Searching for a “spinal cord injury lawyer near me” after a crash, fall, or other serious accident? Our spinal cord injury, paralysis, and back injury attorneys serve the entire Inland Empire and Coachella Valley from two local offices. No recovery, no fee. Available 24/7. Hablamos Español.
Edgar P. Lombera
Personal Injury Attorney · 15+ Years
A spinal cord injury is one of the most life-changing injuries a person can suffer — it can affect movement, sensation, breathing, and independence for the rest of a person’s life. When people search for a “spinal cord injury lawyer near me” after a serious accident in San Bernardino or Riverside County, they need someone close by who understands both the medicine of a spinal injury and the local courts and insurance adjusters — not a call center three states away. The Law Offices of Edgar Lombera serves the entire Inland Empire and Coachella Valley from two local offices in Redlands and Palm Springs, handling spinal cord, paralysis, and serious neck and back-injury claims — the catastrophic injury cases where the stakes are highest — from the first phone call to settlement or verdict.
Because a spinal cord injury so often means permanent disability and enormous lifelong costs, the value of these claims — and the pressure from insurers to settle them cheaply and quickly — is high. That is why hiring a spinal cord injury lawyer early matters. Before you speak to an insurer or sign anything, get clear advice about fault, documentation, insurance coverage, and the statute of limitations — and there is no fee unless we win.
Call Redlands: (909) 915-0181 • Call Palm Springs: (760) 835-9353 • Request a Free Consultation
The way we prove causation and value depends on the type, level, and completeness of the injury. Our spinal cord injury lawyers handle the full spectrum of these cases across San Bernardino and Riverside County:
Not every spinal case involves a fully severed cord, and not every serious back case is “just” a back injury. Our spinal cord injury and back injury lawyers represent clients across the full range of spinal harm — from neck injuries, herniated discs, and vertebral fractures to complete paralysis.
The Inland Empire’s freeway network moves heavy commuter and freight traffic, so high-energy crashes on I-10, I-215, SR-60, SR-210, and SR-91 are among the leading causes of the catastrophic spinal injuries we see. Regional trauma centers such as Loma Linda University Medical Center (a Level I trauma center) provide the emergency spine and neuro care these patients need; the legal work of proving causation begins alongside that treatment.
Emergency providers assess spinal cord injuries with a neurological exam, imaging (CT and MRI), and often the ASIA Impairment Scale (grades A–E), which describes how complete the injury is. You may hear terms like neurological level of injury, dermatome and myotome testing, spinal shock, decompression, and fusion. Loss of movement or sensation, changes in reflexes, and loss of bladder or bowel control are common findings. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention publishes information on spinal cord and traumatic injuries. This page is informational — always follow your doctors’ guidance.
Spinal cord injury care often begins with emergency stabilization and may include decompression or fusion surgery, intensive care, and inpatient rehabilitation, followed by long-term physical and occupational therapy. Recovery frequently involves assistive technology, wheelchairs and mobility equipment, home and vehicle modifications, and attendant or caregiver support — sometimes for life. A physician-prepared life-care plan that projects future medical needs and costs is often central to the claim. Keep a treatment journal, all referrals, EOBs, and receipts; thorough records turn a lifelong injury into a documented, compensable claim that insurers and juries can understand.
To win a civil case, a plaintiff must prove duty of care, breach, fault, causation, and damages. We investigate whether a defendant violated traffic rules or a standard of care and whether negligence or recklessness played a role. In a comparative negligence state like California, recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault — not barred outright. We build proof through evidence, expert reconstruction, and clear testimony for court and, if necessary, a jury trial.
Spinal cord injuries are among the most expensive injuries a person can suffer, and the losses reach across a lifetime:
If the worst happens, families may bring a wrongful death claim. We never promise a specific dollar amount; instead, we build the strongest possible record — often with a life-care plan and economic experts — so the full value of your losses is on the table during negotiation.
Catastrophic cases require careful handling with insurers: the at-fault liability policy, your own UM/UIM coverage, and sometimes employer or third-party coverage. Because a spinal cord injury can far exceed a single policy’s limits, identifying every available source of coverage is critical. We organize proofs, manage communication, and lead negotiation toward settlement. If a carrier unreasonably delays or denies a legitimate claim, we evaluate insurance bad faith and litigate. Our firm works on a contingency fee — you owe nothing unless we recover for you.
Strict statute of limitations rules apply under California law — see the California Courts and the California Code of Civil Procedure. Some claims, especially those against public entities, have much shorter notice requirements. Early action helps us secure vehicles, download event-data recorders, and interview witnesses before memories fade — so nothing is lost to the clock.
