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Helping Clients Navigate Injury Claims

We’re ready to help with a variety of case-types, here’s just a small example of how we can help:

Large Firm Results & Representation with Small Firm Personalized Attention & Care

Michael is determined to provide each of his clients with personal, one-on-one legal attention. With the Beliz Law Firm, you’re not a number. Each case is important to us, and we promise to treat our clients with respect. We firmly believe in providing you with a voice in your time of need. At the same time, our Long Beach Injury Lawyers focus on maximizing the value of your case - we’re ready to handle tough negotiations with the insurance company. Finally, we won’t hesitate to take your case to trial if that’s what’s needed.

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I would highly recommend The Beliz Law Firm and should I need legal counsel or a personal injury lawyer in the future, Michael Beliz has become my new go-to guy.

- M.M.
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Long Beach Personal Injury Lawyer Michael Beliz

Small Firm Attention, Big Firm Results

Michael A. Beliz, Esq., established The Beliz Law Firm in the spring of 2011. Michael has been a practicing attorney since 2006 and worked for two of the most prominent plaintiff’s personal injury law firms in Southern California. He has extensive experience with personal injury claims and has worked on and handled hundreds of cases as an attorney in all types of accident and injury cases, including car accidents, pedestrian accidents and dog bites, and successfully recovered millions of dollars for his clients.

At the University of San Diego School of Law, Michael was a multiple-year recipient of the Delroy Richardson Endowed Law Scholarship and attained the high pass in Negotiation. In addition, he was a semi-finalist in the ATLA Intramural Mock Trial Competition. Prior to graduating from law school, Michael earned a master’s degree in economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara and his undergraduate degree from California State University, Long Beach where he was a member of the Omicron Delta Epsilon, the International Honor Society for Economics. Michael A. Beliz is admitted to the State Bar of California and United States District Court, Central District of California.

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Client Testimonials

  • "I was referred to the Beliz Law Firm by a family friend and was not disappointed. I was a passenger in a vehicle that was hit by a drunk driver and when I needed the services of an attorney, Michael Beliz came to my work to discuss my options. He is very friendly and explains everything in effectively and in detail. He recommended a great chiropractor whom I then sought treatment from and who helped me recover from my injuries. Michael created an excellent report used in my case which allowed me to receive the maximum return in my settlement. I have already referred a family friend and recommended another long time friend to seek his services. God forbid I ever get in another serious accident, but if I do I will for sure contact Michael again to seek his help. He’s a great guy who does great work!"

    Y.R.

  • Long beach personal injury lawyer Michael Beliz represented my personal injury case this year and I’m glad I found them. In summation Michael Beliz came across as intelligent, effective, friendly, and genuine. An excellent people person and well versed attorney is a hard combination to find. Michael walked us through everything; spoke to me like a person and not a case number. He just pretty much made the whole ordeal so much easier. Michael was extremely helpful, patient and responsive with my family and me the entire time. Michael regularly checked in on me during my recovery and kept me up to date on the status of the case and conversations with the other parties’ insurance company. My case wasn’t large but he treated me as if I was one of his only cases. I would highly recommend the Beliz firm to family and friends as the highest recommendation I could offer.”

    M.G.

  • "No one wants to involve an attorney in an auto claim, but sometimes you have no choice. Michael made an unpleasant situation so much easier. He really took the time to understand everything that was going on and always gave me prompt and personal attention. He was involved immediately and took over all the interactions with the insurance companies. He became the only one I had to deal with and there were never any games with him, only sound advice. My only mistake was not calling Michael sooner. I now recommend an attorney anytime an injury is involved in an auto accident, if only so they can deal with the insurance companies’ games, and you would be hard pressed to find someone better than Michael Beliz."

    T.V.

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Recent Results & Settlements

Michael has a long history of getting his clients the compensation they deserve. Here are a few of his recent results:

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Frequently Asked Questions

When Should I Speak with a Long Beach Personal Injury Lawyer?

How Do I Know If I Have a Valid Personal Injury Claim?

How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in California?

How Much Does a Long Beach Personal Injury Attorney Cost?

How Much is My Case Worth?

Can I Still Receive Compensation If I Am Partially at Fault for My Injury?

