1. McCune Law Group (MLG)
Focus Area: Complex personal injury litigation and catastrophic injury cases throughout Southern California
Practice Areas: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, wrongful death, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, premises liability, product liability
Background: The firm has recovered over $1 billion in verdicts and settlements since its founding. The personal injury team is led by Cory Weck, recognized as 2024 Attorney of the Year, who is a decorated Marine veteran with extensive trial experience. Notable results include a $16.5 million verdict for a family struck by a drunk driver and an $11 million verdict in a catastrophic car accident case.
Location: Ontario, CA (Inland Empire office serving San Bernardino County)
Contact: (909) 345-8110 | https://mccunewright.com
Consultation: Free confidential case evaluation, contingency fee structure
2. Wisner Baum
Focus Area: Personal injury and mass tort litigation with national scope
Practice Areas: Car accidents, truck accidents, aviation accidents, product liability, pharmaceutical litigation, food safety litigation, wrongful death
Background: The firm has nearly 50 years of practice history and has won over $4 billion in verdicts and settlements across all practice areas. Attorneys handle cases against major corporations and have resources to pursue complex litigation requiring expert witnesses and extensive discovery.
Location: Ontario, CA office (with presence throughout California)
Contact: (855) 948-5098 | https://www.wisnerbaum.com
Consultation: Free case evaluation, no fees unless compensation is recovered
3. Harris Personal Injury Lawyers
Focus Area: Personal injury representation with personalized client service
Practice Areas: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, slip and fall accidents, wrongful death, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, pedestrian accidents
Background: The firm has represented more than 5,000 clients and recovered over $300 million in personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout California. Attorneys are available after regular office hours and on weekends, and will travel to clients who cannot visit the office.
Location: Serving Ontario, CA (Greater Los Angeles and Inland Empire)
Contact: 1-800-GO-HARRIS | https://harrispersonalinjury.com
Consultation: Free case review, contingency fee basis
4. Napolin Accident Injury Lawyer
Focus Area: Personal injury and workers’ compensation cases in the Inland Empire
Practice Areas: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, workers’ compensation, slip and fall accidents, dog bites, wrongful death, rideshare accidents
Background: Attorney Alexander D. Napolin has built a practice focused on personalized representation and communication with clients. The firm emphasizes evaluating cases correctly and prosecuting them in ways that improve client well-being rather than simply maximizing firm revenue.
Location: Ontario, CA
Contact: Visit website for contact | https://www.napolinlaw.com
Consultation: Free confidential consultation
5. Caruso Law Offices
Focus Area: Truck accidents and commercial vehicle collisions in the Inland Empire
Practice Areas: Semi-truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, big rig collisions, car accidents, motorcycle accidents, wrongful death, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries
Background: The firm has particular experience with commercial motor vehicle cases, recognizing that Ontario and the Inland Empire serve as the trucking hub of the Southwest United States. Many clients are truck drivers referred by other California attorneys. The firm has secured multi-million dollar settlements in trucking cases.
Location: Ontario, CA (Inland Empire)
Contact: (909) 937-4480 | https://www.carusolaw.com
Consultation: Free case evaluation
Personal Injury Laws in California
Statute of Limitations: California provides a two-year statute of limitations for most personal injury claims under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1. The clock begins on the date of injury. Property damage claims have a three-year deadline. Medical malpractice claims must be filed within three years of injury or one year from discovery, whichever occurs first, under the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act. Claims against government entities require filing an administrative claim within six months of injury, with lawsuits to follow within two years if the claim is not denied, or within six months of denial.
Negligence Rule: California follows a pure comparative negligence system. Under this rule, an injured party can recover damages even if they are 99% at fault for their own injuries. The total recovery is reduced by the plaintiff’s percentage of fault. For example, if a plaintiff is 40% responsible for an accident and has $200,000 in damages, they can recover $120,000. There is no threshold that completely bars recovery based on the plaintiff’s negligence.
Damage Caps: California does not impose general caps on compensatory damages in most personal injury cases. However, specific limitations exist in certain contexts. Medical malpractice non-economic damages (pain and suffering) are capped under MICRA, with limits that increased beginning January 1, 2023. The cap started at $350,000 for injury cases and $500,000 for wrongful death cases, increasing annually by $40,000 and $50,000 respectively until reaching $750,000 and $1,000,000. Uninsured drivers are generally prohibited from recovering non-economic damages unless the at-fault driver was intoxicated.
Auto Insurance Requirements: California operates as an at-fault state for auto insurance. Effective January 1, 2025, California increased minimum liability coverage requirements for the first time since 1967 under Senate Bill 1107 (the Protect California Drivers Act). The new minimums are 30/60/15, meaning $30,000 for bodily injury per person, $60,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $15,000 for property damage. These limits double the previous minimums of 15/30/5. The requirements will increase again in 2035 to 50/100/25. Drivers may also carry optional coverages including collision, comprehensive, uninsured/underinsured motorist, and medical payments coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What makes Ontario, California a high-risk area for truck accidents?
A: Ontario and the broader Inland Empire region serve as the trucking hub of the Southwest United States due to the concentration of distribution centers, warehouses, and logistics facilities. Major freeways including the I-10, I-15, and SR-60 carry heavy commercial truck traffic through the area. This concentration of large commercial vehicles operating alongside passenger cars increases the frequency and severity of truck-involved collisions. Truck accident cases often involve multiple potentially liable parties including drivers, trucking companies, cargo loaders, and vehicle manufacturers.
Q: How do California’s new 2025 auto insurance minimums affect my accident claim?
A: The January 2025 increase in minimum coverage to 30/60/15 means at-fault drivers should have more coverage available to compensate you for injuries. The doubled bodily injury limits ($30,000 per person, $60,000 per accident) and tripled property damage limit ($15,000) provide greater protection. However, serious accidents can still exceed these limits quickly. If the at-fault driver carries only minimum coverage, you may need to pursue underinsured motorist coverage from your own policy or file a personal lawsuit against the driver to recover additional compensation.
Q: What is the process for filing a claim against a government entity in California?
A: Claims against California state, county, or municipal government require filing an administrative claim directly with the government agency within six months of your injury. This is a mandatory first step before any lawsuit can be filed. The agency has 45 days to respond. If denied, you have six months from the denial date to file a lawsuit. If the agency fails to respond within 45 days, you may proceed with a lawsuit within two years of the original injury date. Government claim requirements are strictly enforced, and missing the six-month administrative deadline typically bars your claim.
Q: Can I recover damages if I was not wearing a seatbelt during a car accident in Ontario?
A: Yes, but your recovery may be reduced. California’s seatbelt law allows evidence of non-use to be considered in determining damages. If the defendant proves you were not wearing a seatbelt and that wearing one would have reduced your injuries, your damages may be reduced accordingly. However, failure to wear a seatbelt does not eliminate your right to recover compensation for injuries caused by another driver’s negligence under California’s pure comparative fault system.
Q: What damages can I recover in a wrongful death case in California?
A: California wrongful death claims allow surviving family members to recover economic damages including loss of financial support, loss of household services, funeral and burial expenses, and the value of lost gifts or benefits. Non-economic damages include loss of love, companionship, comfort, care, assistance, protection, affection, society, moral support, and loss of consortium for spouses. A separate survival action can recover damages the deceased would have been entitled to had they lived, including pain and suffering experienced before death and medical expenses incurred. California does not cap wrongful death damages in most cases.