Posted October 21, 2026 - by Law Offices of J.Chrisp
Founding Attorney
People hurt in car accidents in Ukiah and across Mendocino County can turn to the Law Offices of J. Chrisp, which represents injured people on a contingency fee. The consultation is free, there is no fee unless we win, and the phone is answered 24/7 at 877-J-CHRISP (877-524-7477).
The California Highway Patrol usually handles crashes on US-101 and on Highway 20. The Ukiah Police Department usually handles crashes on city streets, such as State Street. Use the report or incident number the officer gave you when you request the collision report.
Lawsuits from Ukiah-area crashes are generally filed in Mendocino County Superior Court in Ukiah.
The firm’s results include $5,250,000 in a car crash case, as shown on its case results page. Every case is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Stop, check for injuries and call 911. A driver involved in a crash that injures another person or kills someone must stop at the scene (Vehicle Code section 20001). The driver must give their name and address, the vehicle registration number and the owner’s name and address. The driver must also show a driver’s license if asked and give reasonable help to anyone who is hurt (Vehicle Code section 20003).
| Deadline | What it controls | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 10 days | DMV report (SR-1) by a driver if anyone was hurt or killed or damage to any one person’s property is over $1,000 | Vehicle Code section 16000 |
| 6 months | Written claim when a city, county or Caltrans vehicle or road was involved | Government Code section 911.2 |
| 2 years | Most personal injury lawsuits | Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1 |
| 3 years | Vehicle and other property damage | Code of Civil Procedure section 338 |
California uses pure comparative fault (Li v. Yellow Cab Co., 1975). You can recover even if you were partly at fault, and your recovery is reduced by your share. If you are found 20% at fault, you can recover 80% of your damages.
When several defendants share fault, each defendant pays non-economic damages only in proportion to its own share (Civil Code section 1431.2). A driver who was uninsured at the time of the crash generally cannot recover pain and suffering (Civil Code section 3333.4).
For policies issued or renewed since January 1, 2025, California’s minimum liability coverage is $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident (Vehicle Code section 16056).
The firm does not have an office in Ukiah. It serves Sonoma, Napa, Lake and Mendocino counties and the San Francisco Bay Area, including Ukiah. Its main office is in Lower Lake (9667 Highway 29). It also has offices in Santa Rosa (3558 Round Barn Blvd, Suite 200) and San Francisco (1330 Bush Street, Suite 9D).
The firm has Spanish-speaking staff.
No. The firm serves Ukiah and Mendocino County. Its offices are in Lower Lake, Santa Rosa and San Francisco, and the phone is answered 24/7 at 877-J-CHRISP (877-524-7477).
Lawsuits from crashes in the Ukiah area are generally filed in Mendocino County Superior Court in Ukiah. If a city, county or Caltrans vehicle or road was involved, a written government claim is generally due within six months under Government Code section 911.2.
The consultation is free, and the Law Offices of J. Chrisp works on a contingency fee. There is no fee unless we win.
You may still recover. California uses pure comparative fault, so your compensation is reduced by your share of fault rather than barred.
If you were hurt in a car accident in Ukiah or anywhere in Mendocino County, call the Law Offices of J. Chrisp 24/7 at 877-J-CHRISP (877-524-7477) for a free consultation. There is no fee unless we win.
The Law Offices of J. Chrisp is a Northern California personal injury law firm founded by attorney Jesse Chrisp, who was raised in Lake County. The firm represents injured people, with offices in Lower Lake (main office), Santa Rosa and San Francisco, and serves Sonoma, Napa, Lake and Mendocino counties and the San Francisco Bay Area. Consultations are free, the firm works on a contingency fee with no fee unless the firm wins, and the phone is answered 24/7 at 877-J-CHRISP (877-524-7477). The firm was named to Best Law Firms 2026 (Tier 1, Santa Rosa, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs). Jesse Chrisp has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America since 2024 and selected to Super Lawyers from 2023 to 2026.
Car Accident Lawyer Serving San Rafael (link once published)
Lake County Car Accident Lawyer
How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Claim in California? (link once published)
Vehicle Code section 20001, section 20003, section 16000 and section 16056, California Legislative Information
Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1 and section 338, California Legislative Information
Government Code section 911.2, California Legislative Information
Civil Code section 1431.2 and section 3333.4, California Legislative Information
Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804
Case results, chrisplaw.com
Attorney Advertising. This page provides general information about California law and is not legal advice for any specific situation. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Last updated October 2026.
Since founding his law firm in 2010, Jesse Chrisp has built a reputation as a dedicated personal injury trial attorney serving Northern California’s Bay Area.
He has represented thousands of injured clients and holds the record for the highest personal injury verdict in Lake County. Mr. Chrisp was selected to Northern California Rising Stars from 2013 to 2019, an honor awarded to only 2.5% of attorneys in the state.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by attorney Jesse Chrisp, who has been continuously recognized as a leader in personal injury law since starting his law firm in 2010.
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