San Mateo Personal Injury Attorneys

At Galine, Frye, Fitting & Frangos, we've spent years fighting for our clients' rights. Our primary focus is on cases that involve catastrophic, life-changing injuries that leave massive impacts on victims and their families. Our law firm also represents clients in wrongful death lawsuits due to the tragic loss of a loved one.

In other words, we've handled a wide range of unique accidents and issues. Now, our San Mateo personal injury attorneys want to assist you in every phase of your case.

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How A San Mateo Personal Injury Lawyer from Our Law Firm Can Help You Recover Compensation

Recovering full and fair compensation requires a personal injury law firm with the necessary resources, skills, and legal knowledge to pursue a prompt and effective settlement or verdict in your case.

Over the course of our history, we have secured millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for our clients, including several multi-million-dollar awards:

• $4.5 million settlement for a boating accident
• $3.7 million settlement in a motorcycle accident case
• $1 million jury verdict after the insurance company refused to offer a fair settlement

If you suffered an accident or injury, we encourage you to reach out to us as soon as you can. Our San Mateo Office is conveniently located off of the J. Arthur Younger Freeway at 411 Borel Ave. #405. If you have limited mobility or capacity to travel, we can also meet you in your home, office, or hospital room.

Our San Mateo Personal Injury Practice Areas

At Galine, Frye, Fitting, and Frangos, we have a dedicated team of highly experienced lawyers who are ready to assist you, including:

• San Mateo Car Accident Attorneys
• San Mateo Truck Accident Attorney
• San Mateo Motorcycle Accident Attorney
• San Mateo Bicycle Accident Attorney
• San Mateo Pedestrian Accident Attorney
• San Mateo Bus Accident Attorney
• San Mateo Carbon Monoxide Attorney
• San Mateo Dog Bite Injury Attorney
• San Mateo Electric Scooter Attorney
• San Mateo Nursing Home Injury Attorney
• San Mateo Premises Liability Attorney
• San Mateo Slip and Fall Lawyer
• San Mateo Product Liability Attorney
• San Mateo Wrongful Death Attorney

We also handle other types of claims as well, so reach out to us for a free consultation about your case to determine if you can pursue compensation for your injuries and losses.

Common Types of San Mateo Accidents that Result in Personal Injury Claims

You can experience serious injuries in a variety of ways in San Manteo. Some of the most common types of personal injury claims we help clients with include:

Car Accidents

Careless driving causes serious car accidents each day in the Bay Area. For example, a driver may fail to yield at an intersection, speed recklessly, text while driving, or drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. When a driver fails to take the proper precautions to protect the safety of people around them, a victim can hold them liable for damages. This usually includes compensation for the victim's medical bills and lost income, in addition to their pain and suffering. You may recover future losses in many cases.

Truck Accidents

You may hold a trucking company liable for a crash if it failed to train or supervise the driver properly or if it retained an unfit or unqualified truck driver. Moreover, you may hold a trucking company indirectly liable if the crash occurred while the driver was working. The personal injury lawyers at our San Mateo firm will identify and bring all the at-fault parties into the litigation after a truck accident.

Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcyclists have an equal right to use the road, but drivers of standard vehicles often fail to respect this right. A driver may fail to yield to a motorcyclist at an intersection or maneuver aggressively in the presence of a motorcyclist, among other dangerous behaviors.

Sometimes a driver or their insurer will blame a motorcyclist for an accident. We know how to fight back against unfair allegations of negligence by a motorcyclist and fully preserve their right to compensation.

Bicycle Accidents

Like motorcycle riders, bicyclists have no protection from the elements. They tend to suffer especially serious injuries when a careless driver strikes them. For example, a driver may fail to check their blind spots for bicycles or fail to notice a bicyclist when they turn. You should promptly consult our San Mateo personal injury lawyers if you suffered injuries in a bicycle accident so that we can start building your claim.

Pedestrian Accidents

Drivers must yield to pedestrians in California at any marked or unmarked crosswalk. They also need to exercise reasonable care when they see a pedestrian to avoid a collision. The human body is not built to withstand the impact of a car or truck. These cases can result in significant compensation for a broad range of catastrophic physical, emotional, and financial harm. If a victim dies from their injuries, their family members may pursue a wrongful death claim.

Bus Accidents

Passengers on the bus and people in other vehicles struck by the bus may have claims against the driver and the entity that operated the bus. While private entities operate some buses, the government operates many, and special requirements apply to claims against the government. The personal injury attorneys at our San Mateo firm can navigate these obstacles for you.

