P. Ryan Banafshe

Bar / Professional Activity

• State Bar of California, 2003
• Los Angeles Trial Lawyers Charity
• American Association of Justice (AAJ)
• Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA)
• Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC) Presidents Club
• United States District Court for the Central District of California
• State Bar of California Litigation Section

Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)

• $5,250,000 - Wrongful Death - We were represented by a family who lost their mother in an auto accident. We obtained a policy limit settlement on their behalf., 2023
• $1,250,000 - Pedestrian Accident, 2023
• $1,850,000 - This case was referred to us by another firm that wanted us to handle a trucking accident. The insurance company took the position that this was a low impact (less than 5 mph) case that our client only suffered soft tissue injuries. Through the use of experts we were able to convince the defense that our client suffered a substantial cervical injury that required surgery., 2023
• $1,000,000 - Wrongful Death - The deceased was lawfully crossing the street when he was tragically fun over by a van. $1,000,000 was the policy limits., 2023
• $1,000,000 - This is a matter that liability was disputed from the beginning. Through the use of experts, we presented irrefutable evidence indicating that the Defendant was responsible for the incident and and it was determined that the events as recounted by the Defendant during his testimony were not plausible from a physical standpoint. Prior to the settlement, the defense never made a single offer to settle this case. Our client suffered hip and pelvic fractures that required surgery. Her case settled for the policy limits., 2023
• $750,000 - This case was referred to us by another law firm because our client did not have motorcycle insurance at the time of the accident and his damages were limited by an unjust law, Proposition 213 which is codified under California Civil Code Section 3333.4, which penalized our client, who was not at fault for this accident, for not having insurance at the time of the accident. He was prevented from recovering any pain and suffering. Despite this limitation, we were able to secure $750,000 by proving to the defense that his future medical bills will be significant., 2023
• $745,000 - Our client suffered a spine injury after the vehicle he was driving was rear-ended by a truck., 2023
• $500,000 - Our Client was sleeping in his car when it was violently rear ended. Our client suffered significant spine injuries. We immediately filed a lawsuit, investigated, and discovered that the Defendant had a $500,000 insurance policy. We immediately demanded the policy limits and it was paid., 2023
• $6,250,000 - We obtained a $6,250,000 settlement on behalf of our client who suffered a catastrophic injury. His damages were limited by an unjust law, Proposition 213 which is codified under California Civil Code Section 3333.4, which penalized our client, who was not at fault for this accident, for not having insurance at the time of the accident. He was prevented from recovering any pain and suffering. This proposition primarily affects low income individuals and benefits insurance companies. Despite this limitation, we were able to secure a large settlement on behalf of our client. Our client has been an inspiration to us all. We love him and couldn’t be more proud of him. Despite his injuries, he has remained upbeat and determined to not allow his injury hold him back., 2022
• $1,500,000 - While legally travelling through an intersection, our client's vehicle was struck on the drive side door by the Defendant's vehicle. For several years, the defense argued that our client did not suffer injuries in this accident. We believed in our client and her case so we litigated until our client obtained the compensation she deserved., 2022
• $1,500,000 - Our client was travelling through an intersection when the Defendant negotiated an illegal left turn directly in the path of our client's vehicle causing him to suffer substantial orthopedic injuries that required him to undergo a spine surgery., 2022
• $4,000,0000 Jury Verdict - Our 64 year-old client suffered a pelvic fracture, that required a total hip replacement, when she tripped and fell over a cement wheel stop. The defense never accepted liability and refused to make any offer prior to the trial where a jury awarded plaintiff $4,000,000 in damages., 2022
• $23,720,996 - After a 9-day bench trial, the Defendants, who disputed liability at trial, were found 100% at fault for the collision and our client was awarded $23,720,996. Our client was struck by a truck while lawfully riding his motorcycle. After multiple attempts by orthopedic surgeons to save his leg, our client was forced to undergo a below knee amputation. Sadly, our client’s injury will affect him and his family for the remaining years of his life. This award will provide him access to the finances and medical care he needs for him and his family to live the best life they can despite his injury. A special thank you to the best client a firm could ask for and his loving wife. Our client continued to work at his physically demanding job, never complained, was the best father and husband a family could ask for, and an inspiration to everyone at our firm., 2021
• $1,800,000 - Our client's vehicle was violently struck by the Defendant who was speeding. Our client's prior attorney advised our client to settle her case for what her prior attorney believed was the policy limits of $100,000. Fortunately, our client came to us for a second opinion and we quickly discovered that the Defendant driver was in the course and scope of his employment during accident and his employer was vicariously liable for the driver's actions. We ultimately settled for $1,800,000, which is 18 times what her prior attorney advised her to settle for., 2021
• $3,000,000 - Our client was struck while crossing the street in a crosswalk. Although the defendant who struck our client only had a $15,000 policy limits, through our investigations, we were able to locate another responsible party with sufficient insurance to compensate our client for his injuries., 2020
• $1,000,000 - Initially the insurance carrier made a strong offer to settle this case, one most firms would have accepted. However, we believed in the case and our clients. We were confident that if we filed a lawsuit and fought for our clients we would be able to obtain the policy limits. We filed the lawsuit and dedicated a team of attorneys and a team of paralegals and assistants to secure the $1,000,000 policy limits, which was over 3 times the original offer. This settlement compensates our clients for their medical bills, pain and suffering and provides them with the financial security to continue to treat their injuries., 2020
• $1,000,000 - Our client slipped and fell at a hotel and suffered orthopedic injuries. There was no video of the incident and it was a highly contested case that required years of litigation and multiple depositions to solidify liability. Ultimately, with a great team effort we were able to obtain the compensation our client deserved., 2019
• $995,500 - Our client's vehicle rear ended by a semi truck on the freeway causing our client to suffer orthopedic injuries that required cervical surgery., 2019
• $4,500,000 - Our client was involved in a auto vs auto accident. Initially, our client was under the impression that the vehicle that was at fault for this accident only had a personal insurance policy with low limits. We investigated and learned that the Defendant driver was in course and scope of his employment and that his employer was vicariously liable for his employee. The employee had sufficient insurance to compensate our client for his permanent injuries., 2018
• $600,000 Our client's vehicle was rear-ended when slowed down for traffic. Our client suffered orthopedic injuries throughout his body. There was no offer until just before trial at which time we obtained $600,000 for our client., 2017
• $1,250,000 Pedestrian v. Auto - Our client was injured when she was struck by a vehicle while crossing the street in a marked crosswalk. The settlement was approximately seven times the amount of the initial offer., 2016
• $750,000 Our client's vehicle was rear-ended as she came to a complete stop due to a solid red light. She suffered orthopedic and spine injuries. Just before trial, our client settled her claim for $750,000., 2016
• $1,000,000 (Facts are Confidential)
• $1,000,000 Our client slipped and fell while shopping at a market. He suffered injuries to his spine and other parts of his body. Initially, the defendant was not making an offer to settle. We filed a lawsuit and the defendant's initial offer in litigation was $175,000. Ultimately, we settled for the policy limits., 2015
• $450,000 While on the freeway, our client came to a stop for traffic. Suddenly and without warning, our client's vehicle was rear-ended by the defendant. Since our client's vehicle did not suffer extensive damage the defendant refused to pay the fair value of our client's damages. We filed suit and ultimately our client settled for $450,000., 2016

