Personal Injury Lawyer Serving Fontana, CA

Accidents can happen at any time. You may be driving safely on Interstate 10 or the Foothill Freeway only to be hit by a drunk and out-of-control driver. Or you could slip on an unmarked wet floor while getting groceries at a nearby Vons or Ralphs. If you’re seriously hurt, it could take months or longer to recover, leaving you with major medical bills and other expenses.

The Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas is here to offer legal help. Our team has represented Southern California families in personal injury cases since 1995. We can help negotiate better settlements with insurance companies and take your case all the way to court of that’s best for maximizing compensation.

For a free consultation with our experienced personal injury lawyers near Fontana, CA, contact our law firm today. You can also reach our San Bernardino County law office by phone at (909) 982-0707.

Do I Have a Valid Personal Injury Claim?

An accident doesn’t automatically qualify you to file a legal action. These four elements must be present to file a personal injury lawsuit:

• Duty of Care: Duty of care means that another party had a legal responsibility to act reasonably or keep others safe. Examples include setting down wet floor signs due to a spill or adhering to the posted speed limit on the highway. 
• Breach of Duty: Breach of duty means that the person or party did not act responsibly.
• Causation: The breach of duty by one party was the cause of an accident or injury. For example, someone driving too fast on I-10 hits someone merging onto the interstate.
• Damages: The incident led to some kind of measurable harm, such as vehicle repairs and hospital bills.

When you meet with our personal injury attorneys near Fontana, we will let you know if you have a viable claim and what steps you can take next.

California’s Personal Injury Statute of Limitations

In California, you have a limited amount of time to file a personal injury lawsuit. Per California Code of Civil Procedure (CCP) § 335.1, you have two years from the date of an accident to take legal action. Once that two-year deadline has passed, you will not longer be able to file a claim.

There are some exceptions to the two-year statute of limitations. For instance, you may have less time to file a claim if an accident involves a government entity. This is why it’s best to speak with a personal injury lawyer near Fontana a soon as possible.

Damages in a Personal Injury Lawsuit

A major injury can upend your life in numerous ways. Our lawyers will carefully review what happened and help you understand how much your personal injury claim is really worth.

Economic damages are the material and financial losses caused by an act of negligence. Common examples include:

• Cost of hospitalization and surgery
• Current and ongoing medical bills
• Physical rehabilitation and occupational therapy
• Lost wages while recovering from injuries
• Loss of future earning potential due to disability
• Damage to personal property

Non-economic damages are the subjective changes in a person’s life caused by an accident or injury. These damages can be more challenging to calculate, but they are still important. Common examples include:

• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish
• Reduced quality of life
• Loss of consortium

In some rare cases, punitive damages may also be awarded. These damages punish the negligent party for their actions rather than compensate someone for their losses. The Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas can let you know if exemplary damages apply to your accident lawsuit.

Can I Still Collect Damages If I Was Partially at Fault?

Yes. This is because California is a pure comparative negligence state, which means you can receive damages even if you are 99% to blame. However, the amount you receive is reduced based on your share of liability.
As an example, say that you receive $100,000 after a car crash in Fontana but are found to be 30% at fault. You would still receive $70,000 in damages.
Don’t feel intimidated if you need legal help. We can answer your questions during a consultation. To set up a free and confidential case evaluation, contact our personal injury attorneys.

The Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas can assist you with different kinds of personal injury claims in Fontana and nearby communities in the area. You can trust our attorneys to offer sound representation and support during a trying time.

Car Accidents

According to numbers from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), there were 911 injuries or fatalities from car accidents in Fontana during 2023. There are many more serious chances of a crash when you consider how many people commute from Fontana to other parts of Southern California each day.
Local drivers should be careful about commuting on I-10, I-15, and the Foothill Freeway (SR 210) due to all of the heavy traffic. Drivers should also be careful about potential crashes along Route 66 and seemingly quiet surface roads. The most common causes of car crashes in the area include speeding, reckless or aggressive driving, driving under the influence, and distractions such as texting or using the phone.

Tractor-Trailer Accidents

We count on semi-trucks to keep the local economy going, but these large commercial vehicles pose a serious danger to local motorists. Big rigs require much longer stopping times than commuter vehicles, and they also have considerable blind spots on all four sides. There’s a major risk of multi-vehicle crashes when 18-wheelers are involved.
Large truck crashes are a major hazard on high-traffic freeways like I-10, I-15, or SR 210. Driver fatigue could be a cause or contributing factor in these kinds of collisions. Our attorneys can hold negligent truckers and trucking companies liable if their actions harm others.

Motorcycle Accidents

According to numbers from OTS, there were 43 injuries or fatalities from motorcycle accidents in Fontana during 2023. This just serves as a reminder that motorcyclists need to be very cautious while riding on nearby freeways like I-10, I-15, and SR 210. Dangerous riding conditions are also present on busy surface streets.
Even if you’re careful on your motorcycle, you could still get into a crash. Many drivers fail to check their blind spots, and it’s easy to miss a motorcyclist if you’re not paying attention. When reckless or negligent drivers cause crashes, our personal injury lawyers can help. We can even hold negligent automakers accountable if their negligence led to a crash.

Bike Accidents

If you’re a bicyclist in Fontana, you need to exercise caution and be attentive at all times. According to OTS, there were 26 injuries or fatalities from bike accidents in Fontana during 2023. If you got injured while riding your bike in the city, our personal injury lawyers can hold the negligent party responsible for your injuries.

Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrians can get hit by negligent motorists, even if they cross at crosswalks, avoid jaywalking, and stick to the sidewalk. OTS data recorded 58 injuries or fatalities from pedestrian accidents in Fontana during 2023. Our personal injury attorneys can help injured pedestrians seek compensation from reckless drivers, truckers, and motorcyclists.

Premises Liability

We noted that accidents can happen at any time in Fontana. You might be picking something up at Falcon Ridge Town Center when you trip over an extension cord. You may even break your ankle while running in your neighborhood because of uneven or damaged sidewalks that haven’t been repaired.
If you get seriously hurt at a business or someone else’s property, our personal injury lawyers can help you file a premises liability claim. These kinds of lawsuits range from slip, trip, and fall accidents, injuries due to a lack of security, and cases involving prolonged exposure to harmful substances.

Drowning Accidents

There are hundreds of thousands of residential swimming pools in San Bernardino County and the Greater Los Angeles area. There are also many public swimming pools in the region. When drownings occur due to a lack of lifeguards or other accidents happen because there is insufficient supervision, property owners could be held liable.
California law considers swimming pools an attractive nuisance that could attract children onto someone’s property. That means even if a child is trespassing and gets injured, the owner of the property with a swimming pool may be liable if they didn’t abide by state pool safety regulations.

Dog Bites and Animal Attacks

A dog bite can cause major issues with psychological trauma, especially when the victim is a young child. Whether the animal attack occurs in Central City Park or just while out for a walk in the neighborhood, the dog owner needs to be held accountable for their negligence and failure to keep others safe.
Our personal injury lawyers can help make sure that irresponsible dog owners are held liable for any physical injuries or property damage their pet may have caused.

Wrongful Death Claims

If you lose a family member in a fatal accident, you have our sincerest condolences. When you’re ready to share what happened, the Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas can help you file a wrongful death claim against the negligent party. Wrongful death lawsuits can help you seek compensation for funeral costs, grief counseling, and the pain of losing a loved one.