I am a Bay Area personal injury attorney serving clients across California. I represent people who have been seriously hurt by someone else’s negligence—in traffic crashes, on dangerous property, and in cases of wrongful death. Consultations are free, cases are handled on a contingency-fee basis, and every case is handled by me personally.
I was born in Oakland and raised in the East Bay, and I built my practice here deliberately. Before law school I handled catastrophic injury claims at plaintiffs’ firms in California and Georgia; after it, I practiced at an Oakland-based firm known nationally for plaintiff-side class actions and mass torts. My approach to advocacy is deliberate, trial-oriented, and grounded in careful case evaluation: listening, credibility, and preparation—not volume.
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Prefer to call? 510.918.2076Cases I Take
Car Accidents
Serious collisions on Bay Area streets and freeways, and across California.
Truck Accidents
Commercial truck and big-rig crashes on California roads and freight corridors.
Motorcycle Accidents
Riders are often blamed first and hurt worst. Countering bias is part of the case.
Pedestrian & Bicycle Accidents
People injured while walking or biking on streets, at intersections, and in crosswalks.
Uber & Lyft Accidents
Rideshare crashes as a passenger, driver, or third party — and the layered insurance behind them.
Slip & Fall / Premises Liability
Injuries caused by dangerous conditions on property someone else controls.
Dog Bites
California makes owners strictly liable for bites — no prior-bite history required.
Wrongful Death
Claims brought by families who have lost someone to another's negligence.
I also take catastrophic injury cases of other kinds—injuries from defective products and serious harms that do not fit a tidy category. If you are not sure where your situation fits, ask.
How a Personal Injury Case Works
Investigation first. Injury cases are won with evidence that is gathered early: the collision report from the responding agency, scene photographs, surveillance and doorbell footage before it is overwritten, witness statements, vehicle data, and complete medical records. I build cases that are fact-driven, document-anchored, and resilient under scrutiny.
Your treatment comes before my timeline. The medical story—diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, future care—drives the value of a case, and settling before it is understood almost always means settling for less. While you treat, I deal with the insurers.
Demand, negotiation, and—when it is warranted—suit. Many cases resolve through a well-documented demand and disciplined negotiation. When an insurer will not be reasonable, the case is filed, most often in the Superior Court of California, County of Alameda, and worked up as if it will be tried. Insurers pay attention to preparation; they can tell which lawyers build trial-ready files and which are waiting to be paid to go away.
Deadlines That Matter
- Two years from the injury for most California personal injury claims (Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1).
- Six months to present a written government claim when a public entity is involved—the City of Oakland, Alameda County, AC Transit, BART, Caltrans (Gov. Code § 911.2).
- Shorter contractual windows can apply to uninsured/underinsured motorist claims under your own policy.
- Evidence decays long before the filing deadline arrives—camera footage is overwritten in days or weeks, vehicles are repaired, and witnesses move. Both clocks matter; the evidence one runs out first.
Where I Practice
Albazian Law represents clients throughout the Bay Area and across California. You can begin with a phone or video consultation wherever you are in the state. My office is at 1999 Harrison Street, Suite 1800, in downtown Oakland, one block from 19th Street BART. When injuries make travel difficult, we can discuss meeting at your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to hire a Bay Area personal injury lawyer?
At Albazian Law, personal injury cases are handled on a contingency-fee basis: you pay no attorney's fee unless there is a recovery, and the consultation is free. The fee is a percentage of the recovery agreed to in writing before the representation begins, so there is never a surprise.
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in California?
Generally two years from the date of injury under California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. But if a public entity is involved — the City of Oakland, Alameda County, AC Transit, BART, or the State — you usually must file a written government claim within six months under Government Code section 911.2. Some deadlines are shorter, some are extended (for example, for minors), so the safest course is to get a specific answer early.
Where would my Oakland injury case be filed?
Most Oakland personal injury lawsuits are filed in the Superior Court of California, County of Alameda. Civil cases are commonly heard at the Rene C. Davidson Courthouse near Lake Merritt in Oakland or at the Hayward Hall of Justice. Cases involving federal parties or claims can end up in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, where I am also admitted.
What is my case worth?
Any lawyer who quotes you a number in the first phone call is guessing. Value depends on the severity and permanence of your injuries, your medical bills and future care, lost income, how the crash happened, the insurance available, and how a jury would likely see the case. What I can promise is an honest evaluation — including the weaknesses — before you commit to anything.
The insurance adjuster already called me. Should I give a statement?
You are generally not required to give a recorded statement to the other side's insurer, and it rarely helps you. Adjusters are trained to lock in your words early, before the full extent of your injuries is known. It is reasonable to politely decline until you have spoken with a lawyer — most personal injury attorneys, including me, will tell you in a free call whether you even need one.
Can we meet in person or remotely?
Yes. I meet clients at my office at 1999 Harrison Street in downtown Oakland, at their homes when injuries make travel difficult, or by video. Clients across California can begin with a phone or video consultation.
How I Approach This Work
I take cases where I can make a meaningful difference for clients who have been harmed. I do not take every case that comes through the door, and I am transparent with potential clients about the strengths and weaknesses of their matters—so my time and resources go to the cases where I can provide the most value. For more on how deadlines, fees, and fault rules work in California, see the Albazian Law guides.