If you were injured in a car crash, a fall or another accident in San Mateo, the first weeks decide a lot: which agency wrote the report, whether a public agency shares the blame, and which deadlines are already running. This page explains how those pieces work in San Mateo specifically, and how our San Francisco personal injury attorneys can help.
Looking for a San Mateo personal injury lawyer? B&D Law Group, APLC handles San Mateo car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian and premises injury cases, and the first consultation is free.
Getting your San Mateo collision report
For crashes inside city limits, the city’s police department FAQ says the City of San Mateo does not provide traffic collision reports itself, and that you can get a copy of your report at mycollisionreport.com. For other police reports, the San Mateo Police Department takes requests:
- Online, through a public records request with a signed request letter and a copy of your ID.
- In person at the San Mateo Police Department, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, with a government-issued photo ID or passport.
- By mail, with a signed letter and a copy of your ID, to 200 Franklin Pkwy, San Mateo, CA 94403.
- For general questions, call the Records Unit at (650) 522-7710.
Freeway crashes are generally handled by the California Highway Patrol. The CHP Redwood City Area office, at 355 Convention Way in Redwood City, covers portions of San Mateo, Santa Clara and Alameda counties. Its page lists major freeways including US-101, I-280, SR-237, SR-92, SR-85, SR-84, SR-82, SR-35 and SR-1, but does not name the city of San Mateo specifically.
Major roads in San Mateo
According to the city’s General Plan 2040 Circulation Element, adopted March 18, 2024, US Highway 101 and State Route 92 are the two freeways in San Mateo, and El Camino Real is the city’s only principal arterial. The plan notes that US 101, SR 92 and El Camino Real are all Caltrans facilities that are not controlled by the City.
The California Office of Traffic Safety’s most recent crash rankings (2023 data) counted 292 people killed or injured in San Mateo crashes that year, including 44 pedestrians, 20 bicyclists and 17 motorcyclists, with 30 victims in alcohol-involved crashes. Among 62 California cities with populations of 100,001 to 250,000, San Mateo ranked 41st for total victims, where 1st is worst. San Mateo ranked 8th of the 62 for pedestrians killed or injured, and 8th for pedestrians 65 and older killed or injured. OTS weights its rankings by population and miles driven, so a rank is not a simple head count. (OTS crash rankings)
When the City of San Mateo or another public agency may be responsible
- City streets and sidewalks: claims against the City of San Mateo go on the city’s Claim Against the City form, which can be emailed to cl****@************eo.org, or mailed or hand-delivered to the City Clerk, City of San Mateo, 330 West 20th Avenue, San Mateo, CA 94403. City Hall is closed from 12 to 1 p.m.
- State highways: the city’s General Plan notes that US 101, State Route 92 and El Camino Real are Caltrans facilities that are not controlled by the City.
Whichever agency is involved, the six-month claim deadline below applies, so it is worth sorting out the right agency early.
Courts serving San Mateo
San Mateo County Superior Court’s Civil Division has its Clerk’s Office at the Hall of Justice, 400 County Center, 1st Floor, Room A, Redwood City, with an after-hours civil filing drop box outside the office. The court’s judicial district list places the city of San Mateo in its Southern Branch, at the Hall of Justice. If your case goes to court, we handle where and how it is filed.
Cases we handle for people hurt in San Mateo
Our personal injury attorneys represent people injured in San Mateo in cases including:
You can also read about our past case results and what clients say about working with us.
What a San Mateo injury claim can cover
California law sorts personal injury damages into a few categories:
- Economic damages: objectively verifiable money losses, such as medical expenses, lost earnings and the cost of repairing or replacing property (Civil Code section 1431.2).
- Non-economic damages: subjective losses such as pain, suffering, emotional distress and loss of companionship (same section).
- Punitive damages: available only in limited cases, when it is proven by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant acted with oppression, fraud or malice (Civil Code section 3294).
What a particular claim is worth depends on the injuries, the evidence and the insurance available, so we review each case individually and never promise a result.
How a San Mateo personal injury case usually moves
- Free consultation. You tell us what happened and we explain your options. There is no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you.
- Investigation. We gather the collision or incident report described above, photos, witness information and your medical records.
- Claim and negotiation. We present the claim to the insurance company and negotiate for a fair settlement.
- Government claim if needed. If the City of San Mateo or another public agency may share responsibility, we prepare the written claim before the six-month deadline.
- Lawsuit if needed. If the case does not settle, we file a lawsuit in the proper California Superior Court and keep pushing toward trial.
Deadlines and fault rules that apply to every California injury claim
- Two years to file a lawsuit. Most personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the injury under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1.
- Six months for claims against a public agency. If a city, county or state agency may be responsible, for example because of a dangerous road condition or a government vehicle, a written claim generally must be presented within six months after the claim accrues under Government Code section 911.2. Missing that deadline can end the claim.
- Partly at fault does not mean no recovery. California uses pure comparative fault (Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804). If you share some of the blame, your compensation is reduced by your share rather than barred.
San Mateo personal injury FAQ
How much does a personal injury lawyer cost in San Mateo?
B&D Law Group, APLC handles personal injury cases on a contingency fee, which means no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you. The consultation is free.
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in San Mateo?
Most California personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the injury (Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1). If a city, county or state agency may be responsible, a written claim generally must be presented within six months (Government Code section 911.2).
What if I was partly at fault for the San Mateo accident?
California follows pure comparative fault (Li v. Yellow Cab Co.). If you share some of the blame, your compensation is reduced by your share rather than barred.
Can I make a claim against the City of San Mateo?
Yes, but California requires a written claim to the public agency before a lawsuit can be filed (Government Code section 945.4), and the claim generally must be presented within six months. The section above on public agency claims explains where San Mateo claims go.
Where do I get my San Mateo accident report?
The “Getting your San Mateo collision report” section above lists the agency that handles crashes inside city limits and how to request a copy. Freeway crashes are generally handled by the California Highway Patrol.
Nearby cities we serve
We also represent injured people in communities near San Mateo:
- Hayward personal injury attorneys
- San Francisco personal injury attorneys
- Oakland personal injury attorneys
- Fremont personal injury attorneys
- Sunnyvale personal injury attorneys
- Santa Clara personal injury attorneys
- Our San Francisco office
- All areas we serve
Talk to a B&D Law Group attorney
B&D Law Group, APLC represents people hurt in San Mateo from our San Francisco office at 50 California St, Suite 1500, San Francisco, CA 94111. The consultation is free, and we handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee, which means no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you. Call (888) 977-2238 or send us your case details.
Attorney advertising. This page is provided for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Reading this page or contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Agency procedures, fees and data on this page were checked against official sources in October 2026 and can change. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.