When an accident in Union City disrupts your life, you deserve guidance from a personal injury lawyer who understands this community and the pressures accident victims face.
We are a Bay Area team of Union City personal injury attorneys committed to helping people who have been hurt because of someone else’s negligence. Our firm represents injured individuals throughout Alameda County from our office in San Jose, CA. Many clients come to us during difficult moments marked by burdensome medical treatments, pain, financial disruption, and uncertainty about what comes next. We take on the legal burdens so they can focus on staying safe and healing.
Representing clients in Union City, our injury law firm offers free consultations and contingency-fee representation, which means you never pay fees unless we recover compensation for you. When you hire a personal injury lawyer in Union City, CA from our firm, we step in as your legal team and take control of the process with clarity and determination.
Why Hire a Union City Personal Injury Lawyer?
Accidents throughout Union City often stem from fast-changing conditions. Commercial vans and employee shuttles enter complex intersections. Warehouses along Whipple Road see constant forklift traffic and heavy equipment movement. Apartment properties must maintain safe walkways, staircases, and lighting.
When another party’s negligence has caused you harm, our role as your accident attorney in Union City is to protect your rights and guide you forward with steady, informed representation.
Hiring a Shea & Shea Union City personal injury lawyer gives you local insight backed by decades of California injury litigation experience. Many national or high-volume firms take on cases without understanding the traffic patterns or insurance practices specific to the Bay Area. Our attorneys bring a different approach.
Local Insight Into Union City Roads and Traffic Conditions
Union City presents hazards that shape how collisions occur and how investigations unfold. Our catastrophic injury attorneys in Union City understand:
- Traffic buildup and lane merges near the Union City BART station
- Speeding and abrupt braking on I-880
- Left-turn conflicts and visibility issues at Decoto Road intersections
- Congestion along Alvarado-Niles Road
- Delivery trucks and commercial vans moving through industrial zones
This awareness strengthens our ability to reconstruct events and show how the at-fault parties caused the harm.
Experience With Bay Area Insurance Carriers
Insurance companies handling claims for Bay Area drivers and employers often minimize liability aggressively. Our legal team understands their negotiation tactics. This allows us to present strong, well-supported claims during settlement discussions.
Focus on Serious and Catastrophic Injuries
We are not a volume settlement firm. We focus on life-changing harm, including spinal cord injuries, brain trauma, fractures, and wrongful death. These cases involve complex medical records and careful damage analysis. We prepare each claim thoroughly and stay ready to litigate when insurers refuse to recognize the severity of the injuries.
Choosing Shea & Shea in Union City means you receive experienced legal representation grounded in local knowledge and a long history of helping accident victims across California.
Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle in Union City, CA
Our firm represents clients across a wide range of personal injury claims. Each case demands an individualized investigation that considers the environment, the at-fault parties, and the insurance coverage available.
Car Accidents
A Shea & Shea car accident lawyer in Union City can investigate collisions along I-880, Mission Boulevard, Decoto Road, and other busy routes. Car accidents can involve:
- Multi-vehicle pileups
- Rear-end collisions
- Side-impact crashes
- Uncontrolled merges
- Commercial vehicle involvement
Many motor vehicle accidents require analysis of speed, reaction time, traffic signals, and visibility. When a commercial truck or cargo van is involved, our truck accident attorney in Union City must also evaluate employer policies and maintenance records.
Motorcycle Accidents
A Shea & Shea motorcycle accident lawyer in Union City often handles cases involving drivers who fail to check blind spots or yield at intersections. Traffic density in Union City raises visibility concerns, and lane changes near BART frequently contribute to crashes. Motorcycle injuries often include fractures, head trauma, and extensive soft tissue injuries requiring long-term medical care.
