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Monterey County Personal Injury Lawyer
Injured in a Highway 101 crash near Salinas, on Highway 68 between Monterey and the valley, or on a farm or job site? We represent people hurt anywhere in Monterey County and handle the insurers so you can heal. Free review.
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Free Monterey County case review
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Key Takeaways
- US-101 through the Salinas Valley, two-lane SR-156, SR-68 and Big Sur's Highway 1 are the county's main crash corridors.
- Highway crashes here can cause spinal and head injuries, and farm work brings machinery, crush and heat-related injuries.
- Claims against the County of Monterey, its 12 cities, Monterey-Salinas Transit or Caltrans generally must be filed within six months Gov. Code 911.2.
- The CHP Monterey and King City Areas investigate most highway crashes; the Sheriff and city police cover local roads.
Why people in Monterey County choose Green Law Group
Salinas Valley farmworkers, Peninsula residents and Big Sur visitors choose Green Law Group for an attorney who reads surgical records with operating-room experience. Every case starts with a free review by phone or video, and phones are answered 24/7.
- Hurt in the fields or packing sheds? Steven D. Green trained surgeons on spine and cardiac devices, so crush and hand injury charts get careful attention.
- Visitors can call from anywhere. The review happens by phone or video after a Highway 1 crash.
- Free case review. Call any time.
- Rated 5.0 on Google. See the 53 client reviews.
Common causes of serious injuries in Monterey County
Monterey County's serious injuries track its highways: US-101 through the farm valley, two-lane connectors such as SR-156 and SR-68, and the cliffside Highway 1 through Big Sur.
- US-101 south of Salinas. Caltrans has a South of Salinas Corridor Improvement Project and an access management project for this stretch, the route to Gonzales, Soledad, Greenfield and King City. Our truck accident page covers crashes with big rigs.
- SR-156 from Castroville to US-101. Caltrans plans to turn this two-lane highway into a four-lane freeway to improve safety and relieve congestion. Read about car accident claims.
- SR-68 between Monterey and Salinas. Caltrans selected a plan to convert nine intersections to roundabouts on about nine miles of the corridor and add wildlife crossings, citing delay and collision concerns.
- Highway 1 through Big Sur. Caltrans runs ongoing emergency projects for slides and slip-outs, including Regent's Slide and Rocky Creek. The coast route draws motorcycle riders and cyclists; see bicycle and pedestrian accidents.
- Fields and packing sheds. Farm work brings machinery, vehicles and heat. Our workplace injury page explains third-party claims.
Common injuries after accidents in Monterey County
Crashes on US-101, SR-156 and the Big Sur coast can cause spinal, head and fracture injuries. Farm work brings machinery, vehicle and heat-related harm.
- Spinal cord and back injuries. Big-rig and head-on crashes on US-101 south of Salinas and on two-lane SR-156 involve high speeds and heavy vehicles. See spinal cord injuries and back injuries.
- Neck injuries. Rear-end crashes at congested SR-68 intersections often cause whiplash and disc injuries that may take days to show. Read about neck injuries.
- Fractures and head trauma on Highway 1. Motorcyclists and cyclists on the Big Sur coast can suffer broken bones and brain injuries in a fall or collision.
- Crush, hand and heat injuries in farm work. Field machinery and farm vehicles can cause crush injuries and amputations, and heavy labor in the heat can lead to heat illness. If a farm crash proves fatal, the family may have a wrongful death claim.
Getting your crash report
The CHP Monterey Area office (960 East Blanco Road, Salinas) and King City Area office (2 Broadway Circle, King City) investigate most highway crashes. The Monterey County Sheriff's Office covers unincorporated areas, and cities such as Salinas, Monterey and Seaside have their own police departments.
Filing deadlines for Monterey County injury claims
Most injury lawsuits have a two-year deadline CCP 335.1. A claim against a public entity is generally due in writing within six months Gov. Code 911.2. That applies to the County of Monterey, cities like Salinas and Marina, Monterey-Salinas Transit and Caltrans.
School and special districts are public entities too. Once a claim is denied in writing, you generally have six months from the notice to file suit Gov. Code 945.6. A minor gets no extra time to present a government claim CCP 352. Work out your dates with the Claim Clock.
Injury cases we handle in Monterey County
We handle Salinas Valley highway crashes, Big Sur collisions, farm injuries involving outside parties, hotel and store falls, and wrongful death claims.
- 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 an early ballpark on a US-101 or Highway 68 crash, try our California car accident settlement calculator.
Cities and communities we serve in Monterey County
Salinas is the county seat. We serve all 12 incorporated cities and the unincorporated towns of the valley and coast.
- Salinas
- Monterey
- Seaside
- Marina
- Pacific Grove
- Carmel-by-the-Sea
- Del Rey Oaks
- Sand City
- Gonzales
- Soledad
- Greenfield
- King City
- Castroville
- Prunedale
- Moss Landing
- Big Sur
- San Ardo
Nearby counties
Monterey County borders Santa Cruz and San Benito counties to the north and east, Fresno and Kings counties to the east, and San Luis Obispo County to the south. 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
Monterey County personal injury FAQ
I was hurt by farm machinery in the Salinas Valley. What should I do?
Report the injury to your employer and get medical care right away, since crush, hand and back injuries can worsen without treatment. Workers' compensation usually covers you regardless of fault. If an equipment maker, a driver or a company other than your employer caused the harm, you may also have a separate injury claim. Keep photos and the names of witnesses.
Who do I contact for a crash report from Highway 101 near King City or Soledad?
The CHP has two Area offices in the county: the Monterey Area office at 960 East Blanco Road in Salinas and the King City Area office at 2 Broadway Circle in King City. Request the report from the office that responded, using the report number on the card the officer gave you.
I was hurt on an MST bus. How long do I have?
Monterey-Salinas Transit is a public transit agency, so you generally must present a written claim within six months of the injury (Government Code section 911.2). If the claim is denied in writing, a lawsuit is usually due within six months of that notice. Cities such as Salinas and Seaside and the County follow the same rules.
I crashed on Highway 1 in Big Sur while on vacation. Can you take my case?
Yes. A crash in Monterey County is handled under California law, wherever you live. Big Sur's Highway 1 is narrow and isolated, and Caltrans regularly works on slides and slip-outs there. Road conditions, another driver or a vehicle defect may matter, so preserving evidence early helps. We can run the case by phone and video.
Hurt in Monterey County? Talk with us today.
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