Cynthia Chihak

Top rated Personal Injury attorney in San Diego, California

Chihak & Associates
Cynthia Chihak
Chihak & Associates

Practice Areas: Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice; view more

Licensed in California since: 1977

Education: Pepperdine University School of Law

Selected to Super Lawyers: 2007 - 2025
Free Consultation

Chihak & Associates

12555 High Bluff Drive
Suite 150
San Diego, CA 92130 Visit website

Details

Cynthia Chihak is a partner at Chihak & Associates in San Diego, California. A respected personal injury attorney, Ms. Chihak has over 40 years of experience and represents clients throughout the San Diego area. She takes on cases involving catastrophic automobile injuries, brain injuries, medical malpractice, premises liability and other issues.

Ms. Chihak has spoken at numerous conferences and seminars over the years, and has lectured at educational institutions including the University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine. She has also written for professional publications on topics, including California civil procedure and medical malpractice.

Honored for her many contributions to the legal profession, Ms. Chihak was named one of the “Top 25 lawyers in San Diego” by San Diego Metro magazine and one of San Diego’s “Top Attorneys” by San Diego magazine. The Daily Journal included her as one of California’s “Top Woman Litigators”trial lawyer of the year and was elected to the Trial Lawyer's Hall of Fame She is a fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and barristers, 

Ms. Chihak is a member of professional organizations including the Consumer Attorneys of San Diego, the Consumer Attorneys of California and the American Board of Trial Advocates. Over the course of her career, she has been elected president of both consumer attorneys of California, and the American Board of trial advocates.  She has consistently dedicated her time and talent toward making valuable contributions to her legal community.

Ms. Chihak graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, with a bachelor’s degree and earned her law degree from Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law. She holds a license to practice law before all California state and federal courts.

Practice areas

Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff, Personal Injury - Medical Malpractice: Plaintiff

Focus areas

Birth Injury, Brain Injury, Delayed or Incorrect Diagnosis, Medical Malpractice, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Premises Liability - Plaintiff

  • 40% Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff
  • 60% Personal Injury - Medical Malpractice: Plaintiff

