Inland Empire Personal Injury Lawyers

If you suffered an accident or became injured as a result of another person’s negligent actions, you should know that you may be entitled to seek compensation for your injury and resulting damages. Unfortunately, the steps required to receive financial compensation for a personal injury claim are not always clear, making it hard for victims to know how to proceed in order to hold the at-fault party responsible for their actions.

The personal injury attorneys at the Espinoza Law Group explain how personal injury claims work in California and why hiring an attorney may be beneficial for your case. If you have questions about your specific case in personal injury law, contact the Espinoza Law Group.

What Is Considered a Personal Injury Claim in California?

Accidents and injuries are a common part of any person’s life, but when the accident and resulting damages could have been avoided if another individual or entity had not acted in a negligent or reckless manner, the accident victim may be entitled to seek compensation. A personal injury claim happens when a victim or plaintiff becomes injured and sustains damages as a result of another’s negligence.

Some of the most common types of personal injury cases include (but are not limited to) car accidents, slip-and-fall accidents, premises liability claims, severe injuries arising out of defective products or dangerous drugs, medical malpractice, swimming pool accidents, and dog bites.

Car Accidents:
One of the most common types of personal injury cases, car accidents can result in injuries ranging from minor to severe. These cases often involve disputes over fault and insurance claims.
Truck Accidents:
Accidents involving large commercial trucks can lead to catastrophic injuries due to the size and weight of the vehicles. These cases often involve complex regulations and multiple parties.
Motorcycle Accidents:
Motorcycle riders are more vulnerable to injuries in accidents, often resulting in serious harm. These cases may involve disputes about fault and the severity of injuries.
Slip and Fall Accidents:
Property owners may be liable if unsafe conditions cause someone to slip, trip, or fall. These cases typically occur on commercial, residential, or public properties.
Bicycle Accidents:
Cyclists are frequently injured in accidents with motor vehicles, often due to driver negligence or unsafe road conditions.
Pedestrian Accidents:
Pedestrians struck by vehicles often suffer severe injuries. These cases focus on determining fault and whether drivers were distracted or violated traffic laws.
Dog Bites and Animal Attacks:
Dog bites and attacks can cause serious injuries and emotional trauma. In California, dog owners are strictly liable for injuries their pets cause.
Workplace Accidents:
Injuries that occur on the job may lead to workers’ compensation claims or, in some cases, personal injury lawsuits if a third party is involved.
Product Liability:
When defective or dangerous products cause injuries, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers may be held liable in product liability cases.
Medical Malpractice:
Medical professionals may be held accountable if they fail to provide adequate care, leading to injury or worsened medical conditions.
Wrongful Death:
When negligence or misconduct leads to someone’s death, the family of the deceased may file a wrongful death claim to seek compensation for their loss.
Construction Accidents:
Workers and bystanders at construction sites can suffer serious injuries due to unsafe conditions, falling objects, or faulty equipment.
Boating Accidents:
With many lakes and rivers in the Inland Empire, boating accidents can occur, often due to operator negligence, intoxication, or equipment failure.
Uber and Lyft Accidents:
Rideshare accidents can lead to complex personal injury cases involving multiple insurance policies and liability disputes.
Premises Liability:
Injuries caused by unsafe property conditions, such as broken stairs, poor lighting, or lack of security, can lead to premises liability claims.
Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect:
Injuries suffered by nursing home residents due to abuse or neglect can lead to personal injury claims against caregivers or the facility.

These are some of the most common personal injury case types in the Inland Empire, reflecting the broad range of accidents and incidents that can cause injury or harm.

Personal injury claims are civil cases that are either addressed through filing an insurance claim against the at-fault party’s insurance carrier or by filing a civil lawsuit in court, depending on the case. Many personal injury victims benefit from working with an experienced personal injury lawyer who can represent them and ensure their interests are protected.

What Do You Have to Prove in a Inland Empire Personal Injury Case?

Personal injury cases are based on negligence, meaning another party’s negligent actions are said to be the direct cause of the plaintiff’s injuries and damages. Because it is a type of civil action, the plaintiff is expected to produce enough evidence to support their claim. In legal terms, the “burden of proof” falls on the plaintiff.

That means the plaintiff will likely need to prove that all basic negligence elements are applicable to the case. To make this concept a bit clearer, let’s look at a hypothetical example. Suppose you were a customer at a grocery store.

You were walking out of the store towards the parking lot when suddenly you tripped over a raised area of the pavement, breaking your arm and suffering a concussion.

In this case, you would need to show that the defendant (the grocery store owner) owed you a duty of care, meaning that it was their job to maintain their premises and keep a safe environment for all guests. Next, you would need to show that the grocery store owner breached their duty of care by failing to properly maintain the pavement in the parking lot.

Then, you would need to demonstrate that the defendant’s breach of duty of care was the direct cause of your accident and injuries. Finally, you would have to show that you sustained significant damages as a result of the defendant’s negligence.

An attorney can assist you with the steps needed to gather evidence and build your case to prove your injury was a result of another party’s negligence.

What Kind of Damages Can a Personal Injury Victim Recover?

A successful personal injury claim may enable the claimant to recover both economic and non-economic damages for their accident. Economic damages are the financial losses and expenses directly resulting from the accident and injury. Common examples of economic losses include medical bills, lost wages, damaged property, and loss of future earning abilities.

However, in many cases, an accident can impact a person’s life in more ways than just financially. An accident and resulting injury can lead to pain, trauma, and emotional suffering, and the victim may also endure additional pain and psychological distress while recovering from their injuries.

Pain, suffering, emotional distress, and any other subjective impacts of an accident are all examples of non-economic damages. In general, most personal injury cases seek compensation for both economic and non-economic damages.

Some personal injury plaintiffs may also be eligible to receive punitive damages in addition to standard damages. Punitive damages are a civil court’s way of punishing a defendant for engaging in grossly negligent or reckless conduct and discouraging similar behavior from happening again in the future.

Punitive damages may not be available for every case, so it may be best to ask an experienced personal injury attorney about the types of damages available to your specific case.

Why Should I Hire an Inland Empire Personal Injury Lawyer for My Case?

If you are a personal injury victim, getting the help of a skilled personal injury lawyer is essential to maximize your chances of recovering fair compensation. Even if you are not planning to take your case to a courtroom trial, a personal injury attorney can assist you with the process of filing an insurance claim and ensuring that you are treated fairly by the insurance company. Your Inland Empire personal injury lawyer can also handle all aspects of your case so you can focus on recovering and getting back on your feet.

The personal injury lawyers at the Espinoza Law Group are here to protect your interests as a personal injury victim. We have assisted countless injured clients in Inland Empire and surrounding areas, and we are ready to represent you and help you fight for maximum compensation for your pain, suffering, and financial losses. Contact us at for an initial consultation to discuss your case.