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Santa Clara County Personal Injury Lawyer
If you were hurt in a car crash, truck crash, fall, or other accident in Santa Clara County, Geller Legal can help you pursue a claim against the person, company, or public agency responsible. Civil cases, limited and unlimited, are filed at the Downtown Superior Court in San Jose. A claim against the County itself must be filed within six months. Call 213-770-4870 for a free, confidential consultation.
Which Santa Clara County Superior Court courthouse hears personal injury cases?
The Downtown Superior Court in San Jose. Under the court’s local civil rules, limited and unlimited civil cases are filed there.
| Case type | Courthouse |
|---|---|
| Limited and unlimited civil, including personal injury | Downtown Superior Court, 191 N. First Street, San Jose. |
The court assigns the case to a civil department after filing. Source: Santa Clara Superior Court: Downtown Superior Court; Local Rules: Civil
Who takes crash reports in Santa Clara County?
It depends on where the crash happened. The CHP covers freeways, state highways, and unincorporated roads. City police departments, such as the San Jose Police Department, cover their own city streets, and the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office takes reports in areas it patrols, including cities that contract with it.
Santa Clara County Sheriff
Records requests, including collision reports, for incidents the Sheriff’s Office handled. Source: SCCSO: Request Sheriff’s Office Records
City police
Crashes on city streets in cities with their own police department, such as San Jose, Santa Clara, and Sunnyvale are reported to that department. Request the report from the department that responded. Source:
CHP Area offices serving Santa Clara County
Santa Clara County is served by the CHP San Jose Area, the Hollister-Gilroy Area for south county, and the Redwood City Area for portions of the 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 |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose | 2020 Junction Avenue, San Jose | (408) 961-0900 |
| Hollister-Gilroy | 740 Renz Lane, Gilroy | (408) 427-0700 |
| Redwood City | 355 Convention Way, Redwood City | (650) 779-2700 |
Source: CHP San Jose Area; CHP Hollister-Gilroy Area; CHP Redwood City Area; CHP: Request a Crash Report
How do I file a claim against Santa Clara County?
Complete, sign, and submit the County Claim Form to the Office of the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, 70 West Hedding Street, East Wing, 10th Floor, San Jose, within six months of the injury.
- Form: the County Claim Form, linked from the Clerk of the Board page.
- Questions: the Clerk of the Board at (408) 299-5001.
- 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 San Jose, another city, a school district, or VTA goes to that agency, not the County. The San Jose Accident Guide lists City of San Jose 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: Santa Clara County Clerk of the Board: File a Claim
Major routes in Santa Clara County
These routes in Santa Clara 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-680
- I-880
- SR-17
- SR-85
- SR-87
- SR-152
- SR-237
Cities we serve in Santa Clara County
Geller Legal represents people hurt anywhere in Santa Clara County, including incorporated cities and unincorporated communities. For practical steps after a crash in a specific city, see our city accident guide.
San Jose Accident Guide
San Jose police and CHP reports, plus City of San Jose and County claims.
More guides are on the Accident Guides page.
Injury cases we handle in Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara County?
At the Downtown Superior Court, 191 N. First Street, San Jose, where the Santa Clara County Superior Court takes limited and unlimited civil filings.
How long do I have to file a claim against Santa Clara County?
Six months for death or injury to a person under Government Code section 911.2. Submit the signed claim to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, 70 West Hedding Street, East Wing, 10th Floor, San Jose. 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 Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara 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.