Hurt in San Jose? Talk to a personal injury lawyer for free

The Law Offices of J. Chrisp represents people hurt in car crashes, falls and other accidents in San Jose. The phone is answered 24/7 at 877-J-CHRISP (877-524-7477).

The firm has recovered over $350 million for clients since 2010. The sections below list its recognition and case results, the practice areas it handles, California’s fault and insurance rules, the deadlines for a San Jose injury claim and where San Jose claims and cases are filed.

Table of Contents

Can I hire an injury lawyer in San Jose with no fee up front?

Yes. The Law Offices of J. Chrisp offers a free consultation and works on a contingency fee, so its fee depends on the outcome of your case. There is no fee unless we win.

Recognition

Best Law Firms 2026: Tier 1, Santa Rosa, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs.
The Best Lawyers in America: founding attorney Jesse Chrisp, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, since 2024.
Super Lawyers: Jesse Chrisp, 2023 to 2026.
Northern California Rising Stars: Jesse Chrisp, 2013 to 2021, an honor awarded to only 2.5% of attorneys in the state.
San Francisco Trial Lawyer of the Year: Jesse Chrisp was one of four finalists in 2018.
Better Business Bureau: A+ rating.

A client testimonial on chrisplaw.com reads: “I had an excellent experience working with Jesse Chrisp.” (Whitney Stevenson)

Case results

Results the firm has obtained, as shown on chrisplaw.com and its case results page, include:

$10,000,000 in a motorcycle-versus-car crash
$6,015,000 in a motorcycle-versus-car crash
$5,360,000 in a dangerous construction zone case
$5,250,000 in a car crash case
$5,000,000 in a case where a dangerous pool caused a child’s brain injury
$4,450,000 in a rental car-versus-motorcycle crash
$4,000,000 in a wrongful death case
$3,000,000 in a semi-truck crash case
A $2,350,000 jury verdict in a major head-on crash case involving the sheriff
$2,300,000 in a county vehicle crash case
$300,000 in a highway roadway design defect case

Every case is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Practice areas

Fault and insurance rules in California

California uses pure comparative fault, set out in Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975). You can recover compensation even if you were partly at fault, and your damages are reduced in proportion to your share of the fault. In injury cases based on comparative fault, each defendant is liable for non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, only in proportion to its own percentage of fault (Civil Code section 1431.2).

For auto liability policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025, the minimum limits are $30,000 for injury or death of one person and $60,000 for two or more people in one accident. The property damage minimum is $15,000 (Vehicle Code section 16056). For policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2035, those minimums rise to $50,000, $100,000 and $25,000.

Deadlines for a San Jose injury claim

Deadline	What it controls	Source
6 months	Written claim for injury, death or damage to personal property against a public entity, such as the City of San José, Santa Clara County, VTA or the state	Government Code section 811.2; section 911.2
2 years	Most personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits	Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1
3 years	Lawsuits for damage to a vehicle or other property	Code of Civil Procedure section 338

These lawsuit deadlines run from when the claim arises (accrues) (Code of Civil Procedure section 312). A lawsuit against a public entity generally cannot be filed until the claim is acted on or deemed rejected (Government Code section 945.4). That lawsuit has separate deadlines (Government Code section 945.6). A late-claim application is possible within limits (Government Code section 911.4).

The two-year deadline is paused while the injured person is under 18 or lacks the legal capacity to make decisions, if that was true when the claim arose (Code of Civil Procedure section 352; Family Code section 6500). This pause does not apply to claims against a public entity or public employee that require a government claim.

Where San Jose claims and cases are filed

City of San José: the “Claim Against the City of San Jose” form, filed with the Office of the City Clerk at San José City Hall, 200 E. Santa Clara Street.
VTA buses and light rail: VTA’s “Claim for Damages” form, mailed or hand-delivered to the Board Secretary’s Office at 3331 N First Street, Building B, San Jose, CA 95134.
Lawsuits: a case can generally be filed in the county where the injury happened (Code of Civil Procedure section 395). For San Jose, that is the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara. Its Downtown Superior Court, at 191 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95113, handles civil cases.

Service area, offices and founding attorney

The firm serves Sonoma, Napa, Lake and Mendocino counties and the San Francisco Bay Area, including San Jose. It does not have an office in San Jose. Its closest office is in San Francisco at 1330 Bush Street, Suite 9D, San Francisco, CA 94109. Its main office is in Lower Lake at 9667 Highway 29, Lower Lake, CA 95457, and it also has an office in Santa Rosa at 3558 Round Barn Blvd, Suite 200, Santa Rosa, CA 95403.

Founding attorney Jesse Chrisp was born in Santa Rosa and raised in Lake County. He earned his B.A. at California State University, Chico in 2005 and his J.D. at Golden Gate University School of Law in 2008. He was admitted to the State Bar of California in 2009. He is a graduate of the Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College. He has represented thousands of injured clients. He holds the record for the highest personal injury verdict in Lake County. He is frequently sought out by other law firms in the area to take their cases to trial.

Frequently asked questions

Does the firm have Spanish-speaking staff?

The Law Offices of J. Chrisp has Spanish-speaking staff. The phone is answered 24/7 at 877-J-CHRISP (877-524-7477).

How much does a personal injury lawyer cost in San Jose?

The consultation is free, and the Law Offices of J. Chrisp works on a contingency fee. There is no fee unless we win.

Can I recover if I was partly at fault?

California uses pure comparative fault under Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975). You can still recover, and your damages are reduced in proportion to your share of the fault.

How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in California?

Under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, the deadline for most personal injury lawsuits is two years from when the claim arises. If the claim is against the City of San José, Santa Clara County, VTA or another public entity, a written claim is generally due within six months under Government Code section 911.2.

Does the Law Offices of J. Chrisp have an office in San Jose?

No. The closest office is in San Francisco at 1330 Bush Street, Suite 9D, San Francisco, CA 94109. The firm answers the phone 24/7 at 877-J-CHRISP (877-524-7477).

If you were hurt in San Jose or elsewhere in Santa Clara 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.

Why choose the Law Offices of J. Chrisp?

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.