Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle crashes, wrongful death, and catastrophic injuries. No fee unless we win. Two offices serving Southern California.
Personal injury law protects individuals who have suffered harm—physical, emotional, or financial—due to another person's negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct. In the Inland Empire and Coachella Valley, our firm represents clients injured in accidents ranging from motor vehicle collisions on busy corridors like I-10 and I-15 to dog bite injuries, workplace accidents, and other incidents caused by another party's negligence.
At its foundation, personal injury law is built on the concept of negligence. Negligence occurs when someone owes you a duty of care, breaches that duty through their actions or inaction, and that breach directly causes your injury. For instance, a driver has a duty to operate their vehicle safely; running a red light breaches that duty; and if their vehicle strikes yours, they've caused your harm. The burden of proof in civil personal injury cases is "preponderance of the evidence"—meaning your claim needs only be more likely true than not.
California law recognizes multiple categories of compensation. Economic damages cover quantifiable losses: medical expenses (emergency care, surgery, rehabilitation, ongoing treatment), lost wages and lost earning capacity, property damage, and transportation costs. Non-economic damages compensate for subjective harm: pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement, and scarring. In cases of gross negligence, willful misconduct, or fraud, California Civil Code §3294 allows punitive damages—funds awarded to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct, not merely to compensate you. Punitive damages are available only when the defendant's conduct was reprehensible, not merely negligent.
Time matters in personal injury law. Under California Code of Civil Procedure §335.1, you generally have two years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit. However, claims against government entities—such as accidents involving a city bus or injuries on public property—fall under the government claim requirement and have a stricter six-month deadline under California Government Code §911.2 to file a formal claim before pursuing litigation. The "discovery rule" may extend this timeline if your injury wasn't immediately apparent, such as with certain disease or delayed-onset conditions. This is why consulting an attorney immediately is critical—waiting too long can eliminate your right to recover entirely.
California follows pure comparative negligence doctrine. Unlike some states that bar recovery if you're more than 50% at fault, California allows recovery even if you're substantially at fault—your compensation is simply reduced by your percentage of responsibility. If you were 30% at fault for an accident and your damages are $100,000, you would recover $70,000. Understanding and proving your reduced fault is crucial, and insurance adjusters will aggressively argue to maximize your assigned percentage. Our firm fights to minimize your attributed negligence and maximize your recovery.
When you file an insurance claim, the insurer has a legal duty of good faith and fair dealing. Insurance bad faith occurs when an insurance company unreasonably denies a valid claim, fails to investigate properly, or offers substantially less than the claim's actual value. In personal injury cases, we monitor insurance company conduct carefully, and if bad faith is evident, we pursue additional claims against the insurer itself—potentially recovering punitive damages beyond what the underlying accident case offers.
The Inland Empire and Coachella Valley have unique characteristics that affect personal injury claims. Our region's climate, heavy commercial truck traffic on Interstate corridors, and seasonal influx of visitors all influence accident patterns and jury composition. Judges in San Bernardino and Riverside County courthouses have distinct patterns in how they rule on motions and set damages. Local knowledge of insurance defense attorneys' tactics, understanding regional juries' perspectives on damages, and relationships with local medical providers all contribute to better outcomes. Edgar Lombera has practiced in these communities for 15+ years—we understand the local landscape and leverage that knowledge for our clients.
We represent personal injury clients exclusively on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront—no consultation fee, no filing fee, no investigation costs. Our fee is paid only from your recovery, typically 33% to 40% of your final settlement or judgment. This arrangement aligns our interests perfectly with yours: we earn more only when you recover more. If we don't win your case, you owe us nothing. This eliminates financial barriers to justice and ensures we pursue every angle to maximize your recovery.
Vehicle collisions are the most common cause of personal injury claims in the Inland Empire. Whether your accident occurred on I-10, I-15, I-215, SR-60, or local streets in Redlands, San Bernardino, Fontana, or Riverside, we investigate thoroughly to establish liability. We examine traffic patterns, obtain surveillance footage, reconstruct the collision using accident reconstruction experts, and build a compelling case. Common causes include distracted driving (texting, phone calls), drunk driving, reckless speeding, following too closely, and failure to yield right-of-way. Even rear-end collisions—often assumed to be the trailing driver's fault—warrant investigation to rule out brake failure or other vehicle defects. We pursue claims against at-fault drivers, their insurance companies, and potentially negligent vehicle manufacturers.