Recent Blog Posts

Attorney Portrait

Average Settlement for Dog Bite in California

May 12, 2023 | By Michael Beliz | Read Time: 4 minutes

The average dog bite settlement can vary significantly from case to case. If the dog caused severe injuries, the person might have incurred more expenses, possibly meriting a higher settlement. In contrast, if the victim suffers minor bruises or no physical injuries at all, the damage award may be lower. An attorney can help you understand and assert your legal rights to help maximize your settlement.  Michael Beliz has successfully helped numerous clients recover compensation in many personal injury cases, including claims involving dog bites. He understands the trauma and risks that his clients experience when they suffer a dog attack. He and his team provide aggressive yet compassionate legal representation to clients throughout California to help them reclaim their lives and recover compensation.  What Is the Average Settlement for a Dog Bite Case? Every situation leading to a dog bite is unique. For that reason, there is no average settlement for a dog bite case in California. Your chance of recovering compensation depends on a host of factors, such as:  The best way to determine if you have a claim against a dog owner and how much that might be is to talk to a legal professional who regularly practices in this area of law. An attorney understands the nuances of California’s dog bite and personal injury laws and may give you some information on what to expect if you pursue damages.  What Might Affect the Average Dog Bite Settlement Amounts? While no one can reasonably guarantee a particular outcome, there are common types of damages that may arise in a given case. Three common sources of compensation include medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The specific amount of these (or whether the victim receives these at all) depends on the surrounding circumstances.  Medical Expenses Dog bites can cause puncture wounds, broken bones, lacerations, bruises, and infections. These can result in the victim paying hospital bills, co-pays, prescription drug fees, and rehabilitation costs. Medical expenses are a common source of damages in a dog bite case. To recover these damages, you’ll need to show that they resulted from the dog bite. In addition, there may be future medical expenses like plastic surgery once the dog bite heals.    Lost Wages Many dog bite victims may have to miss work while they quarantine, receive treatment for their injuries, or recover after an attack. You may be entitled to reimbursement from the dog’s owner to cover the time you could not work because you had to attend attack-related medical treatments or stay home and recover.  Pain and Suffering Pain and suffering is another type of compensation dog bite victims may receive. This type of damage award compensates you for the pain and trauma involved in suffering a dog bite. It can include the trauma of the event and the effects you experience later on.  How Can I Maximize the Average Payout for a Dog Bite? There are steps you can take to help maximize the payout you may receive for a dog bite. These steps include seeking medical attention, taking swift action, and hiring an attorney. While none of these guarantee a particular outcome, they help set you up for possible success.  Take Photos Take photos of the dog and your injuries.  Keep taking photos of your injuries to show the healing process. Documenting your injuries from the very beginning will show the defendant how your life was affected from the attack. Call Animal Control  Call the local animal control. They will go out and gather information about the dog and the dog owner, in addition to getting statements from all interested parties and taking photos of the dog and any injuries. This information will all be put into a report that will be useful for your dog bite claim.    Seek Medical Attention Seeking medical attention after a dog bite is imperative to protect your health. Because dogs use their mouths so frequently and owners do not sanitize their pets’ mouths every day, dogs tend to have a lot of potentially dangerous bacteria in their saliva. The best practice is to go to the doctor even before you show signs of an infection. This helps protect your health and sets a strong foundation for your legal claim.  Take Swift Action California imposes a strict deadline on when injury victims can file a claim against an at-fault party for a personal injury. In most cases, this deadline is two years, but there are exceptions. Some claims may merit a longer or shorter time limit. An attorney can help you identify and meet this deadline.  Hire an Attorney Hiring an attorney can help you prepare, present, and effectively negotiate your settlement. Further, at-fault parties are more likely to take you and your dog bite claim seriously if you have an attorney to help you. A lawyer serves as your advocate to help ensure that your best interests are respected during the case.  The Beliz Law Firm Can Help Dog bites can be terrifying experiences, causing trauma and physical injuries. If you suffered an injury during a dog attack, acting quickly and effectively to protect your physical health and legal rights is essential.  Michael Beliz understands the pain and challenges experienced by California dog bite victims. He can help you understand the applicable laws in your situation and will listen to your dog attack story. He has over 15 years of experience fighting for injury victims throughout California. If you experienced a dog bite in California, contact Michael today to schedule a no-obligation consultation.

