Long Beach Personal Injury Lawyer

A Long Beach injury claim can involve a driver, a business, a property owner, or a public agency. The first task is to identify who controlled the vehicle or property and preserve the evidence that explains what happened.

The Law Offices of Asher Hoffman represents people hurt in car and truck crashes, falls, and other incidents caused by negligence. Our Long Beach office is at 3605 Long Beach Blvd. Your consultation is free. You pay no attorney’s fee unless we recover compensation for you.

Request a free case review or call (877) 792-4529.

Get the report from the agency that investigated

Keep the report number, officer’s name, incident date, and exact location. Confirm whether Long Beach Police, the California Highway Patrol, or another agency prepared the report. A crash location alone does not identify the agency that holds the records.

If Long Beach Police investigated, use the department’s official police report request page. It links the application for traffic collision and incident reports and explains how to submit it by mail or hand delivery. Follow its current identification and fee requirements.

The department says the time to process a request varies and may take about six months. Do not wait for the report before you preserve photos, seek legal advice, or check a claim deadline. A report request does not extend that deadline.

After a fall: record the condition and who controlled it

A fall at a store, apartment, hotel, sidewalk, or waterfront property requires more than proof of an injury. The evidence must help explain the hazard, who controlled the area, and whether that party knew or should have known about it.

• Photograph the exact spot and the surrounding area, if you can do so safely.
• Record the time, business name, nearby signs, and witness contact details.
• Keep your shoes, receipts, incident number, and any report you received.
• Identify cameras near the scene and ask an attorney about prompt preservation of video and inspection records.

Do not assume that a sidewalk belongs to the adjacent business or that every waterfront area has the same operator. Our Long Beach slip and fall guide explains hazard and notice evidence. The premises liability guide covers other unsafe-property claims.

Choose the guide that fits the incident

Car, truck, and rideshare crashes

For a car crash, keep vehicle photos, witness details, insurance letters, and any dashcam file. Our Long Beach car accident guide explains the liability and insurance issues.

A commercial truck case may also require carrier records, dispatch messages, maintenance files, and vehicle data. Photograph the carrier name and identifying numbers when safe. See the Long Beach truck accident guide for the evidence that may need preservation.

For an Uber or Lyft crash, save the trip receipt, app screenshots, and messages. The driver’s status at the time can affect the insurance analysis. Read our Long Beach rideshare accident guide.

Other injury claims

• Motorcycle accidents: vehicle contact, sight lines, and disputed fault.
• Bicycle accidents and pedestrian accidents: movement, visibility, and available video.
• Third-party workplace claims: a claim against someone other than an employer. Our firm does not handle workers’ compensation matters.
• Wrongful death claims: eligibility, evidence, and the family’s losses.

A police report is not a claim against the City

A police report records an incident. An insurance claim asks an insurer to address a loss. A government claim and a lawsuit have separate requirements.

If a City vehicle or a condition on City-controlled property may be involved, identify the correct public entity promptly. The City of Long Beach claim instructions explain the form, supporting documents, and delivery to the City Clerk. They list a six-month deadline for personal injury claims, subject to applicable law and exceptions.

A claim against a different agency needs that agency’s procedure. Do not assume that a report to police, an insurer, or a maintenance department satisfies a government claim requirement. A rejection can also start a separate deadline to sue.

For many private-party injury lawsuits, California’s general deadline is two years. Exceptions can change the calculation. See the California Courts deadline guide and ask an attorney to check the dates for your case.

Document the injury as well as the incident

Keep medical records, bills, work restrictions, proof of lost income, and notes about changes in daily activities. Describe symptoms accurately to your medical provider. Do not delay medical care while you wait for an insurance decision.

Our catastrophic injury guide and serious-injury resources address brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, paralysis, CRPS, burns, amputations, and orthopedic injuries.

Common questions about Long Beach injury claims

Do I need the Long Beach Police report before I call?

No. Bring the incident date, location, report number, and any available photos. A report can help, but you do not need to wait for it to request a consultation.

What should I keep after a fall in Long Beach?

Keep photos of the condition and surrounding area, witness details, receipts, shoes, and any incident report. Record the exact location so an attorney can investigate who controlled it.

Does a police report file my claim against the City?

No. A police report and a government claim are separate. Identify the correct public entity and get advice about the claim deadline and any later lawsuit deadline.

What if the driver had no insurance?

Your own uninsured motorist coverage may apply, depending on the policy and facts. Preserve the policy, claim notices, and incident evidence so an attorney can review available coverage.

How much does a consultation cost?

The consultation is free. We handle personal injury cases on a contingency-fee basis, with no attorney's fee unless we recover compensation. We explain the fee agreement and case costs before representation.

Prepare for your Long Beach consultation

Bring the incident date and location, report number, available photos, medical provider names, and insurance correspondence. If a public agency sent you a rejection, include the letter and envelope. You do not need a complete report or every medical record to ask for a case review.

Meet Asher Hoffman and contact the firm for a free consultation. We serve Long Beach and nearby communities. Contact the firm to arrange an appointment.