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Founding attorney Jesse Chrisp of the Law Offices of J. Chrisp is frequently sought out by other law firms in the area to take their cases to trial. The firm’s results include a $2,350,000 jury verdict in a major head-on crash case involving the sheriff. Every case is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
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, and the deadlines for a Santa Rosa injury claim.
A client testimonial on chrisplaw.com reads: “The team was very professional and responsive and helped me reach a speedy settlement based on my recovery time.” (Jonathan Miller)
The firm has recovered over $350 million for clients since 2010. Results it has obtained, as shown on chrisplaw.com and its case results page, include:
Every case is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
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.
| 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 Santa Rosa, Sonoma County 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). An injury claim against a public entity generally must be presented in writing within six months (Government Code section 911.2). A lawsuit 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.
The firm serves Sonoma, Napa, Lake and Mendocino counties and the San Francisco Bay Area, including Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Rohnert Park and Windsor. Its main office is in Lower Lake at 9667 Highway 29, Lower Lake, CA 95457. It also has an office in San Francisco at 1330 Bush Street, Suite 9D, San Francisco, CA 94109.
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. He is a sought-after national speaker on trial skills. He is a member of numerous national trial lawyer organizations and California trial lawyer organizations, as well as local North Coast bar associations in Sonoma, Mendocino, Napa, and Lake County.
The Santa Rosa office is at 3558 Round Barn Blvd, Suite 200, Santa Rosa, CA 95403. The firm answers the phone 24/7 at 877-J-CHRISP (877-524-7477).
The Law Offices of J. Chrisp has Spanish-speaking staff. The phone is answered 24/7 at 877-J-CHRISP (877-524-7477).
The consultation is free, and the Law Offices of J. Chrisp works on a contingency fee. There is no fee unless we win.
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.
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 a city, county or other public entity, a written claim is generally due within six months under Government Code section 911.2. A later lawsuit against the entity has separate deadlines under Government Code section 945.6.
If you were hurt in Santa Rosa or elsewhere in Sonoma 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.
Santa Rosa Car Accident Lawyer
Santa Rosa Wrongful Death Lawyer
Who Should I Call After a Car Accident in Sonoma County? (link once published)
How Do I Choose a Personal Injury Lawyer in Northern California? (link once published)
Best Law Firms, Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers
Better Business Bureau profile
Code of Civil Procedure section 312, section 335.1, section 338 and section 352, California Legislative Information
Family Code section 6500, California Legislative Information
Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804, Justia; Civil Code section 1431.2, California Legislative Information
Vehicle Code section 16056, California Legislative Information
Government Code section 811.2, section 911.2, section 911.4, section 945.4 and section 945.6, California Legislative Information
Case results and Santa Rosa personal injury lawyer page, chrisplaw.com
Jesse Chrisp attorney profile, chrisplaw.com
Client testimonials, 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.
In California, you generally have two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. If your claim is against a government entity, that window shrinks to six months. Miss the deadline, and you lose your right to compensation, so it is worth talking to an attorney early.
To win, you need to show that someone owed you a duty of care, broke that duty, and caused injuries that led to real damages. Lawyers call these four elements duty, breach, causation, and damages. In California, you only need to prove your case is more likely true than not, a standard known as preponderance of the evidence.
No two personal injury claims are worth the same amount. It comes down to the specific facts of your case. How severe the injury is, medical costs, lost income, and what insurance is available all play a role. These are the details we look at when negotiating a settlement or building your case for court.
Most personal injury cases settle before trial, but some do end up in court. It usually comes down to how strong the evidence is, whether the insurance company is willing to negotiate, and how much the claim is worth. Either way, we prepare your case as if it is going to trial from day one.
Yes, have an attorney look at any settlement offer before you accept it. Insurance companies often lowball their first offer, especially before you know the full extent of your medical treatment. We check any offer against the real cost of your injuries before you sign away your right to ask for more.
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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