A Peer-Reviewed Honor and What It Means for Newport Beach Injury Victims
If you were hurt in Newport Beach and are comparing personal injury firms, you are probably looking for proof that a firm can handle your case. The 2026 NADC Top 1% honor gives you one piece of that proof. According to the firm’s website, the National Association of Distinguished Counsel (NADC) named Bisnar Chase managing partner Brian Chase among the nation’s top 1% of personal injury lawyers for 2026, based on peer-reviewed research. For a client, that suggests other legal professionals judged the firm’s work worthy of national recognition. It does not promise any result in your case.
When you are ready to talk about your situation, the team at Bisnar Chase is available. You can call 800-561-4887 or contact us now to schedule a free consultation with a Newport Beach personal injury attorney.
Why the NADC Top 1% Recognition Matters When You Choose a Lawyer
This honor matters because it is described as peer-reviewed, and California regulates how law firms advertise. California Business and Professions Code § 6157 et seq. and Rule 7.1 of the California Rules of Professional Conduct prohibit lawyer communications that are false or misleading. That includes references to awards or ratings that could mislead the public, such as honors that are simply bought or given just for being a member. These California lawyer advertising rules are meant to stop firms from misrepresenting their credentials.
What Peer Review Tells You That Advertising Cannot
Peer review shows how lawyers who know litigation rate a firm’s work. Advertising shows you what a firm says about itself. Managing partner Brian Chase leads the firm’s trial work and often teaches personal injury trial techniques for the Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC), Dordick Trial College, and the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association (OCTLA). You can read more about how Brian Chase earned the 2026 honor and what the selection process looked at.
The NADC honor is one of several 2026 recognitions listed on the firm’s site. Others include:
- America’s 2026 Top 50 Lawyers
- A 2026 Million Dollar Litigator recognition
- 2026 Litigation Lawyers of the Year
- Best Lawyers in America recognition as top injury lawyers for eight years in a row
- Super Lawyers recognition for 20 years
- The American Institute of Trial Lawyers’ Best Law Firm for 2025
What an Award Cannot Tell You
No award can predict the outcome of your case. Business and Professions Code § 6157.2 bars lawyer advertising that guarantees or warrants the outcome of a legal matter. Rule 7.1 separately bars misleading statements about a lawyer’s services or record. Every claim turns on its own facts, including liability, the evidence, insurance coverage, and how badly you were hurt. Think of an award as one reason to trust a firm’s experience, not as a forecast.
💡 Pro Tip: When you meet with any attorney, ask who will actually handle your case and whether that lawyer has tried cases like yours to a jury.
How Experience Shapes Your Personal Injury Claim
Experience matters most in the parts of a case clients never see. To win a California negligence claim, you generally have to prove four things: the other party owed you a duty of care, they breached it, the breach caused your injury, and you suffered damages. Each depends on evidence that can disappear quickly, such as witness memories, surveillance footage, vehicle data, and medical records.
Bisnar Chase has represented injured plaintiffs in California since 1978. The firm’s site says it has recovered over $1 billion for more than 14,000 clients, with a success rate of about 99%. Past results listed on the site include $38,650,000 and $30,000,000 in motorcycle accident cases, $24,744,764 in an auto defect case, and $23,091,098 in a product liability case. These are past results. They do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any other case.
Car accidents in Newport Beach and across Orange County are the core of the firm’s practice. Many crashes on Pacific Coast Highway or the 73 toll road raise questions about comparative fault. California follows pure comparative negligence. You may still recover damages if you were partly at fault, but your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. Insurers often push to raise the injured person’s share of fault, and trial-ready lawyers can push back.
💡 Pro Tip: Keep every medical bill, appointment note, and pharmacy receipt in one folder starting on day one. Gaps in your records are among the most common arguments insurers use to reduce injury claims.
Dog Bites, Leash Law California Rules, and Repeat-Bite Cases
Dog bite claims are one of the firm’s main areas of authority, and California law strongly favors victims. Under Civil Code § 3342, a dog owner is generally strictly liable when the dog bites someone in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the owner’s property. The owner may be liable whether or not the dog had ever bitten anyone before. The statute covers bites only and has exceptions for some police and military dogs. Comparative fault and other defenses may also apply.