Special Licenses / Certifications

• UCLA Mediation Training Program, 2003

Pro bono / Community Service

• 2022 Los Angeles Trial Lawyers' Charities Honorary Board of Governors - Silver Membership, 2022
• 2021 Los Angeles Trial Lawyers' Charities Honorary Board of Governors - Silver Membership, 2021
• 2020 Los Angeles Trial Lawyers' Charities Honorary Board of Governors - Bronze Membership, 2020
• 2019 Los Angeles Trial Lawyers' Charities Honorary Board of Governors - Bronze Membership, 2019

Other Outstanding Achievements

• National Trial Lawyers Top 100 - Civil Plaintiff, 2022

Honors

• P. Ryan Banafshe has been recognized as one of the 2024 Best Lawyers in America®, Best Lawyers, The Best Lawyers in America, 2024
• Best Law Firms is a prestigious ranking published by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers that recognizes top law firms for professional excellence and consistently strong ratings from clients and peers. Firms included in Best Law Firms demonstrate a high level of expertise, integrity, and success across various practice areas., Best Law Firms, Best Lawyers, 2025
• AVVO 10.0 Top Rated Attorney
• Lead Counsel Rated, 2017
• Distinguished Lawyer awarded by Expert Network, 2017
• Million Dollar Advocate Forum, 2016
• 2019 Life Member of Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
• National Trial Lawyers Top 100 - Civil Plaintiff, National Trial Lawyers, 2022
• Lawyers of Distinction Awarded to Top 10% of Lawyers in The USA, Lawyers of Distinction, Lawyers of Distinction, 2020
• AV Preeminent Ratings recognize lawyers with the highest level of professional excellence, 2019-2024, AV Preeminent, Martindale-Hubbell
• Lifetime Member, Best Attorney, Best Attorney's of America, 2017
• Distinguished Justice Advocates Less than 1% of all practicing attorneys will receive this award and Charter Membership is limited to 100 per state. , Distinguished Justice Advocates, Charter Member, 2017
• ETHICAL LAWYERS OF AMERICA is a directory listing of ethical attorneys who are dedicated to promoting honesty, integrity and civility in the legal profession. All lawyers listed on ETHICAL LAWYERS OF AMERICA have achieved national recognition as one of America’s Most Trusted Attorneys®. Less than one percent of all practicing attorneys in the country are listed with Ethical Lawyers of America., Ethical Lawyers of America, 2015
• Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Million Dollar Advocates Forum Membership is limited to attorneys who have won million and multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements. Fewer than 1% of U.S. lawyers are members., 2014

“Exceptional attorney, leader and human.”