Appel Law Firm LLP
Appel Law Firm LLP is located in Walnut Creek, CA.
Our core strength: 60-plus combined years dedicated exclusively to personal injury legal work and the people we serve.
Firm Overview
Located in Walnut Creek, California and founded in 1996, we serve Contra Costa and Alameda counties with deep experience and personal commitment.
Our proven results over decades speak volumes.
With 60+ combined years working exclusively in personal injury law, founding partners and expert attorneys Joe and Mike Appel have helped thousands, injured by the fault of others, receive the money they deserve.Â
Our cases, your victories
We have successfully brought numerous personal injury, elder abuse, construction accident, motor vehicle accident, defective product, and wrongful death cases against contentious insurance companies, corporations, government agencies, and individuals.
We take your case personally
Joe or Mike will always be your point person. No exceptions. No paralegals. Direct access and returned calls within 24 hours. We do all the legal work ourselves, knowing even the minutest details in your case, a big advantage over the defense attorneys.
They haÂve been known to scan years of Google Earth satellite photographs, zooming into street view, in search of one particular crack in one particular public unmarked crosswalk, rummage through dusty aerial photographic archives in the Central Valley for key evidence in an irrigation ditch, or jump on a plane headed for the Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia to take and secure a key witness deposition. All three cases were successfully resolved and settlements paid.
Consultation fee structure
We offer all potential clients an initial FREE consultation. Usually our attorneys fees are one-third of the gross recovery. If you don'Ât win, we don'Ât get paid any attorney fees nor are we reimbursed our advanced costs of suit.
Main Office
100 Pringle Ave.
Ste. 730
Walnut Creek
CA
94596
- (925) 938-2000
- (925) 938-2728
Personal injury law, simplified
Personal injury law holds people or organizations accountable for the harm they cause others. Victims of injury due to the fault of another â physical, financial, emotional, or cognitive â ar
The vast majority of personal injury claims for compensation that involve an accident or injury are resolved through settlement or mediation. Those involved in the dispute, their insurance companies, and their lawyers typically work out a reasonable resolution, called a settlement, and reduce it to a written document. Both sides to the dispute agree not to take any further action, instead resolving their respective claims for an agreed-upon sum of money.
Thomas Appel
Thomas has a passion for the law as it relates to personal injury and worker's compensation. His current practice at the Appel Law Firm LLP focuses on representing those involved in personal injury claims, as well as worker's compensation and other related matters.
During law school, Thomas served as a judicial extern for Judge Timothy A. Reardon of the First District of the California Court of Appeal. He was a member of the University of San Francisco Advanced Advocacy teams for two years and served as the Social Chair on the Advanced Advocacy Board. Thomas also was a member of the University of San Francisco Law Review.
Before attending law school, Thomas worked for several firms that focused on personal injury and estate planning and administration. He also served as an Intern Investigator for the Mental Health Division of the District of Columbia Public Defender Service.
Thomas received a B.A. in Political Science-Public Law from the University of California, San Diego and a J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law in May 2011.
Michael Appel
For more than 30 years, Mike Appel has devoted his practice exclusively to personal injury and wrongful death cases. He represents clients throughout California, both in State and Federal courts.
Born and raised in Redondo Beach, Mike attended St. Maryâs College of California, Moraga, California, where he majored in English. He was an editor of the collegeâs literary magazine, "The Phoenix." He also played rugby for the Gaels, and was a member of the team that went on the first annual rugby tour of the East Coast. Mike received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1970. At graduation he also received the Alumni Medal for English.
In 1973, Mike received his Juris Doctorate from Golden Gate University School of Law, San Francisco, California. He was admitted to the United States Supreme Court, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Federal District Courts for the Northern, Eastern, Central, and Southern Districts of California, the United States Court of Federal Claims, and the California Supreme Court.Â
Mike is also a part-time teacher at De La Salle High School in Concord, California. He teaches American Studies: The Law and AP Government & Politics.
Joseph Appel
Joe Appel has specialized in personal injury cases for more than 30 years. Heâs seen it, tried it, and won it, both in state and federal courts.
Joe graduated from St. Maryâs College of California, Moraga, California in 1976 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He also played basketball for the Galloping Gaels for four years. At graduation Joe received the Scholar Athlete of the Year Award. He then attended and graduated from University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 1979. Joe was admitted to the California and Federal Courts in the same year. He has been a member of the Contra Costa and Alameda County Bar Associations and the Consumer Attorneys of California organization.
Joe lives in Contra Costa County with his wife and 4 children. Passionate about after school sports, Joe has coached elementary and high school basketball for 18 years. His community-based service work is devoted to Christ the King Catholic Church, with a special emphasis on advocacy for the mentally ill. Joe is one of the founders of the Christ the King family support group, known as H.E.L.P (Hope, Encouragement, Love, and Prayer) for families afflicted with severe mental health issues.
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