Steven Hilst became a personal injury lawyer because he saw how his work could transform the lives of severely injured accident victims or families that have lost loved ones under tragic circumstances.
 
When Hilst was in law school, he worked for a firm representing businesses and corporations’ interests. 
 
He got little satisfaction from that work. But when he took on personal injury cases, he relished his one-on-one contact with clients and the precious opportunity he had to help them pick up the pieces and get their lives back together.
 
Steven is proud to have been recognized for his work in a wide range of personal injury areas. These include, but are not limited to, product liability and brain injury cases. He has also developed a reputation for his prowess at trial, presenting cases in front of juries.
 
Hilst particularly remembers a wrongful death case early in his career where he helped a young woman – an immigrant from India – who was in the U.S. with her husband, an engineer. She was still going to school and was on a student visa when her husband was tragically killed in a parking structure accident resulting from a construction defect.
 
“We were able to get a substantial settlement for the woman whereby she had the financial resources to remain in the country and complete her studies,” 
Hilst said. “In personal injury law, you see first-hand how you’ve helped someone and how that has helped turn their life around. You meet these people in horrible situations in their life and help them get compensation and monetary support. What could be more satisfying than that?”
 
Now, Hilst, who once represented corporations like insurance companies, works for the other side. This is how he looks at it.
 
“If I represent the insurance companies, I’m depriving someone of compensation and essentially denying them justice,” he said. “But when I represent injured plaintiffs, I’m helping them seek and obtain justice and fair compensation.”
 
Hilst treats every case like it’s a chess game.
 
“I’m competitive; I like to win,” he says. “I look at the big picture when I develop the strategy. I take every case like it’s going to trial. I remember at every moment that I’m standing up for someone who would otherwise not have this chance to get justice.”
It’s not just about money or victories for Hilst.
 
“It’s about treating your clients like they are your friends or family,” he says. “This is personal for me.”
 
Hilst walks that talk when he represents accident victims against insurance companies. He focuses on telling insurance companies his clients’ stories by humanizing them instead of making them seem like numbers on a page.
“I try to make the insurance company see how this person is a human being and that his or her life matters,” Hilst said. “Hopefully, it helps insurance companies understand the person’s story.”
 
But, when it doesn’t, Hilst has never hesitated to go to all out, take the case to trial, and get his clients what they rightfully deserve.
 
Hilst was born in a small town in Central Illinois, in the area where President Abraham Lincoln practiced as a lawyer. He moved to Southern California when he was 3 and has remained there. 
 
Hilst obtained a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California in 1984 and a doctorate law degree from Santa Clara University School of Law in 1988. 
He also holds a post-doctorate law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law. He lives in Redondo Beach, loves to work out and go to the beach. Hilst is also a die-hard USC football fan.
 
 
Contact info:
800-561-4887
 
 
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