Injury attorneys · Markleeville to Bear Valley · Phones answered 24/7
Alpine County Personal Injury Lawyer
Hurt on Carson Pass, at Kirkwood or Bear Valley, or on a ride out of Markleeville? We represent people injured in Alpine County and across California, wherever they live. Free case review.
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Free Alpine County case review
Tell us what happened on the mountain or the highway. An attorney reads every request.
Key Takeaways
- Winter slide-offs and pass crashes often cause neck, back and spinal injuries, and icy resort walkways cause fractures.
- There are no incorporated cities, so government claims here usually name the County of Alpine, Caltrans or the State, and are due within six months Gov. Code 911.2.
- Winter driving is the main hazard. Ebbetts and Monitor passes close each winter, and SR-88 crosses one of the most active avalanche zones above a highway in North America.
- Crash reports come from the CHP South Lake Tahoe or San Andreas Area or the Alpine County Sheriff's Office. There is no city police department.
Why people in Alpine County choose Green Law Group
Death Ride cyclists, Kirkwood skiers and Markleeville residents pick us for an attorney fluent in medical records and a 5.0 Google rating. Call any hour for a free review by phone or video.
- Spine injuries understood. Steven D. Green trained surgeons in the operating room on spine and cardiac devices, then went to law school. A pass slide-off that injures a disc gets careful review.
- Rated 5.0 on Google. Read the 53 client reviews behind that rating.
- Free case review. Phones are answered 24/7.
Common causes of serious injuries in Alpine County
Injuries here follow the terrain: steep two-lane passes, deep snow, ski slopes and backcountry. The county's General Plan calls recreation and tourism a mainstay of the economy, so many people hurt here are visitors.
- Carson Pass and the Carson Spur (SR-88). Caltrans calls this stretch one of the most active avalanche zones above a highway in North America. Winter slide-offs lead to car accident claims.
- Ebbetts Pass (SR-4) and Monitor Pass (SR-89). Caltrans closes both for the winter season, with SR-4 gated near Lake Alpine. The CHP notes that SR-4 is two lanes with few passing lanes or turnouts, which leaves motorcyclists little margin.
- The Death Ride. The Tour of the California Alps starts in Markleeville and climbs five Sierra passes in one day. On other summer days, cyclists share those grades with cars.
- Resorts and Grover Hot Springs. The CHP says chain controls are frequent on the way to Bear Valley Ski Resort. Falls on icy resort walkways or around the pools at Grover Hot Springs State Park can support premises liability claims, and injured resort staff may have workers' comp claims.
- Backcountry and public land. The Sheriff's Office handles search and rescue across a county where most land is publicly owned. When an accident is fatal, see wrongful death claims.
Common injuries after accidents in Alpine County
Alpine County's injuries mirror its terrain. Winter slide-offs on Carson, Ebbetts and Monitor passes cause neck, back and spinal injuries. Riders and cyclists on steep grades face head trauma and broken bones, and icy resort walkways lead to fractures.
- Neck and back injuries. A car sliding off SR-88 at the Carson Spur, or a rear-end hit at a chain-control stop, can strain the neck and back or injure a disc. Read about neck injuries and back injuries.
- Spinal cord and head injuries. A motorcyclist or cyclist who goes down on a narrow grade like SR-4 can suffer a brain injury or spinal fracture. See spinal cord injuries.
- Fractures from falls. Icy walkways at Kirkwood or Bear Valley and wet ground around the Grover Hot Springs pools can lead to broken wrists, ankles and hips.
- Fatal accidents. When a highway or backcountry accident takes a life, the family may bring a wrongful death claim.
Getting your crash report
Two CHP Areas write crash reports here. The South Lake Tahoe Area includes Alpine County in its coverage, and the San Andreas Area covers a portion of the county that includes Bear Valley. The Alpine County Sheriff's Office, at 99 Water Street in Markleeville with a substation at 88 Bear Valley Road, provides full-service law enforcement countywide. There is no city police department.
Filing deadlines for Alpine County injury claims
Most California injury lawsuits must be filed within two years CCP 335.1. A written claim against a public entity is due within six months Gov. Code 911.2. In Alpine County that usually means the County of Alpine, Caltrans or the State of California.
A Dial-A-Ride crash means a claim against the County, which runs the service through Community Development. A road hazard on SR-4, SR-88 or SR-89 points to Caltrans, and a fall at Grover Hot Springs to the State. After a written denial you generally have six months to sue Gov. Code 945.6. Minors get no extra time CCP 352. Check dates on the Claim Clock.
Injury cases we handle in Alpine County
Alpine County claims often involve mountain highway crashes, falls at resorts and rentals, seasonal job injuries and visitors hurt on a trip.
- Personal injury
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle and pedestrian accidents
- Back injuries
- Neck injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Premises liability and slip and fall
- Medical malpractice
- Wrongful death
- Workplace injuries and workers' comp
Our California car accident settlement calculator offers a rough, non-binding range after a mountain crash.
Cities and communities we serve in Alpine County
Markleeville is the county seat. Alpine County has no incorporated cities, only small communities on both sides of the crest.
- Markleeville (county seat)
- Woodfords
- Hung-A-Lel-Ti
- Paynesville
- Kirkwood
- Bear Valley
Nearby counties
Alpine County borders five California counties and Douglas County, Nevada. We take cases in all 58 California counties.
Reviewed by Steven D. Green, Esq. · Updated October 13, 2026
Client reviews
Every one of our 53 Google reviews is five stars.
“Steve and his team were always available, handled all insurance details and my questions always with complete professionalism.”
“Steven will cut right through the noise and directly tell you the objective facts, which I highly appreciated.”
“Working with Steven Green and Jen Kearney has been a very easy and smooth ride.”
Testimonials and reviews do not guarantee, warrant or predict the outcome of any legal matter. Every case is different.
Questions
Alpine County personal injury FAQ
My car slid off Carson Pass in a storm. What should I do?
See a doctor even if the crash seemed minor, since neck and back pain often shows up later. Ask the CHP for the report number and photograph the road, the weather and any chain-control signs. If a snowplow, another driver or a road hazard played a part, call us quickly, because a claim against Caltrans is due within six months (Government Code section 911.2).
What if a county vehicle or a Dial-A-Ride van caused my injury?
Dial-A-Ride is run by Alpine County Community Development, so the claim goes to the County of Alpine. Present a written claim within six months (Government Code section 911.2). If it is rejected in writing, you usually have six months to sue (Government Code section 945.6). Children get no extra time on this claim (Code of Civil Procedure section 352).
I was hurt on Forest Service land or at Grover Hot Springs. Who is responsible?
It depends on who manages the land. The county's General Plan estimates that about 95 percent of Alpine County is run by the U.S. Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management. A federal tort claim must be presented in writing within two years (28 U.S. Code section 2401). Grover Hot Springs is a state park, so California's six-month claim rule applies.
I live in Nevada and was hurt visiting Alpine County. Can you help?
Yes. The county's General Plan notes that Markleeville and Woodfords identify culturally and economically with Gardnerville and Carson City, and county Dial-A-Ride runs to both. Living in Nevada does not stop you from bringing a California claim. California deadlines apply, and we work with you by phone, email and video.
Hurt in Alpine County? Call us any hour.
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