Modesto Personal Injury Attorney

Attorney Michael Rehm — (800) 978-0754

Attorney Michael Rehm represents people injured throughout Modesto and Stanislaus County. If someone else's negligence caused your injury — in a car accident, a truck collision, a pedestrian crash, a bicycle accident, a boating accident, a swimming pool incident, an assault on unsafe property, or a toxic exposure — Attorney Michael Rehm can evaluate your claim and explain your options at no charge. Cases are handled on a contingency fee basis. No fee without a recovery.

Modesto Traffic and Safety Data

California's Office of Traffic Safety compiles annual crash data for every city in the state and ranks each against comparable communities after adjusting for population and miles driven. In 2023, the OTS compared Modesto to 62 California cities of similar size. The results place Modesto among the most dangerous cities in California for its population tier across nearly every crash category.

Modesto recorded 1,876 total crash victims killed or injured in 2023 — the second-highest total among 62 comparable cities. Alcohol-involved crashes produced 224 victims, ranked second. Nighttime crashes between 9:00 p.m. and 2:59 a.m. produced 189 victims, also ranked second. Hit-and-run crashes injured or killed 166 people, ranked fifth. Pedestrian victims totaled 119, ranked third, with 12 of those victims under the age of 15 — ranked second in the state for that category. Motorcycle victims numbered 87, ranked fourth. Bicycle victims totaled 73, ranked tenth. Drivers between 21 and 34 caused 112 alcohol-involved injuries, ranked second.

These figures reflect crashes on Modesto's surface streets, state highways, and freeway interchanges, including State Route 99, McHenry Avenue, Briggsmore Avenue, Carpenter Road, Coffee Road, and the SR-99/SR-132 interchange corridor.

The Legal Framework for Personal Injury Claims

California Civil Code section 1714(a) establishes the foundational duty: everyone is responsible for injuries caused by their want of ordinary care in the management of their person or property. This general duty of care is the foundation of every personal injury claim in California, whether arising from a vehicle collision, a dangerous property condition, a defective product, or an exposure to a toxic substance.

California follows a pure comparative fault system under Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804. An injured person's recovery is reduced in proportion to their own share of fault but is not eliminated. A plaintiff found 40 percent at fault recovers 60 percent of their proven damages. The defense may raise comparative fault as an argument, but the jury decides what percentage, if any, applies.

Damages in a personal injury case are governed by Civil Code section 3333, which provides that the measure of damages is the amount that will compensate for all detriment proximately caused by the negligent conduct. Compensable damages include past and future medical expenses, past and future lost earnings or earning capacity, and non-economic damages for pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life. The eggshell plaintiff rule applies: a defendant who injures a plaintiff with a pre-existing condition is responsible for the full extent of the harm caused.

The statute of limitations for personal injury claims is two years under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. Missing this deadline can potentially bar a lawsuit. Where a government entity is involved, a government tort claim under Government Code section 911.2 must be filed within six months of the incident before a lawsuit can be filed.

Stanislaus County Superior Court

Personal injury lawsuits filed on behalf of Modesto and Stanislaus County residents are filed in the Stanislaus County Superior Court, City Towers Building, 801 10th Street, Modesto, CA 95354. The court has 21 judges and three commissioners. Civil cases are directly assigned to a single judicial officer for all purposes, including trial. Represented parties are subject to mandatory electronic filing. All general civil cases are required to participate in a mandatory settlement conference approximately 15 days before trial. The court offers a Civil Action Mediation Program for cases where the amount in controversy does not exceed $50,000. Stanislaus County Superior Court judicial statistics are available through the California Judicial Council court statistics portal. In the most recently available fiscal year (FY 2022–23), the court received approximately 399 vehicular accident civil filings.

Practice Areas

Representation on a Contingency Fee Basis

Attorney Michael Rehm handles personal injury cases throughout Modesto and Stanislaus 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.