Local office in San Jose, CA45 E Julian StDirections

Car accident in San Jose?Talk to a lawyer for free.

The insurance company's first offer is rarely its best. One client was offered $410,000. We won $4.4 million.

  • No fee unless we winWe only get paid when you get paid.
  • Zero upfront costYour consultation is free, with no obligation.
  • Hablamos españolNative Spanish speakers. No confusion. No delays.
  • Available 24/7We'll meet you at your home or hospital.
Get my free consultation
Call our San Jose office(408) 516-428324/7 line: (800) 985-9565

No attorney's fees unless we recover compensation. Clients may be responsible for case costs. Read the disclaimer

A firefighter and an ambulance at a car crash at an intersection
I was recently involved in a car accident… Leticia was super kind and helpful and gave me the best customer service I could ask for.
William V.Car accident clientGoogle review

Results that speak.Millions won for car accident clients.

We've won over $500 million for our clients, including the car accident cases below.

Recognized for excellence

Avvo Rating: Excellent, Top Rated Personal InjuryTop Rated by Super Lawyers
  • $6.25MPersonal injuryA confidential personal injury settlement.
  • $5MAuto accidentFor a husband and wife after the husband suffered a brachial plexus injury.
  • $2.34MAccident claimA win for a client injured in an accident.
  • $1.5MAuto accidentA win for a client injured in an auto accident.

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, and each case is different.

View all results

Here to protect your interests, not the insurance company's

Insurance companies have a team.You should have one too.

Insurers bring adjusters, investigators and lawyers to every serious claim, and they value claims to control cost, not to make you whole. After a crash on Capitol Expressway, Monterey Road or Tully Road, an adjuster may call within days, and what you say can shape the rest of your claim.

Before you sign anything, ask yourself:

  1. Was the crash caused by someone else's carelessness?
  2. Were you injured, or was your car badly damaged?
  3. Will the settlement cover your treatment and lost income months from now, not just today?

Why the first offer is not the final word

The insurer's best offer$410,000

What we won for our client$4.4M

A car accident that left our client with a neck injury. Most people would have taken the offer. We won more than ten times as much.

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, and each case is different.

Get my free case review
San Jose from the air at sunset, with downtown and the hills behind it

Our office in San Jose

Local car accident lawyers,right here in San Jose.

Not every firm that advertises in San Jose has an office here. We do.

Our office is on Julian Street downtown, a short walk from the courthouses on North First Street. Come in, or we'll come to you anywhere in the Santa Clara Valley.

Nearby officesSalinasStocktonModesto

Why choose Valero Law Group?

We champion every case,big and small.

Whether your case is worth $5,000 or $5 million, we bring the same skill, attention and determination to every client we represent.

So don't let the size of your case keep you from seeking justice: every injury deserves serious representation. Let us fight for the compensation you're owed while you focus on what matters most, your recovery.

They made me feel like a priority, and they put my needs first as a client.

IsabelValero Law Group client

400+five-star Google reviews

Real reviews fromour clients.

  • Samuel M. smiling in the Valero Law Group office with his $881,000 settlement check
    Samuel M.$881,000
  • Victoria M. smiling in front of the Valero Law Group logo wall with her $625,000 settlement check
    Victoria M.$625,000
  • Karina C. smiling in the Valero Law Group office with her $625,000 settlement check
    Karina C.$625,000
  • Angela M. smiling and pointing to her $625,000 settlement check
    Angela M.$625,000
  • Destiny H. smiling with her $500,000 settlement check
    Destiny H.$500,000
  • Javier P. smiling in the Valero Law Group office with his $375,000 settlement check
    Javier P.$375,000
This was my first experience working with an attorney following a car accident, and I must say that Valero Law Group exceeded my expectations. … They were always easy to reach, promptly answered all of my questions, and consistently kept me informed about every update regarding my case.
Juan V.Google review
Read all 400+ of our reviews
VLG helped me with my accident. I would highly recommend this legal group to handle your case if you have an accident.
Boom T.Google review
Thank you, Valero, for your help in my car accident! Very professional and efficient!
Jose C.Google review

What you can recover aftera California car accident.

California is an at-fault state: the driver who caused the crash, and their insurance company, pay for what it cost you.

Economic damages

The costs you can add up

  • Emergency care, surgery and hospital bills
  • Physical therapy and rehabilitation
  • Lost wages and lost earning capacity
  • Repairing or replacing your vehicle

Non-economic damages

The harm that has no receipt

  • Pain and physical suffering
  • Scarring and disfigurement
  • Loss of companionship
  • Lost enjoyment of life
  • $30,000The minimum injury coveragePolicies issued or renewed since January 1, 2025 must cover at least $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident (Vehicle Code §16056). Serious injuries often cost far more.
  • 1 in 5California drivers had no insurance in 2023About 20%, according to the Insurance Research Council. If one hit you, your own uninsured motorist coverage may pay.
  • 80%What you keep if you were 20% at faultCalifornia's pure comparative fault rule reduces your award by your share of the blame instead of erasing it.

After a crash in San Jose,what comes next.

The crash report, your car, the DMV, insurance calls and deadlines, explained.

