Car accident
Car Accident Attorneys in Oakland, California
The firms in this guide
1. GJEL Accident Attorneys
Practice Focus: Car accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, truck accidents, brain injuries, paralysis injuries, wrongful death
Case Types Handled: Multi-vehicle collisions, I-580 and I-880 corridor accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, catastrophic injuries, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, accident investigation, evidence preservation, deposition scheduling, witness statement preparation, expert witness coordination
Background: The firm has over 50 years of experience in personal injury law and has recovered over $950 million for clients. GJEL maintains a 99% success rate in trial cases since 1972. The firm focuses exclusively on helping injury accident victims and handles serious injury cases only. The Oakland office phone is (510) 839-0707. Attorneys include Andy Gillin, Ralph Jacobson, Kristin Lucey, Luke Ellis, and Jim Larsen. The firm has over 5,000 client reviews and is available 24/7.
Location: Oakland, CA (with offices in San Francisco, San Jose, Fresno, Sacramento, and Stockton)
Contact: (510) 839-0707 | San Francisco: (415) 986-4777 | https://www.gjel.com
Consultation: Free consultation available 24/7, contingency fee (no fee unless the firm wins), Spanish services available
2. The Barnes Firm
Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, rideshare accidents, e-scooter accidents, wrongful death
Case Types Handled: Multi-vehicle collisions, rear-end accidents, distracted driving accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, catastrophic injuries
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, accident investigation, evidence collection, medical records documentation
Background: One of America’s largest personal injury law firms, The Barnes Firm has handled more than 150,000 accident and injury cases, resulting in more than $2.5 billion in recovery for clients. The attorneys have been recognized by Best Lawyers in America, LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review, Super Lawyers, Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and National Trial Lawyers. The firm has offices nationwide including Oakland, New York City, Los Angeles, Long Island, San Diego, Buffalo, and Rochester.
Location: Oakland, CA (with nationwide offices)
Contact: (800) 800-0000 | https://www.thebarnesfirm.com
Consultation: Free consultation available 24/7, contingency fee (no fee unless compensation is obtained)
3. Callaway & Wolf
Practice Focus: Car accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, medical negligence, wrongful death, personal injury
Case Types Handled: Motor vehicle accidents, pedestrian collisions, medical malpractice, catastrophic injuries, fatal accidents
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, accident investigation, insurance bad faith claims
Background: A personal injury law firm serving Oakland and the Bay Area for over 20 years. Attorney Boone Callaway is AV Rated and recognized as a Super Lawyer (fewer than 5% of attorneys achieve these designations). Mr. Callaway has been accepted as a member of ABOTA (American Board of Trial Advocates), an exclusive, invitation-only group of fewer than 8,000 trial lawyers nationwide. The firm has recovered millions of dollars for clients and is frequently referred by other lawyers and judges. Notable results include $2.675 million wrongful death settlement, $500,000 pedestrian accident settlement, and $450,000 premises liability settlement.
Location: 1300 Clay Street, Suite 600, Oakland, CA 94612
Contact: (510) 603-4988 | https://www.callawayandwolf.com
Consultation: Free, no-obligation consultation, contingency fee arrangement
4. Venardi Zurada LLP
Practice Focus: Car accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, workplace injuries, personal injury, employment law
Case Types Handled: I-880 and I-580 corridor accidents, whiplash injuries, fractures, concussions, head injuries, workplace falls, back injuries
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, workers’ compensation claims
Background: The firm has served Northern California for over 35 years and has won over $100 million for clients. The attorneys Martin and Mark Venardi lead the team. The firm offers big firm experience with boutique-level personal attention. Attorneys have real-life experience in injury and adversity. Notable results include a $2.75 million verdict for an electrician workplace injury (after an initial offer of $40,000).
Location: Oakland, CA (serving the East Bay and Northern California)
Contact: (833) 893-6763 | https://www.vzlawfirm.com
Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee arrangement
5. Milanfar Law Firm
Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, product liability, nursing home abuse, police misconduct, wrongful death
Case Types Handled: Motor vehicle collisions, commercial truck accidents, uninsured motorist claims, catastrophic injuries, fatal accidents
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, accident investigation, evidence collection, case valuation
Background: Founding trial attorney Shahrad Milanfar brings over 20 years of experience in diverse legal areas. His practice spans cases involving cars, tires, commercial trucks, buses, motorcycles, ATVs, and various household and industrial products. The firm handles complex, high-stakes cases for both individuals and businesses. The Oakland personal injury attorneys are prepared to take cases to trial, though most claims reach settlements.
Location: Oakland, CA (serving Oakland and surrounding areas)
Contact: (925) 320-3368 | https://www.milanfarlaw.com
Consultation: Free case review, contingency fee arrangement
Claims Against Public Agencies and Other California Rules for Oakland Car Crashes
When a city vehicle, a transit bus or a road condition is part of an Oakland crash, the claim provisions of California’s Government Code control the first deadline and the contents of the claim. The rules below cover that process, public entity liability for dangerous property, and the fault rule that applies to every defendant.
Six Months to Present the Claim
Government Code § 911.2 requires a claim for death or injury to a person against a public entity to be presented within six months after the cause of action accrues. Under § 945.6, a lawsuit must follow within six months after the entity personally delivers or mails a written rejection notice, or within two years from accrual if no such notice is given.
What the Claim Must Say
Under Government Code § 910, the claim must state the claimant’s name and address, the address for notices, the date, place and circumstances of the occurrence, a general description of the injury or loss, the names of the public employees who caused it if known, and the amount claimed when it is under $10,000, with the basis of computation. For larger claims, no dollar amount is stated, but the claim must indicate whether it would be a limited civil case.
Dangerous Condition of Public Property
Except as provided by statute, Government Code § 835 makes a public entity liable for injury caused by a dangerous condition of its property when the plaintiff shows the property was in a dangerous condition at the time of the injury, the condition proximately caused the injury and created a reasonably foreseeable risk of that kind of injury, and either an employee’s negligent or wrongful act within the scope of employment created the condition or the entity had actual or constructive notice of it in time to take protective measures.
Fault Is Compared, Not All-or-Nothing
Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) superseded the all-or-nothing contributory negligence rule in California with pure comparative negligence. For example, imagine $150,000 in damages and 40 percent of the fault assigned to the injured driver: the recovery would be $90,000.
Oakland Car Accident Questions
How long do I have to sue a private driver?
Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1 requires an action for injury to, or the death of, an individual caused by another’s wrongful act or neglect to be brought within two years.
What must a driver do after injuring someone in a crash?
Vehicle Code § 20001(a) requires the driver to stop immediately and fulfill §§ 20003 and 20004, which include giving name, address, registration and owner information to the person struck and any officer at the scene and rendering reasonable assistance to anyone injured.
What liability limits apply to the other driver’s policy?
Under Vehicle Code § 16056(a)(2), a policy issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025 must carry at least $30,000 for injury or death of one person, $60,000 for two or more people and $15,000 for property damage to be effective as proof of financial responsibility.