Boat Accidents

The Pacific Ocean and the San Francisco Bay provide many opportunities for recreation on the water. If a boat operator fails to handle the vessel properly, serious injuries can result. Errors by inexperienced, poorly trained, distracted, or intoxicated operators can lead to a collision, sinking, or tipping.

In other cases, a defective component of a boat may cause a fire or other accident. When this happens, a victim may file a claim against the part manufacturer.

Construction Accidents

The construction industry poses an elevated level of risk to people who work in it. Construction workers may fall from heights, suffer crushing injuries from heavy equipment, or sustain blows from vehicles or falling objects.

If the accident occurred on the job, a construction worker can recover workers' compensation benefits, which provide medical coverage and partial wage replacement.

In addition, a victim may pursue a third-party personal injury claim with the assistance of our San Mateo personal injury lawyers if someone other than their employer caused the accident. A third-party claim can result in additional compensation, such as damages for pain and suffering.

Carbon Monoxide Death

Many people unknowingly inhale tasteless, odorless carbon monoxide gas. Exposure to carbon monoxide gas can damage internal organs, including the brain. Carbon monoxide death occurs when carbon monoxide poisoning damages the heart, brain, and other vital organs.

Dog Bite Injuries

Dog bites can require immediate medical attention if a bite breaks through the skin. Many dog bites can cause permanent disfigurement, puncture wounds, deep lacerations, fractures, and infection, among other injuries and complications, including rabies.

On top of that, children are more at risk for dog bites than adults, and dog attacks often occur when a child is playing with a dog.

Electric Scooter Accidents

The use of shareable e-scooter accidents is on the rise in many cities throughout the United States. Thousands of individuals rent e-scooters, and distracted drivers may harm these e-scooter riders by striking them with motor vehicles. Some drivers follow e-scooter riders too closely and cause riders to crash and suffer catastrophic head, neck, or back injuries.

Nursing Home Injuries

Physical, emotional, and sexual elder abuse is common in many nursing homes and assisted living facilities in San Mateo. Physical abuse can involve restraining an elderly or disabled person or inflicting physical suffering and harm on an elderly or disabled person.

Neglect is a common form of abuse in nursing homes. Nurses and certified nursing assistants may fail to administer medications to patients. Nursing home employees may also leave patients in the same position on a hospital bed for long periods, causing bedsores.

Dangerous Property Conditions

These accidents often happen due to negligent property owners. Property owners must make premises safe for visitors, but slip and falls, inadequate security, property construction, hidden electrical wires, and dangerous work activities are all common causes of premises liability injuries.

Premises liability can involve many different owners and occupiers of property, including nightclubs, apartment complexes, restaurants, and gyms. These complex injury claims often involve many different areas of the law.

Stairway Accidents

Slip and fall accidents can cause serious injuries but falls on stairways may increase the likelihood of a victim suffering a costly and life-changing injury. The injured victim can strike his or her head or spinal cord with great force. Stairway accidents cause serious bodily injury, and many injured victims require long-term care and medical assistance to recover from these types of injuries.

Dangerous and Defective Products

Product liability cases involve inherently dangerous products, design defects, or manufacturing defects. Product liability cases typically involve many different responsible parties, including large corporations, which can make them challenging to pursue.

Wrongful Death

California law allows certain people to bring a wrongful death claim, including a surviving spouse, domestic partner, or child. In addition, certain people who financially depend on the victim, such as the victim's parents or stepchildren, may bring claims.

The victim's estate may recover certain damages, while the victim's family may recover other damages. In contrast, family members may recover compensation for the loss of their loved one's financial and moral support, affection, and guidance. The personal injury attorneys at our San Mateo firm will fight for the full range of damages you deserve.

San Mateo Accident Statistics

According to the latest statistics from the California Highway Patrol, the state experienced nearly 217,000 traffic accidents in a recent year, resulting in almost 166,000 injuries and 3,854 fatalities.

Additionally, the San Mateo County Coroner’s Office published the following fatal accident statistics for the San Mateo area:

• 43 total motor vehicle fatalities
• 10 pedestrian accident fatalities
• 3 bicycle accident fatalities
• 28 traffic fatalities involving alcohol or drug impairment

The demographic most affected by fatal accidents in San Mateo County is males between 21-50 years of age. Also, more fatal accidents occur in August than at any other time throughout the year.

What Types of Catastrophic Injuries Do People Suffer in San Mateo Accidents?

Our firm has helped victims across San Mateo bring claims based on catastrophic injuries. Victims of catastrophic injuries often require decades of rehabilitative therapy, medical care, and invasive surgeries. Catastrophic injuries can include:

SPINAL CORD INJURIES

Many car accident victims suffer from whiplash and herniated discs, common spinal cord injuries that a sudden impact may cause. More serious cases may paralyze victims. Paraplegia paralyzes the body below the waist, while quadriplegia paralyzes the body below the neck. The personal injury attorneys at our San Mateo firm provide compassionate representation to victims who must cope with these life-altering injuries.

