If you were injured in a car crash, a fall or another accident in Union City, 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 Union City specifically, and how our San Francisco personal injury attorneys can help.
Looking for a Union City personal injury lawyer? B&D Law Group, APLC handles Union City car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian and premises injury cases, and the first consultation is free.
Getting your Union City collision report
For crashes inside city limits, the Union City Police Department Records Unit provides copies of reports:
- Fill out the department’s Report Request Form and email it, hand deliver it, or mail it to City of Union City Police Department, Attention: Records, 34009 Alvarado-Niles Rd., Union City, CA 94587.
- Traffic collision reports are also available online for an additional fee. The department links to a fee schedule for its standard fees.
Freeway crashes are generally handled by the California Highway Patrol. The CHP Hayward Area office, at 2434 Whipple Road in Hayward, covers the southwest portion of Alameda County and lists I-880 and SR-84 among the freeways where it handles law enforcement. Its page does not name Union City, so the CHP can confirm which office took a particular report. The office’s phone is (510) 489-1500.
Major roads in Union City
According to the city’s 2040 General Plan Update Draft Environmental Impact Report, regional access to Union City is provided by Interstate 880, a major eight-lane freeway that runs north-south between Oakland and San Jose and bisects the city, and State Route 238, known as Mission Boulevard in Union City, a four- to six-lane state highway along the base of the foothills on the city’s eastern side. City streets range from multi-lane arterial roadways with medians to two-lane residential streets. The city is also served by BART and the Dumbarton Express at the Union City BART Station.
The California Office of Traffic Safety’s most recent crash rankings (2023 data) counted 124 people killed or injured in Union City crashes that year, including 27 pedestrians, 15 bicyclists and 9 motorcyclists, with 14 victims in alcohol-involved crashes. Among 103 California cities with populations of 50,001 to 100,000, Union City ranked 90th for total victims, where 1st is worst. Union City ranked 14th of 103 for pedestrians 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 Union City or another public agency may be responsible
- City streets and sidewalks: claims against the City of Union City go to the City Clerk’s Office. They can be submitted online through the city’s electronic claim forms, emailed, mailed to the City Clerk’s Office, 34009 Alvarado-Niles Road, Union City, CA 94587, or dropped off at that office.
Whichever agency is involved, the six-month claim deadline below applies, so it is worth sorting out the right agency early.
Courts serving Union City
Alameda County Superior Court’s Civil Division lists Alameda, Hayward and two Oakland locations as its civil court locations. The Hayward Hall of Justice, 24405 Amador Street, Hayward, and the René C. Davidson Courthouse, 1225 Fallon Street, Oakland, both list civil cases among the cases they serve. If your case goes to court, we handle where and how it is filed.
Cases we handle for people hurt in Union City
Our personal injury attorneys represent people injured in Union City in cases including:
You can also read about our past case results and what clients say about working with us.
What a Union City 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 Union City 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 Union City 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.
Union City personal injury FAQ
How much does a personal injury lawyer cost in Union City?
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 Union City?
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 Union City 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 Union City?
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 Union City claims go.
Where do I get my Union City accident report?
The “Getting your Union City 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 Union City:
- Fremont personal injury attorneys
- Hayward personal injury attorneys
- Sunnyvale personal injury attorneys
- San Mateo personal injury attorneys
- Santa Clara personal injury attorneys
- Oakland 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 Union City and across the East Bay. Our nearest office is the 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.