Car Accident Attorneys in Long Beach, California

January 1, 2026 / Comments Off

1. The Beliz Law Firm

Practice Focus: Car accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, drunk driving accidents, catastrophic injuries, dog bites, wrongful death from auto accidents

Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, T-bone accidents, multi-vehicle pileups, drunk driving accidents, distracted driving accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, catastrophic injury cases, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries

Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical lien resolution, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims

Background: Michael A. Beliz has been a practicing attorney since 2006. He attended the University of San Diego School of Law where he was a multiple-year recipient of the Delroy Richardson Endowed Law Scholarship. He was a semi-finalist in the ATLA Intramural Mock Trial Competition. Prior to law school, Beliz earned a master’s degree in economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He previously worked for two prominent plaintiff’s personal injury law firms in Southern California. California State Bar Number: 247944. Admitted to the U.S. District Court, Central District of California.

Location: 3777 Long Beach Blvd, Suite 510, Long Beach, CA 90807

Contact: (562) 452-3772 | [email protected] | https://www.belizlaw.com/

Consultation: Free case review, contingency fee arrangement (no fee unless compensation is recovered)

2. McGee Lerer Ogrin

Practice Focus: Car accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, rideshare accidents (Uber/Lyft), hit-and-run cases, wrongful death from auto accidents, uninsured/underinsured motorist claims, electric scooter accidents

Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, drunk driving accidents, distracted driving accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, delivery vehicle accidents, texting while driving accidents, elderly driver accidents, illegal street racing accidents, self-driving vehicle accidents, catastrophic injury cases

Background: Daniel McGee and Catherine Lerer are husband-and-wife founding partners with 40+ years of combined experience. The firm includes former insurance adjusters who provide insight into settlement processes. Daniel McGee graduated from law school and has extensive trial experience. California State Bar Number (Daniel McGee): 171321. The firm has secured multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements including $18 million in an auto v. truck case and $10 million in a big rig accident case.

Location: 4401 Atlantic Ave., Suite 241, Long Beach, CA 90807

Contact: (562) 270-0546 | [email protected] | https://www.longbeachinjuryfirm.com/

Consultation: Free initial consultation available 24/7, no fee unless recovery is obtained, bilingual services in Spanish

3. Law Offices of Robin D. Perry & Associates

Practice Focus: Car accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, wrongful death from auto accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, catastrophic injuries

Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, T-bone accidents, freeway accidents, multi-vehicle pileups, drunk driving accidents, distracted driving accidents, trucking company negligence cases

Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, accident investigation, medical lien resolution, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims

Background: Robin D. Perry has owned his practice since 1998 with over 25 years of courtroom experience. He graduated from the University of California, Davis with a BA in Sociology of Law & Society and received his JD from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings). He won the American Jurisprudence Award in trial advocacy. Perry worked as a Deputy District Attorney and as a litigation attorney with a multinational firm. California State Bar Number: 181686. Admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Central and Southern Districts of California, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Named Long Beach Bar Association Lawyer of the Year for 2024-2025. Notable settlement: $1.275 million wrongful death settlement (2023).

Location: 100 Oceangate, Suite 525, Long Beach, CA 90802

Contact: (562) 216-2944 | [email protected] | https://www.lordp.net/

Consultation: Free consultation available 24/7, contingency fee basis

4. Harting Simkins & Ryan, LLP

Practice Focus: Car accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, wrongful death from auto accidents, rideshare accidents, dog bites, premises liability

Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, free insurance policy reviews, medical lien resolution, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims

Background: Richard A. Harting graduated from Southwestern Law School with a JD in 1990 (SCALE Program). He received a BS in Finance from California State University, Long Beach in 1986. California State Bar Number: 149991. Admitted to the U.S. District Court Central District of California, U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, and Supreme Court of the United States. Over 35 years of experience. The firm has obtained notable results including $1,250,000 (motorcycle accident), $1,000,000 (trucking accident), and $920,000 (pedestrian accident).

Location: 3711 Long Beach Boulevard, Suite 600, Long Beach, CA 90807

Contact: (562) 981-1010 | Toll-free: (800) 809-8848 | https://www.hsrlegal.com/

Consultation: Free case consultation, no recovery no fee, Spanish language services available

5. Saeedian Law Group

Practice Focus: Car accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, rideshare accidents, hit-and-run cases, wrongful death from auto accidents, uninsured/underinsured motorist claims

Background: Michael Saeedian leads the firm with experience handling personal injury claims throughout Southern California. The firm focuses on car accident cases in Long Beach and the surrounding Los Angeles County area. The attorneys handle cases involving California’s pure comparative fault system.