Because we work from two offices — Redlands in San Bernardino County and Palm Springs in the Coachella Valley — a local spinal cord injury lawyer is genuinely near you. We know the freeway corridors where high-energy crashes cause catastrophic injuries, the local trauma centers, and the courts where cases are heard — the San Bernardino County and Riverside County Superior Courts.
We represent spinal-injured clients and their families throughout:
We also serve Ontario, Rialto, Yucaipa, Loma Linda, La Quinta, and Coachella. ¿Busca un abogado de accidentes cerca de mí? Llámenos — hablamos español.
Many spinal cord injuries arise out of another type of accident. If your injury came from a specific event, these related practice areas explain how we handle those claims:
Edgar P. Lombera is the founding attorney of the Law Offices of Edgar Lombera. He represents catastrophic injury victims — spinal cord injury, paralysis, traumatic brain injury — along with car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian, and wrongful-death clients across San Bernardino County, Riverside County, and the Coachella Valley on a contingency-fee basis — no fee unless the firm wins. His practice focuses on clear, plain-language counsel so injured clients and their families understand every step from claim to court. The firm is bilingual (English / Español).
Get answers to the most common spinal cord injury questions. For personalized guidance, call (909) 915-0181 (Redlands) or (760) 835-9353 (Palm Springs).
Look for a local attorney who handles catastrophic spinal cord, paralysis, and back-injury cases, offers a free consultation, works on contingency, and knows your local courts, trauma centers, and insurers. We meet clients from two Inland Empire offices — Redlands and Palm Springs — so a spinal cord injury lawyer is genuinely near you across San Bernardino and Riverside County.
We handle the full range — complete and incomplete spinal cord injuries, paralysis (paraplegia and tetraplegia), and serious back injuries such as herniated discs and vertebral fractures. As spinal cord injury and back injury lawyers, we make sure injuries insurers try to minimize are documented and valued fairly.
Spinal injuries carry lifelong costs, and insurers have strong incentives to settle fast and low. A lawyer helps prove causation, build a life-care plan, identify every source of coverage, and avoid statements that undercut your claim.
Nothing upfront. We work on a contingency fee, so you pay only if we recover compensation — the fee comes out of the settlement or verdict. The initial consultation is always free.
A complete injury means no movement or sensation below the level of injury; an incomplete injury means some function remains. The type and level affect both prognosis and how we document damages — which is why medical proof and expert testimony matter so much.
Deadlines vary. Most personal injury claims have a limited window under California’s statute of limitations, and claims against a public entity have a much shorter notice deadline. Call for legal advice so we can protect the statute of limitations and venue requirements.
Under California’s comparative negligence rule, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault, not automatically barred. We build evidence to keep your share of fault as low as the facts allow.
A life-care plan is a physician-prepared projection of your future medical needs and their costs. In a spinal cord injury case it is often central to proving the true, lifelong value of your losses during negotiation or trial.
Many cases resolve in negotiation; others require a lawsuit with depositions and possibly a jury trial. We prepare every spinal cord injury case as if it will be tried, which strengthens your position in settlement.
We focus on spinal cord injuries from vehicle crashes, dog bites, and wrongful death. Slip-and-fall and premises cases are outside our core practice, but if your injury came from a fall on unsafe property, call us and we will point you to trusted counsel who handles those claims.
If a spinal cord injury or paralysis has impacted your life or a loved one’s, get answers now. A local attorney will explain liability, coverage, and the path from claim to lawsuit — so you can focus on recovery. Free, confidential, and bilingual. Hablamos Español.
Law Offices of Edgar P. Lombera
2068 Orange Tree Lane, Suite 220
Redlands, CA 92374
Phone: (909) 915-0181
San Bernardino County · Free Consultation · Hablamos Español
Law Offices of Edgar P. Lombera
1276 N. Palm Canyon Dr., Suite 107
Palm Springs, CA 92262
Phone: (760) 835-9353
Coachella Valley · Free Consultation · Hablamos Español
San Bernardino & Riverside Counties
and the Coachella Valley
I-10 · I-215 · SR-210 · SR-60 · SR-91
No pressure, no obligation — just answers. Tell us a little about the spinal cord injury and we’ll call you back. Formulario disponible en español también.
Attorney Advertising: The information on this page is general legal information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes — every case is different, and results depend on the specific facts and law. No attorney-client relationship is formed until a written engagement agreement is signed.
