Important Facts You Must Know About Personal Injury Litigation in The North Bay Counties of Northern California

Venue

Most but not all personal injury actions are filed in state rather than federal court. The county in which the case is filed is its venue. State court actions are filed at the courthouse which is located at the county seat for the county. Personal injury cases are filed either at the location of the defendant or the location of the accident.

San Rafael is the county seat for Marin County. Santa Rosa is the Sonoma County seat. San Francisco is a City and a County; therefore, accidents that occur in San Francisco or involve a San Francisco defendant are filed in San Francisco. Accidents against Marin defendants or that occur in Marin County are filed in Marin. Accidents against Sonoma County defendants or that occur in Sonoma County are filed in Santa Rosa. Accidents against Alameda County defendants or that occur in Alameda County are filed in Oakland, etc.

Picking a Personal Injury Lawyer

Most injured persons prefer to choose a lawyer who is located in the county where the case will be venued. A local lawyer is more familiar with the court system and judges of the county in which they are located. The closer the lawyer is to the county in which the case is filed the more apt he or she is to be familiar with the judicial system in that county. The Freitas Law Firm, for example, has been located in San Rafael since 1925. The firm has produced three Marin County judges and is the oldest law firm in Marin. We are most familiar with the Marin County Courts but have handled cases throughout Northern California, primarily in Marin, Sonoma, San Francisco and Alameda.

Types of Personal Injury Cases With Which We Have Extensive Experience

  • Auto Accident
  • Hit and Run
  • Auto Pedestrian
  • Bicycle
  • Motorcycle
  • Slip Fall and Trip Fall
  • Back Injuries
  • Knee Injuries
  • Brain Injuries
  • Catastrophic Injuries
  • Wrongful Death

This is merely a partial list of personal injury cases we handle.

Free Consultation

If you have been injured and think you may have a case, give us a call at 415-456-7505. We can tell you what we think free of charge.