Attorney Michael Rehm - (800) 978-0754
Santa Cruz County Personal Injury Attorney
Attorney Michael Rehm represents people seriously injured through the negligence of others throughout Santa Cruz County. Car accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, boat accidents, slip and fall, dog bites, wrongful death — these are the cases this practice is built around. Cases are handled on a contingency fee basis. No fee without a recovery.
In 2023, Santa Cruz County recorded 1,315 people killed or injured in traffic crashes — ranking 19th worst among California's 58 counties, according to the California Office of Traffic Safety. The county ranked 1st worst statewide for bicycle accident victims, 11th for pedestrian victims, and 12th for motorcycle victims. Over the 12 years from 2013 to 2024, 86 pedestrians and cyclists were killed and more than 3,000 were injured in Santa Cruz County, according to Santa Cruz Local. These are not abstract statistics — they represent people with families, jobs, and lives that were disrupted or ended by someone else's negligence.
Practice Areas
Attorney Michael Rehm handles the following types of cases in Santa Cruz County:
Car Accidents — Santa Cruz County recorded 1,315 traffic crash victims in 2023, ranking 19th worst among California's 58 counties. Attorney Michael Rehm handles car accident claims on Highway 1, Highway 17, Highway 9, and throughout the county.
Motorcycle Accidents — Santa Cruz County ranked 12th worst statewide for motorcycle victims in 2023. These cases require a lawyer who will confront the insurance industry's bias against riders with evidence, not apologies.
Truck Accidents — Commercial truck cases involve federal HOS regulations, ELD data, and multiple potentially liable parties. Evidence preservation must happen immediately — Attorney Michael Rehm knows what to ask for and when.
Bicycle Accidents — Santa Cruz County ranked 1st worst in California for bicycle accident victims in 2023. California's three-foot passing law (Vehicle Code §21760) and full road rights for cyclists (§21200) form the legal foundation of every bike accident claim.
Pedestrian Accidents — Watsonville ranked 4th worst among comparable California cities for pedestrian victims in 2023. Twenty pedestrians were killed in Watsonville from 2013 to 2024 — more than in the city of Santa Cruz. Uninsured motorist coverage applies to pedestrians as well as vehicle occupants.
Boat Accidents — Boating accidents in Santa Cruz Harbor and Monterey Bay involve California's Harbors and Navigation Code, federal Coast Guard reporting requirements, and in some cases admiralty jurisdiction. Attorney Michael Rehm evaluates which legal framework governs and how it affects available remedies.
Wrongful Death — Code of Civil Procedure §377.60 defines who can bring a wrongful death claim — a broader class than most families realize, including dependent stepchildren, putative spouses, and dependent minors who lived in the household. Attorney Michael Rehm handles wrongful death cases throughout Santa Cruz County.
Survival Actions — A survival action enforces the decedent's own pre-death claims — including pre-death pain and suffering and lost earnings — and is distinct from a wrongful death claim. In every fatal accident case, both claims must be evaluated. Most law firms don't explain the difference. This one does.
Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist — When the at-fault driver has no insurance or insufficient coverage, your own policy may be the primary source of recovery. UM/UIM coverage under Insurance Code §11580.2 applies to pedestrians and cyclists — not just vehicle occupants. Notice requirements must be met immediately after a hit-and-run or uninsured driver accident.
Slip and Fall / Premises Liability — Property owners owe a duty of reasonable care to all persons on their property under Civil Code §1714 and Rowland v. Christian. Claims against government entities — the City of Santa Cruz, the County, UC Santa Cruz — require an administrative claim within six months of the incident, not two years.
Dog Bites — California imposes strict liability on dog owners under Civil Code §3342. There is no one-free-bite rule. If the dog bites someone in a public place or where the victim had a legal right to be, the owner is liable regardless of the dog's history.
Brain Injury — Traumatic brain injuries are among the most undervalued claims in personal injury law. The effects are not always visible, the diagnosis is not always immediate, and insurance companies routinely attempt to minimize these cases. Attorney Michael Rehm handles TBI claims with retained neurological and neuropsychological experts.
Spinal Cord Injury — Spinal cord injuries are among the highest-value personal injury claims, with lifetime medical costs that regularly reach seven figures in complete cervical and thoracic injuries. A life care plan, vocational rehabilitation analysis, and economic expert are essential to establishing the full value of a serious SCI case.
How Personal Injury Cases Work in Santa Cruz County
Personal injury lawsuits in Santa Cruz County are filed at the Santa Cruz County Courthouse, 701 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz. Under Santa Cruz Superior Court Local Rule 2.1.01, the first case management conference is scheduled approximately 120 days after the complaint is filed. Trial dates are set at that conference. According to Judicial Council data for fiscal year 2022–23, Santa Cruz Superior Court received 244 personal injury and wrongful death unlimited civil filings that year. There were zero PI/PD/WD jury trials reported. The overwhelming majority of personal injury cases in Santa Cruz County resolve through settlement.
That settlement rate does not mean cases resolve easily or fairly on their own. Insurance companies negotiate these claims professionally and adversarially. The injured person's best protection is an attorney who has evaluated all available coverage, understands the value of the case, and is prepared to litigate if the insurer will not pay what the case is worth.
California Civil Code §3291 provides a specific financial incentive for defendants and insurers to settle: if a plaintiff makes a settlement offer under Code of Civil Procedure §998 that the defendant rejects, and the plaintiff later obtains a more favorable judgment at trial, the judgment bears interest at 10 percent per annum from the date of the offer. Insurers that refuse reasonable offers do so at a real financial cost.
The Legal Foundation of Every Personal Injury Claim
Every personal injury case in California rests on Civil Code §1714: "Everyone is responsible, not only for the result of his or her willful acts, but also for an injury occasioned to another by his or her want of ordinary care or skill in the management of his or her property or person." The California Supreme Court confirmed in Rowland v. Christian (1968) 69 Cal.2d 108 that this duty of ordinary care is the default rule — exceptions exist only where a statute or clear public policy requires one.
When someone breaches that duty and injures another person, Civil Code §3333 entitles the injured person to compensation for all detriment proximately caused, whether anticipated or not — past and future medical costs, lost wages, lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life. Civil Code §3283 expressly permits recovery for future damages certain to result from the injury.
Free Consultation — No Fee Without a Recovery
Attorney Michael Rehm handles personal injury cases throughout Santa Cruz County on a contingency fee basis. No fee without a recovery. Call (800) 978-0754 to arrange a free consultation.
The information on this page is general legal information only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. California law changes — statutes are amended, courts issue new decisions, and regulations are revised. Nothing on this page should be treated as a current statement of law without independent verification. Whether any deadline, legal doctrine, or rule applies to your specific case requires individual analysis based on the facts of your situation. Contact Attorney Michael Rehm to discuss your case directly.