Steve Vosseller - Trial Attorney

Steve follows a simple formula when helping his clients: hard work, relentless preparation, and compassion for his client. Since 2004, he has obtained over $50 million in judgments and settlements in various personal injury cases. Each victory enabled his clients to obtain necessary medical treatment, recover lost wages, participate in educational or professional retraining necessary to return to work, and make-up for other harms.

Steve's practice includes defective products, motor vehicle collisions, medical malpractice, dangerous conditions on property, and jobsite incidents. Past clients include teachers, nurses, contractors, small business owners, homemakers, military personnel, students, law enforcement officers, and attorneys. Many of his clients are referred by other attorneys, including defense lawyers from previous cases.

Steve grew up in Kansas City, Kansas. The first member of his extended family to graduate from college, Steve earned a degree in Political Science from Washburn University in 1994 and his law degree Washburn School of Law in 1997. Throughout college and law school, he volunteered with various community service activities, including working with physically handicapped children and an elementary school literacy program. Steve also played rugby during college and law school.

Immediately after law school, Steve served as an attorney on Yap, a tiny island in the western Pacific Ocean. For 2½ years, Steve drafted legislation and advised elected officials on legal and policy issues. He then moved to San Diego in 2000. After working for two prominent defense firms, Steve "switched sides" and began representing injury victims in 2004.

Steve enjoys time with his two children, surfing, mountain biking, camping, and other outdoor activities.

Community Service Activities:

Ronald McDonald House – volunteer
Volunteers In Parole - volunteer
San Diego County Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation – volunteer
Elementary school volunteer
Various youth sports – coach
San Diego County Bar Association, General Civil Litigation – former co-chair
Consumer Attorneys of San Diego – former member, Board of Directors

Significant Cases:

Brain Injury From Highway Incident - $12.3 Million Verdict

A trucking company failed to inspect and maintain one of its tractor trailers. While driving on a freeway, two wheels separated from the trailer's rear axle. A motorist's car slammed into one of the wheels. The motorist suffered a traumatic brain injury and required neck surgery. The jury awarded the motorist and his wife $12.3 million. The money will pay over $235,000 in past medical expenses, pay for future cognitive rehabilitation and other life-long medical care, compensate the motorist for wages lost due to his inability to return to work, and compensate the motorist and his wife for other permanent harms.

Quadriplegia From Van Roll Over – $5,000,000

A van rental company failed to inspect a 15-passenger van before renting the van to its customers. Despite knowing that prior renters temporarily removed bench seats from the van, the rental company did not confirm that each bench seat was properly latched to the floorboard. After it was rented to the next customers, the van rolled onto its roof during an incident and one of bench seats collapsed, crushing a seatbelted passenger. He suffered a severe spinal cord injury, resulting in paralysis. The rental company settled for $5,000,000, the maximum amount of its insurance policy.

Brain Injury From Botched Surgery – Settlement for $3,500,000 Plus Medical Expenses

After misinterpreting MRI images, a neurosurgeon performed two unnecessary brain surgeries on a 14-year old girl. The neurosurgeon committed multiple errors during the surgeries, including the removal of healthy brain tissue and failing to address an artery that he cut. The young girl suffered permanent brain injury. She now needs 24-hour supervision. The lawsuit settled one month before trial. The defendant paid $3,500,000 plus additional funding for the girl's future medical expenses, which will exceed $5,000,000.

Brain Injury and Multiple Fractures from Automobile Collision - $3,100,000

The driver of a pickup truck ran a red light and slammed into another car. A pre-med student in the car suffered a traumatic brain injury, broken jaw, fractured pelvis, crushed sciatic nerve, bladder laceration, and severe kidney injuries.

Woman Killed in Multi-Vehicle Collision - $2,500,000

A commercial delivery vehicle driver failed to observe that freeway traffic had stopped, and crashed into a woman's car, bulldozing her car into other vehicles. The woman's car ignited and was engulfed in flames. Nearby police officers rushed to help her but were unable to rescue her from the flames. The delivery driver did not have a driver's license. The woman was survived by her husband and three adult sons. The case settled three weeks before trial for $2,500,000.

Brain Injury from Tow-Truck Collision - $1,000,000

A tow truck "T-boned" a small car, inflicting life-threatening skull fractures and severe brain injury on a 23-year old passenger. The young man will require constant care and assistance for the rest of his life. At the time of the incident, the young man was pursuing a career in computer technology. The settlement was limited to $1,000,000 because the tow truck company was underinsured and had no other assets.

Crematorium Illegally Sells Mother's Remains – $950,000 Verdict

Violating California law, a crematorium dismembered and sold a woman's remains without her permission. Before her death, the woman prepared legal documents stating her last wishes that she be cremated and scattered where her deceased husband's ashes were previously spread. The crematorium disregarded the woman's wishes, choosing to sell her organs, tissue, and other body parts for profit.

Urologist Surgically Removes Wrong Testicle – Confidential Settlement

Pre-operative examinations and radiology studies identified a mass on one of the patient's testicles. The physician performed the examinations and reviewed the studies, but removed the healthy testicle. After the error was discovered, the distressed testicle was also removed.

Large Gate Crushes Woman, Causing Multiple Spinal Fractures – $750,000

A fence and gate installer failed to include necessary components when erecting a fence featuring a large gate weighing several hundred pounds. The gate later separated from its mount and crushed a woman to the pavement. She suffered five fractured vertebrae and other injuries. The case settled weeks before trial for $750,000.

Child Dies Because Physician Failed to Respond to Deteriorating Condition – Confidential Settlement

A pediatric critical care physician failed to properly address several symptoms and laboratory tests indicating that a hospitalized child was bleeding internally. The child did not survive. The matter settled for a confidential amount.

Pedestrian Suffers Fracture Requiring Knee Replacement Surgery – $380,000

A property owner and the city failed to properly maintain and repair a broken, uneven, and dangerous sidewalk in a poorly lit area. An unsuspecting pedestrian, a school teacher, tripped and suffered a complex knee fracture. She was hospitalized for several days for surgical care.

Child Burned During Surgery – Confidential Settlement

Physician and surgical nurse severely burned a young girl while mishandling instruments during surgery. The burn required skin graft surgery and resulted in a large scar.

Dentist Botches Treatment of Several Teeth – $99,999

Over the span of one-year, a dentist failed to properly treat 13 teeth. The dentist's errors included failing to remove the tip of an instrument that separated during a root canal procedure, failing to prepare and fit a bridge and multiple crowns, and failing to properly "pack" and seal teeth that underwent root canal therapy. The patient needed extensive corrective treatment.