial policy. Insurance companies are for-profit businesses whose goal is to resolve your claim for the minimum amount possible.
We treat every insurance adjuster as the opposing party from day one. Because they are.
| Court House Lawyers | Typical PI Firm | |
|---|---|---|
|
Case Review |
Same day, often within hours |
2–3 business days |
|
Attorney Access |
Every client speaks directly with George |
Routed through a case manager or rotating associates |
|
Evidence Preservation |
Same-day requests for footage, records, and witness statements |
Often delayed — critical evidence is lost |
|
Insurance Strategy |
We identify every coverage layer and treat the adjuster as the opposing party from day one |
Many firms focus only on the obvious primary policy |
|
Government Claims |
We file the 6-month government tort claim without exception |
Many firms miss this deadline entirely |
|
Practice Depth |
Full PI portfolio: car accident, slip & fall, dog bite, pedestrian, wrongful death, apartment fall, construction |
Generalist PI with limited depth on specialty practice areas |
|
Trial Readiness |
Every case prepared for trial; and the insurers know it |
Settlement-only firms get consistently lower offers |
|
Fees |
No win, no fees. Period. |
Can say the same, but watch for hidden costs at settlement |
George Mkrtchyan
Managing Attorney
George Mkrtchyan is the Managing Attorney of Court House Lawyers, a Glendale-based personal injury and lemon law firm. Over the past decade, George has recovered millions for clients in car accidents, pedestrian accidents, premises liability, dog bites, construction accidents, and wrongful death cases across Glendale and Los Angeles County.
He founded Court House Lawyers on one principle: every client deserves direct access to the attorney handling their case. No rotating associates. No paralegal-only communication. George is involved on every active file — from the initial evidence preservation request to the final settlement negotiation or trial preparation.
He is known for thorough case preparation, a willingness to take cases to trial when insurers underpay, and a communication standard that means clients always know exactly where their case stands.
“Insurance companies bank on fear and fatigue. They count on you accepting a fast, low offer because you’re tired and hurting. Our job is to make sure you don’t have to fight that fight alone.”
Personal Injury · Car Accident
Client was initially assigned 85% fault in a left-turn collision. After George and case manager Grant Abadzhyan took over, the fault assignment was reversed to zero and the client recovered full compensation.
Personal Injury · Car Accident
Three people were injured in the same accident, each with separate representation. George Mkrtchyan and Grant Abadzhyan secured the largest individual recovery of the three — the result of thorough early documentation and a faster demand strategy.
Personal Injury · Rideshare
Client injured in an Uber accident initially received nothing from the insurer. Court House Lawyers secured a $35,000 settlement within 30 days of filing a lawsuit.
Personal Injury · UIM Arbitration
Out-of-state underinsured motorist policy. The insurer refused to pay fairly. Court House Lawyers demanded arbitration and secured the full policy limits for the client.
Personal Injury · Car Accident
Client was offered $500 after a school bus accident. Court House Lawyers filed suit and recovered $50,000 — 100x the original offer.
Past results are specific to the facts of each case and do not guarantee future outcomes.
Every personal injury matter is evaluated on its own merits.
Tell us what happened. We give you our honest assessment of the case, who is liable, what every coverage layer is worth, and what to do next, even if you decide not to hire us.
You won't be passed off to a junior associate or a case manager. George handles your case from day one.
Personal injury cases often involve more than the most obvious defendant. We investigate every party with legal responsibility: the driver and their employer, the property owner and the management company, the GC and the subcontractors, the dog owner and the premises owner.
Critical evidence — surveillance footage, maintenance records, incident reports, cell phone data — disappears fast. We send preservation requests the same day you retain us, regardless of the practice area.
We connect injured clients with experienced providers in Glendale and the surrounding area who treat injury victims on a lien basis. Meaning, no upfront cost.
At-fault liability policy, your own UM/UIM, MedPay, employer coverage, commercial policies — we identify and pursue every applicable source of recovery.
If a public entity, government vehicle, or government-maintained property contributed to your injury, we file the 6-month government tort claim without exception. Missing this deadline permanently bars your claim.
Personal injury insurers settle higher when they know the case is prepared for trial. Most cases never get there — but at significantly better numbers because of the preparation.
No upfront costs of any kind. No hourly billing. If we don't recover for you, you owe us nothing.
We talk through what happened, who was involved, what injuries you suffered, and what insurance information exists. You walk away knowing our honest assessment of the case, the liable parties, and what every available recovery option is worth.
We send same-day preservation requests for all available evidence: footage, records, incident reports, phone data, and any physical evidence. We identify every party with legal responsibility. We pull any prior complaints, violations, or incident history involving the same condition or defendant.
We document your injuries, all medical costs, lost wages, future care needs, and pain and suffering. For serious injuries, we work with treating physicians and expert witnesses to establish long-term impact. We don't finalize demands until the full picture of your damages is known.