Commercial truck accidents are catastrophically more severe than passenger vehicle collisions due to size disparity. An 80,000-pound semi-truck traveling at highway speed cannot stop quickly; when impact occurs, the injuries are often devastating. The Inland Empire's position as a logistics hub means heavy truck traffic flows constantly on I-10 and I-15. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations govern truck operations, maintenance, driver hours, and cargo loading. Violations of these regulations—such as driver fatigue, improper maintenance, overloaded cargo, or inadequate training—constitute evidence of negligence. We engage trucking industry experts, analyze electronic logging devices and maintenance records, and hold trucking companies and their insurers accountable for catastrophic injuries and wrongful death.
Motorcyclists lack the protective shell that surrounds automobile passengers, making even low-speed collisions potentially catastrophic. Lane-splitting—legal in California under specific conditions—is often cited by motorists as the cause of accidents, yet the actual negligence frequently lies with the car driver who failed to maintain lane position or signal properly. Our firm understands California motorcycle law and aggressively counters victim-blaming narratives. We document severe injuries common to motorcycle crashes: road rash, fractures, spinal injuries, and traumatic brain injuries despite helmet use. We work with motorcycle accident specialists and medical experts to maximize damage claims and hold negligent drivers accountable.
Rideshare platforms carry minimum insurance of $1 million per accident while the driver is transporting passengers. If you're injured as a passenger, driver, or pedestrian in a rideshare vehicle accident, determining liability is complex. Was the rideshare driver negligent? Did the other driver cause the collision? Is there a vehicle defect? Multiple parties may be liable. Rideshare companies often dispute claims and resist full compensation. We navigate these complexities, investigate all liable parties, and leverage the $1 million policy to secure maximum recovery for our clients injured in rideshare accidents.
Pedestrians have limited protection and suffer severe injuries in collisions with motor vehicles. California law grants pedestrians significant protections: drivers must yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, regardless of traffic signals in some situations, and must exercise due care to avoid striking pedestrians. We investigate whether the driver failed to yield, was distracted, drove recklessly, or violated traffic laws. We also examine pedestrian conduct to establish comparative negligence defenses. Medical documentation of pedestrian injuries is critical—we work with emergency physicians and orthopedic specialists to demonstrate injury severity and long-term impact.
Cyclists have the same road rights as motor vehicles but face substantial vulnerability. Common bicycle accidents involve "dooring" (a parked car's door suddenly opening into a cyclist's path), right-hook collisions (a vehicle turning right across a cyclist's path), or vehicles failing to maintain safe passing distance. Coachella Valley and Inland Empire communities are developing extensive bike lane networks; accidents involving bike lanes raise questions about vehicle drivers' duty to respect those lanes. We represent cyclists injured due to driver negligence, road defects, or unsafe traffic design.
California Civil Code §3342 imposes strict liability for dog bite injuries. Unlike many states requiring proof that the dog owner knew the dog was dangerous, California law makes the owner liable for any bite injury simply because the injury occurred. The dog owner cannot claim the dog "never bit anyone before" or use other defenses. We handle severe dog bite cases causing permanent scarring, facial disfigurement, psychological trauma, and infection. We pursue claims against homeowners' or renters' insurance, and our damages include medical expenses, reconstructive surgery costs, and substantial pain and suffering compensation for scarring and emotional distress.
When negligence or misconduct causes someone's death, family members have a legal right to pursue a wrongful death claim. Under California Code of Civil Procedure §377.60, certain family members—spouses, adult children, parents of minor children—may file suit to recover for economic losses (funeral expenses, lost financial support) and non-economic damages (loss of companionship, grief, emotional distress). Wrongful death cases demand careful attention to damages calculation, thorough investigation of causation, and compelling presentation of the victim's life and relationships to juries. These cases are emotionally complex and legally intricate—we handle them with the gravity they deserve.
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) range from mild concussions to severe, life-altering injuries. Many TBI victims experience lasting cognitive impairment, memory loss, personality changes, and chronic pain. Medical costs for TBI treatment are substantial—immediate hospitalization, imaging studies, rehabilitation, and ongoing neurological care. We retain neurologists, neuropsychologists, and life-care planners to document injury severity and long-term impacts. We pursue claims for medical expenses, lifetime care costs, lost earning capacity, and pain and suffering that reflects the reality of living with permanent brain injury.
