Phillips Law Offices
Nevada County Personal Injury Lawyer
Your Voice in Nevada County Courts.
Serving Grass Valley, Nevada City, Truckee and All Nevada County
Injured? Take a Breath. Let’s Talk Before You Do Anything Else. You didn't plan for an accident, and you shouldn't have to navigate the aftermath alone. If the insurance companies are already calling, don't say a word to them until you've spoken with a lawyer.
First conversation is free and confidential. You'll reach me directly — not a screener.
Questions to Ask a Nevada County Personal Injury Lawyer
Most people have never hired a lawyer. If this is your first time, you probably have questions you're embarrassed to ask. Here's what people ask me most often, and the honest answers.
Do I even have a case?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. That's what the first conversation is for — I'll listen to what happened, ask a few questions, and give you my honest read. If your situation doesn't have a case, I'll tell you that directly. I'm not going to string you along.
Can I afford this?
For personal injury work, I take cases on contingency. That means I don't get paid unless you win. If we recover money, my fee comes out of the recovery — 29% before a lawsuit is filed, 33⅓% after. If we don't win, you don't owe me anything. No hourly rate, no retainer, no bills coming in every month.
Will this take years?
Some cases resolve in a few months. Others take a year or more. Serious injury cases and cases that end up in trial can take longer. What I can tell you is that most cases don't have to take as long as they do — good preparation and honest advocacy tend to move cases faster than dragging feet does.
What if I was partly at fault?
California is a comparative negligence state. That means even if you were partly at fault, you can still recover — your recovery just gets reduced by the percentage of fault. Partial fault doesn't automatically kill your case, and it's often exaggerated by the insurance company.
Will I have to go to court?
Most cases settle before trial. But I prepare every case as if it's going to trial, because that preparation is what leads to fair settlements. Insurance companies know which lawyers actually take cases to trial and which ones don't. My reputation here is that I take cases to trial when the settlement isn't fair.
Should I just take what the insurance company offers?
Almost never. Early settlement offers are almost always low — sometimes dramatically low. The insurance company is not on your side, no matter how nice the adjuster sounds on the phone. Before you accept any offer, talk to a lawyer. The first conversation is free, and you have nothing to lose by getting a second opinion.
"When you call my office, you get me. Not a receptionist routing you to a case manager. Me."
Our Legal Practice Areas in Nevada County
Personal injury is my primary practice — it's what I do most, and it's what I do best. But I also handle civil litigation matters where Nevada County residents need trial-ready counsel and their options are limited.
Personal Injury
Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle and bicycle crashes, wrongful death, slip and fall, dog bites, drunk driver injuries, and other injury cases throughout Nevada County.
Contingency fee — you pay nothing unless we win.
Personal injury cases →Real Estate Litigation
Boundary disputes, easement disputes, quiet title actions, partition actions, purchase contract disputes, real estate fraud and disclosure claims.
Hourly representation.
Real estate litigation →Probate Litigation
Will contests, trust contests, elder financial abuse, breach of fiduciary duty by trustees and executors, contested probate administration.
Contingency or hourly, depending on the case.
Probate litigation →Business Litigation
Breach of contract, partnership and LLC dissolution, business torts including fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, minority shareholder oppression.
Hourly representation.
Business litigation →Why Choosing a Local Nevada County Attorney Matters
Every attorney website claims to be "local," but few actually are.
If you search Google for a Nevada County personal injury or civil litigation lawyer, the top results are usually massive firms based in Sacramento or Los Angeles. Their slick marketing claims they "serve Grass Valley" or "serve Nevada City" — yet they don't have a single person actually working here. Their offices are hours away, and their attorneys only drive up when a court appearance forces them to. Ultimately, their connection to our community comes from a copywriter, not real life.
Phillips Law Offices is different. My office is right here at 305 Railroad Avenue in Nevada City. This isn't a satellite outpost; this is my home. When I'm not advocating for clients, you'll see me around downtown, at the local courthouse or walking with my dog along Banner Mountain. This isn't a marketing angle — it's where I live.
That deep local connection matters more than most people realize:
- Knowing the Judge, Not Just the Law. Having appeared before our local judges for years, I don't just know the legal framework—I know the people deciding your case. I understand how they manage their calendars, the precise legal arguments they find persuasive, and the specific courtroom pitfalls that frustrate them. That insight allows me to shape your strategy from day one to match the expectations of the bench.
- Knowing Opposing Counsel and Insurance Adjusters. In a tight-knit county, insurance companies and local lawyers know who is ready to go the distance. I know the opposing counsel and the adjusters on the other side of your claim—and they know me. My reputation here is simple: I come prepared, and I fight for my clients.
- Knowing Both Courthouses. The Nevada City main branch and the Truckee branch may be in the same county, but they operate as two entirely different worlds. Each has its own distinct dynamics, judges, and court staff. Because I navigate both regularly, I know exactly how each courtroom operates—right down to which clerk to call for scheduling and where to find the best parking on a busy morning.
- Knowing the Community. In legal matters, local details can make or break a case. Because I live and work alongside you, I already know our roads, our major employers, and the unique layout of our neighborhoods. When a case hinges on the specifics of an accident scene or a disputed property boundary, you don't want a lawyer who needs a map to find it. Genuine local insight gives us a sharp edge that out-of-town firms just can't match.
The Advantage of a True Trial Lawyer
Nevada County has plenty of talented transactional attorneys — the lawyers who draft your contracts, form your businesses, or prepare your wills. But when a dispute turns adversarial, most transactional lawyers refer the case out. They don't try cases.
Phillips Law Offices does. With 25 years of practice and over 100 jury trials, I offer the trial experience you need, right here at home. I am Nevada County's genuinely local trial attorney.
About Michael Phillips | Local Trial Attorney
I've spent twenty-five years in courtrooms fighting for people who needed someone in their corner. Not corporations. Not insurance companies. Not the government. People. I chose that deliberately, and I've never regretted it.
Safety and justice aren't privileges — they're rights.
25 Years in Nevada County. One Simple Promise: I Fight For Your Rights.
For 25 years, I’ve lived, worked, and raised my family right here. From my office on Railroad Avenue in Nevada City, I’ve come to know these roads, these courts, and this community inside and out—because this is my home, too. I’m not a faceless, out-of-town law corporation. I’m your neighbor.
I built my practice around a single, uncompromising principle: prepare every case for trial from day one. Insurance companies know exactly which lawyers will accept a cheap settlement and which ones will actually stand their ground in court. My reputation here is simple: I fight—and that reputation changes what they offer my clients.
To maintain this level of commitment, I purposely limit my caseload. Every client gets my direct cell phone number, and every case gets my full, undivided attention. That’s not a marketing slogan—it’s how I’ve done business for a quarter of a century.
Credentials
- California State Bar No. 181512
- Licensed in California & Washington
- Northern California Federal Court
- 25+ years trial experience
- 100% plaintiff representation
What clients say
Words from people who've been where you are now
"He kept me at ease and out of stress. He was obviously my best choice and I'm so thankful I decided to get a lawyer."
Myrna V. — Sacramento, CA
"Michael was fast, friendly, encouraging, and supportive. He without hesitation was willing to take on my case with literally a week left on the clock."
Beth L. — Nevada County
"I met Michael as a juror at Nevada County Superior Court. I was immediately impressed by the caliber of his work. I wholeheartedly recommend him."
C.K. — Nevada City, CA
"Michael exceeded my expectations. He was a good and prompt communicator. I give him my highest recommendation."
Shelley B. — Ketchum, ID