Business Details
17 Years
experience
Trusted Legal Representation in Santa Rosa, CA
Applegate Law Office is a legal practice dedicated to providing strategic and client-focused representation in personal injury and criminal defense cases. With over 20 years of experience, we combine prosecutor insight and civil litigation expertise to build strong cases for clients in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, and the Bay Area. Our practice emphasizes direct attorney access, transparent communication, and a contingency fee model ensuring clients pay nothing unless we win.We specialize in car accidents, dog bites, truck collisions, premises liability, DUI defense, and insurance disputes while maintaining affiliations with the American Bar Association and State Bar of California. Our team prioritizes personalized advocacy, leveraging deep knowledge of California law to achieve favorable outcomes in negotiations and court proceedings.
Services
Personal Injury
Car Accidents
Dog Bite Injuries
Criminal Defense
Insurance Disputes
Truck Accidents
Premises Liability
DUI Defense
Wrongful Death
Motorcycle Accidents
Details
- Year established: 2009
Highlights and features
- We offer 20+ years of combined civil litigation and criminal prosecution experience.
- Our attorney personally handles every case from start to finish.
- We operate on a strict contingency fee basis with no upfront costs.
- We provide direct attorney access without case handoffs to staff members.
- Our practice combines prosecutor insights with defense strategy expertise.
What people say
Very professional
Positive outcome
Compassionate advocacy
Excellent service
Relentless representation
Services
Personal Injury
We represent clients injured through no fault of their own in car accidents, dog bites, and slip-and-fall incidents. Our practice secures compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering while handling insurance negotiations. Clients benefit from direct attorney representation and a contingency fee structure ensuring access to justice regardless of financial circumstances.
Criminal Defense
Our criminal defense practice protects clients facing DUI charges, assault allegations, and other criminal accusations. With former prosecutor experience, we develop strategic defenses to minimize penalties or secure case dismissals. Services include court representation, evidence challenges, and negotiation of alternative sentencing options while maintaining direct client communication throughout proceedings.
Car Accidents
We handle car accident claims involving liability disputes, insurance negotiations, and compensation recovery. Our services include accident reconstruction analysis, medical expense documentation, and pursuit of damages for vehicle repairs and lost income. Clients receive dedicated representation to counter insurance company tactics and secure fair settlements.
Insurance Disputes
Our firm resolves auto insurance disputes involving denied claims, lowball offers, and uninsured motorists. We interpret policy language, challenge liability determinations, and negotiate with insurers to maximize compensation. Additional services include lien reduction strategies to protect client settlement amounts from medical provider claims.
Dog Bite Injuries
We represent dog bite victims under California's strict liability law, pursuing compensation for medical treatment and emotional trauma. Our services include liability investigation, insurance negotiations, and courtroom representation when necessary. Clients receive personalized attention focused on recovery while we handle legal complexities.
People
Charles W. Applegate
Attorney
Charles Applegate is a Santa Rosa personal injury and criminal defense attorney with 20+ years of courtroom experience. A former prosecutor and civil litigator, he founded Applegate Law Office in 2009 to provide strategic legal representation focused on client outcomes.
Questions
What should I do immediately after a personal injury accident?
Seek medical attention, document the scene, report the incident, avoid making statements, and contact our office before speaking with insurance companies.
How are legal fees structured for personal injury cases?
We work on a contingency fee basis - you pay nothing unless we win your case. The consultation is completely free.
Can I still recover compensation if partially at fault?
Yes, California's comparative fault system allows recovery reduced by your percentage of fault. We challenge unfair liability determinations.
Will I work directly with the attorney?
Yes, Charles Applegate personally handles every case from initial consultation through resolution without delegating to staff members.
What types of criminal charges do you handle?
We defend against DUI, assault, and other criminal charges in Northern California courts, leveraging prosecutor experience to develop effective defense strategies.
How do insurance disputes typically resolve?
Most cases settle through negotiation, but we prepare every case for trial to maximize leverage. We challenge denied claims and fight for policy limits.
