Novato Personal Injury Lawyer

Anderson Franco Law helps people injured in Novato pursue personal injury claims against negligent drivers, businesses, property owners, and other responsible parties. We handle car accidents, pedestrian and bicycle collisions, dangerous property incidents, construction injuries, and other serious cases throughout Novato and Marin County.

You work directly with attorney Anderson Franco, a UC Berkeley Law graduate and former insurance-defense attorney. We serve Novato clients from our Marin office in San Rafael and provide representation in English and Spanish.

Call or text (415) 727-1832 or request a free consultation. No upfront attorney fees. No attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you.

Why Hire Anderson Franco Law?

A lawyer who understands how insurers defend injury claims

Anderson Franco spent the first seven years of his legal career defending insurance companies in civil lawsuits. Today, he represents injured people and uses that experience to anticipate challenges to liability, medical treatment, causation, and damages.

In our experience, the issue an insurer emphasizes first is not always the issue that ultimately determines the outcome. A dispute about a preexisting injury may require a careful comparison of medical records. A claim that initially appears limited by insurance may require investigating a vehicle owner, employer, or additional policy. We look beyond the initial offer and evaluate the evidence supporting the claim.

Direct access to the attorney handling your case

Anderson personally oversees the cases the firm accepts. Clients can discuss their treatment, insurance questions, settlement offers, and next steps with the lawyer responsible for their representation.

We maintain a selective practice so we can develop the details that matter: how the injury happened, what recovery has involved, and what the client may need in the future.

A Marin practice serving Novato

Our Marin County practice serves clients in Novato, San Marin, Hamilton, Ignacio, and surrounding communities. Our office is at 4040 Civic Center Drive, Suite 200, San Rafael, with meetings by appointment. Anderson speaks English and Spanish.

Personal Injury Results

Our published case results from matters throughout California include recoveries involving disputed responsibility, serious injuries, and overlapping insurance claims:

• $1,150,000 store-injury settlement: We obtained $1,150,000 for a woman who suffered brain and cervical spine injuries inside a commercial store. The case settled shortly before trial after nearly four years of federal litigation and disputed liability.
• $780,000 combined settlement for three workers: We recovered a combined $780,000 for three workers injured in a vehicle collision. The claims involved significant injuries and workers’ compensation issues and resolved during litigation in Santa Clara County Superior Court.
• $730,000 pedestrian settlement: We obtained $730,000 for a pedestrian struck in San Francisco’s Mission District. The case resolved before a lawsuit was filed.

Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Each case depends on its facts, evidence, injuries, and available insurance.

Personal Injury Cases We Handle in Novato

Car accidents and commercial-vehicle collisions

We represent drivers and passengers injured in rear-end crashes, intersection collisions, unsafe turns, lane changes, and crashes involving uninsured drivers, delivery vehicles, or commercial trucks.

A Highway 101 collision may require identifying the order of impacts and preserving dashcam or vehicle data. A disputed turn on Redwood Boulevard or Novato Boulevard may require examining traffic controls, sightlines, witnesses, and nearby video. If a driver was working, we investigate whether an employer or commercial policy may also be involved.

Even when the other driver accepts responsibility, the insurer may dispute whether the collision caused the injury or whether the treatment was necessary. We develop both the liability evidence and the medical evidence. Our Novato car accident lawyer page provides more detailed information about crash claims, passengers, hit-and-run incidents, and insurance coverage.

Pedestrian and bicycle injuries

A person struck while walking or cycling may face a long recovery and an insurer questioning where they were positioned or whether they could have avoided the collision. We examine the driver’s conduct, visibility, traffic controls, physical evidence, and witness accounts.

Preserving a damaged bicycle, helmet, clothing, and original photographs may be important. A collision near a business may also warrant a prompt request to preserve surveillance footage. Learn more about our Marin County pedestrian accident practice.

Falls and other dangerous property incidents

Injuries at stores, apartment properties, businesses, and parking areas can involve wet floors, uneven surfaces, unsafe stairs, falling merchandise, or inadequate maintenance.

The investigation should identify what caused the injury, who controlled the location, and what that party knew or should have known about the condition. Photographs taken before a hazard is cleaned up or repaired can be valuable. Inspection records, maintenance logs, earlier complaints, and video may help establish responsibility.

Construction accidents and injuries at work

An employee injured by another driver, outside contractor, or other legally responsible third party may have a personal injury claim in addition to workers’ compensation benefits. These cases require examining the relationships among the worker, employer, property owner, contractors, and equipment providers.

In our experience, investigating third-party responsibility early can be important because the workers’ compensation claim may not address every potential defendant or recoverable loss. Reimbursement rights and other restrictions must also be considered before resolving the claims.

Catastrophic injuries and wrongful death

We evaluate claims involving permanent disabilities, major orthopedic injuries, brain and spinal injuries, and fatal accidents. These matters may require medical experts, vocational analysis, or other evidence addressing future care and financial losses.

When an accident causes a death, we review which family members or estate representatives may bring claims and the damages available to each. We also handle serious injuries involving motorcycles, dog bites, and other negligent conduct.

How We Build a Novato Injury Claim

Identify responsibility and preserve evidence

We identify potentially responsible parties and act to preserve the evidence needed to evaluate their conduct. Depending on the incident, that may include requesting video, interviewing witnesses, or obtaining property and employment records before important information becomes unavailable.

Document the injury and its consequences

We review treatment, recovery, work restrictions, and future medical needs. We also document how the injury affects everyday responsibilities, from commuting and caring for children to sleeping and returning to work.