Bicycle Accidents
Cyclists share the road with vehicles that do not always yield properly. A bicycle accident lawyer in Union City from our firm can handle crashes caused by:
- Drivers opening doors into bike lanes
- Vehicles turning across a cyclist’s path
- Drivers backing out of driveways without checking
- Delivery vehicles blocking lanes
These collisions commonly occur near parks, schools, and residential neighborhoods.
Pedestrian Accidents
A Shea & Shea pedestrian accident lawyer in Union City is experienced with crosswalk injuries, which can occur near transit centers, school zones, retail developments, and large intersections. Pedestrians face significant risk because they have little protection. Evidence such as surveillance and cell phone footage can provide valuable insight into the circumstances surrounding the collision.
Slip & Falls and Premises Liability
Unsafe conditions in apartments, stores, or public walkways create liability when a property owner fails to maintain the space correctly. We can provide an experienced premises liability attorney in Union City who will carefully document hazards such as:
- Wet floors
- Broken tiles
- Damaged handrails
- Inadequate lighting
- Unsafe staircases
Your slip and fall lawyer in Union City must show the property owner knew or should have known about the hazard and failed to act.
Construction and Workplace Accidents
Union City’s warehouses and construction sites see steady movement of heavy machinery, such as forklifts, pallet jacks, elevated platforms, or power tools, all of which can cause serious harm.
A Shea & Shea construction accident attorney in Union City will evaluate the conduct of property owners and other relevant parties. These cases may combine workers’ compensation benefits with third-party liability claims. Our workplace injury lawyer in Union City can review your situation and help determine the best course of action for your claim.
Uber/Lyft and Delivery Vehicle Crashes
When rideshare or delivery vehicles cause harm, insurance coverage depends on whether the driver was waiting for a ride, picking up a passenger, or transporting one.
Our Uber and Lyft accident lawyer in Union City will examine app records and company policies to determine which insurer applies. Delivery fleets from major companies introduce additional layers of review.
Wrongful Death
A Shea & Shea wrongful death lawyer in Union City supports families after a fatal accident. Wrongful death claims address financial losses and funeral costs, as well as the profound emotional consequences of losing a loved one. Our responsibility is to handle legal burdens while families focus on honoring and remembering the person they lost.
Serious Injuries We See in Union City Accidents
Accidents in Union City often cause significant harm that reshapes a person’s life. If you need a brain injury lawyer in Union City, or another type of accident attorney, come to Shea & Shea. We frequently represent clients suffering injuries such as:
- Traumatic brain injuries, including concussions and diffuse axonal injuries
- Spinal cord injuries affecting mobility and sensation
- Fractures, including complex or surgical breaks
- Severe soft tissue injuries, such as torn ligaments or muscle damage
- Burn injuries requiring extensive treatment
- Crush injuries, common in warehouses and construction zones
How These Injuries Affect Daily Life
- Ongoing and future medical treatment
- Inability to return to previous employment
- Loss of long-term earning ability
- Need for mobility devices or home modifications
- Emotional and psychological effects
- Long recoveries that interrupt family routines
Our role is to document the full impact of these injuries so your personal injury claim reflects both immediate losses and long-term consequences.
Compensation Your Union City Personal Injury Attorney May Pursue
A Union City personal injury attorney from Shea & Shea may be able to pursue several categories of compensation depending on the facts of the case.
Medical-Related Losses
- Emergency room care
- Surgery and hospitalization
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Future medical treatment for spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, and other serious conditions
- Medication and medical equipment
Wage and Employment Losses
- Lost income during recovery
- Reduced earning capacity
- Long-term career impact when injuries prevent a return to prior work
Property Damage
- Vehicle repair or replacement costs
- Other property losses from motor vehicle accidents
Pain and Suffering / Emotional Losses
- Physical pain
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Wrongful Death Damages
When we serve as your wrongful death lawyer in Union City, we may seek damages for:
- Funeral and burial costs
- Loss of financial support
- Loss of companionship
Time Limits for Filing a Claim
California’s statute of limitations requires injury and wrongful death claims to be filed within specific deadlines.