Owner Duties and Repeat-Bite Actions
Owners of dogs that have bitten someone face added duties under Civil Code § 3342.5. Under subdivision (a), the owner must take reasonable steps to remove the danger the dog poses to other people. Under subdivision (b), if a dog has bitten people on at least two separate occasions, any person, the district attorney, or the city attorney may sue the owner. The case may be filed in the county where a bite happened, so a Newport Beach bite would go to Orange County. The court may order the dog removed from the area or, if necessary, destroyed. You can review these California dog bite statutes directly.
Several exceptions and special rules apply. Under § 3342.5(c), the same action is available after just one bite if a dog trained to fight, attack, or kill causes substantial physical injury. Under § 3342.5(d), a repeat-bite action cannot be based on bites to trespassers, or on bites by military or police dogs while doing that work. Under § 3342.5(g), a proceeding under the section is a limited civil case.
These remedies do not replace your right to compensation. Section 3342.5(f) provides that the section does not affect an owner’s liability under § 3342 or any other law. A bite victim can still bring a personal injury claim for damages. Section 3342.5(e) also lets cities and counties adopt their own dog control laws, which is the basis for local leash ordinances in Newport Beach. A leash violation may be useful evidence, but strict liability under § 3342 does not depend on one.
💡 Pro Tip: After a dog bite, photograph the wounds over several days, get the owner’s name and address, and report the bite to local animal control.
Deadlines Every Orange County Injury Victim Should Know
California sets strict time limits for injury lawsuits. Under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1, the statute of limitations for most personal injury claims is generally two years from the date of injury. Exceptions, such as delayed discovery or tolling for minors, may change that deadline, but courts apply them narrowly, so never assume one applies to you.
Claims against government entities follow a separate and much shorter process. If a city, county, or state agency may be responsible, for example because of a dangerous road condition, Government Code § 911.2 generally requires you to file a written claim with that entity within six months of the injury. This usually must be done before you can sue, and missing any later deadline can bar your case.
Why You Should Choose Bisnar Chase
Bisnar Chase combines national peer recognition with deep roots in Newport Beach. Its site says all of its injury attorneys are trial lawyers and that it represents only plaintiffs. The site also says the firm conducts thorough investigations, negotiates medical expenses, and handles medical liens. These tasks can directly affect how much of a recovery you take home.
Brian Chase’s credentials add to the firm’s record. The firm lists him as a Daily Journal Top Plaintiff Lawyer, a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), a Consumer Attorneys of California award recipient, and a former CAOC President. The firm also holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and offers free consultations with no attorney fee unless the firm wins. Ask how case costs are handled under your fee agreement. Learn more about the firm’s Newport Beach injury attorneys and the cases they handle.
💡 Pro Tip: Before you sign anything from an insurance company, including a medical records release or a settlement offer, have a lawyer review it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common Questions About Personal Injury in Newport Beach, California
1. Does the NADC Top 1% honor mean my case will win?
No, an award cannot guarantee any outcome. California advertising rules bar lawyers from guaranteeing results. The honor reflects peer recognition of past work. Your result will depend on the facts and evidence in your case.
2. How do I know an attorney award is legitimate?
California’s lawyer advertising rules prohibit false or misleading references to awards or credentials. Ask any firm how it earned a recognition and whether it paid for it. According to Bisnar Chase’s site, its NADC selection was based on peer-reviewed research.
3. Can I recover if I was partly at fault for my accident?
Under California’s pure comparative negligence rule, you may still recover damages even if you share some fault. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault, and how fault is divided depends heavily on the evidence.
4. Does a dog have to bite more than once before I can sue?
No, Civil Code § 3342 generally makes owners strictly liable for a first bite if the victim was in a public place or lawfully in a private place. The repeat-bite remedies in § 3342.5, such as removal of the dog, are separate and do not limit your claim for damages.
5. How long do I have to file a personal injury claim?
Under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1, the deadline is generally two years from the date of injury, subject to limited exceptions. Claims against government entities usually require a written claim within six months under Government Code § 911.2. Speak with an attorney promptly to confirm which deadlines apply.
Turning Recognition Into Confidence for Your Next Step
The 2026 NADC Top 1% honor reflects decades of plaintiff-only trial work, not a promise about any one case. For injured people in Newport Beach, Orange County, and Los Angeles, it is one useful signal when choosing a lawyer. Other signals include California-specific knowledge of strict dog bite liability, comparative fault, and filing deadlines.
Reach out to our Newport Beach personal injury attorneys. The team at Bisnar Chase is ready to review your claim. Call 800-561-4887 or schedule your free consultation.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Every case is unique, and results may vary. Consult an attorney about your specific circumstances.