Posted On October 22, 2025 Personal Injury
If you were hurt in an accident in Riverside, you’re likely juggling pain, medical appointments, and calls from insurance adjusters all while wondering what your rights are and what to do next. As a California personal injury and car accident attorney, my goal here is to walk you through the essentials in plain English so you can make smart, timely decisions.
Most personal injury claims are based on negligence someone failed to use reasonable care, and that failure caused your injuries. In California, the building blocks are:
California follows pure comparative negligence, meaning your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault but it’s not eliminated unless you’re 100% at fault.
Example: A jury values your case at $100,000. You’re found 20% at fault for looking at your GPS. Your net recovery would be $80,000.
Call 911 if needed. Even if you “feel fine,” get evaluated. Adrenaline masks symptoms, and documentation from Day 1 strengthens your claim.
Gather photos (vehicles, road conditions, visible injuries), witness names/phones, license plates, and officer name/report number. Save dashcam or home camera footage where relevant.
Report the accident to your insurer promptly, but avoid recorded statements to the other party’s insurer until you understand your rights. Never speculate about fault or injuries early on.
Keep all damaged items (shoes in a slip case, bike helmet, child car seat, torn clothing). Do not repair or dispose of your vehicle before it’s inspected or photographed.
Create a simple file: medical bills, receipts, mileage to appointments, pay stubs showing missed work, and a pain journal (how injuries affect sleep, work, childcare, hobbies).
Follow your providers’ recommendations. Gaps in treatment are often used by insurers to argue you weren’t seriously injured.
Example: You have $5,000 MedPay and $2,000 in ER bills. MedPay may cover that immediately, reducing out-of-pocket costs while your liability claim is investigated.
Riverside County Superior Court is a busy venue. Timelines vary, but discovery and trial dates can take many months. Local crash patterns often involve high-speed traffic on the 91/215/60, commercial vehicles on logistics routes, and complex multi-party claims. Public entity claims (e.g., a bus or road design case) add procedural steps (see deadlines below).
Acting promptly protects your rights. In California:
Important: Exceptions exist (minors, delayed discovery, defendants leaving the state). Don’t assume an online article fits your facts confirm your exact deadline.
Example: A delivery driver suffers a wrist fracture. Employer letters confirming missed shifts and a physician’s note restricting lifting provide concrete proof of wage loss and limitations.
Expect friendly tones paired with tactics: quick low offers, requests for overly broad medical authorizations, or pressure to give recorded statements.
Severity of injury, length and consistency of treatment, total medical bills (“specials”), long-term impact, and the venue (Riverside juries and court timelines) all factor in.
If health insurance (including Medi-Cal/Medicare) paid some bills, they may have reimbursement rights from your settlement. Skilled negotiation can reduce these liens and increase your net recovery.
Example: After a rear-end crash, you incur $18,000 in medical bills, miss two months of work, and can no longer play pick-up basketball. Your claim includes medicals, wage loss, and non-economic damages for lifestyle impact.
A free consult reviews liability, injuries, and insurance coverages (including your UM/UIM uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage critical in CA).
Requesting police reports, witness statements, scene photos, and vehicle data. Spoliation letters may be sent to preserve surveillance or black box data.
We typically wait until you reach maximum medical improvement (MMI) or have a clear prognosis before valuing the claim so the settlement accounts for future needs.
A demand package presents liability facts, medical evidence, damages, and law. Negotiations can resolve the case without litigation. Where offers are inadequate, we file suit.
After filing, expect written discovery, depositions, expert workups, mediation, and trial prep. Many cases settle at or before mediation once the defense sees you’re ready for trial.
California is fault-based, not no-fault. The at-fault driver (and their insurer) pays damages, subject to comparative fault.
If the other driver is uninsured or underinsured, UM/UIM can make the difference. Check your policy limits now; increasing them is often inexpensive relative to the protection.
Coverage depends on the driver’s app status:
Trucking claims add federal regulations (driver hours, maintenance logs, ELD data). Early preservation is vital.
Claims involving public entities (road defects, city/county vehicles, public transit) require a government claim within 6 months miss that window and you can lose the right to sue.
Stores, apartment complexes, and parking lots must maintain reasonably safe conditions. The key is proving the owner knew or should have known about the hazard (e.g., a spill on the floor for long enough that staff should have cleaned it).
California imposes strict liability on dog owners for bites in public or when the victim is lawfully on private property (limited defenses apply). Document the bite, identify the dog/owner, and get prompt medical care (infection risk).
Surviving heirs can recover for financial support the decedent would have provided and for non-economic damages like loss of companionship (different from a survival action). Timelines are strict seek counsel early.
What if I’m partly at fault?
You can still recover; your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault.
Do I need health insurance to treat?
No. MedPay, liens, and other options may help bridge gaps, but using health insurance often reduces costs and increases your net recovery.
How long will my case take?
Simple claims may resolve in a few months after treatment; litigated cases can take a year or more depending on court calendars and complexity.
Will I have to go to court?
Many cases settle pre-litigation or during mediation. Being prepared for trial often leads to better settlements.
How much is my case worth?
It depends on liability, injury severity, treatment, future care, wage loss, and venue. No attorney should promise a number at the outset.
Montgomery Steele ready to help you if you have a personal injury cases call us +1 951-305-8885
If you were injured in Riverside, the earliest steps medical care, preserving evidence, and meeting deadlines are critical. A short conversation can clarify your rights, identify coverage like UM/UIM, and map a plan for treatment and documentation.
This article provides general information about California personal injury law and is not legal advice. Every case is different, and deadlines can be short especially for government claims. To protect your rights, consult an attorney about your specific situation as soon as possible.
© 2022 MONTGOMERY STEELE LAW | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | disclaimer