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What Happens If You Get Hit by a FedEx Truck in California?

May 5, 2023 | By Michael Beliz | Read Time: 4 minutes

What happens if you get hit by a FedEx truck depends on the circumstances, and the next steps you take can play an essential role in your ability to recover physically and financially from the accident.  Typically, the initial step is to report the accident to the local police and seek medical care. Then you or the driver of the vehicle you were in should file a claim with the insurance company. Contacting an experienced personal injury attorney is likewise important to help you to identify and protect your legal rights. The lawyer can perform extensive research to determine what parties are at fault for your accident and the appropriate course of action to maximize your chance of receiving a fair damages award.  The Beliz Law Firm has over 15 years of experience helping accident victims fight for their rights. We understand the unique laws involved when a large company such as FedEx causes a collision and are unafraid of standing up to them on behalf of injury victims. What Happens If You Get Hit by a FedEx Truck? For those wondering what to do after an accident with a FedEx truck, there are several important steps you can take to protect yourself or preserve your right to file a claim. Report the Accident California law requires most drivers in a crash to report the car accident to the authorities if the collision results in injury, death, or property damage. Where possible, drivers should also exchange information with each other and get the names and contact information of the passengers and any witnesses. California law may also require you to notify the Department of Motor Vehicles about the accident within 10 days.  If you are in a car hit by a FedEx truck, you might also ask the truck driver for their employer’s information and note the truck or fleet number on their vehicle. Also ask if they are an independent contractor or if they work directly with FedEx. You can use this information to determine who is responsible for your damages.  Go to the Doctor Seek medical attention after the wreck, even if you don’t feel injured. Many injuries don’t fully appear until hours or days after the accident because they are masked by the overall stress of the crash. Doctors can examine you and determine if you have any injuries to attend to, helping to limit the chance that your condition will worsen.  File an Insurance Claim The next step is to file a claim with the insurance company that covers the car you were in during the collision. When communicating with the insurance agents, keep in mind that they work for the insurer, not you or the driver. Thus, they may be looking for holes in your story and ways to avoid paying out compensation.  As much as you can, avoid making admissions of any fault and stick with the facts necessary to convey what happened. Before signing anything you receive from the insurance company, talk to an attorney and ask them to review it to make sure you do not inadvertently waive critical legal rights.  Contact an Attorney An attorney can help level the playing field and fight for your rights when FedEx refuses to pay compensation or admit fault. A truck accident lawyer is there to protect and assist you in filing a claim and can handle the legal aspects of the accident on your behalf. They also leverage their experience and knowledge of the law to calculate and negotiate a fair settlement amount.  My Car Was Hit by a FedEx Truck. Who Can I Contact at FedEx? You can contact the customer service line at FedEx if you are in an accident. Where appropriate, you may instead want to communicate with the direct supervisor of the FedEx driver who caused the collision. For help with this step, it may be best to contact an attorney. They can talk to FedEx on your behalf to minimize the potential for conflict and work to reach an amicable solution that serves your best interests. They can also advocate for your rights in court to help ensure your voice is heard.  I Got Hit by a FedEx Truck. What Compensation Can I Receive? If you suffered an injury in an accident with a FedEx vehicle, you may be entitled to compensation to cover the cost of your hospital bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. California law allows victims to pursue a financial settlement to address injuries and property damage associated with an accident. A personal injury attorney can review your case and help you understand what compensation you may be entitled to under your unique circumstances.  The Beliz Law Firm: Truck Accident Attorneys Serving California FedEx truck accidents can cause significant damage to you and your vehicle. You can help alleviate the financial burden of the accident by pursuing damages against the at-fault parties. An attorney at the Beliz Law Firm can help with this process. Over his 15+ years practicing law, Michael Beliz has helped clients recover millions in compensation. He is a fierce and knowledgeable advocate for the injured. If you were hit by a FedEx truck, contact our office today to schedule a no-obligation consultation.

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How Long Does It Take to Get a Settlement from a Car Accident in California?

