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San Mateo County Personal Injury Lawyer
If you were hurt in a car crash, truck crash, fall, or other accident in San Mateo County, Geller Legal can help you pursue a claim against the person, company, or public agency responsible. Civil unlimited cases are filed at the Hall of Justice in Redwood City. A claim against the County itself must be filed within six months. Call 213-770-4870 for a free, confidential consultation.
Which San Mateo County Superior Court courthouse hears personal injury cases?
The Hall of Justice in Redwood City. The San Mateo County Superior Court’s Civil Division takes civil unlimited filings there.
| Case type | Courthouse |
|---|---|
| Civil, including personal injury | Hall of Justice, 400 County Center, Redwood City. |
The Civil Division uses a drop box outside the Clerk’s Office and appointments for counter service. Source: San Mateo Superior Court: Civil Division; File a Civil Case
Who takes crash reports in San Mateo County?
It depends on where the crash happened. The CHP covers freeways, state highways, and unincorporated roads. City police departments, such as Daly City, San Mateo, and Redwood City, cover their own city streets, and the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office takes reports in areas it patrols, including cities that contract with it.
San Mateo County Sheriff
Report requests through the Criminal Records Bureau for incidents the Sheriff’s Office handled. Source: SMCSO: Criminal Records Bureau
City police
Crashes on city streets in cities with their own police department, such as Daly City, San Mateo, and Redwood City are reported to that department. Request the report from the department that responded. Source:
CHP Area offices serving San Mateo County
The CHP Redwood City Area covers much of San Mateo County. The San Francisco Area covers US-101 and I-280 south to Millbrae and SR-1 south to Montara Beach, and the Hayward Area covers a small portion near the Dumbarton Bridge. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Redwood City | 355 Convention Way, Redwood City | (650) 779-2700 |
| San Francisco | 455 Eighth Street, San Francisco | (415) 276-5300 |
| Hayward | 2434 Whipple Road, Hayward | (510) 489-1500 |
Source: CHP Redwood City Area; CHP San Francisco Area; CHP Hayward Area; CHP: Request a Crash Report
How do I file a claim against San Mateo County?
Submit the County’s Claim Against the County form by mail or in person to Claims, Board of Supervisors, 500 County Center, 5th Floor, Redwood City, within six months of the injury. Risk Management investigates the claim.
- Form: Claim Against the County Form, from the County Executive’s Office page.
- Questions: the County’s Liability Coordinator at (650) 363-4506. The County asks claimants to wait at least three weeks before calling.
- 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, SamTrans, or Caltrain 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 Mateo County: Claim Against the County Form; Claim Form (PDF)
Major routes in San Mateo County
These routes in San Mateo 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.
- US-101
- I-280
- I-380
- SR-1
- SR-35
- SR-82
- SR-84
- SR-92
Cities we serve in San Mateo County
Geller Legal represents people hurt anywhere in San Mateo County, including Daly City, San Mateo, Redwood City, South San Francisco, and Burlingame, and unincorporated communities.
For crash guides in other California cities, see our Accident Guides page.
Injury cases we handle in San Mateo 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 Mateo County?
At the Hall of Justice, 400 County Center, Redwood City, where the San Mateo County Superior Court’s Civil Division takes civil unlimited filings.
How long do I have to file a claim against San Mateo County?
Six months for death or injury to a person under Government Code section 911.2. Submit the claim to Claims, Board of Supervisors, 500 County Center, 5th Floor, Redwood City. 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 Mateo 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 Mateo 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.