Evaluate insurance, settlement, and litigation

We assess available coverage, present a supported demand, and advise you about settlement offers and whether to file suit. You decide whether to accept a settlement after discussing the risks, potential recovery, and bills or reimbursement claims that may affect your net payment.

Useful Local Resources After a Novato Accident

Obtaining a Novato Police collision report

If Novato Police investigated the crash, start with the department’s Records Requests page. It directs eligible parties to the My Collision Report retrieval service for traffic collision reports. Have the incident information available and follow the portal’s eligibility and identification requirements.

For help locating a record, contact Novato Police Records at 415-897-4361. If CHP investigated, use CHP’s crash-report request process instead. The agency listed on the officer’s card or incident paperwork is the best starting point.

Requesting an existing report is different from reporting a new collision. For an injury crash or emergency, call 911. Novato publishes separate collision-reporting instructions.

Checking whether the location is in the city or unincorporated Marin

Some locations associated with Novato are outside the city limits. For example, the residential Bel Marin Keys community is in unincorporated Marin County. The County provides a property-jurisdiction lookup to help identify the jurisdiction for an address.

The exact location matters when requesting public records or investigating a roadway, sidewalk, or property condition. Determining who actually owns, controls, or maintains the location may require additional records.

Protecting evidence before it disappears

Obtain appropriate medical care, report the incident, and preserve photographs, witness information, damaged items, and insurance correspondence. If you notice nearby cameras, record their locations promptly. Surveillance can be overwritten before a report is completed or an adjuster finishes reviewing the claim.

For a reportable California vehicle collision, remember that the DMV SR-1 report is separate from a police or insurance report. It generally must be submitted within 10 days when someone is injured or killed or property damage exceeds $1,000.

What Compensation Can You Recover After a Novato Injury?

A personal injury claim may include medical expenses, reasonably necessary future care, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, pain, emotional distress, and other losses permitted by law. There is no dependable formula that converts a diagnosis or medical bill into a settlement value.

How Long Do You Have to File a Novato Personal Injury Lawsuit?

Many California personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the injury, subject to exceptions. Claims involving a California public entity generally require a personal injury claim to be presented within six months after accrual, with separate rules and deadlines for a subsequent lawsuit. The California Courts provides guidance on lawsuit filing deadlines and government claims.

Government liability also involves special statutory requirements and potential immunities. A dangerous condition or an accident involving public property does not automatically establish a valid claim.

We evaluate deadlines early. Settlement discussions ordinarily do not stop the time to file a lawsuit.

Frequently Asked Questions About Novato Personal Injury Claims

How do I know whether I have a personal injury case in Novato?

You may have a personal injury case in Novato if another party’s legally wrongful conduct caused an injury and resulting losses. Not every accident establishes liability. We review how the incident happened, the medical evidence, potential defendants, insurance, and deadlines to determine whether a claim can be pursued.

How much is my Novato personal injury case worth?

The value of a Novato personal injury case depends on responsibility, injury severity, recovery, future needs, lost income, available insurance, and other case-specific facts. In our experience, an early estimate based only on emergency-room bills can overlook important parts of a claim. We evaluate both the documented losses and the injury’s lasting effect on the client.

What if the insurance company says I was partly at fault?

If an insurance company says you were partly at fault, you may still have a claim. California’s comparative-fault rules generally reduce compensation by the injured person’s share of responsibility. We examine the supporting evidence before accepting an insurer’s allocation of fault; its initial decision does not necessarily determine the outcome.

What if the driver who injured me has no insurance?

If the driver who injured you has no insurance, an applicable uninsured motorist policy or another legally responsible party may provide a source of recovery. If the driver has insufficient coverage, underinsured motorist coverage may apply, subject to policy terms and legal requirements. In our experience, reviewing all potentially applicable policies is an important early step.

What if I already had a back, neck, or other medical condition?

A preexisting medical condition does not automatically prevent you from recovering compensation for a new injury or an aggravation caused by the incident. We compare the prior history with the symptoms, findings, and treatment afterward. Accurate medical disclosure helps distinguish accident-related changes from unrelated conditions.

How can I pay for treatment before my case settles?

Payment for treatment before settlement may involve health insurance, applicable medical-payments coverage, or workers’ compensation for a qualifying work injury. Some providers may offer treatment under a lien agreement that defers payment. A lien does not make treatment free, and its terms deserve careful review. Medical decisions remain between you and your healthcare providers.

Can I pursue a personal injury claim while receiving workers’ compensation?

You may pursue a personal injury claim while receiving workers’ compensation when a legally responsible third party caused or contributed to your injury. Claims against employers and coworkers are subject to special restrictions. We evaluate the potential third-party claim together with reimbursement and credit issues that may affect the overall recovery.

How much does Anderson Franco Law charge?

Anderson Franco Law’s standard attorney fees are 35% for cases resolved before litigation and 40% after a lawsuit is filed, subject to the written fee agreement. We advance case expenses. If there is no recovery, you do not owe attorney fees or repayment of the case costs we advanced. The initial consultation is free, and we explain the agreement before representation begins.

Will I work directly with Anderson Franco, and where is your office?

You work directly with Anderson Franco on cases the firm accepts. Our Marin office is in San Rafael at 4040 Civic Center Drive, Suite 200, with meetings by appointment. Our Greenbrae address is for correspondence only. We represent Novato clients in English and Spanish.

Discuss Your Novato Injury Case With Anderson Franco

You do not need to know the value of your case or have every record before seeking advice. Tell us when and where the incident happened, how you were injured, and what treatment you have received. We can evaluate the potential claim and explain what should happen next.

Call or text (415) 727-1832 or contact Anderson Franco Law for a free consultation about a Novato personal injury case. Se habla español.