South Lake Tahoe Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyer

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South Lake Tahoe, the largest city in El Dorado County, has an impressive population of over 21,000. This vibrant city, which sits gracefully on the state border between California and Nevada, is known for its thriving tourism industry, attracting countless visitors with its natural beauty and various attractions.

One of South Lake Tahoe's main attractions is its casinos. The city's gambling scene is vibrant and diverse, featuring prominent casinos such as Harrah's, Harvey's, and MontBleu. These establishments offer exhilarating gaming experiences and host various entertainment shows, making them a significant contributor to the city's vibrant nightlife.

In addition to its entertainment and culinary offerings, South Lake Tahoe is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. It's a year-round playground offering many activities, including skiing, camping, hiking, and boating. The region's scenic trails, majestic mountains, and serene lake provide countless opportunities for adventure and exploration.

If you or a loved one has been severely injured in an accident in South Lake Tahoe, our skilled legal team is here to help. We encourage you to contact us at (530) 392-9400 or toll-free at (800) 404-5400 for a comprehensive and complimentary case evaluation. Our experienced attorneys are committed to fighting for your rights and working diligently to secure the compensation you deserve.

Handling Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Cases 

Our law firm only handles serious personal injury matters in South Lake Tahoe. These cases include:

  • Serious Motor Vehicle Accidents. We represent clients in traffic accidents that result in severe injuries or death. South Lake Tahoe residents and visitors may also find themselves in serious boating accidents. According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, South Lake Tahoe had 45 injuries and deaths caused by traffic crashes in 2013; 22 involved alcohol use. The city had one pedestrian fatality and 14 pedestrian injuries in the same year.
  • Products Liability, such as vehicle defects. We can pursue a product liability case involving a vehicle's dangerous manufacturing or design defect that resulted in a severe or fatal motor vehicle crash. These complex cases involve many expert testimonies, witnesses, and extensive evidence collection.
  • Premises Liability. These cases involve injuries suffered by people while present in commercial establishments where there was a dangerous condition or situation. Slip and fall accidents are common types of premises liability personal injury cases. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) indicates that falls are the top non-vehicular cause of accidental deaths in the United States. Many possible factors may contribute to a slip and fall, including poorly-made walkways, slippery floors because of poor design or liquid substances, inadequate warnings, or poor lighting.
  • Traumatic Brain InjuriesTraumatic brain injuries, also known as "TBI," can result from head trauma, such as being in a motor vehicle accident or taking a fall. Brain injuries do not always manifest immediately after the injury but, in time, begin to reveal emotional, physical, or cognitive disabilities. Some folks with this type of injury must endure it for the remainder of their lives. We typically use qualified medical experts to prove a traumatic brain injury and obtain compensation for my clients who live with TBIs' life-altering and long-term effects.
  • Wrongful Death. Wrongful death cases arise when someone passes away due to another person's negligence or recklessness. We help families file wrongful death claims for their spouse, children, domestic partner, siblings, parents, or other family members with legitimate legal interests defined under California law. In wrongful death, plaintiffs can recover compensation for various damages, including hospital and medical bills, funeral costs, and lost income (including potential future earnings) from the family member who lost their life.
Choosing the Best Personal Injury Lawyer for Your Case

People are often intimidated by the prospect of searching for the right accident attorney for their case. It is a process that can seem daunting, mainly because so many factors play into the decision of who to hire. Potential clients often search the Internet for representation, which can produce an extensive list of possibilities. This can be confusing. We would like to offer some suggestions on things to consider when searching for a top-rated South Lake Tahoe personal injury lawyer.

Read Yelp and Google Reviews

Like other types of businesses, law firms often have a social media presence that can be informative for prospective clients. Sites like Yelp allow past clients to give reviews and rate a firm. Unlike some South Lake Tahoe attorneys, our law firm actively maintains a Yelp profile, and we have received numerous five-star reviews. Similarly, we maintain a Google profile that has received accolades from former and current clients. We embrace social media reviews because we are confident about our office's representation quality. Our customer reviews speak volumes about the kind of service you will receive when choosing our office to handle your personal injury case.

Check for a High Avvo Rating

Another measure of law firm excellence is attorney peer reviews on sites such as Avvo. This site calculates review ratings using mathematical models and analyzes data from state bar associations and other public websites. Some South Lake Tahoe law firms do not provide peer-review profiles on Avvo. In contrast, our Avvo listing reveals that we have received a 10 out of 10 - the highest possible rating. This speaks volumes regarding our standing in the legal community.

Look for Client Testimonials

The importance of client testimonials cannot be understated when searching for legal representation. Such testimonials provide evidence of the quality of drawing a firm can provide, especially since they demonstrate that past clients go the extra mile to give a testimonial. Notably, our law firm's former and current clients have provided written, audio, and video testimonials that offer detailed accounts of how we have assisted them with their cases and compassionate representation.

