Silicon Valley and South County injury lawyers · Statewide practice · 24/7 phones
Santa Clara County Personal Injury Lawyer
Injured in a San Jose freeway crash, on VTA light rail, or on the climb over Pacheco Pass? We help people across Santa Clara County recover from serious injuries and keep insurers in line. Ask for a free review.
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Free Santa Clara County case review
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Key Takeaways
- Valley freeways and the SR-152 truck route over Pacheco Pass are the county's main crash corridors.
- Rush-hour rear-enders often cause neck and back injuries; truck, mountain-road and train crashes can cause spinal and head trauma.
- VTA, Caltrain, the County of Santa Clara and its 15 cities all fall under the six-month government claim rule Gov. Code 911.2.
- The CHP San Jose and Gilroy/Hollister Areas write most highway crash reports; city police and the Sheriff cover local roads.
Why people in Santa Clara County choose Green Law Group
San Jose commuters, VTA riders and Highway 17 drivers come to us for a lawyer fluent in medicine and phones that pick up 24/7. Our Google rating is 5.0 from real clients, and the first conversation with us costs nothing.
- Free case review. It happens by phone or video, on your schedule.
- Surgical records are familiar. Steven D. Green trained surgeons in the operating room on spine and cardiac devices, which matters after a spinal cord or head injury on US-101 or I-880.
- A health law foundation. Loyola University Chicago School of Law, cum laude, Health Law certificate.
- Reviewed by clients. Read 53 Google client reviews.
Common causes of serious injuries in Santa Clara County
Most serious injuries here involve the valley's freeway grid, light rail and commuter trains crossing busy streets, and the two-lane mountain and pass routes at the county's edges.
- US-101, I-280, I-880 and I-680. These freeways tie San Jose to the Peninsula and the East Bay. Rush-hour slowdowns lead to rear-end and merge crashes; read about car accident claims.
- SR-152 over Pacheco Pass. VTA and Caltrans are adding eastbound truck climbing lanes to separate slow vehicles from freeway-speed traffic between US-101 and SR-156. If a big rig was involved, see truck accident claims.
- SR-17 out of Los Gatos. This mountain highway climbs toward Santa Cruz with tight curves. It is a common route for motorcycle riders as well as commuters.
- VTA and Caltrain. VTA runs bus, light rail and paratransit service, and Caltrain stops along the Peninsula line. Crossings and stations put people on foot and on bikes close to trains; see bicycle and pedestrian accidents.
Common injuries after accidents in Santa Clara County
Valley freeway crashes tend to cause neck and back injuries. Truck, motorcycle and train crashes are more likely to cause fractures, head trauma and spinal cord damage.
- Neck and back injuries. Rear-end and merge crashes in rush-hour slowdowns on US-101, I-280, I-880 and I-680 often strain the neck and injure spinal discs. See neck injuries and back injuries.
- Spinal cord and head injuries. When a loaded truck on SR-152 hits a smaller vehicle, the forces can fracture vertebrae or injure the brain. Learn about spinal cord injuries and the long-term care they can require.
- Fractures and road rash on Highway 17. Riders thrown on the tight mountain curves can suffer broken bones, skin injuries and concussions even with full gear.
- Fatal crashes at crossings and stations. People on foot or bikes near light rail and Caltrain tracks face severe injuries, and when a crash is fatal the family may have a wrongful death claim.
Getting your crash report
Crash reports come from the CHP San Jose Area office (2020 Junction Avenue) for most freeways and the CHP Gilroy/Hollister Area office (740 Renz Lane, Gilroy) in South County. The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office polices unincorporated areas and contract cities including Cupertino. San Jose, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale and other cities run their own police departments.
Filing deadlines for Santa Clara County injury claims
Two years is the usual limit for an injury lawsuit CCP 335.1. A claim against a public entity generally must be in writing within six months Gov. Code 911.2. That rule reaches the County of Santa Clara, cities like San Jose, VTA, Caltrain and Caltrans.
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority and the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (Caltrain) each take their own claims, as do school districts. When an agency rejects a claim in writing, the lawsuit is generally due within six months of the notice Gov. Code 945.6. Children receive no extra time to present a government claim CCP 352. Find your dates with the Claim Clock.
Injury cases we handle in Santa Clara County
We handle South Bay freeway and surface-street crashes, light rail and train injuries, falls at offices, stores and apartment complexes, construction and warehouse injuries, 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
Want a starting estimate for a South Bay crash? Our California car accident settlement calculator takes about a minute.
Cities and communities we serve in Santa Clara County
San Jose is the county seat and the seat of County government. We serve all 15 cities and the unincorporated areas around them.
- San Jose
- Santa Clara
- Sunnyvale
- Mountain View
- Palo Alto
- Cupertino
- Milpitas
- Campbell
- Los Gatos
- Saratoga
- Los Altos
- Los Altos Hills
- Monte Sereno
- Morgan Hill
- Gilroy
Nearby counties
Santa Clara County touches six counties: San Mateo and Santa Cruz to the west, San Benito to the south, Merced and Stanislaus to the east, and Alameda to the north. 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
Santa Clara County personal injury FAQ
What should I do after a motorcycle crash on Highway 17?
Get medical care right away, because head, spine and leg injuries are common when a rider goes down on a mountain curve. Keep your helmet and gear as evidence, photograph the road surface and the vehicles, and get the report number from the responding officer. Insurers often blame riders on winding roads, so let a lawyer deal with the other driver's insurer.
Can I make a claim if I was hurt on VTA light rail or a VTA bus?
Yes, but act quickly. The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority is a public agency, so you generally must present a written claim within six months of the injury (Government Code section 911.2) before you can sue. The same short window applies to Caltrain, the County and cities such as San Jose.
Who writes the report for a crash on Highway 152 near Gilroy?
South County highway crashes, including Pacheco Pass, are typically handled by the CHP Gilroy/Hollister Area office at 740 Renz Lane in Gilroy. Freeway crashes farther north usually go to the CHP San Jose Area office on Junction Avenue. City police handle crashes on local streets.
I was in San Jose on a work trip when I got hurt. Can you help me from out of state?
Yes. If the injury happened in Santa Clara County, California law generally applies, even if you live elsewhere. We can gather the local police and hospital records, coordinate with your doctors at home, and handle the case by phone and video.
Hurt in Santa Clara County? We pick up around the clock.
Free case review. Phones answered 24 hours a day.