Merced, Los Banos and Atwater injury claims · Statewide firm · Open 24 hours
Merced County Personal Injury Lawyer
Merced County sits where SR-99, SR-152 and the road to Yosemite cross the farm country of the San Joaquin Valley. If a crash, fall or job injury here left you hurt, we take on the insurance company for you. Free review.
- 5.0 from 53 Google reviews
- Free case review
- Phones answered 24/7
Free Merced County case review
Tell us where and how you were hurt. Every request goes to an attorney, not a call center.
Key Takeaways
- SR-99 runs about 43 miles through the county, and the west side's SR-152 runs through Los Banos toward I-5.
- Broadside crashes at rural junctions and truck collisions on SR-99 often cause back, neck and spinal injuries.
- A claim against the County of Merced, Atwater, Los Banos or another city, The Bus or Caltrans has a six-month written-claim deadline Gov. Code 911.2.
- Highway crash reports come from the CHP Merced Area in Atwater or the CHP Los Banos Area.
Why people in Merced County choose Green Law Group
Farmworkers, UC Merced students and drivers crossing SR-152 choose Green Law Group for an attorney who knows medicine, a free case review by phone or video, and phones answered 24/7, even on foggy winter nights.
- Records read by someone who trained surgeons. Our founding attorney, Steven D. Green, worked in the operating room on spine and cardiac devices before he studied law, so injuries from a tule-fog pileup get a close look.
- Health law education. Steven graduated cum laude from Loyola University Chicago School of Law and earned its Health Law certificate.
- Reviews you can check. We hold 5.0 stars from 53 Google reviews. Read the client reviews yourself.
Common causes of serious injuries in Merced County
The CHP describes Merced County as mainly agricultural, and its injury patterns follow that: long rural highways, slow farm equipment, heavy trucks and outdoor work in summer heat. Seasonal valley fog and visitor traffic toward Yosemite add to the risk.
- SR-99 across the county. The CHP Merced Area patrols about 43 miles of SR-99 between the Stanislaus and Madera county lines, a freight route where truck collisions cause severe harm.
- SR-152 and the Los Banos crossroads. SR-33, SR-165 and SR-152 meet near Los Banos, with Interstate 5 a few miles west. Rural junctions like these lead to broadside and head-on car crashes.
- SR-140 toward Yosemite. The CHP calls it a key route to the park, carrying drivers and motorcyclists from the valley into the foothills.
- Winter tule fog. Caltrans warns that thick ground fog covers the Central Valley in fall, winter and early spring, and most fog crashes involve speed.
- Field and processing work. California requires water, shade and heat-illness plans for outdoor crews 8 CCR 3395. Learn about workplace injury claims.
Common injuries after accidents in Merced County
Merced County's injuries mirror its farm-country roads and jobs. Side impacts at rural junctions, big-rig crashes on SR-99, foothill riding on SR-140 and summer field work each tend to cause their own kinds of harm.
- Back and pelvic injuries from broadside crashes. A T-bone collision where SR-33, SR-165 and SR-152 meet near Los Banos drives force into the side of the car. Broken ribs, pelvic fractures and back injuries can follow.
- Neck and spinal injuries in truck and fog crashes. When a loaded truck or a fog pileup on SR-99 strikes from behind, the neck can whip violently. Serious cases involve herniated discs or spinal cord injuries; milder neck injuries still deserve a prompt exam.
- Road rash and fractures for riders on SR-140. Motorcyclists heading toward Yosemite have no shell around them, so a fall at speed can mean skin loss, broken collarbones and head injuries.
- Heat illness among outdoor crews. Field and processing work in summer heat can bring heat exhaustion or heat stroke, which needs emergency care. A fatal crash or heat death may support a wrongful death claim.
Getting your crash report
The CHP Merced Area, based in Atwater, writes most highway reports for eastern Merced County, including SR-99 and SR-140. The CHP Los Banos Area covers the west side. The Merced County Sheriff and the police departments of Merced, Atwater, Los Banos and the other cities handle local calls.
Filing deadlines for Merced County injury claims
Two years is the general limit for an injury lawsuit in California CCP 335.1. A claim against a government body needs a written claim within six months Gov. Code 911.2. In Merced County that includes the County of Merced, all six cities, The Bus and Caltrans.
Examples include a crash with a county road crew, a fall on The Bus or a defect on a state highway. Once a written denial arrives, you usually have six months to sue Gov. Code 945.6. Minors get no added time for the government claim CCP 352. The Claim Clock can estimate your dates.
Injury cases we handle in Merced County
From highway wrecks near Los Banos to falls at Merced businesses and injuries on farm jobs, these are the claims we take. Each page explains the law that applies in California.
- 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
Wondering about the value of a crash claim? Our California car accident settlement calculator offers a quick estimate.
Cities and communities we serve in Merced County
Merced is the county seat. We represent people from all six incorporated cities and the unincorporated towns across the county.
- Merced
- Atwater
- Dos Palos
- Gustine
- Livingston
- Los Banos
- Delhi
- Hilmar
- Le Grand
- Planada
- Santa Nella
- Winton
Nearby counties
Merced County borders six counties, reaching from the Diablo Range to the Sierra foothills. 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
Merced County personal injury FAQ
What should I do after a crash with a slow tractor or harvester on a Merced County road?
Call 911, get medical care and ask for a CHP or Sheriff's report. Photograph the equipment, its lights and any warning markings before it is moved, and get the operator's and the farm's names. Depending on what happened, the equipment driver, the farm that employs them or another motorist may share responsibility, and California lets fault be divided among them.
How do I claim against The Bus or the County of Merced?
Start with a written government claim, usually within six months of the injury (Government Code section 911.2). The Bus is Merced County's public transit system, run through a joint powers authority of local governments, so the claim must reach the right public body. If it is rejected in writing, the deadline to sue is generally six months from the rejection notice.
I was driving SR-152 through Los Banos and live in the Bay Area. Can I bring a claim?
Yes. Your home address does not change the fact that a Merced County crash is handled under California law. We collect the CHP Los Banos Area report, your medical records and the insurance details, and we keep you updated by phone, email or video while you recover at home.
What does it cost to hire you for a Merced County injury case?
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.
Merced County injury? Get answers tonight.
Free case review. Phones answered 24 hours a day.