BRAIN INJURIES

Diagnosing a brain injury often requires a physical examination and possibly PET scans, CT scans, and MRIs. Different brain injuries include penetrating head injuries, closed head injuries, and blast injuries.

Blast injuries happen due to explosions. Closed head injuries leave the skull physically intact. Penetrating head injuries fracture the skull against the ground or a foreign object.

Severe brain injuries can permanently damage physical and cognitive capacities. Many people suffer so-called mild traumatic brain injuries and never lose consciousness, but they can still experience lasting effects.

BURN INJURIES

Burn injuries can result from contact with toxic gases, radiation, chemicals, heat, and electricity. Severe burn injuries destroy nerves, muscles, bones, and skin tissue. They inflict enormous pain and suffering, and treatment can cause thousands of dollars of medical bills.

What Should I Do After an Accident in San Mateo

To protect yourself and your right to obtain compensation following an accident someone else caused in San Mateo, here are some general steps you should consider taking:

Exchange Information

• Exchange contact, insurance, and driver's license information with the other parties involved in the accident.
• Collect contact information from any witnesses.

Document the Scene

•  Take photos of the accident scene, vehicle damage, road conditions, and any relevant traffic signs or signals.
•  Write down the details of the accident, including the time, date, location, weather conditions, and any other relevant information.

Notify Your Insurance Company

• Report the accident to your insurance company as soon as possible. Provide them with all the information you've gathered.

Seek Medical Attention

•  Even if you feel fine immediately after the accident, it's a good idea to seek medical attention. Some injuries may not be immediately apparent.

File a Report with the DMV

• In California, you're required to file an accident report with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) if the accident resulted in property damage of $1,000 or more or if anyone was injured or killed.

Follow Up with Your Insurance Company

• Keep in touch with your insurance company and provide any additional information they request.

Keep Records

• Maintain records of all documents related to the accident, including medical bills, repair estimates, correspondence with insurance companies, and any other relevant information.

Consult a Personal Injury lawyer

• If the accident involves serious injuries or liability disputes, you may want to consult with an attorney with experience in personal injury cases. A personal injury lawyer can explain your options and help you file your injury claim. They can also negotiate with the insurance company to increase the settlement you could receive, and they can represent you in court, if necessary, should your case go to trial.

How Do I Know If I Have a San Mateo Personal Injury Case

Determining whether you have a personal injury case in San Mateo typically involves assessing several key factors. To determine if you have a personal injury case, you should consider the following:

• Negligence or Wrongful Conduct: Your injury must be a result of someone else's negligence or wrongful conduct. In other words, you need to establish that someone else had a duty of care to you and that they breached that duty, leading to your injury.
• Injury or Harm: You must have suffered some form of injury or harm. This can include physical injuries, emotional distress, property damage, or financial losses.
• Duty of Care: Determine if the party you believe is at fault owed you a duty of care. For example, in a car accident, drivers have a duty to operate their vehicles safely and follow traffic laws.
• Breach of Duty: You must show that the party responsible for your injury breached their duty of care. This can involve actions like reckless driving, medical malpractice, or failing to maintain safe premises.
• Causation: You need to establish a direct link between the breach of duty and your injury. In other words, you must prove that the defendant's actions or negligence directly caused your harm.
• Damages: To pursue a personal injury case, you should have suffered actual damages. These can include medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress, property damage, or other financial losses.
• Consult with an Attorney: If you believe you have a personal injury case, it's advisable to consult with a personal injury attorney in San Mateo. They can evaluate the specifics of your situation and provide legal advice based on their knowledge and experience.

How Much Is My San Mateo Injury Claim Worth?

Total medical bills and treatment costs will help determine the value of many personal injury accidents. You can receive compensation for past and future medical treatment, including any rehabilitative therapy you need to help you recover from your injuries.

You may also recover lost income and lost future earnings through a personal injury claim. If you can return to work, but only in a lower-paying position than you occupied before, you can receive the difference between your income before and after suffering your injuries.

Additionally, injured victims can recover financially for the pain and suffering they experience and the emotional distress they endured due to their injuries. The actual numerical value of these damages will vary in each case. 

An attorney can obtain the necessary paperwork and calculate how much financial compensation you can recover. If you don't hire a professional to help you perform this task, the insurance company may attack your damage claims and suggest that you unrealistically inflated your calculations.

