We checked peer rankings, bar directories, and each firm's own practice pages to find Long Beach's most credible personal injury firms. Here are 9 worth a call, with fees, focus, and what to ask.
Updated January 04, 202614 min readEditorially independent
If you were hurt in Long Beach — in a crash, a fall, or by someone else's carelessness — the lawyer you pick affects how much you recover and how little you have to fight for it. The good news: personal injury firms work on contingency, so hiring one costs you nothing upfront.
This guide lists Long Beach-area injury firms with verifiable track records, real recoveries, and free consultations. We focus on firms that try cases, because insurers offer more when they know a firm will take them to a jury.
Use this list as a starting point, not a final verdict. Call two or three firms, compare what they tell you, and pick the one that explains your options most clearly. Every firm here offers a free consultation, so a second opinion costs you nothing but an hour of your time.
How we picked these 9: We cross-referenced peer rankings and directories (Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, Justia, Expertise.com, FindLaw) and each firm's own published practice pages. Every firm below appeared in at least two independent sources and has a verifiable Long Beach-area personal injury practice. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
1
Russell & Lazarus APC
Long Beach / Irvine30+ yrs$300M+ recovered
Practice focus: Auto and motorcycle crashes, catastrophic injury, wrongful death
Founder Chris Russell has recovered more than $300 million for clients over a career of 30-plus years, handling vehicle crashes, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, elder abuse, and product liability for Long Beach residents.
Why they made the list: A nine-figure career recovery total signals a firm that hospitals and insurers take seriously.
Fee structure
Contingency: typically 33.3% pre-suit, 40% if filed
Practice focus: Car, truck, and motorcycle accidents, catastrophic injury
With more than three decades serving Southern California, Easton & Easton reports recoveries exceeding $500 million for injured clients across auto, premises, and catastrophic injury cases.
Why they made the list: A long track record and a large recovery total give leverage in serious-injury negotiations.
Practice focus: Car accidents, slip-and-fall, workers' compensation crossover
A downtown Long Beach firm at 111 W Ocean Blvd handling personal injury and accident claims on a contingency basis. Belal Hamideh has been recognized by the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys and carries strong client-review numbers.
Why they made the list: A central Long Beach office, bilingual intake, and no-win-no-fee terms make this an accessible first call.
Practice focus: Catastrophic injury, pedestrian and bicycle crashes, wrongful death
A husband-and-wife firm with more than 40 years of combined experience, McGee, Lerer & Associates focuses on serious and catastrophic injury and wrongful death. Catherine Lerer is a former prosecutor who has resolved more than a thousand matters.
Why they made the list: Trial-tested attorneys who limit their caseload tend to give catastrophic cases the attention they need.
Practice focus: Auto accidents, dog bites, slip-and-fall, wrongful death
A Long Beach personal injury practice whose attorneys represent injured people in auto crashes, dog bites, premises falls, and wrongful death so clients can focus on recovery while the firm pursues medical and legal compensation.
Why they made the list: A trial-first posture is useful when an insurer's early offer is too low to accept.
Practice focus: Medical malpractice, construction accidents, nursing home abuse
Serving Long Beach since 2013, LNN Law handles personal injury matters including medical malpractice, construction accidents, and nursing home abuse, and reports millions in verdicts and settlements for plaintiffs.
Why they made the list: Useful when an injury overlaps medical negligence or a construction site, which need specialized proof.
Practice focus: Auto accidents, workplace injury, workers' compensation crossover
A long-standing Long Beach firm handling personal injury alongside workers' compensation, with client reviews that praise communication and advocacy. Reach them at (562) 561-2669.
Why they made the list: A fit when a workplace or vehicle injury raises both an injury claim and a comp claim at once.
Serves Long Beach / San PedroSince 1974Maritime focus
Practice focus: Maritime and longshore injury, cruise and offshore claims
Charles D. Naylor has been a maritime personal injury trial lawyer for more than 35 years, representing dockworkers, longshoremen, cruise passengers, and offshore oil workers injured on or near the water.
Why they made the list: The Long Beach port means maritime injuries need a Jones Act and longshore specialist, not a general PI firm.
Practice focus: Catastrophic injury, product liability, wrongful death
A Southern California trial firm with decades of experience taking catastrophic injury, product liability, and wrongful death cases against large companies and insurers for Long Beach clients.
Why they made the list: A deep-resource trial firm matters when the defendant is a corporation or manufacturer.
Tell us what happened. We'll connect you with one of these Long Beach firms or a similar one. Free, confidential, no obligation.
How to choose between them in Long Beach
Ask about trial experience. Many Long Beach firms settle every case. Insurers know which ones never try a case and adjust their offers down. Ask when the firm last took an injury case to verdict.
Match the firm to your injury. A maritime injury at the port, a catastrophic brain injury, and a rear-end collision are different cases. Pick a firm with results in yours.
Confirm who handles your file. At larger firms a partner signs you up and a junior runs the case. Get the name of the person you will actually work with.
Get the contingency terms in writing. Most charge about a third before a lawsuit and 40% after filing. Confirm the percentages and who advances case costs.
Read recent reviews, not just the average. A high star average matters less than what recent clients say. On Google, Avvo, and Yelp, read the newest Long Beach reviews and watch for patterns in how the firm communicates and returns calls.
Trust your read of the consultation. You may work with this person for months. If they talk over you, dodge questions, or rush you at the free meeting, that rarely gets better after you sign.