Spinal cord injuries cause permanent paralysis, loss of sensation, and profound lifestyle changes. Complete or near-complete paralysis requires lifelong adaptive equipment, accessible housing modifications, attendant care, and ongoing medical treatment. The economic damages in spinal cord injury cases are enormous—often exceeding $1 million in lifetime care costs. We work with life-care planners, physicians, and rehabilitation specialists to quantify these costs and pursue claims that reflect the full extent of harm. Beyond economic damages, we pursue substantial pain and suffering compensation recognizing the catastrophic nature of paralysis.
California workers' compensation law provides benefits for work-related injuries but also bars most lawsuits against employers. However, third-party personal injury claims remain available: if someone other than your employer caused your injury, you can sue that party separately. For instance, if a defective tool causes injury, you can sue the manufacturer. If a delivery driver negligently strikes you at work, you can pursue a claim against that driver. Additionally, if your employer deliberately concealed a workplace hazard or acted with gross negligence beyond typical employer conduct, exceptions to workers' compensation immunity may apply. We evaluate workplace injury cases to identify all possible claims and recovery sources.
Accidents caused by drunk driving are entirely preventable. Drivers impaired by alcohol violate Vehicle Code §23152, and their intoxication constitutes negligence per se—negligence as a matter of law. Beyond standard personal injury claims, drunk driving victims may recover punitive damages under Civil Code §3294 because the drunk driver's conduct is reprehensible. If you or a loved one was injured by a drunk driver, we pursue both compensatory and punitive damages to hold the wrongdoer accountable and deter future reckless conduct.
Hit and run accidents create unique challenges: identifying the at-fault driver is often difficult, and even if identified, that driver may lack assets or insurance. Your own Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage applies to hit and run incidents, allowing recovery from your insurance company up to your policy limits. We handle hit and run claims aggressively, pursuing all available recovery sources: your UM coverage, witnesses' information, surveillance footage, and any identified information about the fleeing vehicle. Hit and run investigations require thoroughness—we work with law enforcement and accident reconstruction experts to maximize recovery possibilities.
The Inland Empire comprises San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, spanning from the foothills east of Los Angeles to the Colorado River. This region experiences some of California's heaviest commercial truck traffic, with I-10 and I-15 serving as major transcontinental corridors. The population density and industrial infrastructure create unique accident patterns and injury profiles. Personal injury cases in the Inland Empire are heard in San Bernardino County Superior Court (247 W. 3rd St., San Bernardino, CA 92415) or Riverside County Superior Court (4050 Main St., Riverside, CA 92501), depending on where the injury occurred.
The Coachella Valley—centered on Palm Springs and extending through Cathedral City, Indio, and surrounding communities—encompasses Riverside County's desert region. The valley experiences seasonal population surges during winter months and major events, affecting accident frequency and jury composition. Highway 111 runs through the valley; I-10 provides interstate access. Coachella Valley cases are heard in Riverside County Superior Court with the Indio Division located at 46-200 Oasis St., Indio, CA 92201. Our Palm Springs office serves valley residents and visitors injured in local accidents.
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Bankruptcy Solutions| Feature | What We Offer |
|---|---|
| Direct Attorney Access | Speak directly with Edgar Lombera—not paralegals or staff. Your case receives personal attention from an experienced attorney. |
| Bilingual Team | Hablamos Español. Our bilingual firm serves Spanish-speaking clients without language barriers or translation delays. |
| Focused Practice Areas | We concentrate on personal injury and bankruptcy. Deep expertise in these areas—not spread thin across unrelated practices. |
| Two Regional Offices | Convenient locations in Redlands and Palm Springs serve the Inland Empire and Coachella Valley, eliminating travel burden for clients. |
| Contingency Fee Structure | No upfront costs. We only profit when you win. Our interests align perfectly with yours—maximizing your recovery is our goal. |
Edgar P. Lombera has dedicated his legal career to helping injured people recover the compensation they deserve. With over 15 years of experience handling personal injury cases throughout the Inland Empire and Coachella Valley, Edgar understands the physical, emotional, and financial toll that accidents inflict on individuals and families. He brings compassion, determination, and legal skill to every case he takes.
