Personal Injury Lawyer Serving Ontario, CA

You may get into an accident even if you’re safe and responsible. An 18-wheeler may jackknife out on Interstate 10, or a drunk driver could broadside you on Euclid Avenue. You may slip on a wet floor while buying groceries at Stater Bros. or Ralphs. If the injuries are severe, you may need months to recover and still have lingering health issues.
Personal injury attorney Fernando D. Vargas is here to help. He’s represented local accident victims since 1995 in personal injury cases. Our law firm is committed to securing compensation so you can make a full recovery with dignity and strength.
For a free case evaluation with our personal injury lawyers near Ontario, CA, contact our law firm today. You can also reach the Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas in San Bernardino County by calling (909) 982-0707.

Signs You Have a Valid Personal Injury Claim

An injury or 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. This could mean abiding by traffic laws or keeping aisles clear of potential tripping hazards.
• 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, a drunk driver ignores a red light and t-bones another driver.
• Damages: The incident led to some kind of measurable harm, such as hospital bills or vehicle damage.

During a free case review at the Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas, we can discuss what happened and determine if you have a valid personal injury claim.

Is There a Deadline to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in California?

Yes. Per California Code of Civil Procedure (CCP) § 335.1, you have two years from the date of an incident to file a personal injury claim. Once that two-year statute of limitations has expired, you will not be able to file a legal claim.
There are some exceptions to this two-year deadline. For example, accidents involving government entities may have a shorter statute of limitations. That’s why it’s best to speak with a personal injury attorney near Ontario as soon as possible.

Damages in a Personal Injury Lawsuit

A major injury can disrupt your life in so many ways. Our attorneys will carefully evaluate what happened and help you understand how much your personal injury claim is really worth.

Economic damages refer to material and financial losses caused by an accident or injury. 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 act of negligence. These can be more difficult to evaluate, but they are still important. Common examples include:

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

While rare, it’s possible to receive punitive damages in a personal injury case. Rather than compensate someone for losses, punitive damages are intended to punish a negligent party for their actions. The Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas can let you know if these exemplary damages may be available in your accident lawsuit.

Can I Still Collect Damages If I Was Partly to Blame for an Accident?

Yes. This is because California is a pure comparative negligence state. That means you can seek damages even if you were 99% to blame for what happened. Your damages will be reduced by your percentage of liability.
For example, say that you were in a motorcycle crash in Ontario and are awarded $100,000. However, you’re also found to be 25% responsible for the accident. You would still receive $75,000 in damages.
Don’t feel intimidated if you have any legal questions. We can provide answers during a consultation. To set up a free and confidential case review, contact our personal injury lawyers.

The Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas can help you with all kinds of personal injury claims in Ontario and the surrounding communities in the area. You can count on our team to provide strong counsel and support during a difficult time.

Car Accidents

According to data from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), there were 941 injuries or fatalities from car accidents in Ontario during 2023. The dangers of a serious car crash increase when you think about commuting around San Bernardino County as a whole and the number of motorists on the road on any given day.
There are numerous dangers on I-10 and I-15 given the heavy traffic each day. Yet drivers also need to be careful on Euclid Avenue (State Route 83) and State Route 60. Potential causes of car accidents include speeding, drunk driving, distracted driving, street racing, and reckless or aggressive driving.

Semi-Truck Accidents

We count on 18-wheelers to keep the economy moving throughout Southern California. However, these large commercial trucks create major accident risks, especially along I-10 and I-15. Tractor-trailers have major blind spots all around the vehicle. Their size also means longer stopping distances and a major risk of multi-vehicle crashes.
Many accidents involving large trucks are caused by driver fatigue. This is due to the long hours that truck drivers spend on the road. Our San Bernardino County attorneys can hold negligent truckers and trucking companies accountable when their negligence or recklessness causes a major big rig crash.

Motorcycle Accidents

Getting on a motorcycle can be exciting, but motorcyclists need to exercise caution. OTS data found that there were 45 injuries or fatalities from motorcycle accidents in Ontario during 2023. Some of these accidents occur on Euclid Avenue or State Route 60, or in surrounding roads as motorcyclists get around San Bernardino County.
It’s easy for other drivers to miss motorcyclists in their blind spots. Even a careful motorcyclist could get hit if another driver is distracted or simply not paying attention. There may also be issues with a motorcycle’s tires or other vehicle components. Our personal injury lawyers can hold negligent motorists and automakers liable if their actions caused or contributed to a major crash.

Bicycle Accidents

Accidents can happen in quiet neighborhoods or busy streets, even if a cyclist is sharing the road responsibly. OTS recorded 27 injuries or fatalities from bicycle accidents in Ontario during 2023. If you got hurt while riding your bike in the city, our personal injury lawyers can hold the negligent party accountable for your injuries.

Pedestrian Accidents

Even if you stick to sidewalks and only cross the street at crosswalks, you could still be hit by a negligent motorist. According to OTS, there were 57 injuries or fatalities from pedestrian accidents in Ontario during 2023. Our personal injury lawyers can help injured pedestrians seek compensation from negligent drivers, truckers, and motorcyclists.

Premises Liability

We mentioned that accidents can happen anywhere, even if you’re safe and responsible. You could be trying to get some shopping done at Ontario Plaza, but trip over an extension cord in an aisle. You may just be out for a run in the neighborhood but lose your footing because of broken, damaged, or uneven sidewalks.
If you get hurt at a business or someone else’s property, our personal injury attorneys can let you know if you have a viable premises liability claim. These kinds of cases range from slip, trip, and fall accidents, injuries due to a lack of security, and cases involving long-term 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 pools in the region. If someone is injured because of a lack of lifeguards or supervision, the property owner could be held liable for drowning and other injuries.
California law considers swimming pools an attractive nuisance that could attract children onto someone’s property. That means property owners could be held liable for child swimming pool injuries even if the child was not invited onto the property.

Dog Bites and Animal Attacks

Dog owners have a responsibility to keep others safe if their pet is aggressive or excitable. If a dog hurts a child at Homer F. Briggs Park or attacks someone in the neighborhood, the injuries can be quite severe. For young victims of animal attacks, these experiences can lead to major psychological trauma.
Our personal injury lawyers will make sure negligent dog owners are held accountable for any physical harm or property damage their pet has caused.

Wrongful Death Claims

If you lose a loved one in a fatal accident, you have our sincerest condolences. When you’re ready to discuss what happened, our law firm can help you file a wrongful death lawsuit against the negligent party. Wrongful death claims can help you seek compensation for funeral expenses, grief counseling, and the pain of losing a spouse or family member.