What personal injury help typically costs in Long Beach
You do not pay a personal injury lawyer by the hour in Long Beach. They take a percentage of what they recover, and nothing if they lose:
Contingency fee: about 33.3% before a lawsuit is filed. This is the typical pre-litigation rate in California.
About 40% if the case is filed or goes to trial. The percentage usually rises once litigation begins.
Case costs are separate. Records, expert fees, and filing costs are advanced by the firm and repaid from the recovery — ask for this in writing.
Free consultation, no upfront fee. Every firm on this list offers a free case review and charges nothing unless you recover.
Ask each firm to walk you through a sample settlement: how the fee, the case costs, and any medical liens come out before you see your share.
How long it takes
How long an injury case takes in Long Beach depends on your medical recovery and whether a lawsuit is needed:
Treatment and demand: 3-9 months. Your firm waits until your condition stabilizes, then sends the insurer a demand backed by records.
Negotiation: 1-4 months. Many cases settle here, especially clear-liability crashes.
Lawsuit and discovery: 12-24 months. If the offer is too low, filing suit opens depositions and expert work.
Trial: 1.5-3 years total. Few cases reach a jury, but the credible threat of trial drives better settlements.
Red flags to watch for when hiring a personal injury lawyer in Long Beach
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can promise a specific result. If a firm guarantees a win, a number, or a court ruling, walk away.
The disappearing senior partner. You meet a named partner at intake, then never hear from them again while an unsupervised junior runs the file. Ask in writing who handles your matter day to day.
Pressure to sign on the spot. Reputable firms give you the engagement letter in writing and time to read it. High-pressure intake is a volume-mill signal.
No verifiable track record. Look for named results, peer rankings, board certifications, or bar recognition — not "we have helped thousands of clients."
Vague fees. Every legitimate firm will put the fee structure, what is covered, and what triggers extra charges in a written engagement letter.
10 questions to ask in your free consultation
Most of the firms on this list offer a free or low-cost initial call. Use it. Bring a written list and write down the answers, then compare across two or three firms before you sign anything.
Who, specifically, will handle my matter day to day? Get a name and a direct email, not just the firm.
How many matters like mine have you handled in the last three years? You want a number, not a brochure line.
What is your fee, and what does it cover? Get the structure in writing before you sign.
What out-of-pocket costs am I responsible for, and when? Filing fees, records, and experts add up - ask now.
What is the realistic range of outcomes? A good lawyer gives a range; a weak one promises the high end.
How long will this take? An honest estimate, with the assumptions stated.
What is my deadline, and is it at risk? Many personal injury matters carry hard filing deadlines.
How often will I hear from you? Set the communication cadence now.
What can I do to help my own case? The best lawyers will give you homework.
What is the worst-case outcome? A lawyer who refuses to discuss downside risk is selling you something.
What to bring to your Long Beach consultation
You will get more out of the first call if you arrive organized. For most personal injury matters, gather:
A short written timeline. Dates, names, and what happened, in order.
The key documents. Any contracts, letters, agreements, court orders, or filings you have received.
Your correspondence. Relevant emails, texts, or messages - and do not delete anything.
Any deadlines you know about. A court date, a signing deadline, or an agency notice.
Your questions. The 10 above are a good place to start.
If you are not sure whether something is relevant, bring it anyway. It is easier for a lawyer to set aside what does not matter than to chase down what you left at home.
Talk to a vetted Personal Injury attorney in Long Beach
Tell us about your situation. We'll match you with one of these firms or a similar one. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Frequently asked questions about personal injury lawyers in Long Beach
How much does a personal injury lawyer cost in California?
Nothing upfront. Firms work on contingency — about a third of the recovery before a lawsuit and roughly 40% after filing. If they do not win, you owe no attorney fee.
How long do I have to file?
California's deadline for most injury claims is two years from the injury, but claims against a public entity require a notice within six months. Deadlines are strict, so act early.
What is my case worth?
It depends on your medical bills, lost income, the severity of the injury, and the available insurance. Be wary of any lawyer who promises a number at the first meeting.
Should I take the insurer's first offer?
Usually not without advice. Early offers are typically low and often come before the full extent of an injury is known. A free consultation costs you nothing.
What if I was partly at fault?
California uses comparative fault, so you can still recover even if you were partly responsible — your recovery is reduced by your share of fault.
How long until I get paid?
Simple cases can settle in months; litigated cases take one to three years. Ask each firm for an honest estimate based on your facts.
How did you choose the firms on this list?
We cross-referenced peer-review directories - Super Lawyers, Avvo, Justia, Martindale-Hubbell, Expertise.com, and FindLaw - with each firm's own published practice pages. Every firm appears in at least two independent sources and has a verifiable Long Beach-area personal injury practice. We take no payment for placement.
Does it cost anything to get matched with a firm?
No. Using this directory and requesting a consultation is free, and the firms here offer free initial reviews. You decide whether to hire anyone, and there is no obligation.
What should I do right after an accident?
Write down what happened while it is fresh, keep every document and message, note any deadlines you have been given, and avoid posting about it online. Then book a free consultation before making decisions you cannot undo.
Can I switch lawyers if I am unhappy?
Usually yes. You are not locked in to the first personal injury firm you meet, and you can change counsel if the relationship is not working. Ask any new firm how a mid-case switch would affect your fee and timeline before you move.
One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Read the reviews. Call two or three firms before you sign. Ask each one: How many matters like mine have you handled in the last three years? The answer tells you a lot. — The LawFirmSquare team
LawFirmSquare is a directory. We do not represent clients or refer cases for a fee.
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