Serving Madera, Chowchilla and the Sierra foothills · Phones answered 24/7
Madera County Personal Injury Lawyer
Madera County runs from SR-99 farm country to the Yosemite gateway towns. If a driver, property owner or employer hurt you anywhere in between, we can build the claim and handle the insurer. The review is free.
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Free Madera County case review
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Key Takeaways
- SR-99 and SR-152 carry heavy valley traffic, while SR-41 brings visitors through Oakhurst to Yosemite's south entrance.
- Valley freeway crashes tend to leave neck and back injuries; curves on SR-41 can mean head and spinal trauma.
- The County of Madera, the cities of Madera and Chowchilla, their bus systems and Caltrans all require a written claim within six months Gov. Code 911.2.
- The CHP Madera Area and CHP Oakhurst Area write most highway crash reports.
Why people in Madera County choose Green Law Group
Whether you farm near Chowchilla or were visiting Bass Lake, Madera County clients choose Green Law Group for a founding attorney with operating-room experience, 5.0 stars on Google and a free case review by phone or video.
- He has stood beside surgeons. Before law school, Steven D. Green trained surgeons in the operating room on spine and cardiac devices. He reads treatment plans after SR-41 crashes and farm injuries closely.
- Trained in health law. He graduated cum laude from Loyola University Chicago School of Law with a Health Law certificate.
- Help at any hour. Our phones are answered 24/7. See our client reviews: 5.0 stars from 53 Google reviews.
Common causes of serious injuries in Madera County
The county's risks shift with elevation. Down in the valley it is freeway and farm-road traffic, ag work and winter fog. Up in the foothills it is two-lane mountain driving, lake recreation and visitors who do not know the roads.
- SR-99 between Madera and Chowchilla. Caltrans is widening SR-99 north and south of Madera and improving the SR-99/233 interchange at Chowchilla, which adds work zones to a busy freight route. Read about truck crash claims.
- SR-152 and SR-145. The CHP lists both among the main routes it patrols here. Rural intersections and farm equipment raise the stakes for car accident victims.
- SR-41 through Coarsegold and Oakhurst. The CHP Oakhurst Area patrols up to Yosemite's south entrances, where curves and changing weather catch drivers and motorcyclists off guard.
- Bass Lake and the Sierra National Forest. Boat docks, cabins and campgrounds can lead to premises liability claims when owners ignore hazards.
- Farm work on the valley floor. Outdoor workers are owed water, shade and heat-illness training 8 CCR 3395. See our workplace injury guide.
Common injuries after accidents in Madera County
Injuries here track the county's two halves. Valley crashes on SR-99 and SR-152 often hurt the neck and back, mountain curves on SR-41 can bring head and spine trauma, and farm fields and Bass Lake add their own injuries.
- Neck and back strain in valley traffic. Slowdowns in the SR-99 work zones near Madera and Chowchilla set up rear-end collisions that wrench the neck and low back. Symptoms can surface a day or two later. See neck injuries and back injuries.
- Head and spinal trauma on SR-41. A driver or rider who misjudges a foothill curve near Coarsegold or Oakhurst can suffer a brain injury, broken vertebrae or spinal cord damage. When a crash is fatal, the family may have a wrongful death claim.
- Broken bones at docks and campgrounds. Wet docks, uneven stairs and poorly kept campsites around Bass Lake cause broken wrists, ankles and hips.
- Heat illness and machinery injuries in the fields. Valley farmworkers face heat illness on summer afternoons and hand, arm and crush injuries around equipment. See workplace injuries.
Getting your crash report
On the valley floor, including SR-99, SR-152 and SR-145, the CHP Madera Area usually writes the report. In the foothills around Coarsegold, Oakhurst, North Fork and Bass Lake, it is the CHP Oakhurst Area. The Madera and Chowchilla police departments handle city streets, and the Madera County Sheriff covers much of the unincorporated county.
Filing deadlines for Madera County injury claims
You generally have two years to sue for an injury CCP 335.1. A claim against a public agency is much faster: six months to file in writing Gov. Code 911.2. That rule reaches the County of Madera, the City of Madera, the City of Chowchilla and Caltrans.
Typical examples are a Madera County Connection bus crash, a fall boarding Madera Metro or a dangerous stretch of state highway. When the agency denies the claim in writing, the clock to sue is usually six months from that notice Gov. Code 945.6. A child's age does not extend the claim deadline CCP 352. Check your dates with the Claim Clock.
Injury cases we handle in Madera County
Whether you were rear-ended on SR-99, fell at a Madera store, were hurt on a farm job or lost a loved one on a mountain road, the pages below explain how California law treats your claim.
- 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
For a ballpark figure on a vehicle crash, run your numbers through our California car accident settlement calculator.
Cities and communities we serve in Madera County
The city of Madera is the county seat, and Chowchilla is the county's other incorporated city. We also help people from the unincorporated valley and mountain communities.
- Madera
- Chowchilla
- Oakhurst
- Coarsegold
- Ahwahnee
- North Fork
- O'Neals
- Bass Lake
- Fairmead
- La Vina
- Ripperdan
Nearby counties
Madera County touches five counties, from the San Joaquin River to the Sierra crest. 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
Madera County personal injury FAQ
I slipped on a dock or trail at Bass Lake. Who is responsible?
Whoever owns or runs the property may be liable if they knew, or should have known, about a loose board, broken stair or other hazard and did not fix it or warn you. Photograph the spot, report it to the manager and get medical care. If a government agency owns the land, different claim rules and deadlines can apply, so talk to a lawyer soon.
Can I make a claim after a crash with a Madera County Connection bus?
Yes, but the County of Madera runs that service, so you generally must file a written government claim within six months of the crash (Government Code section 911.2). The same rule applies to Madera Metro, which the City of Madera runs, and to Chowchilla Area Transit Express. If the claim is rejected, you usually have six months from the notice to sue.
I was hurt on Highway 41 on the way to Yosemite and I live in another state. What now?
Get medical care, keep your receipts, and ask the CHP Oakhurst Area office for the collision report. Your claim generally follows California law even after you fly home. We can run it by phone, email and video, collect your records and bills, and keep you updated while you recover.
Do I owe you anything if my Madera County case is not successful?
Ask any injury lawyer how fees and case costs work before you sign. California requires a contingency fee agreement to be in writing and to state that the fee is negotiable (Business and Professions Code section 6147). Green Law Group explains its written fee agreement, including costs, during your free case review.
Hurt in Madera County? Let's talk about your next step.
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