We send a comprehensive demand to every applicable insurer. We push back on lowball offers with documentation, comparable verdicts, and a clear willingness to file suit. Most cases resolve at this stage, but only because the preparation makes clear we're ready if they don't.
If any insurer refuses fair compensation, we file. Every case is prepared from day one as if it will go to trial. That preparation is exactly why most cases settle for significantly more before they ever get there.
* These are general deadlines. Always note your specific circumstances, statute of limitations, and speak with an experienced attorney to know the deadlines that pertain to you and your case.
If someone else’s negligence — careless driving, a dangerous property condition, a dog bite, an unsafe construction site — caused your injury, you likely have a case. The best way to know for certain is a free consultation. We’ll tell you honestly our assessment of the claim and what it’s likely worth.
You can still recover under California’s pure comparative fault system. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault, not eliminated. Even if you were 40% at fault, you recover 60% of your damages. Insurers routinely overstate victim fault. An attorney prevents this.
Most personal injury cases settle before trial — typically 90-95% of them. But the cases that settle for the most money are the ones that were prepared as if they were going to trial. We don’t advise clients to settle when the insurer’s offer doesn’t reflect the full value of the case.
Most cases resolve within 6 to 12 months. Cases requiring full litigation typically take 1 to 2 years from filing to resolution. The key variable is the completion of your medical treatment — we don’t finalize a demand until we understand the full extent of your injuries.
If you were driving a work vehicle on the clock, Workers’ compensation is the primary remedy against your employer, but if a third party (another driver) caused the accident, you can simultaneously pursue a personal injury lawsuit for pain and suffering. This is one of the most underused recovery options in California personal injury law.
Punitive damages are additional compensation beyond your actual losses, awarded when a defendant’s conduct was especially egregious, such as DUI, gross recklessness, or intentional misconduct. They’re designed to punish the defendant and deter similar conduct. They’re not available in every case, but we evaluate them in every case involving extreme misconduct.
Yes, whether you were a pedestrian, or a driver of your vehicle, you can pursue a personal injury claim. This a new area, and Court House Lawyers is an industry leader in these types of cases.
If you don’t have insurance, you can still receive medical care. We connect clients with experienced providers in Glendale who treat injury victims on a lien basis. They’re paid from the settlement, not upfront by you. MedPay coverage on your auto policy (if you have it) can also pay medical bills regardless of fault.
Almost certainly not without first speaking with an attorney. Initial settlement offers are routinely 20-80% below the actual value of a claim, especially when made before you’ve completed medical treatment and don’t yet know the full scope of your injuries. Once you sign a release, your rights can be permanently extinguished.
You may still have recovery options through your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, if you have it. You can also pursue a judgment against the uninsured party personally. We evaluate every available option.
You generally have six months — not two years — to file a government tort claim before any lawsuit is possible. Call us immediately if a city bus, county vehicle, government building, or public sidewalk was involved.
Nothing upfront. Court House Lawyers works on a contingency fee. We are paid a percentage of the recovery we obtain for you, and only if we win. If there is no recovery, there is no fee. No hourly billing, no hidden costs, and no out-of-pocket expenses.
Insurance companies track which law firms actually litigate and which always settle low and early. A firm with a reputation for trial readiness consistently gets better settlement offers because insurers know the alternative is a jury. At Court House Lawyers, every case is prepared for trial from day one. That preparation is not decoration; it’s the reason most cases resolve without going to court, and at numbers that reflect the full value of the claim.
Even if you feel manageable, going to an emergency room or urgent care immediately is usually in your best interest. Injuries and trauma don't always present with full severity right away. A medical exam can show what really happened.
Photograph the hazard, the vehicle, the location, the other party's information, and any visible injuries. Do this before anything is cleaned up, repaired, or moved.
Call 911 for car accidents and serious injuries. Report falls to the property manager or business. File a police report or injury report. These create contemporaneous records that are difficult to dispute later.
Names and phone numbers of everyone who saw what happened. Witnesses become unreachable within days.
To any insurance company, without first speaking with an attorney. This applies to the at-fault party's insurer, the property owner's insurer, and even your own insurer in most circumstances.
No release, no settlement, no authorization from any insurer or property owner until your attorney has reviewed it.
Your clothing, your footwear, any product or equipment involved in the incident. These are physical evidence in a personal injury claim.
Call (818) 293-8293 before doing anything else. Free, same-day review. We tell you exactly where you stand.
10
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND SUCCESS
Trusted Glendale personal injury attorney holding negligent drivers, property owners, driverless vehicles, and insurance companies accountable — for every client, on every case, from day one.
You didn’t ask for this. You shouldn’t be paying for it. From our Glendale office, we represent personal injury victims across California — car accidents, slip and falls, dog bites, pedestrian accidents, wrongful death, apartment falls, driverless vehicle accidents, and more.
