Attorney Michael Rehm — (800) 978-0754
Attorney Michael Rehm is a personal injury lawyer representing injured victims throughout Fresno and Fresno County. In 2023 (the most recent year for which data is currently available), Fresno County recorded 5,377 total fatal and injury crash victims, 923 speed-related crash victims (ranking 57th out of 58 California counties), and 4,167 DUI arrests. The City of Fresno recorded 1,516 DUI arrests — ranking 15th, or last, among California's 15 largest cities. Fresno County leads the state and the nation in total agricultural output, driving a distinct local injury exposure profile that includes pesticide and toxic chemical injuries, agricultural equipment accidents, and Highway 99 commercial truck corridor collisions that are unlike the urban PI landscape in larger California cities. These statistics are drawn from the California Office of Traffic Safety 2023 Annual Report.
Where Fresno Personal Injury Cases Are Filed
Personal injury lawsuits arising in Fresno and Fresno County are filed in the Fresno County Superior Court, B.F. Sisk Courthouse, 1130 O Street, Fresno, CA 93721. The court's general information number is (559) 457-1900. Hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Electronic filing is mandatory for represented parties in unlimited civil actions under Code of Civil Procedure section 1010.6(g).
Fresno County Superior Court Local Rules (effective January 1, 2026) impose procedural requirements that distinguish Fresno practice from other California counties. ADR — typically mediation — is required before the mandatory settlement conference under Local Rule 2.4, with the ADR stipulation due ten court days before the case management conference. The mandatory settlement conference under Local Rule 2.5 requires personal in-person attendance by trial counsel, the insured party (or an authorized representative), and an insurance carrier representative with full settlement authority — a carrier operating under a reservation of rights does not satisfy the attendance requirement. The Trial Readiness Hearing is held the Friday before trial before the Civil Supervising Judge. Trial attorneys must appear in person. Remote appearance at the TRH is not permitted without prior court approval.
The Legal Standard — Negligence in California
California Civil Code section 1714(a) establishes the foundational duty of care: everyone is responsible for injury occasioned to another by his or her want of ordinary care or skill in the management of property or person. The full text of Civil Code section 1714 is at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. A personal injury claim requires proof of duty, breach, causation, and damages. Violation of a statute is negligence per se when the violation caused the harm the statute was designed to prevent. California applies pure comparative fault — a plaintiff's recovery is reduced in proportion to his or her own fault but is not eliminated. Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804.
Damages
Recoverable damages under Civil Code section 3333 include medical expenses incurred and future care, lost wages and earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. Prejudgment interest at ten percent per year from the date of a section 998 offer the plaintiff ultimately exceeds is available under Civil Code section 3291.
Statute of Limitations
The statute of limitations for personal injury claims in California is two years from the date of injury under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. Missing this deadline can potentially bar a lawsuit. The statute of limitations is an affirmative defense the defendant must raise and prove — it does not operate automatically. Tolling doctrines exist including the discovery rule, minority tolling, mental incapacity, and fraudulent concealment. Claims against a public entity require a government tort claim within six months of the incident under Government Code section 911.2. Contact Attorney Michael Rehm to assess the specific timeline in your case.
Practice Areas — Fresno
Vehicle Accidents
- Fresno Car Accident Attorney — Collision claims on Highway 99, city arterials, and residential streets throughout Fresno County.
- Fresno Truck Accident Attorney — Commercial vehicle and tractor-trailer accidents on the Highway 99 freight corridor; FMCSR violations including hours of service and extreme caution requirements in dust conditions.
- Fresno Motorcycle Accident Attorney — Rider injuries from intersection collisions and lane change failures throughout Fresno County.
- Fresno Pedestrian Accident Attorney — Fresno ranked 2nd among California's largest cities for child pedestrian injuries in 2023.
- Fresno Bicycle Accident Attorney — Cyclist injury claims including dooring cases and Three Feet for Safety Act violations.
- Fresno Uninsured Motorist Attorney — UM/UIM claims and hit-and-run cases; Fresno recorded 384 hit-and-run victims in 2023.
Catastrophic Injuries
- Fresno Brain Injury Attorney — TBI claims from vehicle accidents, falls, and equipment injuries; Community Regional Medical Center is the Central Valley's Level I trauma center.
- Fresno Burn Injury Attorney — Thermal, chemical, and electrical burn claims from vehicle fires, agricultural incidents, and premises conditions.
- Fresno Teacher Child Sex Abuse Attorney - Causes of Action pursuant to CCP 340.1
Wrongful Death and Premises Liability
- Fresno Wrongful Death Attorney — Claims under CCP §§ 377.60 and 377.61 for families who lost a loved one to negligence.
- Fresno Slip and Fall Attorney — Premises liability claims against commercial and residential property owners and public entities.
Agricultural and Industrial
- Fresno Agricultural Equipment Accident Attorney — Tractor rollovers, PTO entanglements, harvester injuries, and third-party claims for farmworkers.
- Fresno Pesticide Injury Attorney — Fresno County applied 26.3 million pounds of pesticides in 2023, ranking first in the state and nation.
Aviation and Rail
- Fresno Aviation Accident Attorney — Claims at Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) and Fresno Chandler Executive Airport (FCH).
- Fresno Helicopter Accident Attorney — Agricultural, EMS, survey, and general aviation helicopter claims in the Central Valley.
- Fresno Charter Flight Accident Attorney — Part 135 on-demand and charter flight claims at Fresno-area airports.
- Fresno Train Accident Attorney — Amtrak Gold Runner corridor accidents, grade crossing collisions, and platform injuries at Fresno's train station.
Clovis
Attorney Michael Rehm handles personal injury cases throughout Fresno and Fresno County on a contingency fee basis. No fee without a recovery. Call (800) 978-0754 for a free consultation.
The information on this page is general legal information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case turns on its own facts. The law can change — statutes are amended, cases are decided, and regulations are revised; nothing on this page should be relied upon as a statement of current law without verification. Deadlines and legal bars discussed on this page are general guides — whether a particular deadline applies, has run, or is subject to tolling, and whether a particular doctrine bars or limits recovery in your case, requires individual analysis. Contact Attorney Michael Rehm to discuss the specific facts of your situation.