San Jose Personal Injury Lawyer

It depends on the road. On city streets, it's usually the San Jose Police Department; on the freeways, generally the CHP. The CHP's San Jose Area office, at 2020 Junction Avenue, patrols US 101, Interstates 280, 680 and 880, and State Routes 17, 85, 87, 130 and 237. The SJPD's Records Unit, at 201 West Mission Street, releases vehicle accident reports to people with a proper interest, such as the drivers, anyone named as injured and their insurers. It suggests waiting at least 45 days after the crash before searching for a report online, because the volume of incidents can keep yours from turning up sooner.

If anyone was hurt, the drivers involved must also make a written report within 24 hours to the CHP or, inside a city, to the CHP or the city police department, and report the crash to the DMV within 10 days (Vehicle Code §20008 (opens in a new tab); §16000 (opens in a new tab)). Our car accident page walks through the other steps.

In writing, with the City Clerk. Generally, a claim against the City for an injury, for example over a dangerous street or sidewalk or a crash with a city vehicle, must be filed within six months after the incident (Government Code §911.2 (opens in a new tab)). The City's claim form says completed claims must be mailed or delivered to the Office of the City Clerk, 200 East Santa Clara Street, Tower, 14th Floor. The City Attorney's office asks you to explain how you calculated the amount claimed and to attach repair estimates, photos, receipts and proof of lost wages. The claim is then forwarded to the City Attorney's office for investigation.

Not every road in San Jose belongs to the City. The General Plan says expressways are maintained and operated by the Santa Clara County Roads and Airports Department, and freeways by Caltrans, so a claim about either may belong with the County or the State instead. And if the City turns down your claim in writing, you generally have six months from the date that notice is delivered or mailed to sue (Government Code §945.6 (opens in a new tab)).

In the Superior Court of Santa Clara County, in downtown San Jose. The court says civil cases in the county are heard at the Downtown Superior Court, 191 North First Street, where civil, probate and small claims matters are in Departments 1 to 16, and at the Old Courthouse, 161 North First Street, in Departments 17 to 22. Under a standing order effective October 6, 2014, civil actions are filed at the Downtown Superior Court, not the Palo Alto or South County courthouses. The court treats a case worth more than $35,000 as an unlimited civil case.

The City's Envision San José 2040 General Plan lists the freeways in San Jose as including US 101, I-880, I-680, I-280, SR 17, SR 85, SR 237 and SR 87. It also names seven Grand Boulevards, major transportation corridors that connect neighborhoods and serve as primary transit routes: North First Street/Monterey Highway, Capitol Avenue/Capitol Expressway, Alum Rock Avenue/Santa Clara Street/The Alameda, San Carlos Street/Stevens Creek Boulevard, Meridian Avenue, Winchester Boulevard and Saratoga Avenue (General Plan (opens in a new tab)).

Hurt on a motorcycle on one of these roads? Our motorcycle accident page explains how fault is decided in California.

The state's Emergency Medical Services Authority lists three trauma centers in Santa Clara County, and two have San Jose addresses on the state's HCAI hospital profiles. Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, at 751 South Bascom Avenue, is listed as a Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, and Regional Medical Center of San Jose, at 225 North Jackson Avenue, as a Level II adult trauma center. The third, Stanford Health Care/Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, is Level I for adults and children. Good Samaritan Hospital, at 2425 Samaritan Drive, also has an emergency room, according to its HCAI profile. In an emergency, call 911.