For most personal injury claims in California, the filing deadline is two years from the date of the accident. If the claim involves wrongful death, the two-year period usually begins on the date of death rather than the date of the underlying incident. Some situations have shorter timelines.
Claims involving government agencies—including incidents involving city vehicles or hazards on public property—often require an administrative claim to be filed within six months before any lawsuit can move forward.
Certain injuries are not discovered immediately. In those situations, the timeline may begin when the injury was or reasonably should have been identified. Because these rules vary based on the facts of each case, speaking with an accident attorney in Union City early in the process helps ensure the proper deadlines are understood and met.
How a Union City Injury Law Firm Helps You
When you contact our legal team, we begin with a free consultation to learn your story and discuss next steps. After we take your case, we move quickly to preserve evidence and build a foundation for your personal injury claim.
Our process often includes:
- Gathering photographs, video footage, and witness statements
- Obtaining police reports and incident records
- Working with accident reconstruction specialists
- Consulting medical experts to explain long-term consequences
- Handling all communication with insurance companies
- Preparing detailed demand packages supported by evidence
If an insurer refuses to negotiate responsibly, we remain prepared to litigate.
Our responsibility is to manage the legal pressures so you can focus on rebuilding your life with as much stability as possible.
Union City, the East Bay, and Where We Serve
We represent clients across Alameda County and the greater Bay Area. Whether your case involves a motor vehicle accident, workplace injury, premises liability incident, or wrongful death, our legal team stands ready to help.
What to Do After an Accident in Union City
After an accident in Union City, safety and medical care come first. Call 911 if anyone is hurt. Seek medical attention immediately because some conditions worsen over time.
Next steps include:
- Reporting the incident to law enforcement or property management
- Taking photographs of the scene if safe
- Gathering evidence and witness information
- Keeping all medical records and receipts
Avoid giving detailed statements or signing documents for insurers until you have obtained legal guidance. Insurance companies often use early statements to limit compensation.
Contact Shea & Shea for a Catastrophic Injury Attorney in Union City
When an accident disrupts your life, getting clear guidance from an experienced Union City personal injury lawyer can make the road ahead feel more manageable. Our firm has represented injured people since 1966, and we continue to stand with individuals and families who need steady legal support after serious harm. We take on the work that feels overwhelming in the first days and weeks after an accident.
You can reach us for a free consultation to discuss your injuries and next steps. There are no attorney fees unless we recover money on your behalf. We handle communication with insurance companies and help you understand the choices available so you can focus on healing.
Contact Shea & Shea to request a free consultation—a personal injury in Union City or neighboring communities may allow you to pursue financial compensation. A member of our legal team will go over your case with you. Remember, you pay no attorney fees unless we recover money.
Call (408) 292-2434 or reach out through our online contact form today.
FAQs
How long does a typical personal injury case take to resolve?
Every case moves at its own pace. Some settle within a few months once medical treatment stabilizes, while cases involving severe injuries, disputed liability, or multiple parties may extend longer.
Can I still pursue a claim if I was partially at fault for the accident?
California uses pure comparative fault rules, which means you may still pursue compensation even if you share responsibility for the incident. Your recovery may be adjusted based on your percentage of fault. This is one reason early evidence collection is vital.
Do I have to speak with the other party’s insurance company?
You are not required to provide a detailed statement to the other insurance carrier. These statements often create unnecessary complications. Once you hire a Shea & Shea personal injury lawyer in Union City, CA, they will take over communication so nothing is said that could harm your claim or misrepresent how the accident occurred.
What happens if the person who caused the accident has no insurance or not enough coverage?
Uninsured and underinsured motorist claims may apply in these situations. Many auto policies include coverage for collisions involving drivers who lack adequate insurance. These claims follow their own rules, and they often require documentation showing the at-fault driver’s limited ability to pay. We evaluate all possible coverage sources to determine the best path forward.