How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in San Mateo?

In California, you have two years from the date of your injury to file a personal injury lawsuit in San Mateo. This is known as the statute of limitations. If you do not file your lawsuit within this time period, you will likely lose your right to seek compensation for your injuries.

There are a few exceptions to the two-year statute of limitations. For example, if you were a minor at the time of your injury, you have two years from your 18th birthday to file a lawsuit. Additionally, if you did not discover your injury until after the two-year period had passed, you may have one year from the date of discovery to file your lawsuit.

It is important to note that the statute of limitations is a complex area of law, and there are many other factors that can affect the time limit for filing your lawsuit. If you have any questions about the statute of limitations or your specific case, you should consult with an experienced personal injury attorney.

Here are some tips for filing a personal injury lawsuit in San Mateo:

• Gather evidence. This may include medical records, police reports, witness statements, and photographs of the accident scene.
• Contact a personal injury attorney. An attorney can help you assess your case, determine the best course of action, and file your lawsuit on time.

It is important to act quickly after a personal injury accident. The sooner you contact an attorney, the better your chances of recovering compensation for your injuries.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a San Mateo Personal Injury Attorney?

The San Mateo personal injury attorneys at Galine Frye Fitting & Frangos understand that you likely don’t have the funds to pay for a personal injury lawyer upfront, and you may have concerns about how you can afford legal representation to help you get the compensation you deserve.

Fortunately, our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means that you only pay us if we win your case or recover compensation on your behalf. In this case, the attorney's fee is typically a percentage of the amount you recover through an insurance settlement or court award.

Your attorney will go over our fee schedule and contingency arrangement during your free initial consultation so you know what to expect before signing a contract.

How Long Will My San Mateo Personal Injury Case Take to Resolve?

The length of time it takes to resolve a San Mateo personal injury case varies depending on a number of factors, including:

• The severity of your injuries
• The complexity of your case
• The willingness of the other party to settle
• Whether you need to go to trial

In general, most personal injury cases in San Mateo are resolved within 12 to 18 months. However, some cases may take longer, especially if they are complex or if the other party refuses to settle.

Here is a brief overview of the different stages of a personal injury case:

1. Investigation: Your attorney will begin by investigating your case and gathering evidence. This may include obtaining medical records, police reports, and witness statements.
2. Filing an Insurance Claim: Once your attorney has gathered enough evidence, they will submit your injury claim to the other party's insurance company. Your lawyer will outline your injuries and your financial losses and how much compensation you seek.
3. Negotiations: If the other party's insurance company is willing to settle, your attorney will begin negotiating a settlement amount. This process can take several weeks or months.
4. Trial: If the other party's insurance company is not willing to settle, your attorney may file a lawsuit. If the case goes to trial, it can take several months or even years for the case to be resolved.

If you are considering filing a personal injury lawsuit, it is important to be patient. It takes time to investigate a case, gather evidence, and negotiate a settlement. However, if you have a strong case, you are likely to recover compensation for your injuries.

Here are some tips for speeding up the resolution of your personal injury case:

• Provide your attorney with all of the information and evidence you have as soon as possible.
• Be responsive to your attorney's requests and answer their questions promptly.
• Be willing to compromise during negotiations.
• Keep in mind that going to trial is always a possibility, so be prepared for a longer timeline.

If you have any questions about the length of time it will take to resolve your San Mateo personal injury case, you should consult with your attorney.

Can I Still Recover Damages If I’m Partially At Fault for the San Mateo Accident?

Yes, you can still recover damages if you are partially at fault for a San Mateo accident. California is a pure comparative negligence state, which means that you can recover damages even if you are 99% at fault for the accident. However, your recovery will be reduced by your percentage of fault.

For example, if you are found to be 20% at fault for an accident, you can still recover 80% of your damages. However, if you are found to be 80% at fault for the accident, you can only recover 20% of your damages.

If you are involved in an accident in San Mateo and you believe that you may be partially at fault, it is important to contact an experienced personal injury attorney to discuss your case. An attorney can help you determine your percentage of fault and can represent you in negotiations with the other party's insurance company.

Here are some tips for increasing your chances of recovering damages if you are partially at fault for an accident:

• Gather evidence of the other party's negligence. This may include photographs of the accident scene, witness statements, and police reports.
• Be honest with your attorney about your role in the accident.
• Be willing to negotiate with the other party's insurance company.
• If you cannot reach a settlement, be prepared to go to trial.

Remember that you have the right to seek compensation for your injuries even if you are partially at fault for the accident. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you protect your rights and get the compensation you deserve.

SAN Mateo Personal Injury FAQ

Do I Need a Lawyer for a Personal Injury Claim?