May 2, 2023 | By Michael Beliz | Read Time: 4 minutes

One of the most common questions we receive from prospective clients is, How long does it take to get a settlement from a car accident in California? Unfortunately, there’s not a specific timeline or average that we can share with you. Every case differs, and so does the claim timeline. If you have questions about how long a car accident claim takes to settle, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the legal team at Beliz Law Firm.  How Long Does It Take to Settle a Car Accident Claim? The timeline to resolve a car accident claim varies from person to person. Individual factors mean your case could settle in two months or two years. Read on to learn more.  Factors Impacting the Duration of a California Car Accident Settlement Some of the most influential factors in your case include the severity of your injuries, liability disputes, and insurance company negotiations. Here’s how each of these impacts your settlement timeline.  Injury Type and Severity Your injuries play a significant role in how quickly your case might resolve. The more severe your injuries, the longer you are likely under a physician’s care. Severe injuries often involve lengthy recovery periods. Trying to resolve your case too early could result in missed compensation. Consider an example where you settle your claim but your doctor says you need additional surgery. If you have already settled and signed a release, you can’t go back and try to negotiate for more money.  Severe injuries also translate to a greater amount of damages. The insurance adjuster will scrutinize your damages even more when your case could be worth a significant amount. Some adjusters prefer to take their chances with a jury rather than settle for a fair amount.  Gathering Evidence  Before negotiations begin, your attorney must gather evidence and documentation to support your claim. This evidence includes medical records, photographs, witness statements, and police reports. The time it takes to collect and review all necessary evidence will vary depending on the case’s complexity and the parties’ availability. A delay in obtaining essential evidence means negotiations will start later.   Disputes Over Liability Liability disputes are a big hangup in most California car accident cases because California is a comparative negligence state. Your compensation will be reduced if you are partially at fault for the accident. The reduction correlates to your percentage of fault. That means the insurance company can save money for any additional liability they can attribute to you.  In some cases, the parties involved in a car accident may dispute who is at fault. You’ll need additional investigation and evidence collection when the insurance company contests liability. Your attorney might need to hire an accident constructionist to confirm the mechanics of the accident. All this can extend the time it takes to negotiate a settlement.  Insurance Company Negotiations In general, negotiations with insurance companies can be a lengthy process. Some insurance companies will use delay tactics or offer a lowball figure in hopes you walk away. Your attorney may need to present additional evidence, argue for a higher compensation amount, and engage in multiple rounds of negotiation before reaching an agreement. Litigation  If you cannot reach an agreement on a fair settlement through negotiations, it may be necessary to file a lawsuit. Litigation can be time-consuming and may extend the duration of your case by several months or even years. Usually you have two (2) years from the date of the accident to resolve your case or file a lawsuit. There are incidents involving governmental entities that may shorten the time to six (6) months or accidents involving a minor child that could lengthen the statutory time to two (2) years past the age of 18 years old. Once in litigation with the courts, the time may take another year or more to resolve the conflict between you and the other’s insurance company.      Once You Settle: Receiving the Check  Receiving payment will still take a few weeks or more. First, you have to receive and sign the release of all claims. The insurance company will process it and then issue the final settlement check.  If you have an attorney representing you, the settlement check will be sent to your attorney. Before you receive your portion of the settlement, your attorney will deduct their fees, any liens, and other case-related expenses. Your attorney should provide you with a detailed statement outlining these deductions. Once all costs and liens are satisfied, your attorney will send you the remaining proceeds.  What to Do If It’s Taking Too Long to Receive Your Settlement? If you’re asking, Why is my car accident settlement taking so long? you aren’t alone. Even once you settle, insurance companies can delay the process. That’s one of the many reasons we recommend hiring a California car accident lawyer. If you feel that your case is taking an unreasonably long time to resolve, remember to:  If you still need to find an attorney, start researching now. You have only limited time to file a lawsuit in California.  Contact Beliz Law Firm  When you’re injured in a car accident, consider hiring a skilled lawyer that handles car accidents. If you’re researching answers to questions like, How long does it take to get a settlement from a car accident in California? contact Beliz Law Firm. Attorney Michael Beliz has nearly two decades of experience assisting injured victims in California. He knows insurance companies’ tactics to delay settlement and undervalue your case. Let our firm protect your rights and help you obtain fair compensation as quickly as possible. Schedule an initial consultation to learn more. 

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