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San Joaquin County Personal Injury Lawyer
If you were hurt in a car crash, truck crash, fall, or other accident in San Joaquin County, Geller Legal can help you pursue a claim against the person, company, or public agency responsible. Civil cases are filed with the Civil Department at the Stockton Courthouse. A claim against the County itself must be filed within six months. Call 213-770-4870 for a free, confidential consultation.
Which San Joaquin County Superior Court courthouse hears personal injury cases?
The Stockton Courthouse. The San Joaquin County Superior Court’s Civil Department is on the second floor and accepts filings at the counter, by drop box, by mail, or by eFiling.
| Case type | Courthouse |
|---|---|
| Civil, including personal injury | Stockton Courthouse, Civil Department, 180 E. Weber Avenue, 2nd Floor, Stockton. |
The court strongly encourages eFiling. Source: San Joaquin Superior Court: Civil Department
Who takes crash reports in San Joaquin County?
It depends on where the crash happened. The CHP covers freeways, state highways, and unincorporated roads. City police departments, such as Stockton, Tracy, Lodi, and Manteca, cover their own city streets, and the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office takes reports for incidents it handles.
San Joaquin County Sheriff
Public records requests for reports the Sheriff’s Office took, online or by mail to its Records Division. Source: SJSO: Records Division
City police
Crashes on city streets in cities with their own police department, such as Stockton, Tracy, Lodi, and Manteca are reported to that department. Request the report from the department that responded. Source:
CHP Area offices serving San Joaquin County
Two CHP Area offices in Valley Division serve San Joaquin County. The Stockton Area office shares its Wilcox Road building with the CHP Stockton Communications Center, which has a separate number; for reports, call the Area office number listed here. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Stockton | 2720 Wilcox Road, Stockton | (209) 938-4800 |
| Tracy | 1175 E. Pescadero Ave., Tracy | (209) 319-4300 |
Source: CHP Stockton Area; CHP Tracy Area; CHP: Request a Crash Report
How do I file a claim against San Joaquin County?
File the original and one copy of the County’s Claim for Damage or Injury with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, 44 N. San Joaquin Street, Suite 627, Stockton, within six months of the injury.
- Form: County of San Joaquin Claim for Damage or Injury (PDF), from Risk Management.
- Questions: Risk Management at (209) 468-3370.
- 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, or RTD 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: San Joaquin County Risk Management; Claim Form (PDF)
Major routes in San Joaquin County
These routes in San Joaquin 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-5
- I-205
- I-580
- SR-4
- SR-12
- SR-99
- SR-120
Cities we serve in San Joaquin County
Geller Legal represents people hurt anywhere in San Joaquin County, including Stockton, Tracy, Manteca, Lodi, and Lathrop, and unincorporated communities.
For crash guides in other California cities, see our Accident Guides page.
Injury cases we handle in San Joaquin 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 San Joaquin County?
At the Stockton Courthouse, 180 E. Weber Avenue, where the San Joaquin County Superior Court’s Civil Department is on the second floor.
How long do I have to file a claim against San Joaquin 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, 44 N. San Joaquin Street, Suite 627, Stockton. 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 San Joaquin 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 San Joaquin 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.