First Admitted: 1977, California

Professional Webpage: https://www.chihaklaw.com/attorney/cynthia-chihak/

Bar/Professional Activity:
  • ABOTA, President, 2008 to 2008  
  • ABOTA, President Elect, 2007 to 2007
  • San Diego Trial Lawyers Association, President, 1992 to 1993
  • ABOTA, Treasurer, 2005 to 2005
  • CAOC, Medical Malpractice Committee, 1997 to 1998
  • San Diego Superior Court, Pro-Tem Judge, 1995 to 1995
  • San Diego Trial Lawyers Association, President Elect, 1991 to 1991
  • San Diego Trial Association, Board of Directors, 1988 to 1994
  • California Trial Lawyers Association, Secretary, 1989 to 1990
  • American Board of Trial Advocates
  • California Trial Lawyers Association (Consumer Attorneys of California), Board of Directors, 1988 to 1996
  • California Trial Lawyers (Consumer Attorneys of California)
  • San Diego Trial Lawyers Association (Consumer Attorneys of San Diego)
  • Consumer Attorneys of California
  • Consumer Attorneys of San Diego
  • International Academy of Trial Lawyers
  • California, 1977
Verdicts/Settlements (Case Results):
  • $1,000,000.00 settlement failure to diagnosis prostrate cancer, 2020
  • $1,350,000.00 medical malpractice settlement for the failure to treat botulism, 2022
  • $4,200,000.00 settlement against Kaiser for a child suffering from lack of nutrition, 2020
  • $1,000,000.00 medical malpractice settlement against a plastic surgeon for injuries during a body lift, 2021
  • $1,185,000.00 arbitration award against Kaiser for wrongful death of a 68-year-old woman, medical malpractice, 2022
  • $2,000,000.00 settlement for adult son of a woman killed in an automobile accident, 2022
  • $1,000,000.00 settlement plastic surgery malpractice, 2020
  • $1,200,000.00 setlement, wrong medication during surgery, 2020
  • $5,230,000.00 arbitration award against Kaiser.  Failure to diagnosis lingual nerve injury after surgery., 2019
  • $10,000,000.00 wrongful birth case settlement, 2016
  • $273,000.00 jury verdict, dog bit, 2018
  • $973,000.00 jury verdict trip and fall for 93 year old woman with a fractured pelvis., 2017
Honors/Awards:
  • Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers
  • First woman, president of San Diego’s, American Board of trial advocates, President San Diego American Board of trial lawyers, ABOTA
  • International Academy of barristers, Elected, Barristers
  • Outstanding arbitration award, Grace v Kaiser, CASD, 2019
  • Trial lawyer hall of fame, Trial lawyers, Hall of Fame, CASD, 2020
  • Named as one of the top 30 Plaintiff lawyers in Ca by the DJ
  • Top 50 Lawyers in California, named by Super Lawyers Magazine
  • California’s Top Woman Litigators, named by Los Angeles Daily Journal
  • Daniel T. Broderick, III Memorial Award
  • Outstanding Trial Lawyer - Corso v. Doublewood Contractors, Inc. (Construction site fall)
  • Trial Lawyer of the Year
  • Outstanding Trial Lawyer - Mercado v. Kaiser (Med. Malpractice Arbitration Award)
  • Outstanding Trial Lawyer - Campbell v. Pacific Propane (Fire and Product Liability)
  • Outstanding Trial Lawyer - Howsmon v. Ricci (Medical Malpractice Verdict)
  • Outstanding Trial Lawyer - Szkorla v. Vecchione, M.D. (Plastic Surgery - Medical Malpractice Verdict)
  • One of San Diego's Top Attorneys by San Diego Magazine
  • Recognized as a Top Attorney by Super Lawyers
  • One of the Top 25 Lawyers in San Diego by San Diego Metropolitan Magazine
Educational Background:
  • University of California, Los Angeles, B.A., 1974
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
  • Litigating Medical Malpractice Claims, ALI-ABA, 2008 to 2008
  • Multiple lectures on how to try a lawsuit, Lecture, ABOTA masters in trial, ABOTA
  • Editor of Legislative Analysis Column, Trial Bar News, 1991
  • Professional Malpractice - Medical Malpractice, Bancroft-Whitney
  • California Civil Practice Procedure, Bancroft-Whitney
  • Trial by the Masters, Portugal, ABOTA, 2008 to 2008
  • Case Handling, CASD, 2006 to 2006
  • Lecturer, Inns of Court, 2008 to 2008
  • Lecturer, Trial by the Masters, Orange County, ABOTA, 2008 to 2008
  • Work-Study Session, BETA Healthcare Group, 2007 to 2007
  • Work Study Session, BETA Healthcare Group, 2007 to 2007
  • San Diego and San Bernardino, ABOTA Trial by the Masters, 2007 to 2007
  • Trial Advocacy - Closing Argument, CALA, 2006 to 2006
  • The Obstetrician Practice, Avoiding Liability, ABOTA - Trial by the Masters (1999) Page 3 University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine, 2000 to 2000
  • Trial by the Masters, ABOTA, 2006 to 2006
  • Depositions, CAOC Annual Convention, 2006 to 2006
  • Basic Training: Civil Procedure, The Rutter Group, 2003 to 2003
  • Inns of Court, ABTL Trial Symposium (2002), 2003 to 2003
  • Cross-Examination, Inns of Court - Trial Practice Program, 2002 to 2002
  • Cross-Examination, Inns of Court - Trial Practice Program, 2000 to 2000
  • Trying a Medical Malpractice Case, University of California, San Diego, Pre-Law, 1998 to 1998
  • Chair, Medical Malpractice, CAOC Annual Seminar, 1999 to 1999
  • San Diego Inn of Court - Cross Examination, CASD World Series of Torts (1999), 1999 to 1999
  • Jury Selection in Medical Malpractice Cases, CAOC - Tahoe Seminar, 1998 to 1998
  • Pre-Law - Trying a Medical Malpractice Case, San Diego Inn of Court, 1998 to 1998
  • How to Avoid Malpractice, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine, 1988 to 1988
  • CAOC Annual Seminar, Jury Selection in a Medical Malpractice Action, 1988 to 1988
  • Medical Malpractice - A Discovery Plan to Avoid Defense A Verdict, CAOC - Beaver Creek Seminar, 1997 to 1997
  • Difficult Causation Issues in Medical Malpractice Cases, CAOC - Beaver Creek Seminar, 1988 to 1998
  • Opening Statement, San Diego Inn of Court, 1997 to 1997
  • Trial by the Masters, ABOTA, 1997 to 1997
  • Lecturer, Avoiding Medical Malpractice Litigation, San Diego Urological Society, 1994 to 1994
  • Closing Argument in a Medical Malpractice Case, CAOC - Tahoe Seminar, 1997 to 1997
  • Medical Malpractice Panel - Co-Moderator, CAOC - Tahoe Seminar, 1996 to 1996
  • Medical Malpractice Cases - Playing to the Prejudices of the Jury, CAOC - Beaver Creek Seminar, 1996 to 1996
  • Lecturer, Arbitration Seminar, SDTLA, 1995 to 1995
  • Lecturer, Expert Witness in Medical Malpractice, CTLA - San Francisco Seminar, 1995 to 1995
  • Lecturer, Medical Malpractice, CTLA - Travel Seminar, 1994 to 1994
  • Lecturer, Medical Malpractice & Products Liability, CTLA - Annual Seminar, 1994 to 1994
  • Lecturer, Law and Motion Seminar, SDTLA, 1994 to 1994
  • Lecturer, Litigation Seminar, RIMS, 1994 to 1994
  • Lecturer, Discovery, C.E.B., 1991 to 1991
  • Lecturer, Civil Litigation Before Trial, CEB, 1993 to 1993
  • Lecturer, Discovery in a Medical Malpractice Case, CTLA, 1993 to 1993
  • Lecturer, Proposition 51 & Apportionment of Verdicts, SDTLA, 1993 to 1993
  • Lecturer, Expert Location & Usage, CTLA, 1992 to 1992
  • Lecturer, Premises Liability, SDTLA, 1992 to 1992
  • Lecturer, Anatomy of a Civil Jury Trial, SDTLA, 1996 to 1997
  • Lecturer, Anatomy of a Civil Jury Trial, SDTLA, 1992 to 1994
  • Lecturer, UM Arbitration, SDTLA, 1992 to 1992

Office location for Cynthia Chihak

12555 High Bluff Drive
Suite 150
San Diego, CA 92130

Phone: 858-481-7252

Selections

19 Years Super Lawyers
  • Super Lawyers: 2007 - 2025

Top Lists

Top 25: Women San Diego Super Lawyers: 2007 - 2025 Top 10: San Diego Super Lawyers: 2025 Top 50: San Diego Super Lawyers: 2007 - 2014, 2021 - 2025

Certificates and credentials

Articles about Cynthia Chihak by Super Lawyers

The Gladiator 'The Doors Were Opening'

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