Edgar is bilingual in English and Spanish, reflecting the diverse communities he serves. He is licensed by the State Bar of California and is a graduate of Western State College of Law. His practice focuses exclusively on personal injury and bankruptcy law—not scattered across unrelated practice areas. This focused approach allows deep expertise and genuine client relationships that mass-market firms cannot provide.
Beyond the courtroom, Edgar is active in the communities he serves, supporting local organizations and advocating for consumer protection and access to justice. Clients appreciate his direct communication, strategic thinking, and unwavering commitment to their interests.
Entendemos que una lesión grave y el estrés legal pueden ser abrumadores. Por eso, nuestro equipo bilingüe está disponible para servir a clientes de habla hispana sin barreras de idioma. Explicamos sus derechos, opciones legales, y próximos pasos en español claro y comprensible. No debe pagar nada upfront—nuestros honorarios contingentes significan que usted paga solo si ganamos su caso. Si fue lesionado en un accidente en el Inland Empire o Coachella Valley, contáctenos hoy para una consulta confidencial gratuita.
Visita Nuestro Sitio en EspañolWe work exclusively on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront—no consultation fee, no filing fee, no investigation costs. Our fee is typically 33% to 40% of your settlement or judgment, taken only if we recover compensation for you. If we don't win your case, you owe us nothing. This arrangement means you can pursue your claim without financial worry while we focus entirely on maximizing your recovery. It's a win-win: we succeed only when you succeed.
California Code of Civil Procedure §335.1 establishes a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits. You have two years from the date of injury to file suit. However, claims against government entities—such as accidents involving a city-owned vehicle or injuries on public property—have a stricter deadline under Government Code §911.2: you must file a government tort claim within six months. Additionally, the discovery rule may extend this timeline if your injury wasn't immediately apparent. Time is critical—contacting us immediately protects your rights and preserves crucial evidence.
California law recognizes economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover quantifiable losses: medical expenses, lost wages, lost earning capacity, and property damage. Non-economic damages compensate for subjective harm: pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and disfigurement. In cases of gross negligence, willful misconduct, or fraud, California Civil Code §3294 allows punitive damages designed to punish the wrongdoer. The specific damages available depend on your case circumstances, injury severity, and liability facts.
Initial insurance offers are typically significantly lower than cases are actually worth. Insurance adjusters use lowball tactics and legal jargon to minimize payouts and pressure quick settlements. An experienced personal injury attorney understands claim valuation, negotiates aggressively, and isn't intimidated by insurance company pressure. Research shows that accident victims who hire attorneys recover substantially more—often many times the original offer. Before accepting any offer, consult with us for a free evaluation.
First, call 911 if anyone is injured. Seek medical attention immediately, even for seemingly minor injuries—some injuries manifest hours or days later. Document the accident scene with photos and videos. Get names, phone numbers, and addresses from the other party and witnesses. Do not admit fault or apologize—such statements can be used against you. Report the accident to your insurance company. Then call our office immediately. The sooner we're involved, the better we can protect your rights and preserve crucial evidence like surveillance footage and witness statements.
Timeline varies significantly depending on case complexity. Simple cases with clear liability and moderate injuries may settle within 3-6 months. More complex cases involving multiple parties, severe injuries, significant damages, or disputed liability may take one to three years. We investigate thoroughly, negotiate in good faith, and file suit when necessary. While we work to resolve cases efficiently, we never rush settlements. Your maximum recovery is our priority, and that sometimes requires patience and persistence.
Yes. California follows pure comparative negligence law. Even if you were 99% at fault, you can recover the 1% of damages that's the other party's responsibility—though your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if damages total $100,000 and you're 20% at fault, you recover $80,000. This differs from other states that completely bar recovery if you're more than 50% responsible. Understanding comparative negligence is crucial—insurance companies will aggressively argue to maximize your assigned percentage, and we fight to minimize it.
If the at-fault driver lacks insurance, your own Uninsured Motorist (UM) or Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage applies. We can pursue a claim against your insurance company up to your policy limits. Additionally, we can pursue the uninsured driver directly through a personal judgment, though collecting from an uninsured individual is often difficult. If a commercial vehicle was involved, commercial insurance or company assets may be available. We explore all possible recovery sources to maximize your compensation.
Our experienced personal injury attorneys offer free, confidential case evaluations. We work on contingency—no fee unless we win. Contact us today to discuss your case and learn how we can help you recover the maximum compensation you deserve.
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