Valero Law Group attorneys meeting around a conference table
  • Getting the crash report
    On city streets, including Capitol and Almaden Expressways inside San Jose, it's usually San Jose Police: allow at least 45 days, then request the report online, by mail or at the Records counter on West Mission Street (Monday to Thursday). It costs $16. On the 101, 280, 680, 880, 85 and 87, it's the CHP's San Jose office, and you can request it online. Not sure? SJPD Records, (408) 277-4261, can tell you.
  • If your car was towed
    If San Jose Police had it towed, call the Auto Desk at (408) 277-4263 first: it can tell you whether you need a police release ($122) before the tow company hands the car over. If the CHP had it towed off the freeway because it couldn't be driven, the tow company releases it directly. Storage fees add up every day after the first 24 hours. You can take your belongings out and have your insurer inspect the car for free, and picking it up within 72 hours avoids a lien fee.
  • The insurer has deadlines too
    The other driver's insurance company must acknowledge your claim within 15 days, then accept or deny it within 40 days of receiving proof, or explain in writing why it needs more time (California claim rules).
  • Public agencies have shorter deadlines
    Most injury lawsuits must be filed within two years. If a public vehicle or a road defect played a part, a written claim is usually due within six months, to the agency that runs the vehicle or the road: VTA for its buses and trains, the City for its streets and vehicles, the County for Capitol and most other expressways, the State (Caltrans) for the freeways.
  • The DMV has its own 10-day rule
    If anyone was injured, even slightly, or damage tops $1,000, each driver must file form SR-1 with the DMV within 10 days, no matter who was at fault and even if police made a report.
  • A rental car can be part of the claim
    If another driver caused the crash, the reasonable cost of renting a similar car while yours is repaired or replaced can be included as loss of use.
A man and a boy in traditional Colombian hats and jerseys holding Valero Law Group signs at a community event

Al Barro Foundation: supporting over 400 orphans in Mexico

From the community, for the community.

Hablamos español.

We're a Hispanic-focused firm with native Spanish-speaking attorneys. We understand your family's needs, walk you through every step in your language, and fight to get you every dollar you deserve.

Organizations we support

Sponsor of the 2024 Share the Road Scholarship

Our community outreach
  • Al Barro Foundation
  • EUNIME por Tijuana, A.C.
…they speak excellent Spanish, know how to help, and look out for their clients' best interests.
Yesica H.Google review
Ver esta página en español

Organizations we support

Sponsor of the 2024 Share the Road Scholarship

Our community outreach
  • Al Barro Foundation
  • EUNIME por Tijuana, A.C.

Common questionsafter a San Jose car accident.

How long do I have to file a car accident claim in California?
Most injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the crash (Code of Civil Procedure §335.1). If a city, county or state vehicle or road was involved, a written claim is usually due within six months. Call us early so no deadline slips by.
What if a pothole, a broken signal or a public vehicle caused the crash?
The claim goes to the agency that runs the road or the vehicle. For San Jose's streets and City vehicles, it's the City of San Jose, by mail or in person at the City Clerk's office. Capitol and most other expressways are run by the County, whose claims go to the Clerk of the Board. VTA buses and light rail have their own claim form, and the freeways are the State's (Caltrans). Each is usually due within six months, and we can file it for you.
Should I give the other driver's insurance company a recorded statement?
You aren't required to give one to the other driver's insurer, and what you say can be used to value your claim. Many people tell the adjuster they'll call back after talking to a lawyer. Your own policy may require you to cooperate with your own insurance company.
Who pays my medical bills while my case is open?
Usually your own health insurance, or the medical payments (Med-Pay) coverage on your auto policy if you have it, pays as bills come in. Those payers are generally reimbursed from the settlement. If you have no coverage, some doctors will treat you and wait to be paid until the case ends.
What if I was a passenger, or in an Uber or Lyft?
Passengers are rarely at fault, so a passenger can usually claim against the insurance of whichever driver caused the crash. In a rideshare, the company's insurance may apply as well; see our Uber and Lyft accident page.
How long does a car accident case take?
It depends mostly on your medical treatment: a claim is usually valued once treatment ends or your doctors know the long-term outlook. Many cases settle without a lawsuit. If one has to be filed, it goes to Santa Clara County Superior Court, a few blocks from our office, and takes longer.
Do you have an office in San Jose?
Yes. Our office is at 45 E Julian St, San Jose, CA 95112, in downtown San Jose. Come in if you like, or we'll come to you, at home or in the hospital. Call (800) 985-9565 any time, 24/7.
What does a car accident lawyer cost?
Nothing upfront. Your consultation is free, and no attorney's fees are owed unless we recover compensation for you. You may be responsible for case-related costs and expenses; we'll explain them before you sign.
Attorney Kyle Valero
Kyle ValeroAttorney, Valero Law Group

Our easy 3-stepcase review process.

We make getting legal help simple.

  1. Free consultationCall us 24/7 or fill out our form. We'll review your case at no cost.
  2. Review your caseOur experienced attorneys investigate and evaluate your case to build the strongest claim possible.
  3. Injury litigationWe fight for maximum compensation, in negotiation or in court.
Start my free case review

Don't wait. There are legal deadlines.

A Valero Law Group team member smiling beside a firm car with the VLG logo on the door

Have a question about a potential case?Talk to a San Jose car accident lawyer today.

Your consultation is always free, with no obligation. We're happy to answer any questions and walk you through your options. No pressure, just honest answers.

(408) 516-4283

24/7 line: (800) 985-9565

  • Available 24/7, including weekends
  • Hablamos español
  • Free and confidential, no obligation

Get your free case review

Free and confidential. Sending this form does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Thank you. We'll call you shortly.

If it's urgent, call us now at (408) 516-4283. We're available 24/7.

This is a design preview, so nothing was sent.

Car accident lawyers at our nearest offices

Other cases we handle in San Jose

San Jose Personal Injury Lawyer
(408) 516-4283Free review