Alturas · Cedarville · Canby · Statewide personal injury lawyers, phones open 24/7
Modoc County Personal Injury Lawyer
A rollover on US-395 or a ranch accident outside Alturas can leave you with serious injuries and big bills. We represent injured people across Modoc County and talk with you by phone or video. Free case review.
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Free Modoc County case review
Let us know how you were injured in Modoc County. An attorney reviews it and calls you back.
Key Takeaways
- Long stretches of US-395, SR-299 over Cedar Pass and SR-139, plus ranch work, cause many serious injuries.
- High-speed rollovers and head-ons often cause spinal and head injuries; livestock and equipment accidents cause fractures and crush injuries.
- The County of Modoc, the City of Alturas, Sage Stage and Caltrans each require a written claim within six months Gov. Code 911.2.
- The CHP Alturas Area office, Alturas Police and the Sheriff's Office write the county's crash reports.
Why people in Modoc County choose Green Law Group
Ranch families, Alturas residents and drivers on US-395 come to us because the first conversation is free by phone or video, the founding attorney knows the medicine behind a serious injury, and past clients give us 5.0 stars.
- Experience inside the operating room. Steven D. Green trained surgeons on spine and cardiac devices before he became a lawyer. When a cattle-handling accident or a rollover on SR-299 leads to spine surgery, he reviews the operative notes and treatment plan closely.
- Feedback from real clients. We have 5.0 stars across 53 Google reviews. Browse the client reviews.
- Health law credentials. Steven finished cum laude at Loyola University Chicago School of Law and holds its Health Law certificate.
- Calls answered day and night. Reach us 24/7 for a free case review.
Common causes of serious injuries in Modoc County
Modoc County's three state highways carry most of its traffic, and they run through open range, mountain passes and long empty miles. Add ranch work, wildlife on the road and backcountry recreation, and injuries here are often severe.
- US-395. The highway links Modoc County with Susanville and Reno, a corridor Sage Stage buses also serve. High-speed head-on and rollover crashes produce serious car accident and truck accident claims.
- SR-299 over Cedar Pass. Caltrans watches SR-299 at Cedar Pass, near Alturas, with a roadside camera. Mountain grades and winter conditions catch drivers and motorcycle riders off guard.
- SR-139 and the north county. SR-139 passes the Perez agricultural inspection facility, and Sage Stage's northern route links Canby and Newell with Tulelake and Klamath Falls.
- Ranching. The Sheriff's Office posts ranching safety information for residents. Livestock handling, equipment and hauling injuries often lead to workplace injury claims, sometimes with spinal cord damage.
- Modoc National Forest. The forest offers hiking, fishing, off-road riding and winter sports from Medicine Lake to the Warner Mountains. Unsafe conditions at a lodge or rental can support a premises liability claim.
Common injuries after accidents in Modoc County
Open-range speed and hard ranch work drive the injuries we see from Modoc County. Rollovers and head-ons on US-395 and SR-299 damage the spine and brain, while livestock, hauling and equipment accidents break bones and crush limbs.
- Spinal and head injuries. A vehicle that leaves US-395 at highway speed and rolls can fracture vertebrae and cause a brain injury. Our spinal cord injury page explains what these claims cover.
- Neck and back injuries. Rear-end and sideswipe crashes on Cedar Pass grades, and hard falls from horseback, often strain the spine. See neck injuries and back injuries.
- Fractures and crush injuries. Being kicked or pinned by cattle, or caught by hay and hauling equipment, can break ribs, pelvises and legs.
- Fatal crashes. When a head-on on a two-lane highway takes a life, surviving family may have a wrongful death claim.
Getting your crash report
The CHP Alturas Area office covers US-395, SR-299 and SR-139. The Alturas Police Department takes collisions in the city, and the Modoc County Sheriff's Office covers the rest of the county.
Filing deadlines for Modoc County injury claims
California generally allows two years to file an injury lawsuit CCP 335.1. Public entities get a written claim first, usually within six months Gov. Code 911.2. In Modoc County that means the County of Modoc, the City of Alturas, the Modoc Transportation Agency and Caltrans.
An unplowed county road, a Sage Stage crash or a dangerous highway shoulder each starts with that claim. After a written denial, you generally have six months to sue Gov. Code 945.6. Children are held to the same six-month government claim deadline CCP 352. Check your dates with the Claim Clock.
Injury cases we handle in Modoc County
Rollovers on US-395, cattle-truck collisions, falls in town and fatal crashes on rural roads all bring families to us. These are the claim types we handle.
- 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
Curious about value? Our California car crash calculator estimates a range from your medical bills and lost pay.
Cities and communities we serve in Modoc County
Alturas is the county seat and the only incorporated city. We also represent people from the small communities spread across the valleys and high desert.
- Alturas
- Cedarville
- California Pines
- Canby
- Adin
- Likely
- Lookout
- Newell
- Fort Bidwell
- Lake City
- Eagleville
- New Pine Creek
Nearby counties
In California, Modoc County borders Siskiyou, Shasta and Lassen counties. It also borders Oregon to the north and Nevada to the east. 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
Modoc County personal injury FAQ
What should I do after a rollover on US-395 in Modoc County?
Get medical care first and follow up even if you feel sore but fine, because spine and head injuries can surface later. Keep the CHP report number, photograph the vehicle and the scene, and note any truck, livestock or other car that forced you off the road. Do not give a recorded statement to another driver's insurer before you understand your rights.
I was hurt on a Sage Stage bus. What deadline applies?
Sage Stage is managed by the Modoc Transportation Agency, a public agency. Like a claim against the County of Modoc or the City of Alturas, it usually requires a written government claim within six months of the injury (Government Code section 911.2). That deadline is much shorter than the usual two years, so call soon.
Who writes the crash report for a wreck near Alturas?
On US-395, SR-299 and SR-139, the CHP Alturas Area office usually responds. Inside Alturas, the Alturas Police Department may take the report. Elsewhere, the Modoc County Sheriff's Office, at 102 S Court Street in Alturas, handles many calls. After you hire us, we track down the report and any photos or witness statements.
I live in Nevada or Oregon and was hurt in Modoc County. Can I bring a claim?
Yes. Modoc County borders both states, and plenty of out-of-state drivers use its highways. An injury that happened in Modoc County is generally governed by California law. We work with out-of-state clients by phone and video, so you can stay home while we handle the case in California.
Hurt in Alturas or anywhere in Modoc County? Reach a lawyer now.
Free case review. Phones answered 24 hours a day.