As California’s capital, Sacramento combines major interstates, light rail, a large state workforce and busy downtown venues. If you were hurt here because of someone else’s negligence, a personal injury lawyer can help you understand your options and handle the insurance companies. The Law Office of Brent D. Rawlings represents injured people from Midtown and Land Park to Natomas and East Sacramento. Your first consultation is free.
Insurance adjusters often call within days and ask for a recorded statement. What you say can later be used to dispute fault or downplay your injuries. Before you give a statement, get medical care, keep your records and speak with a lawyer about your options. Our article on what insurance companies can use against you explains common tactics.
In the California Office of Traffic Safety’s 2022 comparison of the state’s 15 largest cities, Sacramento ranked 1st for victims of alcohol-involved crashes (435). It ranked 2nd for speed-related fatal and injury collisions (626) and 2nd for motorcyclist victims (202). Overall, 4,008 people were killed or injured in Sacramento crashes that year.
A drunk-driving case often runs alongside a criminal prosecution, and the police report and any conviction can help prove fault in your civil claim. See drunk driving accidents.
Freeway crashes are usually investigated by the California Highway Patrol, and city crashes by the Sacramento Police Department.
For collisions between passenger vehicles, see our Sacramento car accident lawyer page.
Riders on I-80, US-50 and city streets face drivers who do not see them. Insurers often blame motorcyclists without evidence. See motorcycle accidents and our guide on motorcycle passenger injury claims.
Midtown, Downtown and the American River Parkway area draw many cyclists and walkers. Collisions at intersections and driveways cause serious injuries. See bicycle accidents and pedestrian accidents.
When a crash or unsafe property takes a life, a spouse, children and other eligible family members may bring a claim. Read what is a wrongful death claim and who can file one in California and see our wrongful death page.
Dog owners are generally liable for bites under California Civil Code §3342. Property owners must keep stores, apartments and public venues reasonably safe. See dog bite injuries and slip and fall injuries.
For elder care cases, see our Sacramento nursing home abuse lawyer page. For defective vehicles, see Sacramento lemon law.
UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento is a Level I trauma center for both adults and children. Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento is a Level II adult trauma center. Wherever you are treated, keep every record and follow your treatment plan.
The State of California is Sacramento’s largest employer, with more than 113,000 workers in the area. If a state employee driving a state vehicle caused your injury, the claim is made against the State, not a private insurer. A written claim generally must be filed through the State’s Government Claims Program within six months of the injury (Government Code §911.2). Missing that deadline can end the case.
Most claims settle through negotiation. If a lawsuit is needed, it is generally filed in the superior court for the county where the injury happened. California’s general deadline for a personal injury lawsuit is two years from the date of injury.
SacRT runs three light rail lines covering about 43 miles and 54 stations, plus a bus network. Passengers and pedestrians can be injured by sudden stops, falls while boarding or collisions at crossings. SacRT is a public agency, so the six-month government claim deadline usually applies.
We help clients in Downtown, Old Sacramento, Midtown, East Sacramento, Land Park, Oak Park, Tahoe Park, Natomas, Del Paso Heights and Curtis Park. See also our San Francisco personal injury lawyer, Oakland personal injury lawyer and Fresno personal injury lawyer pages.
Wherever the accident happened in Sacramento, the first steps are similar: get medical care, report the incident, keep photos, records and receipts, and be careful about giving a recorded statement to the other side’s insurer before you understand your options.
Ready to talk? Contact us for a free consultation.
Every Sacramento injury case depends on its facts: how the accident happened, what evidence exists, the injuries involved and the insurance coverage in place. Our approach is to learn those details first, explain the process in plain language and keep you informed at each stage.
California generally allows two years to file a personal injury lawsuit, and claims against a public agency have much shorter deadlines, so it helps to get advice early.
Answers to common questions from people injured in Sacramento.
Yes, but first you usually must file a written claim with the State’s Government Claims Program within six months. A lawsuit can follow if the claim is denied.
You can bring a civil injury claim regardless of the criminal case. The DUI arrest, test results and any conviction can help prove fault.
Yes. SacRT is a public agency, so a written government claim is usually due within six months.
Typically a surviving spouse or domestic partner, children and, in some cases, other dependents or heirs under California law.
Generally two years from the date of injury, with a six-month claim deadline for public agencies.
Many cases settle within several months after treatment ends. Complex or disputed cases can take longer.
Common reasons include disputed fault, gaps in medical treatment and missing evidence. Read why personal injury claims get denied.
