Peninsula and coastside injury attorneys · Free review · Open 24 hours
San Mateo County Personal Injury Lawyer
From a rear-end crash on 101 in South San Francisco to a fall at a Redwood City shopping center, we help injured people across the Peninsula and the coast build their claims and deal with insurers. Free review.
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Free San Mateo County case review
Send us the basics of your injury, and an attorney, not an intake script, will follow up.
Key Takeaways
- US-101, I-280, the bay bridges on SR-92 and SR-84, and Highway 1 on the coast carry most of the county's serious crash risk.
- Freeway pileups tend to cause neck and back injuries; coastal motorcycle and rail-crossing crashes can cause fractures and spinal damage.
- You generally have six months to file a written claim against the County of San Mateo, a city such as Daly City or San Mateo, SamTrans or Caltrain Gov. Code 911.2.
- The CHP Redwood City Area writes most freeway crash reports; the Sheriff and city police handle local streets.
Why people in San Mateo County choose Green Law Group
Peninsula families hurt on US-101, Highway 1 or a Caltrain platform want straight answers about their treatment and their claim. They pick us for an attorney with operating-room training and a free review by phone or video.
- He knows the spine. Steven D. Green trained surgeons on spine and cardiac devices, so operative reports behind back and neck claims make sense to him.
- Calls answered 24/7. Reach us after a late commute home over the bridges.
- A 5.0 Google rating. That comes from 53 client reviews.
Common causes of serious injuries in San Mateo County
Two freeways run the length of the Peninsula, two toll bridges cross the bay, and a winding coastal highway serves the beach towns.
- US-101 and I-280. These parallel freeways carry Peninsula commuters between San Francisco and Silicon Valley. Heavy, fast traffic leads to chain-reaction and lane-change crashes; our car accident page explains these claims, and truck accident claims covers commercial rigs.
- The San Mateo-Hayward and Dumbarton bridges. State Route 92 and State Route 84 cross the bay to Alameda County on these toll bridges, which funnel commuters into tight approaches.
- Highway 1 and the Tom Lantos Tunnels. The twin tunnels south of Pacifica replaced the Devil's Slide stretch, and Caltrans schedules overnight closures for testing and inspections. Riders on the coast route should read about motorcycle accident claims.
- Caltrain and SamTrans. Rail crossings, station platforms and bus stops along El Camino Real create risks for riders and people on foot; see bicycle and pedestrian accidents.
Common injuries after accidents in San Mateo County
Freeway and bridge-approach crashes here tend to cause neck and back injuries. Coastal motorcycle crashes and pedestrian strikes bring fractures, head trauma and spinal damage.
- Neck and back injuries. Chain-reaction and lane-change crashes on US-101 and I-280, and rear-enders on the SR-92 and SR-84 bridge approaches, often strain the neck and injure spinal discs. See neck injuries and back injuries.
- Fractures and head injuries on Highway 1. A rider who goes down on the coastal route can break a collarbone, wrist or leg, and a helmet lowers but does not remove the risk of brain injury.
- Spinal cord injuries. High-speed freeway impacts and pedestrian strikes along El Camino Real can damage the spinal cord. These spinal cord injuries often need lifelong care. When a crash takes a life, the family may bring a wrongful death claim.
Getting your crash report
Freeway and state-route crashes usually go to the CHP Redwood City Area office, 355 Convention Way. The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office patrols unincorporated areas and contracts to police Half Moon Bay, Millbrae, San Carlos, Portola Valley and Woodside, as well as Caltrain and SamTrans. Cities such as Daly City, San Mateo and South San Francisco have their own police departments.
Filing deadlines for San Mateo County injury claims
The general deadline for an injury lawsuit is two years CCP 335.1. Claims against government bodies move faster: usually a written claim within six months Gov. Code 911.2. Here that means the County of San Mateo, its 20 cities and towns, SamTrans, Caltrain and Caltrans.
The County accepts claims through the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors at 400 County Center, Redwood City. If your claim is rejected in writing, you generally have six months to sue Gov. Code 945.6, and being a minor does not extend the claim period CCP 352. The Claim Clock calculates your dates.
Injury cases we handle in San Mateo County
We take freeway and bridge crashes, train and bus injuries, falls at stores and apartments, job-site injuries and wrongful death claims from across the Peninsula.
- 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
Before you call, you can run your numbers through our California car accident settlement calculator for a rough range.
Cities and communities we serve in San Mateo County
Redwood City is the county seat. We take cases from all 20 incorporated cities and towns and from the unincorporated coastside and hill communities.
- Atherton
- Belmont
- Brisbane
- Burlingame
- Colma
- Daly City
- East Palo Alto
- Foster City
- Half Moon Bay
- Hillsborough
- Menlo Park
- Millbrae
- Pacifica
- Portola Valley
- Redwood City
- San Bruno
- San Carlos
- San Mateo
- South San Francisco
- Woodside
- North Fair Oaks
- El Granada
- Montara and Moss Beach
- Pescadero
Nearby counties
San Mateo County borders San Francisco to the north, Santa Clara County to the southeast and Santa Cruz 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
San Mateo County personal injury FAQ
What should I do after a chain-reaction crash on US-101 or I-280?
Get checked the same day, even if you walked away, because neck and back injuries from multi-car crashes can surface later. Ask the CHP officer for the report number, photograph every vehicle and note which cars struck yours. With several drivers and insurers involved, fault is often disputed, so keep statements short and let a lawyer sort out which policies apply.
I was hurt on a SamTrans bus or Caltrain. Who do I file a claim with?
SamTrans is run by the San Mateo County Transit District, and Caltrain is owned by the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board, with the District serving as its managing agency. Both are public entities, so a written claim is generally due within six months of the injury (Government Code section 911.2). Name the correct agency on the claim.
How do I get a crash report from a Peninsula freeway?
Most crashes on US-101, I-280 and the state routes in the county are handled by the CHP Redwood City Area office at 355 Convention Way. If the crash was on a city street, ask that city's police department, or the Sheriff's Office in Half Moon Bay, Millbrae, San Carlos, Portola Valley, Woodside and unincorporated areas.
Is Highway 1 through the Devil's Slide tunnels a special risk?
The Tom Lantos Tunnels carry Highway 1 south of Pacifica, and Caltrans closes them overnight at times for inspections and testing. Coastal traffic, visitors and two-lane stretches toward Half Moon Bay all call for care. If you were hurt there, the claim follows the same rules as any California crash.
Hurt on the Peninsula or the coast? Let's talk.
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