We Practice Personal Injury Law Exclusively

Our firm has practiced personal injury law exclusively since 1982. This is an essential quality for potential clients when considering an injury attorney because it translates into a higher level of knowledge in that particular field. Lawyers with a depth of experience in personal injury law are better suited to achieve favorable results for clients than those with a general law practice. We do nothing but provide expert personal injury-focused legal representation for our clients. We know how to establish liability, collect the proper evidence, and aggressively advocate for the interests of our clients.

Transparency With Past Verdicts and Settlements

We make available on our website an extensive list of past verdicts and settlements that we have achieved on behalf of our clients, some of which are multi-million dollar amounts. Because of our successes, our firm has been admitted into the Million Dollar Forum, an organization for personal injury lawyers who have successfully obtained verdicts and settlements of at least a million dollars. We are not intimidated by insurance companies that refuse to fully compensate our clients for their damages. Our record of successful verdicts shows that we are not afraid to take suitable cases to trial.

Choose an Attorney Who Is Active in the Legal Community

We maintain active memberships in various legal associations. First and foremost, we have continuously maintained good standing with the California State Bar. We are also members of the Capital City Trial Lawyers Association and the American Trial Lawyers Association.

Here is a YouTube video we created that will help you select the best personal injury attorney in South Lake Tahoe:

Find an Attorney With Northern California Experience

The vast majority of our clients are residents of Northern California. Our team members know this region - we live, work, and vacation in Northern California. We have advocated for South Lake Tahoe residents who have suffered severe injuries for nearly four decades.

During our initial consultation with a potential client, we can meet in person, via telephone, or over a videoconferencing app such as Zoom. With technology, nearly all required paperwork can be handled electronically. Sometimes a face-to-face meeting is the best way to begin our advocacy, and we will always make that happen in the most convenient way possible for our clients.

South Lake Tahoe Traffic Accident FAQ 

Where are the most dangerous intersections in South Lake Tahoe?

Here is a listing of dangerous intersections in South Lake Tahoe with the highest frequency of motor vehicle accidents.

  • Emerald Bay Rd & Lake Tahoe Blvd
  • Emerald Ln & 5th St
  • Fairway Ave & Fawn Way
  • Glen Rd & Rocky Point Rd
  • Glenwood Way and Fairway Ave
  • Lake Tahoe Blvd & Emerald Bay Rd
  • Lake Tahoe Blvd & Heavenly Village Way
  • Lake Tahoe Blvd & Tahoe Keys Blvd
  • Lake Tahoe Blvd & Transit Way
  • Lake Tahoe Blvd & Wildwood Ave
  • Lake Tahoe Blvd & Winnemucca Ave
  • Lake Tahoe Blvd & 2nd St
  • Lake Tahoe Blvd & 4th St
  • Martin Ave & Knox Ave
  • Palmira Ave & Reno Ave
  • Route 50 & Lake Tahoe Blvd
  • Ski Run Blvd & Pioneer Trail
  • Ski Run Blvd & Tamarack Ave
  • Pioneer Trail & Walkup Rd
  • Wildwood Ave & Alder Ave
  • 4th St & Barton Ave
Personal Injury Attorneys Serving South Lake Tahoe, CA

If you or a family member has been seriously injured in an accident, please call our experienced South Lake Tahoe personal injury lawyers at (530) 392-9400 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly advice.

We are members of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the National Association of Distinguished Counsel.

See a list of past cases on our verdicts and settlements page and our client reviews on AvvoYelp, and Google.

Editor's Note: updated. [cha 5.24.23] Photo by Cheyenne Knowles on Unsplash [cs 1612]

Additional Resources:

Client Reviews
★★★★★
"Me and my wife; had a car accident. We were amazed how easy, professional, friendly attorney Ed Smith is along with his staff. Everybody is amazing. Thank you so much, we are very impressed!" Alex & Dinah M.
★★★★★
"Ed Smith and his office team took on a difficult personal injury case on my behalf and for the passenger in my car. Ed is a top- notch attorney. His staff couldn't have been more helpful and kind. No need to look elsewhere. I give Ed Smith my highest recommendation." Beverly
★★★★★
"Ed and Robert have been taking great care of my husband and I for the past 5+ years. They are always there when you have a problem and a quick resolution! Even when the issues have nothing to do with them. They are willing to help ease the pain off your shoulders. They are as good as it gets! Thank you again for everything." Annie T.
★★★★★
"Very professional. Great team, staff and service all around. Mr Smith was very honest, straight forward with his advice. He gives the word "attorney" an honest reputation. I will seek his council anytime, and would recommend him at the drop of a dime." Jeremy M.
★★★★★
"I would highly recommend Ed Smith to any friends or family in need of a personal injury attorney. Ed, and his staff, are very caring on top of being very experienced in this field. The staff always keeps you informed of the status of your case and they are always easy to reach by phone." Shannon D.
★★★★★
"Edward Smith law offices provide competent, thorough, and personable help for victims of personal injury. When you first meet the staff you know you contacted the right office. This law office treats clients like people. I recommend this office to anyone seeking representation regarding personal injury." David M.