Personal Injury Lawyer in Riverside, CA

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Getting hurt due to someone else’s negligence means you suffer not only physical pain, but also financial burdens. If they had acted responsibly, your life would not be upside down, and you would not need help. If you or a loved one has been harmed by another, you may be eligible to seek compensation. You need a skilled personal injury lawyer in Riverside, CA to be your advocate.

At the Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas, our personal injury attorneys are ready to listen to your concerns and answer your questions during a free consultation. You deserve a powerful advocate on your side who will fight for justice. You do not pay us unless we secure a settlement for you, so contact us to get started today. 

How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim?

You may need a long time to heal from a serious personal injury, but you do not have unlimited time to take legal action against the wrongdoer responsible.

Under the California Code of Civil Procedure (CCP) § 335.1, you must file your lawsuit within two years of the date you were hurt. If you wait too long, you could lose your chance to seek compensation. While there are some exceptions to this two-year deadline, it’s best to speak with our personal injury lawyers in Riverside as soon as possible.

Choose the Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas for Top-Notch Legal Representation 

The personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas are dedicated to superior legal representation and excellent client care. We are highly collaborative, meeting regularly to take advantage of every lawyer’s experience for every case. When you choose us to work on your personal injury case in Riverside County, you can rely on services such as the following:

  • Deep Experience Dealing with Insurance Companies: Attorney Fernando D. Vargas got his start defending insurance companies in 1987, and that background gives him crucial insight into how to negotiate with them. 
  • Full Access for Your Concerns and Questions: We are available to you 24/7, so you are never left wondering what is happening in your case.
  • Free Consultations for a No-Risk, No-Obligation Approach: We meet with you and assess the strength of your case, providing advice for next steps without requiring an upfront retainer.
  • Bilingual Support for Local Spanish Speakers: Fernando D. Vargas is fluent in Spanish, as are many of his staff members, making our services accessible to all Spanish-speaking residents in Riverside County.
  • Contingency Fee Payment Plans: You may worry about how you will pay for our Riverside personal injury lawyers. With our contingency fee plan, you only pay our fees when we secure a settlement or jury award for you. If we do not win, you do not pay.

Take a moment to read through our past client testimonials and examine our past settlements and jury verdicts. You will find that we are committed to achieving the best possible outcome for each client. We are here to take on big insurance companies and get you the compensation you need. 

We Have the Skills to Handle Every Type of Personal Injury Case

No matter how you were hurt in Riverside County, we have the background to manage all aspects of your claim. From investigating what happened and who is to blame, to holding them accountable in court when necessary, we take the burden off your shoulders. You can put your trust in our hands to negotiate a fair settlement in any of the following types of personal injury cases.

Car Accidents

In the most recent reporting year, the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) recorded 15,151 fatal and injury traffic accidents in Riverside County. Of those, 1,940 involved alcohol and 3,145 were speeding-related. When drivers take chances with other people’s lives and you get hurt, you need a dedicated and experienced personal injury attorney who will hold them accountable. 

We can go beyond individual car crash claims and work to build a powerful case against aggressive or reckless drivers and rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft. No matter how you were hurt in a wreck, call us to discuss your options with a car accident lawyer.

Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle accidents are especially dangerous because riders do not have the protection of a larger passenger vehicle. They can suffer catastrophic harm that leaves them permanently disabled. In addition, truck, car, and SUV drivers often fail to look out for motorcyclists, putting them at increased risk of an accident.

The Safe Transportation Research and Education Center (SafeTREC) recorded 200 serious injuries and 30 fatalities in Riverside County for 2023. If you are one of those hurt in a motorcycle crash this year, we can help you overcome potential motorcycle bias if the insurance company claims you are at fault. Do not let them take advantage of you when we can push back on your behalf. 

Truck Accidents

California rates high as a location for dangerous accidents involving tractor-trailers. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reported 12,461 truck accidents in 2024, part of a decreasing trend in these collisions since 2021. Victims often die or are left with severely debilitating injuries. 

Many parties may be at fault, such as truck drivers, other motorists, inspectors, trucking companies, cargo loaders, and repair personnel. Anyone who contributed to your injuries must be held accountable through careful investigation and evidence collection. At the Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas, we have the skills needed to determine who is to blame and take on large trucking companies. 

Pedestrian Accidents

California’s beautiful weather means getting out and enjoying it during walks, hikes, or running errands on foot. Unfortunately, SafeTREC recorded 7,522 pedestrian deaths related to car accidents in 2022, accounting for 26% of all traffic fatalities. When drivers do not obey the law regarding pedestrians on highways and in crosswalks, victims are seriously hurt or killed in many instances. 

We are there to hold these negligent drivers accountable for hurting you or your loved one. We collect evidence such as photos, traffic video footage, witness statements, police reports, and other material to show who is to blame. In some cases, we may find that poor lighting or traffic control contributed to your accident, potentially allowing us to seek justice from the local government.

