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How a Childhood Car Crash Created San Diego's Most Tenacious Personal Injury Lawyer

When you first meet Chris Mova in his Rosecrans Street office, you might not guess that this laid-back San Diego attorney was once a stuttering kid struggling to overcome a traumatic brain injury. But that early experience shaped his entire approach to personal injury law.


"The insurance company came running to my parents the next day," Mova recalls of the crash that changed his life. His Iranian immigrant parents, unfamiliar with the American legal system, accepted a quick $2,000 settlement. "They had no idea what they were signing away."


Days later, young Mova developed a severe stutter. Years of speech therapy followed, draining his family's resources. The insurance company's response when they sought additional help? Sorry, you signed a release.


Today, from the San Diego headquarters of Mova Law Group, his personal injury law firm, Mova takes a radically different approach to personal injury law than most local firms. While others chase volume, pushing clients toward quick settlements, Mova deliberately keeps his caseload small — around 70 to 80 cases at a time.


His dedication to his craft shows in cases other San Diego firms won't touch. He shares a recent example: "Four different law firms told this client they had no case. Zero value, they said. We fought for three years and secured a $450,000 settlement."


Mova's path to legal success wasn't straightforward. Before opening his own firm in 2015, he was hustling at local swap meets, offering free legal advice to anyone who'd listen. He still has the photos from those early days.

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Now, with his practice expanding across Southern California, Mova remains grounded in his mission. He starts each day with meditation. "It's what allows me to take on so much stress," he says.


But what really sets him apart in San Diego's crowded legal market is his willingness to take the tough cases, the ones other lawyers dodge. It's a philosophy born from his own family's experience with the legal system.


"Every client who walks through my door reminds me of my parents back then," he says. "Confused, worried, and needing someone to fight for them."


For San Diegans who've been told they don't have a case, Mova's message is simple: don't give up. "Just because other lawyers couldn't see the value in your case doesn't mean it's not there. We're here to fight for you, no matter how long it takes."


It's a promise backed by his firm's "No Win No Fee" guarantee and proven by a track record of turning "hopeless" cases into substantial settlements.


As rush hour traffic streams past his office window, Mova reflects on his journey to become one of San Diego's most persistent advocates for the injured. "Every case is personal," he says. "Because I know exactly what it feels like to be on the other side."

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When you first meet Chris Mova in his Rosecrans Street office, you might not guess that this laid-back San Diego attorney was once a stuttering kid struggling to overcome a traumatic brain injury. But that early experience shaped his entire approach to personal injury law.


"The insurance company came running to my parents the next day," Mova recalls of the crash that changed his life. His Iranian immigrant parents, unfamiliar with the American legal system, accepted a quick $2,000 settlement. "They had no idea what they were signing away."


Days later, young Mova developed a severe stutter. Years of speech therapy followed, draining his family's resources. The insurance company's response when they sought additional help? Sorry, you signed a release.


Today, from the San Diego headquarters of Mova Law Group, his personal injury law firm, Mova takes a radically different approach to personal injury law than most local firms. While others chase volume, pushing clients toward quick settlements, Mova deliberately keeps his caseload small — around 70 to 80 cases at a time.


His dedication to his craft shows in cases other San Diego firms won't touch. He shares a recent example: "Four different law firms told this client they had no case. Zero value, they said. We fought for three years and secured a $450,000 settlement."


Mova's path to legal success wasn't straightforward. Before opening his own firm in 2015, he was hustling at local swap meets, offering free legal advice to anyone who'd listen. He still has the photos from those early days.

Sponsored
Sponsored


Now, with his practice expanding across Southern California, Mova remains grounded in his mission. He starts each day with meditation. "It's what allows me to take on so much stress," he says.


But what really sets him apart in San Diego's crowded legal market is his willingness to take the tough cases, the ones other lawyers dodge. It's a philosophy born from his own family's experience with the legal system.


"Every client who walks through my door reminds me of my parents back then," he says. "Confused, worried, and needing someone to fight for them."


For San Diegans who've been told they don't have a case, Mova's message is simple: don't give up. "Just because other lawyers couldn't see the value in your case doesn't mean it's not there. We're here to fight for you, no matter how long it takes."


It's a promise backed by his firm's "No Win No Fee" guarantee and proven by a track record of turning "hopeless" cases into substantial settlements.


As rush hour traffic streams past his office window, Mova reflects on his journey to become one of San Diego's most persistent advocates for the injured. "Every case is personal," he says. "Because I know exactly what it feels like to be on the other side."

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