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Alameda County Personal Injury Lawyer
If you were hurt in a car crash, truck crash, fall, or other accident in Alameda County, Geller Legal can help you pursue a claim against the person, company, or public agency responsible. New unlimited civil cases are filed at a courthouse chosen on the court’s required cover sheet addendum, such as the René C. Davidson Courthouse in Oakland or the Hayward Hall of Justice. A claim against the County itself must be filed within six months. Call 213-770-4870 for a free, confidential consultation.
Which Alameda County Superior Court courthouse hears personal injury cases?
Every new unlimited civil case in Alameda County must include the court’s Civil Case Cover Sheet Addendum, which designates the filing location. The courthouses listed on the form are the René C. Davidson Courthouse in Oakland, the Hayward Hall of Justice, and the Gale-Schenone Hall of Justice in Pleasanton.
| Location on the addendum | Courthouse |
|---|---|
| Oakland | René C. Davidson Courthouse, 1225 Fallon Street, Oakland. |
| Hayward | Hayward Hall of Justice, 24405 Amador Street, Hayward. |
| Pleasanton | Gale-Schenone Hall of Justice, Pleasanton. |
Auto tort and other personal injury cases are listed as case types on the addendum. The court’s Civil page lists its current civil locations. Source: Alameda Superior Court: Civil Case Cover Sheet Addendum; Alameda Superior Court: Civil
Who takes crash reports in Alameda County?
It depends on where the crash happened. The CHP covers freeways, state highways, and unincorporated roads. City police departments, such as the Oakland Police Department, cover their own city streets, and the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office takes reports for incidents it handles.
Alameda County Sheriff
Police report requests for incidents the Sheriff’s Office handled, online, by email, by mail, or by fax. Source: ACSO: Request a Police Report
City police
Crashes on city streets in cities with their own police department, such as Oakland, Fremont, Hayward, and Berkeley are reported to that department. Request the report from the department that responded. Source:
CHP Area offices serving Alameda County
Alameda County is served by the CHP Oakland, Hayward, and Dublin Areas. The Redwood City Area also lists portions of Alameda County. Report requests go to the Area office that handled the crash. If you are not sure which office that is, use the CHP Find an Office page.
| CHP Area | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Oakland | 3601 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland | (510) 457-2875 |
| Hayward | 2434 Whipple Road, Hayward | (510) 489-1500 |
| Dublin | 4999 Gleason Drive, Dublin | (925) 828-0466 |
| Redwood City | 355 Convention Way, Redwood City | (650) 779-2700 |
Source: CHP Oakland Area; CHP Hayward Area; CHP Dublin Area; CHP Redwood City Area; CHP: Request a Crash Report
How do I file a claim against Alameda County?
Complete the Claim Against the County of Alameda form and file the signed original, with supporting documents, with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, Administration Building, 1221 Oak Street, Room 536, Oakland, within six months of the injury.
- Form: Claim Against the County of Alameda, linked from the Risk Management Unit page.
- Questions: the Clerk of the Board at (510) 208-4949. After filing, the County’s claims administrator, George Hills Company, contacts the claimant.
- Deadline: 6 months for death or injury to a person or personal property, and 1 year for other claims (Gov. Code §911.2).
- After filing: the County generally has 45 days to act on the claim (Gov. Code §912.4). After a written denial, you generally have six months to sue (Gov. Code §945.6).
A claim against the City of Oakland, another city, a school district, or AC Transit goes to that agency, not the County. The Oakland Accident Guide lists City of Oakland claim steps. A claim against Caltrans for $12,500 or less is filed with Caltrans; larger claims against Caltrans and claims against most other State agencies go to the Department of General Services Government Claims Program. Source: Alameda County Risk Management: Liability to the Public
Major routes in Alameda County
These routes in Alameda County are named on the CHP Area office pages for the county. Crashes on freeways and state highways are usually handled by the CHP Area office for that stretch of road.
- I-238
- I-580
- I-680
- I-880
- SR-24
- SR-84
- SR-92
- SR-262
Cities we serve in Alameda County
Geller Legal represents people hurt anywhere in Alameda County, including incorporated cities and unincorporated communities. For practical steps after a crash in a specific city, see our city accident guide.
Oakland Accident Guide
Oakland police and CHP reports, plus City of Oakland and County claims.
More guides are on the Accident Guides page.
Injury cases we handle in Alameda County
Car Accidents
Crashes on surface streets and freeways, including uninsured and hit-and-run drivers.
Truck Accidents
Collisions with big rigs, delivery trucks, and commercial vehicles.
Motorcycle Accidents
Riders hurt by drivers who turn, merge, or change lanes into them.
Pedestrian Accidents
People hit in crosswalks, parking lots, and driveways.
Bicycle Accidents
Bike and e-bike riders hit by cars or hurt by road hazards.
Rideshare Accidents
Passengers, drivers, and others hurt in Uber and Lyft crashes.
Slip and Fall
Falls caused by unsafe conditions on someone else’s property.
Dog Bites
Bites and attacks, under California’s strict liability dog bite law.
Catastrophic Injuries
Brain, spinal cord, and other life-changing injuries.
See all personal injury practice areas.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file a personal injury lawsuit in Alameda County?
At the courthouse designated on the court’s required Civil Case Cover Sheet Addendum: the René C. Davidson Courthouse in Oakland, the Hayward Hall of Justice, or the Gale-Schenone Hall of Justice in Pleasanton.
How long do I have to file a claim against Alameda County?
Six months for death or injury to a person under Government Code section 911.2. File the signed claim with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, 1221 Oak Street, Room 536, Oakland. You generally must file that claim, and have it denied, before you can sue the County.
Who do I get my crash report from in Alameda County?
From the agency that took the report. City police handle their own city streets, the Sheriff’s Office handles incidents it responds to, and the CHP handles freeways, state highways, and unincorporated roads.
How long do I have to file an injury lawsuit in California?
For most injury claims against a private person or company, two years from the injury under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. Claims against a public entity follow the shorter government claim rules, starting with the six-month claim.
How much does it cost to hire Geller Legal?
Nothing up front. Geller Legal handles injury cases on a contingency fee, so there is no fee unless we recover. The first consultation is free and confidential.
Talk with Geller Legal about your options in a free, confidential consultation. Call 213-770-4870. No fee unless we recover.*
Contact Geller LegalCall 213-770-4870*Under our written contingency fee agreement, if there is no recovery you owe no attorney fees and do not have to repay the case costs we advanced. Medical bills and other non-litigation expenses remain your responsibility.
This page is general information about California law and Alameda County procedures, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Agency addresses, phone numbers, and procedures change; confirm with the linked official source. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Attorney advertising. Geller Legal, a dba of The Geller Firm, Inc.