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Contra Costa County Personal Injury Lawyer
If you were hurt in a car crash, truck crash, fall, or other accident in Contra Costa County, Geller Legal can help you pursue a claim against the person, company, or public agency responsible. All civil cases, limited and unlimited, are filed and heard at the Wakefield Taylor Courthouse in Martinez. A claim against the County itself must be filed within six months. Call 213-770-4870 for a free, confidential consultation.
Which Contra Costa County Superior Court courthouse hears personal injury cases?
The Wakefield Taylor Courthouse in Martinez. The Contra Costa County Superior Court states that all limited and unlimited civil cases are filed and heard there.
| Case type | Courthouse |
|---|---|
| Civil, including personal injury | Wakefield Taylor Courthouse, 725 Court Street, Martinez. |
Small claims and unlawful detainer cases are handled at the court serving the city where the dispute started. Source: Contra Costa Superior Court: Where to File; Wakefield Taylor Courthouse
Who takes crash reports in Contra Costa County?
It depends on where the crash happened. The CHP covers freeways, state highways, and unincorporated roads. City police departments, such as Concord, Richmond, Antioch, and Walnut Creek, cover their own city streets, and the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office takes reports in areas it patrols, including cities that contract with it.
Contra Costa County Sheriff
Report requests for incidents the Sheriff’s Office handled, through its Records and ID Unit. Source: CCSO: Request a Police Report
City police
Crashes on city streets in cities with their own police department, such as Concord, Richmond, Antioch, and Walnut Creek are reported to that department. Request the report from the department that responded. Source:
CHP Area offices serving Contra Costa County
Contra Costa County is served mainly by the CHP Contra Costa Area. The Oakland Area covers the Richmond, El Cerrito, and San Pablo area, the Dublin Area covers parts of Contra Costa County along I-580 and I-680, and the Marin Area lists Contra Costa among the counties it serves. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Contra Costa | 5001 Blum Road, Martinez | (925) 387-1900 |
| Oakland | 3601 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland | (510) 457-2875 |
| Dublin | 4999 Gleason Drive, Dublin | (925) 828-0466 |
| Marin | 53 San Clemente Drive, Corte Madera | (415) 413-9400 |
Source: CHP Contra Costa Area; CHP Oakland Area; CHP Dublin Area; CHP Marin Area; CHP: Request a Crash Report
How do I file a claim against Contra Costa County?
Read and complete the County’s Liability Claim Form and send it to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, 1025 Escobar Street, 1st Floor, Martinez, within six months of the injury.
- Form: the Liability Claim Form, linked from the County’s General Liability page. Risk Management handles County liability claims.
- 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 a city, a school district, BART, or County Connection goes to that agency, not the County. 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: Contra Costa County: General Liability
Major routes in Contra Costa County
These routes in Contra Costa 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-80
- I-580
- I-680
- SR-4
- SR-24
- SR-242
Cities we serve in Contra Costa County
Geller Legal represents people hurt anywhere in Contra Costa County, including Concord, Richmond, Antioch, Walnut Creek, San Ramon, and Pittsburg, and unincorporated communities.
For crash guides in other California cities, see our Accident Guides page.
Injury cases we handle in Contra Costa 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 Contra Costa County?
At the Wakefield Taylor Courthouse, 725 Court Street, Martinez. The court states that all limited and unlimited civil cases are filed and heard there.
How long do I have to file a claim against Contra Costa County?
Six months for death or injury to a person under Government Code section 911.2. Send the claim form to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, 1025 Escobar Street, 1st Floor, Martinez. 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 Contra Costa 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 Contra Costa 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.