Coughlan & Vinel, LLP

Ben and Kacie were caring, patient and extremely knowledgeable. They helped me understand complicated legalese, listened to my input and were able to clarify things during the entire process. I'm confident that I would not have felt as assured as I did during that difficult time had I hired any of the other attorney's that I interviewed. I interviewed many other attorney's and they all tried baiting me with how much money they made for other clients. This is no way to speak to people who truly need legal advice and guidance. Ben and Kacie treated me respectfully and were truly interested in how they could best help me. Edit 6 years later. My how things change. My son was in an auto accident, side swiped by a truck on the hwy. He suffered concussions and a minor back injury….Ben Coughlan had my trust, I called him because the other driver was not taking responsibility. Ben ended up doing nothing for my son, the police officer did the background, the emergency room and primary care doc did the rest. I guess it needs to be big money for this team to get involved. They lost me as a client in 2025.

It’s hard to find the right words to express how deeply thankful I am for Ben, Kacie, and Maria. What they did for me — not just legally, but personally — is something I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life. When I first reached out to them, I was in a place of confusion, fear, and emotional exhaustion. I didn’t know where to turn or how to move forward. But from the very first conversation, Ben and Kacie gave me something I hadn’t felt in a long time: hope. Ben’s calm strength and knowledge made me feel safe in a process that could have otherwise been overwhelming. His dedication and care went beyond what I ever expected from an attorney. Kacie, with her warmth, compassion, and fierce advocacy, was a constant light through it all. She had an incredible way of making even the hardest moments feel manageable — always listening, always showing up, and always making me feel like I mattered. Maria, working steadily behind the scenes, brought comfort in her own way. She was kind, thoughtful, and always there to help with the details that often go unnoticed — but are so essential. She helped keep everything moving, kept us organized, and did it all with quiet support and grace that I appreciated more than she probably knows. This team didn’t just guide me through a difficult legal matter — they helped me reclaim my strength. They helped me heal. They reminded me that I wasn’t alone, and they gave me the tools — both legal and emotional — to start rebuilding. They have changed my life in the most profound way. What they gave me was far more than legal representation; they gave me a chance at closure, clarity, and peace. I will always consider Ben and Kacie not just my attorneys, but lifelong friends. If you are going through something painful and feel lost, I can say with complete honesty: reach out to this team. They will fight for you, stand beside you, and guide you toward the closure you're looking for. I couldn’t be more grateful — and I couldn’t recommend them more highly. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

When my teenaged son became the victim of a vicious hit-and-run attack, we were busy dealing with the medical and criminal aftermath. But we also needed help on the civil side to get some financial relief. Ben was highly recommended by a dear friend as the best in this field, and we were lucky to have him on our side. He immediately came to visit us in person and explained the whole process. Over time, there were several unexpected twists and turns in the case involving out-of-network medical costs, the attacker's auto insurance, and our own insurance. Ben patiently explained the implications of all of this as it unfolded and made sure that we were clear on everything. He handled the day to day details so we could focus on my son's recovery, but always kept us informed. He made himself available by text, phone, and email at all hours. Ben's advice, patience, negotiation skills, and support through all of the twists and turns have been invaluable. I am glad to say that we were able to arrive at a meaningful settlement that gives my son resources for his future. Our family is also grateful for heart and commitment throughout the process - thank you from the bottom of our hearts! If you are looking for excellent personal injury attorneys, look no further - highly recommended without any reservations!

I am incredibly grateful to have been represented by Kacie and co-counsel this past year. When I was struck by a car while in a crosswalk during a visit to San Diego, I didn't know where to go for legal support. I lived out of state, was recovering from surgery and a serious orthopedic injury, needed to take care of family matters, and had never dealt with an automobile personal injury matter before. From the start, Kacie was committed to pursuing justice for my injury and was always there with care and compassion to help me through recovery. I can't imagine navigating the insurance, legal and medical claim environment alone in a situation like this. I know that Kacie and co-counsel's persistence and thorough presentation of the case to the insurance companies clarified the incident to gain compensation for my injuries. Thank you, Kacie, for your guidance, professionalism, care and support!

Ben, and his paralegal, Maria, knocked it out of the park! They were attentive and kept me informed of the progress of my case from day one. Ben referred me to skilled medical providers, who prevented my injuries from becoming lifelong complications that could have affected my livelihood. I am so grateful to Ben and Maria! I recommend them enthusiastically and unequivocally. There is no better firm to handle your personal injury case than Coughlan & Vinel!

Coughlan & Vinel helped me in a time of need. They were extremely helpful and dealt with all the insurance/doctor activities that I simply didn't have the knowledge to successfully complete myself. They are responsive, patient, and caring. They made sure to fight for me to get fairly compensated after my automobile accident. I would definitely recommend them to anybody who needs a personal injury attorney! Thank you C&V!

