Ben Coughlan

Coughlan & Vinel LLP - Personal Injury Attorneys - www.sandiegolawyers.com

Ben Coughlan is an award-winning trial lawyer who has dedicated his career to fighting for individuals going through the toughest times of their lives. Ben believes that personal attention, and creativity on cases, are what achieve the best results for clients. Ben believes his job is to tell each client’s story as he or she sees it, not as others might see it. To do that, he believes in spending the time to get to know every client personally so he can best understand not only how to get the largest financial result, but also how to take as much stress as possible off the client throughout the process.

Ben is known in San Diego, and throughout Southern California, for handling some of the very biggest and most high-profile cases. In addition to his experience litigating, Ben is an adjunct professor at University of San Diego School of Law and an instructor for the National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA) in both the Trial Skills and Depositions Skills programs. Ben is the President of the Consumer Attorneys of San Diego (CASD)– the Plaintiff’s Bar for all of San Diego.

Ben has a sub-specialty in brain injury and spinal injury cases. He is the immediate past Vice President of the San Diego Brain Injury Foundation, and regularly works to support brain injury survivors in his free time. He is also a published author in the field of Brain Injuries, having co-authored and edited “A Journey Towards Recovery: A Brain Injury Guide for Survivors.” He is regularly asked to speak about brain injuries around the country to lawyers, medical professionals, survivors and their families.

Prior to becoming a lawyer Ben spent four years in the media relations department of the San Diego Padres.

Ben was born and raised in San Diego. He lives with his wife Kathleen, son Jack (5) and daughter Mackenzie (3) in Solana Beach. Ben and his family love San Diego and believe it is their privilege to give back to their community.

Personal Injury
Animal & Dog Bites, Brain Injury, Car Accidents, Construction Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Premises Liability, Truck Accidents, Wrongful Death
Employment Law
Employee Benefits, Employment Contracts, Employment Discrimination, ERISA, Overtime & Unpaid Wages, Sexual Harassment, Whistleblower, Wrongful Termination
Nursing Home Abuse
Medical Malpractice
Birth Injury, Medical Misdiagnosis, Pharmacy Errors, Surgical Errors
Products Liability
Drugs & Medical Devices, Motor Vehicle Defects, Toxic Torts
Insurance Claims
Bad Faith Insurance, Business Insurance, Health Insurance, Motor Vehicle Insurance, Property Insurance
Video Conferencing Virtual Consultation Available
Fees
  • Free Consultation
  • Contingent Fees
California
State Bar of California
ID Number: 284658
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Languages

  • English

Adjunct Professor
University of San Diego School of Law

Current

Co-Founder/Partner
Coughlan & Vinel LLP
2020 –

Current

Trial Attorney / Partner
Gomez Trial Attorneys
2011 –

2020

Summer Law Clerk
Grimes and Warwick

2010

Media Relations
San Diego Padres
2006 –

2009

Public Relations
Beaman Incorporated

2006

Marketing Intern
Chicago Bears

2004

Intern
CLTV News

2003

Legal Department Intern
San Diego Padres

2003

TIPS/ABOTA National Trial Academy
Graduate
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University of San Diego School of Law
J.D. (2012) | Law
National Mock Trial Team; Teaching Assistant, Lawyering Skills I; Phi Beta Phi
Honors: Best Overall Advocate, Written and Oral (Lawyering Skills I); Cali Award for Excellence, Intellectual Property (Fall 2010)
University of San Diego School of Law Logo
Northwestern University
B.S. (2005) | Journalism
Northwestern University Logo
Super Lawyer
SuperLawyers
2023
10.0 Superb Rating
Avvo
2023
AV Preeminent Rating
Avvo
2023
Ones to Watch in Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
Best Lawyers
2023
Top 100
The National Trial Lawyers
2023

