Attorney Michael Rehm — (800) 978-0754

Santa Rosa is the largest city in the North Bay and the county seat of Sonoma County. Its location at the intersection of Highway 101 and Highway 12, its wine country tourism economy, and its dense residential neighborhoods create a range of conditions in which serious accidents occur. In 2023 (the most recent year for which data is currently available), the Office of Traffic Safety recorded 497 people killed or injured in Santa Rosa traffic crashes. Seventy-five were in alcohol-involved crashes. Thirty-seven were pedestrians. Twenty-three were cyclists. Thirty-nine crashes were hit-and-run. Attorney Michael Rehm represents accident victims throughout Santa Rosa and Sonoma County on a contingency fee basis.

Across Sonoma County, the UC Berkeley SafeTREC database shows an average of 37 traffic fatalities per year from 2021 through 2025. The Sonoma County Vision Zero Action Plan, drawing on UC Berkeley TIMS data, documented 176 traffic fatalities and 924 severe injuries across the county from 2016 through 2020. Pedestrians and cyclists made up eight percent of all trips but accounted for nineteen percent of deaths. Impaired driving, unsafe speed, and right-of-way failures were identified as the primary causes in 71 percent of all fatal and severe injury crashes countywide.

Practice Areas

Car Accident Attorney — Highway 101 through Santa Rosa carries heavy commuter and commercial traffic. Attorney Michael Rehm handles car accident claims against negligent drivers, impaired drivers, and hit-and-run defendants throughout Santa Rosa and Sonoma County.

Pedestrian Accident Attorney — Santa Rosa's Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan documented 573 pedestrian crashes over a ten-year period, including 33 fatalities. The highest-concentration intersections — 3rd Street and D Street, and McConnell Avenue and Mendocino Avenue — are established in the city's own data. Attorney Michael Rehm represents pedestrians struck by vehicles throughout Sonoma County.

Bicycle Accident Attorney — Six hundred twenty-eight bicycle crashes occurred in Santa Rosa over the same ten-year study period. Corby Avenue and Hearn Avenue, College Avenue and Mendocino Avenue, and Mendocino Avenue and Pacific Avenue were the top crash intersections. Attorney Michael Rehm represents injured cyclists throughout Sonoma County.

Motorcycle Accident Attorney — In 2023, the OTS recorded 26 motorcycle victims in Santa Rosa. Sonoma County averages 6.6 motorcycle fatalities per year. Attorney Michael Rehm handles motorcycle crash claims on Highway 101 and throughout the county's rural road network.

Truck Accident Attorney — Commercial trucks travel Highway 101 through Santa Rosa continuously. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations impose duties on carriers and drivers that, when violated, create independent liability. Attorney Michael Rehm handles truck accident claims throughout Sonoma County.

Wrongful Death Attorney — When a negligent driver, property owner, or product manufacturer causes a death, Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60 provides eligible surviving family members a path to compensation for the financial and personal losses the death produces. Attorney Michael Rehm represents surviving families throughout Sonoma County.

Premises Liability Attorney — Santa Rosa's commercial corridors, wine tasting rooms, and agricultural properties generate a significant volume of slip and fall, dog bite, negligent security, and pool accident claims. Attorney Michael Rehm handles premises liability cases throughout Sonoma County.

Burn Injury Attorney — Burn injuries from vehicle fires, industrial accidents, defective products, and structural fires require specialized legal and medical expertise. Attorney Michael Rehm represents burn injury victims throughout Santa Rosa and Sonoma County.

Uninsured Motorist Attorney — When an at-fault driver carries no insurance or insufficient coverage, the victim's own UM or UIM policy may be the primary source of compensation. Attorney Michael Rehm handles UM and UIM claims against insurers throughout Sonoma County.

Wildfire Lawyer — The 2017 Tubbs Fire destroyed approximately 3,000 Santa Rosa homes. For victims with unresolved insurance claims — including bad faith disputes over rebuilding costs, ALE coverage, and policy interpretation — legal recourse remains available. Attorney Michael Rehm represents wildfire victims with insurance disputes throughout Sonoma County.

Roundup Cancer Lawyer — Sonoma County vineyard workers and agricultural employees have experienced significant glyphosate exposure. A Sonoma County man was the plaintiff in one of the first federal Roundup bellwether verdicts in 2019. Attorney Michael Rehm represents Sonoma County residents diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma from Roundup exposure.

Aviation Accidents

Aviation Accident Attorney — The Charles M. Schulz — Sonoma County Airport (STS) serves the North Bay with commercial and general aviation operations. Attorney Michael Rehm handles aviation accident claims throughout the region.

Nearby Cities

Petaluma Personal Injury Attorney — In 2023, the OTS recorded 183 injury victims in Petaluma, including 22 cyclists and 14 pedestrians. Attorney Michael Rehm represents Petaluma accident victims in Sonoma County Superior Court.

Petaluma Wrongful Death Attorney — Attorney Michael Rehm represents surviving family members in Petaluma wrongful death cases under Code of Civil Procedure §§ 377.60 and 377.61.

Rohnert Park Personal Injury Attorney — In 2023, the OTS recorded 95 injury victims in Rohnert Park. Attorney Michael Rehm represents Rohnert Park accident victims throughout Sonoma County.

Rohnert Park Wrongful Death Attorney — Attorney Michael Rehm represents surviving family members in Rohnert Park wrongful death cases throughout Sonoma County Superior Court.

The Sonoma County Superior Court

Personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits arising from Santa Rosa accidents are filed in the Sonoma County Civil and Family Law Courthouse, 3055 Cleveland Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95403. The court assigns cases to one judge for all purposes at filing, with Civil Supervising Judge Oscar A. Pardo overseeing the civil division. Tentative rulings are available at (707) 521-6606 or sonoma.courts.ca.gov. In fiscal year 2022–23, Sonoma County Superior Court handled 282 unlimited civil motor vehicle PI/PD/WD filings and 288 other PI/PD/WD filings. The court disposed of 71 percent of unlimited civil cases within twelve months of filing — faster than the statewide average of 68 percent.

Filing Deadlines

Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1 provides a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death claims against private parties. Claims against the City of Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, the California Department of Transportation, or any other government entity require a written government tort claim within six months of the date of injury or death under the Government Claims Act. Missing that deadline can potentially bar a lawsuit. Tolling doctrines may apply depending on the facts — contact Attorney Michael Rehm to assess the specific timeline in your situation.

Attorney Michael Rehm handles personal injury cases throughout Santa Rosa and Sonoma 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.