Practice Areas

The picturesque community of Tahoe City is the perfect location for recreationalists, families, and vacationers alike. But like any other town with a high concentration of traffic, thrilling outdoor adventure opportunities, and isolated landscapes, Tahoe City is not immune to accidents.

Regardless of whether you’re a Tahoe City resident or you’re visiting from out of town and in need of immediate local representation, a Tahoe City personal injury lawyer at Porter Simon Sierra Injury Lawyers can provide you with a variety of legal services. Our firm has served the greater Lake Tahoe region for over 50 years and has the resources and experience needed to help you get the compensation you deserve in a variety of accident scenarios.

When Do You Need a Lawyer After an Accident in Tahoe City?

While not every accident will require the help of a legal professional, if your accident was caused by another person and resulted in injuries, it can be exceptionally challenging to recover fair compensation on your own. Even seemingly straightforward accidents can quickly become complicated, especially when the at-fault parties fail to take responsibility. When this happens, you may not only risk your chance at a fair settlement, but you may even be blamed for the accident taking place. Without legal representation, insurance companies may wrongly assert that you are liable for your own injuries, or even those of the other party.

Even when there is clear evidence that the other party is responsible for your injuries, you’ll still need to negotiate for compensation that reflects the full extent of your damages. You can count on insurance companies to do their utmost to downplay the harm you’ve suffered and use other underhanded tactics to get you to walk away with less. A Tahoe City injury lawyer can not only accurately value your claim, but they can also handle the difficult task of communicating with insurance companies and other involved parties, making sure your voice is heard at every stage of the process.

How Our Tahoe City Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You

Beyond assisting you in calculating damages and handling communication with insurance, working with our Tahoe City personal injury firm comes with many other benefits as well. In addition to being tireless advocates for our clients, our lawyers are skilled investigators and will meticulously review every detail of your case to ensure that every legal option is available to you.

We can retrieve and review witnesses’ testimony, surveillance footage, physical evidence, medical records, and traffic reports to help better position your case and maximize your chances of a fair settlement. Having served the Lake Tahoe region for more than half a century, we also pride ourselves on our long-standing relationships with local medical providers, accident reconstruction specialists, and investigators, who can each provide specialized knowledge that helps make your case as strong as possible.

Finally, with Tahoe City being situated just a few miles from the Nevada border, our attorneys are licensed to practice in both California and Nevada. So whether you are an out-of-towner or a Tahoe City resident who was injured during a visit to Nevada, we have you covered.

Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle in Tahoe City

While there are thousands of personal injury law firms across the country, it’s important to know that not every firm is going to be the right fit for your case. You’ll want to make sure that your lawyer has long-term, relevant experience in your specific type of accident and has an extensive history of positive results. Below is just a small selection of the types of personal injury cases we have successfully handled:

• Motor Vehicle Accidents: This includes car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, and those involving pedestrians, cyclists, hit-and-run accidents, and DUI. As a testament to our localized service, we also frequently handle boating accidents.
• Premises Liability Cases: Regardless of whether you were bitten by a dog on someone else’s property, slipped and fell at a commercial location, or were involved in a skiing accident in one of the Tahoe region’s many resorts, we can apply our extensive experience to your case.
• Wrongful Death: If you are the surviving loved one of an individual who was killed in a tragic accident, our firm can represent you in a wrongful death lawsuit to help you recover compensation for medical debt left behind, financial loss, and the emotional trauma of losing a loved one.

How Much is My Tahoe City Personal Injury Case Worth?

One of the most common questions we are asked is, “How much can I recover from a personal injury claim?” The amount of money you can recover depends on the specific facts of your case. Settlement amounts are generally determined by how severe the injury was, the extent of the damages, and the level of negligence involved. A typical personal injury settlement might include compensation for:

• The cost of your medical bills, including long-term treatment, medications, and therapy
• The cost associated with property damage, such as to your car or personal belongings
• The loss of income due to your injury or the injury of a loved one
• Emotional trauma from the accident, such as PTSD, anxiety, or depression

Being found partially at fault for causing your own injuries can also affect your recovery due to the concept of comparative negligence. California operates under a pure comparative negligence rule, which means that while being partly at fault does not bar you from filing a claim, the greater your share of fault, the less compensation you are eligible to recover. This is why it’s important to work with an attorney, as insurance companies will often try to shift as much blame as possible to you to reduce what they owe.

What To Expect When Working With Our Tahoe City Personal Injury Attorneys

Our firm prides itself on our ability to make things as simple and streamlined as possible. We offer a free consultation to all potential clients, which allows us to get as much information about your accident as possible while also offering you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have about the process. Then, our team will work to investigate the incident by gathering documentation and evidence related to your case. You can assist this process by providing us with any evidence you may already have in your possession, such as pictures from the accident site or witness contact information.

Once we have built a solid foundation of evidence, we enter into negotiations with the insurance company. Our goal is always to settle your case efficiently and fairly, but if the insurer refuses to offer what you deserve, we are ready to take your case to court. During this time, we will keep you updated at every step to ensure you are never left in the dark about the status of your case.

Tahoe City Personal Injury Lawyer: FAQs

What Does It Cost to Hire a Tahoe City Injury Lawyer?

Porter Simon works based on contingency. This means that you pay nothing up front for our legal services and nothing at all unless we win your case. Instead, we retrieve a percentage of your settlement if you are awarded one.

Do I Need a Lawyer for a Minor Accident in Tahoe City?

It depends on how minor the accident was. If there are no injuries and very little property damage, it’s unlikely you’ll need a lawyer to handle your case. However, if you or the other party has sustained significant injuries or property damage, it’s best to play it safe and work with a lawyer. Furthermore, even if your injuries are minor, it’s often a good idea to opt for a free consultation to determine whether or not you may be eligible for other types of damages or if your injuries have the potential to get worse over time.

How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim?

You generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim. However, the amount of time you have can also change depending on who the at-fault party is, how old you were at the time of the accident, and when the injuries were discovered, which is why we recommend reaching out to our firm as soon as possible.

What If the Other Party Doesn’t Have Insurance or Doesn’t Have Enough?

It depends on the type of accident, but generally, there are many options to pursue compensation, whether through your own insurance policy or other liable parties. You can rely on us to ensure that every possible avenue for recovery is considered.