Bicycle Accidents

Another critical demographic at risk for injury is bicycle riders. The City of Riverside has developed a traffic safety plan to address concerns about the risks to pedestrians and bicyclists with the city’s current road infrastructure. The goal is to reduce existing problems and make roads safe for all users. 

Bicycle riders have the right to use roadways, but many automobile drivers ignore them or refuse to share the road. Even if you are issued a citation for failing to obey traffic laws, you may still be eligible to pursue compensation from the driver who hurt you. Schedule a free case review with attorney Fernando D. Vargas to discuss the details and learn more.

Dog Bites and Animal Attacks

All dog owners must keep their dogs on a maximum 6-foot leash at all times, as described in Riverside County ordinances. If the dog is off-leash, it must be enclosed on the owner’s property or in an approved off-leash public area. Otherwise, the owner is responsible for any injury the dog causes, even if the animal was playing or ran into the victim.

You can also be hurt by livestock or other animals, leading to a personal injury claim against the owner. Some factors that could affect your case include whether you were trespassing at the time, whether you antagonized the animal, and whether the owner took appropriate cautions to restrain or enclose the animal. These cases can be complicated, but our personal injury attorneys will explain how the law applies.

Premises Liability

Dog attacks can be a form of premises liability, which refers to injuries that happen on someone else’s property. Other types of claims in this area include slip-and-fall accidents, exposure to hazardous substances, and drownings. Property owners are required under California law to maintain safe and clean premises, including their homes, rental properties, and businesses.

You may also have a claim if a property owner or their hired contractor, such as a security company, failed to keep the premises safe, resulting in your injury. Those who violate the law can be held liable for your injuries or illness by filing an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit.

We Provide Aggressive Representation for Catastrophic Personal Injury Claims

In some instances, you may suffer extremely serious harm from someone else’s carelessness, leaving you permanently disabled and unable to work. With the help of a catastrophic injury lawyer, you can get the guidance you need to secure appropriate compensation that provides for the extensive care you will need. We handle your claim for injuries such as:

  • Amputation or Loss of Limb: Vehicle accident victims may lose a limb during the crash or require surgical amputation to save their lives. If you can no longer work or lose your quality of life from these injuries, you must pursue compensation from those at fault, and we can help.
  • Broken Bones and Fractures: Suffering compound fractures and broken bones often requires emergency surgical care. Without proper care, you may experience mobility issues as an adult, and children may have developmental issues. 
  • Burn Injuries: Thermal and chemical burns can cause loss of skin, muscle, and nerve function, leaving you disabled and severely scarred. You may need multiple skin graft surgeries to recover, resulting in astronomical medical bills.
  • Electrical Injuries: Poorly wired electrical systems can cause electrocution, burns, and damage to your nervous system. If another person fails to take appropriate safety measures around electricity and you are harmed, they must be brought to justice for their negligence. 
  • Spinal Cord Injuries: Neck, back, and spinal cord injuries are very serious, potentially leading to paralysis without proper care. If you cannot support yourself and your family, you need compensation to cover the costs of your personal care and regular bills from those to blame for your accident. 
  • Traumatic Brain Injuries: Known as TBIs, these injuries may shorten your life or leave you with cognitive or physical disabilities. You may become incapacitated and unable to handle your normal activities and professional demands. 

All of these cases can be highly demanding to pursue, yet we believe every client deserves our guidance to recover fully. In the worst instances, victims may pass away from the accident or their resulting injuries, leaving their survivors to depend on a wrongful death lawyer like Fernando D. Vargas. We strive to calculate and secure maximum compensation for those who have already lost too much. 

We Fight for the Fair Compensation Your Injuries Require

Every penny of every expense related to your personal injury should be included in your damage demands. Your case will depend on showing how the other party owed you a duty of care, failed in that duty, and directly caused your injuries. Once you show this connection, you can seek financial relief for the losses you have suffered.

We calculate your damages, including those you may overlook. We go beyond the standard expenses, such as:

  • All your emergency, hospital, and follow-up medical bills
  • Your medication and medical device expenses
  • Physical and other therapy treatments to help you heal
  • Your lost income, bonuses, and other benefits while you recover
  • Damage to your personal property, such as your phone or car
  • Projected medical and other care costs for disabling injuries
  • Loss of your future earning ability if you cannot work again

These economic losses are important, but we also pursue compensation for the subjective impact your injury has on your life. This includes your diminished quality of life, loss of consortium with your partner or spouse, and your pain and suffering. During your initial consultation and other meetings, we will evaluate your full list of damages and help you understand what your claim could be worth.

Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer in Riverside, CA

When you visit us at the Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas, you are treated with the respect, honesty, and compassion we provide to every client. You are more than just a case number to us, and we want you to rely on us for all your legal needs during your case. If you or a loved one has suffered a personal injury in Riverside County, contact us to arrange your free consultation now.