Ben is not only an amazing lawyer he is an amazing person. He doesn’t just practice law he treats you like family. Without his help my daughter would not have gotten everything she deserved from the insurance company. Highly recommended

I didn’t know at the time just how fortunate I was to find and hire Coughlan & Vinel, but it was by far one of the best decisions I could have ever made. They have touched my life in unexpected ways that are difficult to articulate into adequate words. Ultimately, this decision turned one of the most traumatic experiences of my life into something transformative (in many ways) with an exceptionally positive outcome for me. They championed my intricate, complex, and sensitive in nature personal injury case with precision and in ways that far exceeded my expectations. Ben Coughlan, Esq., Kacie Vinel, Esq., and Maria Dresser (their amazing paralegal) worked with me through one of the most difficult times of my life. When I first met them, I was shattered, defeated, exhausted, and beyond overwhelmed by the circumstances of the events that caused my injury. To make it even worse the idea of a lawsuit against another attorney, a landlord and a large commercial firm made the idea of pursing a lawsuit almost unbearable. Luckily I have a good friend who is a well-respected real estate attorney in town and I reached out to him when the circumstances that lead to my lawsuit first became clear, he quickly directed me to a resource that lead me to Ben Coughlan, Esq. This attorney friend was very impressed with Coughlan & Vinel and their track record. He was absolutely correct; they are in a class of their own. Being on the other side of my lawsuit and the legal process at this point, I can confidently say that the introduction to Coughlan & Vinel changed the course of my experience, and I am certain I would not have had the same positive outcome had I hired anyone else. Ben was an absolute godsend from day one and step by step he steadily, and with unwavering confidence navigated the course of what turned these challenging and traumatic events into a positive outcome without even having to go to trial. Ben fought for me and supported me up when I was at my absolute lowest and he was always available to me when I needed help. This will never be forgotten. You truly do find out who people are when you are in your darkest moments, and he is as kind as they come. He is also the sharpest attorney I have met, always miles ahead. He is a fierce, aggressive advocate that I trust implicitly, and this firm is not afraid to try any case they take on. They will do whatever it takes to win, with integrity. I have met and interacted with many attorneys over the course of my life and career. It is incredibly rare to meet an attorney and team that command mastery over the law at the highest level, while simultaneously being such high caliber human beings. That is what you will find with Coughlan & Vinel, a rare mixture of exactly what you may not even know you need when you are facing the worst with a personal injury case. This team has a huge heart, they are compassionate, incredibly kind, easy to talk with, humble, honest, comforting, reassuring and they have the highest degree of integrity I have witnessed. From answering my calls on weekends, to always having easy communication, to feeling like I had someone stand by me at the worst possible time in my life and help me through it – Coughlan & Vinel are pure GOLD. They saved me from what felt like being trapped in a burning car on the side of the road in a “David and Goliath” type lawsuit and delivered an excellent outcome. I am in awe at the high level of expertise and heart that this team has. They have dedicated their life to helping assist people in what is likely their darkest times and it’s clear that this is their calling and passion. Be prepared for your connotation of the word "attorney" to be redefined and elevated with Coughlan & Vinel, who bring hope and restitution to the right side of the equation. They make you feel like family, are the most aggressive advocates that exist and have written themselves into my life story as true champions. I’d choose them every time over again and highly recommend them to everyone.

My life was flipped upside down. I suffered immensely, if it wasn't for Kacie and Ben I would not be here. From day one they took care of me and advocated for me. They were there for me emotionally, physically and spiritually. These amazing people are more than just attorney's. Kacie, Ben and their team have been there for me every step of the way. They took care of absolutely everything. They became a part of my family. I cannot thank them enough for what they have done for me. They changed my life. They are superior in every aspect. If you need a personal injury attorney please call them! They will advocate for you, they will take care of you!

Ben and his firm negotiated a VERY large settlement for my teenage son, who was hit by a car riding his bike home from school. He had what was called a mild TBI that developed into other problems and affected parts of his daily life. As a parent, I interviewed MANY firms before deciding on Ben. I even asked other firms who'd they recommend between Ben and my other top choice, also a well-known TBI specialty firm. They recommended Ben, without hesitation. Ben's connections within the insurance and medical community and his deep experience with TBI's were critical to the strong award. Before I hired Ben, I couldn't get past low-level insurance adjusters and would have likely settled the claim for $25K out of my own ignorance. Ben's pleasant nature and expertise were a perfect fit for our family. If it helps, I also compared 10 different contracts across various injury lawyers and found Ben's very fair and the % of the settlement he earned was in complete alignment. Never once did I second guess hiring Ben and the proof is in the settlement he negotiated for my son.