Many people ask if they need to seek out a personal injury attorney following an accident. The answer to this question is yes—hire a personal injury attorney as soon as possible after an accident. You want to hire an attorney to communicate directly with the insurance company.

Insurance companies can deny your claims, delay responding to your claim, and send you low settlement offers. A personal injury attorney can prevent insurance companies from using these tactics early on during your case.

Having a professional communicate with insurance companies will notify them that you are serious about recovering the financial compensation you deserve.

If you suffered injuries in an accident, you must deal with many different things simultaneously. You must seek medical treatment, request time off work, and file paperwork with your insurance company.

You do not have to fight against the insurance companies by yourself. A personal injury attorney can help you recover the monetary compensation you deserve without charging you excessive retainer fees or hourly fees. 

Should I Accept an Insurance Settlement Offer?

No, you should never accept any insurance settlement offer before consulting a personal injury attorney. Insurance companies do not want to take personal injury cases to court. Most insurance companies will review your case and send you a settlement offer.

Never accept a settlement without speaking to a personal injury attorney first because you may deserve more financial compensation. Initial settlement offers are often too low, and they do not take into account future losses or pain and suffering.

You may negotiate a better settlement offer, and a personal injury attorney can pressure the insurance company to do that.

You need a trained professional on your side to communicate with insurance companies. By hiring a personal injury attorney, you let the insurance companies know that you are serious about your injuries and recovering the financial compensation you deserve.

What About My Future Medical Costs?

Personal injury victims often require ongoing medical care that can extend for years. These costs will vary depending on the victim's injuries. Future treatment may include testing, hospice care, doctor visits, and surgery.

A personal injury attorney can communicate with medical specialists, doctors, and physical therapists to determine how much future medical treatment will cost based on the injured victim's age, treatment goals, and life expectancy.

An attorney may determine if medical costs will increase in the future due to market fluctuations or changes in treatment procedures. A permanent disability will affect an injury victim's lifestyle, and a personal injury attorney can determine methods used to calculate how this disability affects the patient's life financially.

A personal injury attorney will also consider additional costs created by specific personal injuries. Some injuries may require numerous surgeries over several years. A personal injury attorney can account for these costs in your settlement.

What if I Cannot Work Due to My Personal Injury?

You may not know what to do if you suffer personal injuries during an accident and you can no longer work. You deserve compensation for lost income, the costs of your medical bills, and other damages.

A part-time employee can recover lost income and lost future earnings. You may claim money for the dollar value of missed overtime hours, vacation days, and the money you could have made from important projects, interviews, and commissions.

You will need a personal injury attorney to help you demonstrate to the court that you missed work due to another party's negligence. Also, you need to calculate how much money you would have made if you had not suffered your personal injuries.

Your personal injury attorney can collect paperwork from your employer to calculate the damages you suffered due to lost pay and lost future earnings and fight to recover that money from the at-fault party.

Contact Us Today

With your case safely in the hands of our competent personal injury lawyers, you can turn your attention to the rest and recovery that you need and deserve. Our attorneys can handle the rest. Contact us right now—we’re open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year—at (650) 345-8484, so we can start helping you right away.

Client Reviews

“Thank you so much for all of your legal help on my case. I’ve really enjoyed working with you and your professional team including Lisa and Mavis. I also appreciate your efforts in reaching a settlement on my behalf. I will definitely refer my clients and friends to your firm they are in need of legal representation in the future. Regards.” – Adrian C.

“We appreciate all of your earnest efforts and professionalism shown in settling this case. You helped us bring this matter to a quick and satisfactory conclusion. Thank you all again.” – JK & BM

Additional Resources

San Mateo Emergency Rooms

If you suffered severe injuries in a San Mateo accident someone else caused, seek immediate medical attention from the following emergency room:

• San Mateo Medical Center: 222 W 39th Ave, San Mateo, CA 94403

*Disclaimer – Galine Frye Fitting & Frangos does not endorse this medical provider, nor do we profit from having them listed on our website.

San Mateo Courthouses

The San Mateo Superior Court serves San Mateo County. It has several offices, including:

• Central Branch. 800 North Humboldt Street. San Mateo, CA 94401. United States
• Juvenile Branch. 222 Paul Scannell Drive. San Mateo, CA 94402. United States
• Northern Branch. 1050 Mission Road. South San Francisco, CA 94080. United States
• Southern Branch: Hall of Justice and Records. 400 County Center. Redwood City, CA 94063

Neighborhoods We Serve In San Mateo

Central San Mateo, North Central, Shoreview, Hayward Park, Hillsday, Menlo Oaks,