Tahoe-Truckee car accident attorney James Moore handles cases on the California side of Lake Tahoe.Â
Which court to file in, known as venue, is an important decision to make. Whether you enjoyed Lake Tahoe, Truckee, or just passed through on I-80, accidents happen. Then, the venue to pursue a lawsuit matters. In California, a car accident lawsuit venue is where the accident happened or where the defendant(s) reside or, where their principal place of business is located. Potentially, if the parties are all from different states, a lawsuit could be filed in federal court (this is called diversity jurisdiction). For federal court, it would be one that has personal jurisdiction over the defendant. Sometimes, there is more than one proper venue which gives the injured person a choice of where to file their case. As such, it is important to assess the potential jury pool in picking a venue when there is more than one option.
Sierra County Possibility
If there is an accident on I-80 between Truckee and Reno, there is a 1.6 mile stretch that is in Sierra County. Sierra County has a little over 3,200 people and has a courthouse in Downieville. With such a small county, consider where the defendant resides as a potential venue instead.
Nevada City Courthouse for Nevada County
On the other hand, if an accident is in Truckee, that is in Nevada County. Even though Truckee has a courthouse, most Nevada County cases are handled at the main courthouse in Nevada City. You should deal with a Truckee injury attorney who knows the area instead of a distant lawyer.
Placer County for North Lake Tahoe and Parts of I-80
South of Truckee, in the North Lake Tahoe Area, you most likely are in Placer County. In Placer, civil cases are heard in Roseville and Auburn. The southern half of the Truckee airport is in Placer County. Likewise, the areas around Sugar Bowl, North Star, Squaw Valley, is Placer County. So is Tahoe City, and Kings Beach.
But, if you are in an accident on I-80 between Truckee and Auburn, there are a few places where the county line is crossed between Nevada and Placer Counties. Precisely where can make a big difference. Notably, if CHP makes a report, it will likely state the county and state the exact location of the crash. Tahoe-Truckee car accident attorney James Moore can help assess the venue.
We Handle These Areas
Our location in Auburn allows us to serve as a Truckee injury attorney. Also, it makes us conveniently located to handle accident cases in any of these counties. Tahoe-Truckee car accident attorney James Moore’s legal experience in handling cases in over 30 California counties. His background as a former insurance defense attorney helps too.
If you have been in an accident we are happy to talk to you about the case and assess the potential venue or venues.