Car Accident Lawyers in Chino Hills

Experienced, Local Attorneys Representing Clients Throughout the Los Angeles Area and Beyond

Attorney Eric Paris of The Paris Firm in Chino Hills, California, helps people injured in car accidents obtain financial compensation for the damages they have suffered. Since 1994, our law firm has won financial compensation for our clients’ pain and suffering, property damage, medical expenses, lost wages, lost future earning capacity, and other accident-related losses.

All types of car accidents can cause personal injury to drivers and passengers, from major highway collisions to low speed crashes at stop signs or in parking lots.

What should I do after a car accident?

In brief, you should:

• Assess injuries
• Move to safety
• Contact authorities
• Exchange information
• Document the accident scene
• Do not talk to insurance company representatives
• Get medical attention
• Contact a car accident attorney

For more detailed information, please see What to do after a car accident, our free E-Guide.

I don’t think I was hurt. Should I see a doctor anyway?

Yes. There are tremendous forces involved in a car accident that may result in serious injuries, although the symptoms are often subtle. In addition to seeing a doctor shortly after the accident you should watch out for symptoms of injury.

What injury symptoms should I look out for?

There are many common car accident injuries that may not show symptoms right away. Look out for brain injury symptoms such as:

• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Inability to sleep/nightmares
• Personality changes, moodiness or depression
• Fatigue
• Memory loss

Also look for spine injury symptoms such as:

• Back pain
• Pain elsewhere in the body
• Numbness
• Tingling
• Weakness

This may involve one limb, a pair of limbs, certain regions of the body, or certain organs. It may worsen with time.

Is my insurance company on my side?

In some ways, your insurance company may be your ally. They have certain obligations by law and contract that mean you have common interests. In other ways, your insurance company may be your adversary. An insurance company increases profit by paying less in claims, including your car accident claim. They may see your accident (and you) as a liability, and may make decisions that save them money, but may cost you. It is a conflict of interest that they will not acknowledge.

Do I need an attorney for my car accident claim?

An attorney is recommended any time you suffered an injury in a car accident that resulted in any amount of medical bills or lost wages. Since consulting an attorney about your car accident is free, it’s better to talk to one and be told you don’t need one than to not talk to one and suffer because you didn’t have representation.

My insurance company has made me an offer. Should I take it?

When your insurance company makes you an offer, it is based on an expectation of what they might have to pay for your accident. It is almost always at the lower end of what your accident is likely to cost in the long run, even if it seems like a lot based on what you have paid so far.

When should I contact an attorney about my car accident claim?

You should contact an attorney about your car accident claim when:

• You have been diagnosed with injuries and presented with a treatment plan
• You have received a settlement offer from your insurance company
• You are being pressured to give multiple statements about the accident, or you feel your claim is being handled too slowly
• You feel overwhelmed by the issues related to your car accident

Catastrophic Injury Claims

Serious car accidents can result in life-altering injuries, such as:

• Traumatic brain injury
• Spinal cord injury
• Paralysis
• Fractures
• Internal injuries
• Amputations
• Burns

If you have suffered a catastrophic injury in a car accident, you may need ongoing medical care, multiple surgeries, and physical and psychological therapy. You may need a motorized wheelchair, a handicapped van. You may need modifications to your home to make it handicapped assessable.

We work with certified life-care planners to make sure that all your accident-related needs are met. We identify all liable parties and pursue financial compensation to cover the full extent of your damages.

Protecting Your Interests in Soft Tissue Injury Claims

Soft tissue injuries are injuries to muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other soft tissues. They include sprains, strains, bruises, and whiplash. Symptoms of soft tissue injuries may not show up for days or weeks after the car accident. They can result in chronic neck, shoulder, and back pain that can prevent you from working and enjoying your life as you did before the accident.

Our personal injury law firm is experienced in cases involving whiplash and other soft tissue injuries. We always make sure our clients receive appropriate medical treatment. We wait until the full extent of your injuries is apparent before making a claim for damages.

What you do in the minutes after a car accident may have potentially serious ramifications to your health, safety, and the outcome of your car accident claim.

SOFT TISSUE INJURIES

If you have been in an accident and you have experienced any stiffness or soreness, chances are that a doctor uses the term “soft tissue” to describe your injuries. Although the term itself might sound benign, these injuries can be serious and often do take months to heal – and in unique instances, never do really heal.

Soft tissue includes the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves. Soft-tissue injuries are micro-tears to the muscles and ligaments that are more painful and take longer to heal than a broken leg. Sprains and strains mean something has stretched beyond normal. Muscle tissue may become strained when forced to exceed its ability to work. Besides muscle tissue, sprains and strains can affect a ligament or tendon. Ligaments attach bone to bone, while tendons attach muscle to bone. A sprained ankle is an example of a soft-tissue injury as it involves a sprain to a ligament. Sprains and strains occur when a person forces his or her muscles to perform beyond what the person does on a routine basis. Muscle tissue may become strained when forced to exceed its ability to work.

Whiplash

Whiplash is a neck injury that usually occurs when the car you are sitting in is rear-ended by another vehicle, causing your head to suddenly snap backward and then forward, similar to someone cracking a whip. These extreme motions push your neck muscles and ligaments beyond their normal range of motion. The bulk of the back is muscle and may be injured by excessive force. Up to half of the people who suffer whiplash will continue to have pain months after the injury. In some persons, this chronic pain can be traced to damage in the joints, disks, and ligaments of the neck. While many people recover from whiplash in a few months, some people with whiplash injuries develop chronic conditions that can be extremely painful and disabling. The symptoms of sprain and strain include sudden, sharp, and persistent pain at the injury site followed by swelling.

Whiplash—also called neck sprain and neck strain—is a soft-tissue injury resulting from a hyperextension and hyperflexion that may cause micro-trauma to the soft tissues in the neck and upper back. The forces to the spine incurred during an automobile accident may cause the head and neck to suddenly and rapidly move forward, backward, and sideways. Muscles, ligaments, and tendons in the spine incurred during an automobile accident may cause the head and neck to suddenly and rapidly move forward, backward, and sideways. Muscles, ligaments, and tendons in the spine may become stretched beyond normal limits, causing micro-trauma or small tears in the muscles, ligaments, and tendons, causing symptoms such as pain and burning. There is currently no specific treatment for whiplash, but health care professionals use physical therapy, oral pain relievers and muscle relaxants, chiropractics, immobilization of the neck with a soft cervical collar, massage, heat, ice, injection, and ultrasound.

Going the Extra Mile for Car Accident Clients

If you were fortunate enough to escape a car accident without a catastrophic injury, you may be as concerned about the damage to your car as about your medical condition. How will you get to work or school without a vehicle? Who will pay to have your car fixed or replaced?

At The Paris Firm, we assist with the resolution of your property damage claim at no cost to you. We will arrange for you to obtain a rental car. Our staff will work with your insurance company to get your vehicle repaired or replaced. Not every law firm provides this level of service. We do it because we care about our clients. Our entire team is dedicated to helping you through this difficult time.

To arrange a free initial consultation and case evaluation, please call The Paris Firm at (909) 469-5127 or contact us online. We look forward to speaking with you and learning how we can help.