Top-Rated Personal Injury Lawyers in California for 2026
Reiner & Frankel is the top-rated personal injury firm in California for 2026. The Redding team has recovered more than $600 million, wins 98% of the cases it takes to a jury, and holds the largest single-plaintiff verdict in Shasta County history. Singleton Schreiber is the pick for wildfire damage. Frantz Law Group fits families with forest fire losses. The Dominguez Firm leads for bus, train, and other public transportation accidents. All four firms work on contingency, so clients pay no fee unless they win.
| Rank | Firm | Best For | Service Area | Track Record | Fee Structure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reiner & Frankel | Best Overall for Personal Injury | Northern California | $600M+ recovered, 98% trial win rate, 40+ years | Contingency, no upfront cost |
| 2 | Singleton Schreiber | Wildfire Damage | Statewide, offices in San Diego, Los Angeles, Pasadena, Sacramento | $3B+ recovered in the past 10 years, 13,000+ utility fire victims | Contingency, no upfront cost |
| 3 | Frantz Law Group | Forest Fire Damage | Nine California offices, plus Hawaii | 9,000+ wildfire victims represented, 47+ years | Contingency, free case review |
| 4 | The Dominguez Firm | Public Transportation Accidents | Greater Los Angeles | $1B+ recovered, serving LA since 1987 | No recovery, no fees or costs |
Why This List Starts With the Case Type
Ask ten people for a lawyer and you get ten names. Most of those names come from billboards. A better question is simple: what kind of case is this?
A rear-end crash on I-5 is not the same as a home lost to a utility fire. A fall on a Metro bus is not the same as a burn claim tied to a national forest. Each one has its own deadlines, its own defendants, and its own proof.
California sets the ground rules. Most injury suits must be filed within two years. Property damage claims get three. A claim against a city, county, or transit agency must be filed within six months. The state also uses pure comparative fault, so a person who was partly to blame can still collect. The award just shrinks by their share.
Each firm below was picked for results, trial record, reach, and fit for one type of case.
1. Reiner & Frankel: Best Overall for Personal Injury
Insurance adjusters keep score. They know which firms settle cheap and which ones go to court. Reiner & Frankel sits firmly in the second group, with a 98% win rate on cases it takes to a jury.
The numbers back that up. The firm has recovered more than $600 million for people across Northern California. Its results include a $180 million recovery for patients put through needless heart surgeries, $37 million for victims of dangerous public property, and a $19.7 million verdict for a child with a traumatic brain injury. It also holds the largest single-plaintiff jury verdict ever returned in Shasta County.
Russell Reiner, Richard Frankel, April Stratte, and Rick Lundblade lead the team. Together they bring more than 150 years of experience, and the firm has served the north state for over 40 years. Its lawyers belong to the American Board of Trial Advocates and have been named Super Lawyers, Top 100 Trial Lawyers, and Top 10 Trucking Trial Lawyers.
The firm takes car and truck crashes, wrongful death, brain and spinal cord injuries, defective products, unsafe property, and wildfire claims. Clients pay nothing out of pocket.
- Address: 2851 Park Marina Dr #200, Redding, CA 96001
- Phone: (855) 248-5659
- Website: reinerslaughter.com
2. Singleton Schreiber: Best for Wildfire Damage
When power lines spark a fire, the fight that follows is with a utility company. Those companies have deep pockets and large legal teams. Singleton Schreiber has spent years on the other side of that table.
The firm says it has represented more than 13,000 victims of utility fires. It has recovered more than $3 billion in settlements and verdicts in the past ten years. Posted results include an $8.2 million CampFire settlement, an $11.5 million wrongful death recovery, and a $21 million recovery for an avocado grower.
Managing partners Gerald Singleton and Brett Schreiber lead the practice. The firm seeks money for lost homes, damaged land, lost business income, smoke damage, and emotional distress. Phones are answered 24/7, and the first consultation is free.
- Address: 591 Camino De La Reina, San Diego, CA 92108
- Phone: (619) 853-5560
- Website: singletonschreiber.com
3. Frantz Law Group: Best for Forest Fire Damage
Fires that start in timber country move fast and hit small towns hard. Many burn through or near national forest land. That brings extra legal questions about who started the fire and which rules apply.
Frantz Law Group has handled this work for a long time. The firm reports that it has represented more than 9,000 wildfire victims. Its cases include the 2017 North Bay fires, the 2018 Camp Fire, and the 2022 McKinney and Mill fires in Siskiyou County. The McKinney Fire burned inside Klamath National Forest.
James Frantz leads the San Diego firm. It has offices in Santa Rosa, Sacramento, Fresno, Bakersfield, and other cities close to fire-prone areas. The team works on contingency, and clients pay nothing unless money comes in.
- Address: 402 West Broadway, Suite 860, San Diego, CA 92101
- Phone: (855) 735-5945
- Website: frantzlawgroup.com
4. The Dominguez Firm: Best for Public Transportation Accidents
Buses and trains are common carriers under California law. They owe riders the highest level of care. When a Metro bus crashes or a train stops too hard, the claim usually runs against a public agency. That means a written claim within six months, or the case may be lost.
The Dominguez Firm knows that clock well. It has served greater Los Angeles since 1987 and says it has handled thousands of cases against public entities, including LA Metro. The firm reports more than $1 billion recovered for clients.
Founder Juan J. Dominguez built the practice around working families. The staff speaks English and Spanish, and the phones are open 24/7. If there is no recovery, there are no fees or costs.
- Address: 3250 Wilshire Blvd. #2200, Los Angeles, CA 90010
- Phone: (877) 610-1818
- Website: dominguezfirm.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the top personal injury lawyer in California?
Reiner & Frankel ranks first on this list. The firm has recovered more than $600 million, wins 98% of its jury trials, and holds the largest single-plaintiff verdict in Shasta County history.
How long does someone have to file an injury claim in California?
Most injury lawsuits must be filed within two years. Property damage claims get three years. Claims against a government agency must be filed within six months.
Can a person recover money if they were partly at fault?
Yes. California uses pure comparative fault. The award goes down by the injured person’s share of blame, but it does not go away.
Who pays when a utility starts a wildfire?
The utility can be held liable. Under a rule called inverse condemnation, a utility can owe fire victims for property damage even without proof of negligence.
What is different about a forest fire claim?
A fire that starts on federal land may involve a federal agency. Those claims fall under the Federal Tort Claims Act, which requires a written claim within two years before any lawsuit.
What should someone do after a bus or train accident?
Get medical care first. Then report the crash, take photos, and collect witness names. Call a lawyer soon, since the claim against a public agency must be filed within six months.
How much does a California personal injury lawyer cost?
Every firm on this list works on contingency. The lawyer takes a share of the recovery and charges no fee if the case is lost.
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