Top 100
America’s Top 100 Personal Injury Attorneys
2023
Since 2019
Rising Star
SuperLawyers
2022
2016-2022
Top Attorney
San Diego Reader
2021
40 under 40 Award
The National Trial Lawyers
2021
2020
Rising Star Alumni Award
University of San Diego School of Law
2020
40 Under 40 Awards
San Diego Metro Magazine
2018
Top 10 Attorney in San Diego
San Diego Metro Magazine
2017
Top 40 Litigation Lawyer Under 40
American Society of Legal Advocates
2017
10 Best Client Satisfaction Award
American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys
2016
Best of the Bar
San Diego Business Journal
2015
2014
Outstanding Trial Lawyer Award
Consumer Attorneys of San Diego
2014
Top 10 Personal Injury Attorneys in San Diego
San Diego Daily Transcript
2013

State Bar of California

&nbsp# 284658

Member
Current
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American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) National Trial College

Fellow
Current
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University of San Diego School of Law

Alumni Board of Directors
2016 –
Current
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National Institute of Trial Advocacy

Instructor
2015 –
Current
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Hon. J. Clifford Wallace American Inn of Court

Associate
2015 –
Current
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Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles

Member
2015 –
Current
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Trial Bar News – Consumer Attorneys

Editor – Torts Section
2015 –
Current
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National Institute for Trial Advocacy

Instructor
2015 –
Current
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San Diego Brain Injury Foundation (SDBIF)

Vice President
2013 –
Current
Activities: Board of Directors; Vice President 2014-2019
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American Bar Association

Member
2013 –
Current
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Consumer Attorneys of San Diego

Member
2012 –
Current
Activities: Board of Directors 2023; President 2022; President-Elect 2021; Treasurer 2020; Secretary 2019
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Consumer Attorneys of California

Member
2012 –
Current
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American Association for Justice

Member
2012 –
Current
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Hon. William B. Enright American Inn of Court

Associate
2013 –
2015
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Articles & Publications
Negligent Sexual Transmission of Disease: A Primer
Trial Bar News
2021
Anything but Simple, the Taxation of Personal Injury Settlements and Judgments
Trial Bar News
2020
Understanding Pituitary Injuries in Brain Injury Cases
Trial Bar News
2020
10 Cases Every Trial Lawyer Should Know
Trial Bar News
2018
Intervening and Superseding Causes in California Tort Cases
Trial Bar News
2018

Keep it Confidential: How Dennis Rodman Changed the World of Personal Injury Lawsuits
Trial Bar News
2018
Pebley v. Santa Clara Organics, LLC: Court of Appeals Extends Bermudez Ruling to Lien Treatment
Trial Bar News
2018
Traumatic Brain Injuries: Litigating the Not-so “Invisible Injury” Part 2 of 3
Trial Bar News
2017
Traumatic Brain Injuries: Litigating the Not-so “Invisible Injury” Part 3 of 3
Trial Bar News
2017
Mini-Opening Statements: Test, Approved, Recommended – Rarely Used
Trial Bar News
2016
The First 48: Human Body Reaction and Emergency Treatment of Trauma
Trial Bar News
2016
The Misunderstood World of Defamation Law
Trial Bar News
2016
Traumatic Brain Injuries: Litigating the Not-so “Invisible Injury” Part 1 of 3
Trial Bar News
2016
We Recorded the Defense Medical Examination, Now What?
Trial Bar News
2016
A Journey Toward Recovery: A Brain Injury Guide for Survivors
San Diego Brain Injury Foundation
2015
Playing the Punies: Punitive Damages in Premises Liability Cases
Trial Bar News
2015

Websites & Blogs

Website
Coughlan & Vinel LLP Website
Blog
Coughlan & Vinel LLP Blog

Coughlan & Vinel LLP
Del Mar
2262 Carmel Valley Rd., Suite G
Del Mar, CA 92014
US
Telephone: (619) 436-1990
Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours (Today)
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Free Consultation
Ben Coughlan

(619) 436-1990