A crash on Highway 101 during the evening commute out of Redwood City. A pedestrian struck on El Camino Real in San Mateo. A rear-end collision on I-280 as traffic slows near Hillsborough. These are not hypothetical scenarios. They are the kind of accidents that bring San Mateo County residents into a personal injury claim they never expected to need.
San Mateo County sits between San Francisco and Silicon Valley, and its crashes reflect that mix: commuter traffic on US-101 and I-280, airport traffic around SFO, and coastal driving on Highway 1. The Herman Firm represents injured people across the Bay Area, including the Peninsula.
If you were injured in an accident anywhere in San Mateo County, a free case review can help you understand your potential options.
Talk With a California Personal Injury AttorneySan Mateo County Injury Cases We Handle
Peninsula cases often involve commuters, airport traffic, and visitors. These are the claims we see most often from the county.
Car Accidents
US-101 between South San Francisco and Redwood City carries heavy commuter traffic in both directions for much of the day, and Highway 92 and Woodside Road see frequent rear-end and merge crashes. See our car accident page.
Airport and Rideshare Crashes
SFO traffic around San Bruno and Millbrae brings rental cars, hotel shuttles, and Uber and Lyft pickups together, which often means commercial or rideshare insurance is involved. Learn about our Uber and Lyft accident cases.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents
El Camino Real runs through nearly every Peninsula city, with busy crosswalks and Caltrain station crossings, while Skyline Boulevard and Highway 84 draw weekend cyclists. Read about our pedestrian and bicycle accident work.
Coastal Highway 1 Crashes
Highway 1 through Pacifica, the Devil’s Slide tunnels, and Half Moon Bay mixes tourist traffic, cyclists, and tight curves, and backups on Highway 92 to the coast are common on weekends.
Delivery and Truck Crashes
Warehouses and distribution centers near South San Francisco and the airport put delivery vans and big rigs on local streets and freeways. See our truck accident page.
Personal Injury Accidents in San Mateo County
San Mateo County occupies a narrow stretch of the peninsula between San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean, and that geography creates a genuinely varied set of driving and accident environments. The eastern side of the county, including San Mateo, Redwood City, Burlingame, and San Carlos, carries dense commuter and business traffic along the Highway 101 and El Camino Real corridors. Daly City and South San Francisco sit at the county’s northern edge, close to San Francisco International Airport, with heavy commercial and airport-related traffic. Foster City’s engineered waterways and residential layout create a different pattern of neighborhood and arterial road traffic, while Redwood Shores and San Carlos see similar suburban commuter patterns.
Farther south, communities like San Mateo’s neighbor Belmont, along with Millbrae and Hillsborough, combine residential streets with commuter access to both 101 and 280. On the western side of the county, coastal communities including Half Moon Bay, Pacifica, El Granada, and Montara sit along Highway 1, with winding two-lane roads, limited shoulders, and seasonal fog and rain that change driving conditions throughout the year. This range of environments matters for accident claims because the type of roadway often shapes the type of case: coastal Highway 1 curves and limited-visibility conditions tend to produce different accident patterns than the high-speed, high-volume 101 and 280 commuter corridors on the bayside of the county.
Major Roads and Transportation Areas in San Mateo County
Several major highways and transportation corridors run through San Mateo County, connecting it to San Francisco, the South Bay, and the greater Bay Area:
- U.S. Highway 101
- Interstate 280
- Highway 1 (coastal route)
- Highway 92 (Half Moon Bay/San Mateo Bridge corridor)
- Highway 84 (Woodside Road/Dumbarton Bridge corridor)
- El Camino Real
- San Mateo-Hayward Bridge
- Dumbarton Bridge
- San Francisco International Airport traffic corridors
- Caltrain rail corridor
- SamTrans bus routes
How We Handle San Mateo County Injury Cases
Seriously injured people on the Peninsula are often taken to trauma centers at Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto or Zuckerberg San Francisco General, both outside the county. We gather records from every hospital and clinic involved so nothing falls through the cracks.
Crashes involving a SamTrans bus, Caltrain, BART, Caltrans, a city, or the County of San Mateo usually require a written government claim within six months. Other injury lawsuits generally must be filed within two years under California Code of Civil Procedure 335.1.
Michael Herman works on Peninsula cases directly and on a contingency basis, so there is no fee unless we recover for you. He can meet you by video, at home, at the hospital, or at our Walnut Creek office.
Communities We Serve in San Mateo County
The Herman Firm works with injured clients throughout San Mateo County, including San Mateo, Redwood City, Daly City, South San Francisco, Foster City, San Carlos, Belmont, Burlingame, Millbrae, Hillsborough, Half Moon Bay, Pacifica, Redwood Shores, and Montara. From Daly City and South San Francisco in the north to Redwood City, Menlo Park, and East Palo Alto in the south, US-101 and I-280 tie these communities together.
San Mateo County Courts
Personal injury lawsuits filed in San Mateo County generally proceed through the Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo, which maintains multiple branch locations throughout the county. This is general reference information, not a statement about where any specific case must be filed.
| Courthouse | Address |
|---|---|
| Southern Branch – Hall of Justice and Records (Redwood City) | 400 County Center, Redwood City, CA 94063 |
| Northern Branch (South San Francisco) | 1050 Mission Road, South San Francisco, CA 94080 |
| Central Branch (San Mateo) | 800 North Humboldt Street, San Mateo, CA 94401 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are San Mateo County injury lawsuits heard?
Most civil injury cases filed in the county go to San Mateo County Superior Court at the Hall of Justice in Redwood City.
What if I was hurt near SFO by a rental car or hotel shuttle?
These crashes often involve a rental company or commercial policy on top of the driver’s own insurance. Write down the vehicle number and company name, photograph the scene, and keep any shuttle or rental paperwork.
What if a SamTrans bus or Caltrain was involved?
SamTrans and Caltrain are public agencies, so a written government claim is usually due within six months. A lawsuit can follow only after that claim is filed and denied.
Can The Herman Firm handle a case from the Peninsula?
Yes. Michael Herman is licensed throughout California and represents clients across the Bay Area. Much of the work can be handled by phone and video, with in-person meetings when you need them.
How long do I have after a San Mateo County crash?
Generally two years to file a lawsuit for your injuries, but about six months to file a claim against SamTrans, Caltrain, a city, or the county.
This page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It does not guarantee any particular case outcome, settlement, or recovery. Every accident involves different facts and evidence, and the way California law applies can vary accordingly. Reading this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. For guidance specific to your situation, consult a licensed California attorney.
Injured in San Mateo County? Let’s Talk.
If you or a loved one was injured in an accident anywhere in San Mateo County, The Herman Firm can review the circumstances of your case and explain your potential legal options. Consultations are free, and you pay nothing unless we win.