Car crash lawyer Sacramento: Read this first.
River City Report covers crashes on Sacramento roads in plain English. If you were hurt, a free case review takes four short questions.
Free case review
Step 1 of 5
Before you go on
The timing is outside this review path
This review path focuses on accidents from the last six months. Deadlines and exceptions vary, so consider speaking directly with a licensed California attorney if you still need guidance. River City Report is not a law firm and this is not legal advice.
Before you go on
This review is not the right fit
This review path is for crashes caused by another driver. If you need guidance, you can speak directly with a licensed California attorney.
Before you go on
This review is not the right fit
This review path is for people who report pain or injury symptoms after an accident. If your symptoms change, you can return and complete a new evaluation.
Before you go on
This review is not the right fit
This review path is for people who have not signed an agreement with a lawyer for this accident. This does not determine whether you have a valid claim. A licensed attorney can advise you on your options.
Review requested
Your Request Is In
Our partner’s automated assistant will call about your accident. Keep your phone nearby. Call timing depends on availability.
- Expect a call. Our partner’s automated assistant will introduce itself.
- Confirm the details. The assistant asks a few questions before offering a connection to intake.
- Possible attorney review. The intake team can clarify any missing details and discuss the next steps.
Free initial review
No charge to have your crash looked at.
No obligation
Hiring an attorney stays your choice.
4 short questions
Then your name and phone number.
Sacramento County
For crashes anywhere in the county.
Start here
Crash reportsWho wrote your report? It depends on the roadCity streets are Sacramento Police. Freeways and county roads are the CHP.Find your agency 
Six first steps
- Stop and call 911 if anyone is hurt. Drivers in an injury crash must stop and help under California law.
- Learn which agency responded. Sacramento Police on city streets, the CHP on freeways and county roads.
- No officer came and someone was hurt? Report it in writing to the CHP or the city police within 24 hours.
- Send the DMV an SR-1 within 10 days. It is required after an injury or more than $1,000 of damage.
- See a doctor and keep the paperwork. Bills, receipts and notes on missed work all belong in one place.
- Mind the six-month rule. A written claim against a public agency generally must be filed within six months. A separate lawsuit deadline follows.
Reports, care and courts in Sacramento
Where the crash happened decides who has the report.
Sacramento Police
City street crashes. Buy the report online for $5, usually 5 to 10 days after the crash, or request it by mail. Insurers must give a policy number, and attorneys need a signed release.
CHP
Crashes on I-5, I-80, US 50, SR 99 and the Capital City Freeway, and on unincorporated county roads. Use theCHP Crash Portal or form CHP 190.
Trauma care
UC Davis Medical Center, 2315 Stockton Boulevard, is the county’s Level I trauma center for adults and children. Kaiser South Sacramento and Mercy San Juan in Carmichael are Level II.
Courts
The Sacramento Superior Court hears general civil trials at the Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye Sacramento County Courthouse downtown. Claims up to $35,000 are limited civil cases.
How to choose a car crash lawyer in Sacramento
Start by searching the name on the State Bar of California site. It takes a minute and shows whether the licence is active and whether there is any public discipline.
Read the fee agreement closely. California requires a contingency agreement to be written and signed by you and the lawyer (B&P Code § 6147). It has to give the percentage, explain how costs are taken out, and say the fee is not set by law and can be negotiated.
Ask who will actually work on your file, whether the lawyer has tried car accident cases in Sacramento Superior Court, and what happens to costs if there is no recovery.
Be cautious with anyone who pushes for a signature in the hospital or promises a number at the first meeting.
California time limits and shared fault
An injury lawsuit must usually be filed within two years of the crash (Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1). Property damage claims have three years (§ 338).
Sacramento has plenty of public vehicles and roads: state cars, SacRT buses, city and county trucks, Caltrans freeways. A claim against any public agency must be filed in writing within six months (Gov. Code § 911.2).
California uses pure comparative fault. Being partly at fault does not bar recovery, but it reduces the award. With $70,000 in losses and 20% of the fault, you would receive $56,000.
Proposition 213 limits one group: drivers who were uninsured, or convicted of driving under the influence, cannot recover pain and suffering damages. Their medical bills and lost wages remain recoverable.
When a Sacramento crash needs a lawyer
A small claim with no injuries can often be settled with the insurer directly. If they refuse, small claims court is an option for amounts up to $12,500.
Call a car crash lawyer when you were hurt, when fault is disputed, when the other driver had no insurance or only the 30/60/15 minimum, when a truck, bus or state vehicle was involved, or when the six-month public-agency deadline may apply.
You can confirm basic facts to the other driver’s insurer and still decline a recorded statement until you have the report and your notes.
What the free case review covers
Four questions: when the crash happened, whether another driver caused or contributed to it, whether you have pain or injury symptoms, and whether you have already signed with a lawyer for this accident. If you are not sure about fault, you can still finish.
Then you leave a name and phone number. Our partner’s automated assistant calls, asks a few questions and can connect you with the intake team. The review is free, and you do not have to hire an attorney.
It is meant for crashes in the last six months where you were hurt and have not signed with a lawyer.Start the free case review.
Your questions
Answers to what Sacramento drivers ask us after a crash, and about the review.
Does the case review cost anything?
No. The initial review is free, and you are not obliged to hire an attorney.
Does finishing the review mean a lawyer has my case?
No. The four questions check only the first criteria. An attorney reviews the full details before taking any case.
I can’t tell who was at fault. Should I still fill it in?
Yes. Choose “Not sure” and finish the review. The intake team will ask about fault on the call.
How much does a car crash lawyer in Sacramento charge?
Most charge a contingency fee: a percentage of the recovery, with nothing paid upfront. California requires the agreement in writing, signed by you and the lawyer, with the rate and how costs are paid. The rate is negotiable.
How do I get a Sacramento Police crash report?
Buy it online for $5, usually 5 to 10 days after the crash, or request it by mail. If the crash was on I-5, I-80, US 50 or another freeway, the CHP has the report instead.
A state or city vehicle hit me. Is the deadline the same?
No. A claim against a public agency, such as the State of California, the City of Sacramento, the county or SacRT, must be filed in writing within six months. Only after that can a lawsuit follow.