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Catherine Lerer

Catherine Lerer

McGee, Lerer & Associates
520 Broadway
Suite #350
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Map

Phone: (310) 451-5455  |  Fax: (310) 231-9715
http://www.santamonicainjurylawfirm.com

http://www.santamonicainjurylawfirm.com/Personal-Injury-Blog.aspx

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Serious injuries? Can't work? Cash advance possible

Legal Topic

Personal Injury

Preferred New Clients

We specialize in representing serious injury victims, including victims of car accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, pedestrian accidents, dog bites, and slip and fall cases.

Our practice is limited to 100% personal injury cases.

Need medical treatment? You may not have health insurance, or the money to pay for medical treatment. We can arrange for immediate medical treatment near your home on a "lien" basis, which means that the doctor agrees to wait to be paid until your case resolves. Don't delay getting medical treatment; the insurance company will use it against you and take the position that if you were really injured, you would have gotten medical treatment sooner.

Sub-Topics

Accidents & Personal Injury

  • Construction Site Injuries
  • Slip & Fall
  • Sports Injuries

Car Accident

  • Auto Accident
  • Whiplash

Dangerous Property

Intentional Injuries

  • Assault & Battery
  • Dog Bites & Animal Attacks
  • Sexual Assault

Mass Accidents

  • Buildings
  • Mass Transit - Bus, Train, Subway
  • Ships & Boats

Medical Malpractice

  • Dental Malpractice
  • Elder and Nursing Home Abuse
  • Nursing Home Negligence
  • Spinal Cord Injury

Motorcycle Accident

Personal Injury Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

Product Liability

  • Design Defects
  • Manufacturing Defects

Serious/Catastrophic Injuries

  • Amputation
  • Burn Injury
  • Head/Brain Injury
  • Paralysis

Truck Accident

Wrongful Death

Bar Admissions

CA, Dec 1994
Bar Number: 172257

Other Court Admissions

California.

Association Memberships

Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles.

Continuing Education

I annually attend the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles Las Vegas convention.

Papers and Publications

I have written articles focused on personal injury issues.

Example Cases

• $842,000 for a leg injury to our client who slipped at a store on freshly waxed floor.
• $800,000 for a hip fracture suffered by a 99-year-old man who was out for his daily walk when he was struck by a car that was backing up.
• $435,000 for a man who, while working as a sign twirler, was hit by a car and suffered a tibial plateau of the knee.
• $425,000 for a shoulder separation for a man who's car was struck by an off-duty ambulance that ran a red light.
• $305,000 for a 6-year-old girl who was bitten by her neighbor's dog. We were able to arrange for psychotherapy on a lien basis for the little girl and her grandmother, who witnessed the dog attack.
• $200,000 for a wrist injury, including carpal tunnel syndrome which resulted when our client's vehicle was rear-ended by another vehicle. Even though there was only minor damage to the rear of our client's car, we were able to establish that the impact caused his wrist to jam into the steering wheel, resulting in the carpal tunnel syndrome.
• $175,000 for a woman who suffered a fractured wrist when she tripped on a city sidewalk. We arranged for medical treatment on a lien with a top hand specialist in Los Angeles.

Education 

School:

Whittier College School of Law

Degree:

J.D.

City:

Costa Mesa

State:

CA

Year:

1993

Honors:

American Jurisprudence Award in Legal Writing

 

School:

UCLA

Degree:

B.A.

City:

Los Angeles

State:

CA

Year:

1986

Number of Attorneys

2

State Licensed In

California

Firm Focus and History

My husband, Daniel McGee, and I have each been practicing law for 18 years. We established our own law firm, McGee, Lerer & Associates, in 2003. Based on our years of experience at larger firms, we decided to open our own office so that we could accomplish two things: (1) 100% of our practice would be devoted to representing accident victims, and (2) keep the caseload small so that we could provide personalized service.

The focus of my firm is to represent serious injury victims and get them as much money as possible. We do not dabble in personal injury. Personal injury cases are all we do.

Previous Employment Summary

Prior to founding McGee, Lerer & Associates, I learned the ropes as the protégé of one of Los Angeles' top personal injury trial lawyers.

What is your opinion regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?

If clients want to educate themselves on the legal issues involved in their case, that's great. However, if they'd rather leave the legal issues up to us and not worry about them, that's absolutely ok.

Are you willing to review documents prepared by clients?

I am always willing to review documents prepared by my clients.

Are you willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?

My partner and I are big on giving free advice.

Why did you decide to be a lawyer?

I wanted to help people get justice.

What work experience and education helps you be a better lawyer?

I bring to the table 18 years of experience representing serious injury victims.

Why did you decide on your primary area of practice?

I believe insurance companies are evil. They do not care about injury victims. Insurance companies care only about paying injury victims as little as possible so that they can keep their shareholders happy.

I chose personal injury law so that I could champion the rights of injury victims and get them the money they deserve for their injuries.

What do you like best about your career?

Getting my injury clients full compensation for their injuries, as opposed to the pittance the insurance company wants them to take.

Tell us about your law firm:

My husband and I are partners in our personal injury law firm. Our clients deal directly with us. If we are not immediately available, our legal assistant Reyna can assist our clients.

What are your strengths and style?

My strengths are compassion, immediate action, and honest evaluation about your case's strengths and weaknesses. I am no-nonsense and have a get-the-job-done-yesterday mentality.

Personal Interests:

Outside of work, my husband and two daughters (ages eight and ten) are my primary focus.

Office Manager/Assistant

Reyna

Fax

(310) 231-9715

Office Hours

Monday through Thursday
9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Friday
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

We offer evening and weekend appointments.

To reach us after hours, please call (310) 717-8057.

Emergency After Hours

Yes

Foreign Languages

We are able to provide assistance to Spanish-speaking clients.

Additional Offices

Long Beach Office- by Appointment Only
3780 Kilroy Airport Way
Suite 200
Long Beach, CA 90806
(562) 216-1515

Pasadena Office-by Appointment Only
1055 E. Colorado Boulevard
5th Floor
Pasadena, CA 91106
(626) 204-1444

Los Angeles Office
11300 W. Olympic Boulevard
Suite 870
Los Angeles, CA 90064
(310) 231-9717

Fixed-Price Services and Fees

We work on a contingency fee basis. If no recovery, then no fee.

Hourly Rates

You pay us nothing up front. Our fees are paid for out of the recovery in your case.

Free Initial Consultation?

We offer free consultations.

Cash advance? If your injuries are serious, liability is clear, and we can establish sufficient insurance coverage for the at-fault party, we may be able to get you a cash advance. Contact our firm today to find out if you are eligible.

Typical Retainer

All work is done on a contingency fee basis.

Understanding Fees

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