Location: Long Beach, CA (serving Long Beach and surrounding areas)

Contact: (562) 800-0529 | https://saeedianlawgroup.com/long-beach-car-accident-lawyers/

Consultation: Free, no-obligation initial consultation, contingency fee arrangement (no fee unless case is won)

Car Accident Laws and Regulations in California

Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Claims: Two years from the date of the accident. If the injury was not immediately discovered, the deadline may be extended under the discovery rule. Claims against government entities must be filed within six months.

Statute of Limitations for Property Damage Claims: Three years from the date of the incident.

Fault vs. No-Fault Insurance State Status: California is an at-fault (tort) state. The driver responsible for causing the accident is liable for paying damages. Victims can pursue compensation through the at-fault driver’s insurance company or through a personal injury lawsuit.

Comparative Negligence Rules: California follows a pure comparative negligence system. An injured party can recover damages even if they are partially at fault for the accident. Compensation is reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to the injured party. For example, if a victim is 30% at fault and damages total $100,000, they would receive $70,000.

Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements (Effective January 1, 2025): Bodily Injury Liability: $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident. Property Damage Liability: $15,000. These requirements were increased from the previous minimums of $15,000/$30,000/$5,000 under Senate Bill 1107.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Requirements: California does not require PIP coverage. It is an at-fault state, not a no-fault state.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage Regulations: Not mandatory in California, but insurers must offer it. Drivers can waive this coverage by submitting a written acknowledgment to their insurer. Highly recommended for protection against uninsured drivers.

Damage Caps: California does not cap economic or non-economic damages in most personal injury cases. Medical malpractice cases have caps on non-economic damages under the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA), which has been increased under recent reforms.

Dram Shop Liability Laws: California has limited dram shop liability. Social hosts and businesses are generally not liable for injuries caused by intoxicated adults they served. Exception: Liability exists when alcohol is furnished to obviously intoxicated minors under California Business and Professions Code Section 25602.1.

Vicarious Liability Rules for Vehicle Owners: California follows the permissive use doctrine. Vehicle owners may be held liable for accidents caused by someone driving their vehicle with permission, though liability may be limited.

Rental Car and Rideshare Accident Liability Rules: Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft must carry $1 million in liability coverage when a driver is actively transporting passengers. During app-on/waiting periods, coverage requirements are lower. Rental car companies are generally protected from vicarious liability under the Graves Amendment.

Reporting Requirements: Accidents resulting in injury, death, or property damage exceeding $1,000 must be reported to the California DMV within 10 days using Form SR-1.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the deadline for filing a car accident injury claim in California?

In California, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims arising from car accidents is two years from the date of the accident. For property damage claims, you have three years. If your accident involves a government entity (such as a city bus or government vehicle), you must file an administrative claim within six months of the accident. Missing these deadlines typically results in losing your right to pursue compensation through the courts. It is advisable to consult with an attorney promptly to ensure all deadlines are met.

How does California’s pure comparative negligence rule affect my car accident compensation?

California’s pure comparative negligence system allows you to recover damages even if you were partially at fault for the accident. Your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For instance, if you are found to be 20% responsible for the accident and your total damages are $50,000, you would receive $40,000 (reduced by 20%). Unlike states with modified comparative negligence, California does not bar recovery even if you are more than 50% at fault. This means you could be 80% at fault and still recover 20% of your damages.

Where are car accident lawsuits filed in Long Beach, and what court handles these cases?

Car accident lawsuits involving Long Beach accidents are typically filed in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Cases are commonly heard at the Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse located at 275 Magnolia Avenue in Long Beach. According to recent statistics, more than 17,000 motor vehicle accident lawsuits are filed in Los Angeles County each year. About half of new filings are resolved within one year, almost always by settlement. Only a small percentage of cases proceed to jury trial.

What compensation can I recover in a California car accident case?

In California, car accident victims may recover several types of damages including: medical expenses (emergency treatment, surgeries, rehabilitation, ongoing care), lost wages and future loss of earning capacity, property damage (vehicle repairs or replacement), pain and suffering (physical and emotional distress), loss of enjoyment of life, and in wrongful death cases, funeral expenses and loss of financial support. California does not cap economic or non-economic damages in standard personal injury cases. Punitive damages may be available in cases involving extreme negligence such as drunk driving.

What should I do if the at-fault driver in my Long Beach accident is uninsured?

If you are injured by an uninsured driver in California, you may still have options for recovery. First, check your own auto insurance policy for uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, which specifically protects you in such situations. Filing a UM claim with your own insurer should not negatively impact your premium if you were not at fault. Alternatively, you can file a lawsuit directly against the uninsured driver, though collecting from individuals without insurance often proves difficult as they may lack assets. California does not require uninsured motorist coverage, but insurers must offer it. Having adequate UM coverage is strongly recommended for protection in these situations.