Attorney Spotlight: Daniel Lopez

When you are the victim of an accident, the details can be difficult and painful to revisit. Your personal injury attorney is someone you can confide in, communicate with, receive advice from, and rely on to advocate for your best interest. Establishing that trust starts by getting to know the person you are hiring to represent your case.

In this attorney spotlight, meet Daniel Lopez, a former baseball player who is now a bilingual attorney at the Law Offices of Belgum, Fry & Van Allen.

What made you decide to get into law?

I wanted to make a better life for my family and knew it was something that I could be successful in doing. I saw it as an investment in myself and my future.

What is your most vivid memory of law school?

I was actually lucky enough to meet my girlfriend during the first semester of law school. We’ve been together for the last three and a half years. I don’t really have one specific memory, but when I think about law school in general, the interactions with her come to mind.

What practice areas do you specialize in?

I’m currently a personal injury attorney mostly representing plaintiffs who have been injured in car accidents.

Describe one of your most rewarding and fulfilling cases.

An elderly woman was hit as a passenger in her brother’s car and her hand was injured by a shard of glass. She needed surgery, and was left with permanent nerve damage. She was also a widow recovering from cancer and the victim of many other difficult life events.

Most people in that situation would be frustrated, angry, and negative, but this woman walked into our office as happy as anyone I’ve ever seen. She was cracking jokes from the minute she walked through the door. Just being around somebody like that lifts your own spirits and makes you really appreciate the people around you. Knowing I was a part of helping her recover from her car accident made me proud of the work that we do as personal injury attorneys.

What is the single most helpful piece of advice you can give to a client?

Have patience. The law is a slow-moving process in which you are trying to reach an agreement. Insurance companies have checks and balances that they are required to go through before they can even begin discussing any kind of settlement. Our job is to keep nudging them and metaphorically, “roll the boulder” that is your case uphill. Even then, your case may go to trial. It can be years before your claim comes to a conclusion. The more patience you have, the better chances we have of securing a positive outcome.

One fun fact that clients might not know about you:

I’m a native New Yorker. Like Spiderman, I’m from Queens. But unlike most people from Queens, I’m a Yankees fan (Sorry, Mets.).

Quick, a restaurant recommendation in the area:

San Biagio’s New York Pizza. Good pizza can be hard to find in California, but San Biagio’s is solid.

Favorite place to vacation?

My dad lives in Miami. As a kid, I would alternate summers going there to visit him. Even though I haven’t been in about a decade, it’s still a place I have very fond memories of.

Hobbies and pastimes?

I run a baseball podcast in my spare time. I’m also a former baseball player, myself. The podcast is a fun way to keep up with the sport I love and allows me to have thoughtful discussions with others who are also passionate about baseball.

What are you most passionate about?

I genuinely enjoy helping people. I feel like I wouldn’t be where I am in life if it not for all of the great people who helped me when I was growing up. My goal is to one day give back to those people in a meaningful way while also helping others. I am particularly passionate about enabling small businesses to grow; I plan on eventually pursuing that angle through my career in law.

Learn more about Daniel and the rest of the team at the Law Offices of Belgum, Fry & Van Allen here.