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Kern County Personal Injury Lawyer
If you were hurt in a car crash, truck crash, fall, or other accident in Kern County, Geller Legal can help you pursue a claim against the person, company, or public agency responsible. Unlimited civil cases, including injury cases, are filed at the Metropolitan Justice Building in Bakersfield. A claim against the County itself must be filed within six months. Call 213-770-4870 for a free, confidential consultation.
Which Kern County Superior Court courthouse hears personal injury cases?
The Metropolitan Justice Building in Bakersfield. The Kern County Superior Court directs unlimited civil complaints, those seeking more than $35,000, to be filed there.
| Case type | Courthouse |
|---|---|
| Civil, including personal injury | Metropolitan Justice Building, 1215 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield. |
The court also lists civil locations in Delano, Lamont, Mojave, and other communities. Source: Kern Superior Court: Civil and Small Claims
Who takes crash reports in Kern County?
It depends on where the crash happened. The CHP covers freeways, state highways, and unincorporated roads. City police departments, such as Bakersfield, Delano, and Ridgecrest, cover their own city streets, and the Kern County Sheriff’s Office takes reports for incidents it handles.
Kern County Sheriff
Public records requests for reports the Sheriff’s Office took. Source: KCSO: Public Records Request Form (PDF)
City police
Crashes on city streets in cities with their own police department, such as Bakersfield, Delano, and Ridgecrest are reported to that department. Request the report from the department that responded. Source:
CHP Area offices serving Kern County
Five CHP Area offices serve parts of Kern County: Bakersfield, Buttonwillow, Fort Tejon, and Coalinga in Central Division, and Mojave in Inland Division. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | 9855 Compagnoni Street, Bakersfield | (661) 396-6600 |
| Buttonwillow | 29449 Stockdale Hwy., Bakersfield | (661) 679-0300 |
| Mojave | 1313 Highway 58, Mojave | (661) 823-5500 |
| Fort Tejon | 1033 Lebec Rd., Lebec | (661) 248-6655 |
| Coalinga | 125 South Sixth Street, Coalinga | (559) 935-2093 |
Source: CHP Bakersfield Area; CHP Buttonwillow Area; CHP Mojave Area; CHP Fort Tejon Area; CHP Coalinga Area; CHP: Request a Crash Report
How do I file a claim against Kern County?
File the County’s General Liability Claim Form with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, 1115 Truxtun Avenue, 5th Floor, Bakersfield, within six months of the injury.
- Form: the County of Kern General Liability Claim Form. Complete it fully and sign it.
- 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 Bakersfield, another city, a school district, or GET goes to that agency, not the County. The Bakersfield Accident Guide lists City of Bakersfield 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: Kern County: General Liability; County of Kern Claim Form (PDF)
Major routes in Kern County
These routes in Kern 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.
- SR-99
- I-5
- SR-46
- SR-58
- SR-119
Cities we serve in Kern County
Geller Legal represents people hurt anywhere in Kern County, including incorporated cities and unincorporated communities. For practical steps after a crash in a specific city, see our city accident guide.
Bakersfield Accident Guide
Bakersfield police, Sheriff, and CHP reports, plus City of Bakersfield and County claims.
More guides are on the Accident Guides page.
Injury cases we handle in Kern 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 Kern County?
At the Metropolitan Justice Building, 1215 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield. The Kern County Superior Court directs unlimited civil complaints, those over $35,000, to that courthouse.
How long do I have to file a claim against Kern County?
Six months for death or injury to a person under Government Code section 911.2. File the claim with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, 1115 Truxtun Avenue, 5th Floor, Bakersfield. 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 Kern 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 Kern 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.