Posted October 22, 2026 - by Law Offices of J.Chrisp
Founding Attorney
The Law Offices of J. Chrisp serves people injured in San Jose, including people with spinal cord injuries caused by someone else’s carelessness. A claim can seek the cost of medical care the injured person is reasonably certain to need in the future, along with lost earnings. 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).
A spinal cord injury is damage to the spinal cord, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). NINDS describes two broad kinds:
An injury can affect all four limbs (tetraplegia, also called quadriplegia) or only the lower body and legs (paraplegia). NINDS lists symptoms that include paralysis, loss of bladder and bowel control, difficulty breathing, and numbness, tingling or changes in sensation in the hands and feet.
NINDS reports that motor vehicle accidents and serious falls are the most common causes of spinal cord injury in the U.S. Rehabilitation programs combine physical therapies with skill-building activities.
The firm represents people with spine injuries from accidents that include:
A spinal cord injury claim can seek both past and future losses. Each type of damages has to be proven (CACI Nos. 3903A, 3903C, 3903D and 3905A).
For future non-economic damages, the injured person must prove they are reasonably certain to suffer that harm. The jury instructions state that no fixed standard exists for deciding the amount of non-economic damages.
Under Civil Code section 1714, everyone is responsible for an injury caused by their lack of ordinary care or skill in managing their property or themselves. That responsibility is limited when the injured person’s own lack of ordinary care brought on the injury. Under Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975), California uses pure comparative negligence. The injured person’s damages are reduced in proportion to their share of the fault.
Under Code of Civil Procedure section 395, a personal injury lawsuit can be filed in the superior court of the county where the injury occurred. It can also be filed in the county where any of the defendants live when the lawsuit starts.
The Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara, has its Downtown Superior Court at 191 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95113. The court lists civil cases among the cases served there.
| Deadline | What it controls | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 6 months | Written claim to a public entity, such as a city, a county or the state, for a personal injury. It is due within six months after the claim arises (accrues). A late-claim application is possible within a reasonable time, up to one year after the claim arises. | Government Code section 811.2; section 911.2; section 911.4 |
| 2 years | Lawsuits for injury caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another, counted from when the claim arises (accrues) | Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1; section 312 |
| Paused | The two-year period does not run while the injured person is under 18 or lacks the legal capacity to make decisions, if that was true when the claim arose. This pause does not apply to claims against a public entity or public employee that require a government claim. | Code of Civil Procedure section 352; Family Code section 6500 |
For a claim against the City of San José, the City Clerk’s forms page lists a claim form against the city.
The firm does not have an office in San Jose. Its main office is in Lower Lake (9667 Highway 29, Lower Lake, CA 95457). It also has offices in Santa Rosa (3558 Round Barn Blvd, Suite 200, Santa Rosa, CA 95403) and San Francisco (1330 Bush Street, Suite 9D, San Francisco, CA 94109). San Jose is one of the areas the firm serves, and the firm has Spanish-speaking staff.
No. The firm’s offices are in Lower Lake, Santa Rosa and San Francisco. San Jose is one of the areas the firm serves, and the phone is answered 24/7 at 877-J-CHRISP (877-524-7477).
According to NINDS, an incomplete injury means the spinal cord can still send some messages to or from the brain. A complete injury means there is no nerve communication below the injury site.
Yes, if it is proven. Under CACI No. 3903A, damages can include the reasonable cost of reasonably necessary medical care the injured person is reasonably certain to need in the future. Future lost earnings and lost earning capacity can also be recovered when they are reasonably certain.
Under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, a lawsuit for injury caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another is due within two years from when the claim arises. If a public entity, such as a city or county, is responsible, a written government claim is generally due within six months under Government Code section 911.2.
The Law Offices of J. Chrisp offers a free consultation and works on a contingency fee. There is no fee unless we win.
If you suffered a spinal cord injury in San Jose, 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.
Spinal Cord Injury, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
CACI Nos. 3903A, 3903C, 3903D and 3905A (California Civil Jury Instructions), Justia
Civil Code section 1714, California Legislative Information
Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804, Justia
Code of Civil Procedure section 312, section 335.1, section 352 and section 395, California Legislative Information
Government Code section 811.2, section 911.2 and section 911.4, California Legislative Information
Family Code section 6500, California Legislative Information
Downtown Superior Court (DTS), Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara
City Clerk forms, City of San José
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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