1. Law Offices of Robin D. Perry & Associates
Focus Area: Personal injury and wrongful death litigation
Practice Areas: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, uninsured motorist claims
Background: Attorney Robin D. Perry founded the firm and has practiced law since 1998. He earned his J.D. from UC Hastings College of the Law and won the American Jurisprudence Award in trial advocacy. Perry received the 2024 Long Beach Bar Association “Lawyer of the Year” recognition. He is admitted to practice in California state courts and the Central District of California federal court.
Location: Long Beach, California (serving Long Beach, Wilmington, Signal Hill, Bixby Knolls, Los Altos, and Belmont Shore)
Contact: (562) 216-2944 | https://www.lordp.net
Consultation: Free initial consultation. Contingency fee structure with no fees unless compensation is recovered.
2. McGee Lerer Ogrin
Focus Area: Catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases
Practice Areas: Car accidents, truck accidents, uninsured motorist accidents, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, wrongful death, childhood sexual abuse cases
Background: Daniel McGee and Catherine Lerer are a husband-and-wife legal team with over 40 years of combined experience. The firm includes former insurance adjusters who provide insight into settlement negotiations. The firm has secured multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements in catastrophic injury cases.
Location: Long Beach, California
Contact: (562) 270-0546 | https://www.mcgeelerer.com
Consultation: Free initial consultation. No fee unless the case results in compensation. Services available in Spanish.
3. The Beliz Law Firm
Focus Area: Personal injury representation with personalized attention
Practice Areas: Car accidents, pedestrian accidents, dog bites, slip and fall accidents, wrongful death
Background: Michael A. Beliz, Esq. established the firm in 2011 after working at two prominent plaintiff’s personal injury law firms in Southern California. He has practiced law since 2006 and earned a J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law, where he received the Delroy Richardson Endowed Law Scholarship. Beliz also holds a master’s degree in economics from UC Santa Barbara. He is admitted to the California State Bar and the U.S. District Court, Central District of California.
Location: Long Beach, California
Contact: https://www.belizlaw.com
Consultation: Free initial consultation. Contingency fee basis.
4. Overett Group
Focus Area: Personal injury claims for accident victims
Practice Areas: Car accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, bus accidents, catastrophic injuries, wrongful death
Background: Attorney Paul Overett founded the firm and has represented personal injury victims in Long Beach for 14 years. The firm reports successfully obtaining compensation for every client represented.
Location: 444 W Ocean Blvd, Suite 1404, Long Beach, CA 90802
Contact: (562) 986-9864 | https://www.longbeach-injurylawyer.com
Consultation: Free consultation. Contingency fee structure.
5. The Reeves Law Group
Focus Area: Catastrophic personal injury litigation
Practice Areas: Car accidents, truck accidents, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputation injuries, wrongful death, pedestrian accidents
Background: Attorney Derek Pakiz has over 30 years of experience in personal injury law. He holds dual certifications from the National Board of Trial Advocacy as a Civil Trial Specialist and Truck Accident Law Specialist, making him one of the only personal injury attorneys in California with both certifications.
Location: 1 World Trade Center, #800, Long Beach, CA 90831
Contact: (800) 644-8000 | https://www.robertreeveslaw.com
Consultation: Free case review. Contingency fee arrangement.
Personal Injury Laws in California
Statute of Limitations
California imposes a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1. The deadline begins on the date of the injury. Property damage claims have a three-year statute of limitations. Medical malpractice claims must be filed within three years of the injury or one year from the date of discovery, whichever occurs first. Claims against government entities require filing an administrative claim within six months of the incident.
Negligence Rule
California follows a pure comparative negligence rule. Injured parties can recover damages even if they are partially at fault for their injuries. However, compensation is reduced by the percentage of fault attributed to the injured party. For example, if a plaintiff is found 30% at fault with $100,000 in damages, they would receive $70,000.
Damage Caps
California does not impose caps on damages for most personal injury cases. However, medical malpractice cases are subject to the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA). As of 2023, MICRA caps non-economic damages at $350,000 for negligence cases and $500,000 for wrongful death cases. These caps increase annually until reaching $750,000 and $1,000,000 respectively by 2034, with 2% annual increases for inflation thereafter. Uninsured drivers generally cannot recover non-economic damages except when the at-fault driver was under the influence.
Auto Insurance Requirements
California is an at-fault state for auto insurance. As of January 1, 2025, minimum liability requirements increased under Senate Bill 1107:
- $30,000 bodily injury liability per person (previously $15,000)
- $60,000 bodily injury liability per accident (previously $30,000)
- $15,000 property damage liability per accident (previously $5,000)
This represents the first update to California’s minimum insurance requirements since 1967.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the threshold for filing a personal injury lawsuit in Long Beach?
California operates as an at-fault state, meaning you can file a claim against the responsible party’s insurance or pursue a lawsuit directly. Unlike no-fault states, there is no injury threshold requirement to pursue a liability claim. You must demonstrate that the other party’s negligence caused your injuries and resulting damages.
How does the Port of Long Beach affect personal injury claims in the area?
The Port of Long Beach is one of the busiest container ports in the world, creating unique circumstances for personal injury claims. Maritime workers may be covered under federal laws like the Jones Act or the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act rather than California workers’ compensation. Injuries involving port operations, shipping companies, or offshore workers often require attorneys familiar with admiralty and maritime law.
What happens if I am hit by an uninsured driver in Long Beach?
California has a significant number of uninsured motorists. If hit by an uninsured driver, you would rely on your own uninsured motorist coverage to recover compensation. California law restricts uninsured drivers from recovering non-economic damages like pain and suffering in lawsuits, even if the other driver was at fault. The exception applies when the at-fault driver was operating under the influence.
Can I recover damages if the accident happened on city property in Long Beach?
Claims against the City of Long Beach or other government entities follow stricter procedures. You must file an administrative claim with the government agency within six months of the incident. If denied, you have six months from the denial to file a lawsuit. Failing to file the administrative claim within the deadline bars recovery regardless of the merits of your case.
How do the new 2025 insurance minimums affect my personal injury claim?
The increased minimum insurance limits of $30,000/$60,000/$15,000 provide more coverage for accident victims. However, these limits apply as policies renew throughout 2025, not immediately to all drivers. Serious injuries in Long Beach can easily exceed these minimums, which is why attorneys often recommend pursuing additional compensation through underinsured motorist claims when available.