Name: Empire Attorneys (dba Inland Injury)
Address: Eastvale, California, US
Telephone: (951) 456-3891

Question 1

What Topics Does the Empire Attorneys Podcast Cover?

Accepted Answer

The podcast covers personal injury and car accident topics relevant to Inland Empire and California residents. Deborah Song discusses case strategy, negotiation versus litigation, California-specific insurance issues (particularly uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage), property damage damages most firms skip (loss of use, diminution in value, GAP coordination), and consumer protection / identity theft matters her firm also handles. Each episode is an unedited conversation, not a marketing reel.

Question 2

Who Hosts the Podcast?

Accepted Answer

Abby Arnold hosts the podcast and interviews Deborah Song, founder of Empire Attorneys (dba Inland Injury) in Eastvale, California. Deborah Song is admitted to the State Bar of California (Bar No. 337172) and has been recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star by peer nomination.

Question 3

How Often Are New Episodes Released?

Accepted Answer

New episodes are released on a regular cadence. Subscribe via the platform links in the footer to get notified when each episode drops.

Question 4

Can I Submit Questions or Topic Suggestions?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Contact Empire Attorneys through the firm's website at inlandinjury.com or call (951) 456-3891. The firm welcomes listener questions, particularly from Inland Empire residents with questions about their own auto policy, a recent collision, or identity-theft disputes with credit bureaus.

Question 5

What Should I Do Immediately After a Car Accident in the Inland Empire?

Accepted Answer

Seek medical attention even if injuries seem minor, document the scene with photos, exchange information with other drivers, and file a police report. Do not give a recorded statement to any insurance adjuster, yours or the other driver's, before speaking with a California personal injury attorney. Deborah Song recommends contacting a lawyer early so the firm can open the claim with the carrier directly and send a letter of representation; any statement you make to your own insurer or the defendant's insurer can be twisted and used against you later.

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1 sets a two-year statute of limitations for most personal injury claims, running from the date of the accident or injury. Claims against government entities under the Government Claims Act (Gov. Code §911.2) require a written claim within six months. Missing the deadline typically forfeits the claim entirely, so early consultation matters. Empire Attorneys files suit before the two-year deadline in active cases even when the client is still treating, purely to protect the statute.

Question 7

What Types of Compensation Can I Recover in a California Personal Injury Case?

Accepted Answer

Economic damages (medical bills, lost wages, future care, property damage), non-economic damages (pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of consortium), and punitive damages in cases of malice, oppression, or fraud under California Civil Code Section 3294. California is a pure comparative fault state (Li v. Yellow Cab Co. 1975), so recovery is reduced by the plaintiff's percentage of fault rather than barred. Empire Attorneys also pursue diminution in value, loss of use, and GAP-insurance coordination (damages most personal injury firms leave on the table).

Question 8

Does My Insurance Premium Go Up if I File a Claim After an Accident That Wasn't My Fault?

Accepted Answer

Under California law, your insurer cannot raise your premium solely because you filed a claim. Premium increases require an at-fault finding on your driving record. Deborah Song stresses this because clients often avoid using their own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage or medical-payments (MedPay) coverage for fear of a rate hike, leaving compensation on the table when the at-fault driver is uninsured, underinsured, or absent.

Question 9

What is Diminution in Value and Why Do Empire Attorneys Pursue it?

Accepted Answer

Diminution in value is the market-value loss your vehicle suffers the moment it is reported in a collision, even after the physical damage is fully repaired. California common law allows a personal injury plaintiff to recover damages to make the plaintiff whole; a fixed bumper does not make the plaintiff whole if the car's resale or trade-in value has dropped. Most personal injury firms ignore this because the insurance adjuster refuses it. Empire Attorneys pursue it, including through litigation when necessary.

Question 10

Why Does Deborah Song Recommend UM/UIM Coverage For Every California Driver?

Accepted Answer

California only requires 15/30/5 liability coverage (Vehicle Code §16056), and roughly 17% of California drivers carry no insurance at all. If the at-fault driver has no insurance or low limits and you have serious injuries, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage under your own policy is often the only meaningful source of compensation. Deborah Song describes UM/UIM and MedPay as the real reason to carry insurance, not to protect your assets, but to protect yourself from the uninsured drivers she sees every week.

What Norco Drivers Need to Know Before Filing a Car Accident Claim

Super Lawyers Rising Star Serving the Inland Empire and Statewide California

Other Episodes

How Car Accident and Injury Type Determine Your Compensation w. Deborah Song

How to File a Car Accident Claim in Inland Empire w. Deborah Song

What Norco Drivers Need to Know Before Filing a Car Accident Claim

How Injury Type Affects Your Car Accident Payout in Norco

The YOU Interview with Deborah Song

Frequently Asked Questions