Castro Valley Crash on Redwood Road Today: Two-Vehicle Collision Causes Morning Traffic Delays

November 13, 2025 Andy Gillin

A two-vehicle collision disrupted the morning commute in Castro Valley on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, causing significant traffic delays and resulting in minor injuries to the occupants of both vehicles. The crash occurred at approximately 5:52 a.m. at the busy intersection of Redwood Road and Grove Way, near the popular Trader Joe’s shopping center, according to the California Highway Patrol.

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Details of the Castro Valley Two-Vehicle Collision

The early morning crash brought traffic to a standstill during one of the busiest commute times in the East Bay community. California Highway Patrol officers responded promptly to the scene, where they found two vehicles involved in the collision at the intersection of Redwood Road and Grove Way.

While initial reports indicate that the injuries sustained were minor, the crash created substantial traffic congestion for Castro Valley residents and commuters traveling through the area. The intersection of Redwood Road and Grove Way serves as a critical junction for local traffic, connecting residential neighborhoods with commercial areas and serving as a main thoroughfare for those heading to nearby highways.

Emergency responders worked efficiently to clear the scene and restore normal traffic flow, though morning commuters experienced delays as authorities investigated the circumstances surrounding the collision.

Common Causes of Intersection Accidents in Castro Valley

Intersection collisions like the one that occurred on Redwood Road are unfortunately common throughout Alameda County. Several factors frequently contribute to these types of accidents:

Early Morning Visibility Issues: Crashes occurring around sunrise, like this 5:52 a.m. incident, often involve reduced visibility. Drivers may struggle with glare from the rising sun, insufficient lighting, or the transition from darkness to daylight, which can impair their ability to see traffic signals, other vehicles, or pedestrians.

Failure to Yield Right-of-Way: Many intersection accidents occur when drivers fail to yield the right-of-way to other vehicles. Whether running a red light, making an unsafe left turn, or failing to stop at a stop sign, right-of-way violations are a leading cause of intersection collisions.

Distracted Driving: Morning commuters checking phones, adjusting navigation systems, or being preoccupied with thoughts about the day ahead may not give their full attention to the road. Even a momentary distraction can result in a serious collision at an intersection.

Speed and Red Light Running: Some drivers attempt to “beat” yellow lights or accelerate through intersections, thereby increasing the risk of a collision with oncoming traffic. Higher speeds also reduce reaction time and increase the severity of impacts.

Impaired or Drowsy Driving: The early morning hours often reveal drivers who are fatigued from insufficient sleep or, in some cases, still impaired from the previous evening. Both drowsiness and impairment significantly reduce a driver’s reaction time and decision-making abilities.

Understanding Your Rights After an Intersection Collision

If you’ve been injured in a traffic accident at an intersection in Castro Valley or anywhere in Alameda County, it’s essential to understand your legal rights. California law allows victims of negligent driving to seek compensation for their injuries, even when those injuries are initially classified as “minor.”

Medical Evaluation Is Critical: What may seem like minor injuries immediately after an accident can develop into more serious conditions. Soft tissue injuries, concussions, and other trauma may not present symptoms for hours or even days after a collision. Always seek a thorough medical evaluation following any traffic accident, regardless of how you feel at the scene.

Documenting the Scene: If you’re able to do so safely, report the accident scene with photographs, exchange information with other drivers, and obtain contact information from any witnesses. This evidence can prove invaluable when establishing liability and pursuing a personal injury claim.

Insurance Company Communications: Be cautious when speaking with insurance adjusters, whether they represent your own insurance company or the other driver’s. Insurance companies often seek to minimize payouts, and statements you make immediately after an accident can be used to undervalue or deny your claim. Consider consulting with an experienced personal injury attorney before providing detailed statements to any insurance company.

Determining Liability in Castro Valley Intersection Accidents

Establishing fault in intersection collisions requires careful investigation and analysis of multiple factors. California follows a “pure comparative negligence” system, which means that compensation can be awarded even if you were partially at fault for the accident. However, your percentage of fault will reduce the amount of your recovery.

Key evidence in determining liability includes:

  • Traffic camera footage from the intersection or nearby businesses
  • Witness statements from other drivers, pedestrians, or nearby residents
  • Police reports documenting the officer’s observations and any citations issued
  • Physical evidence such as skid marks, vehicle damage patterns, and debris fields
  • Traffic signal timing records that can establish which driver had the right-of-way
  • Electronic data from vehicle event data recorders (“black boxes”) that capture speed, braking, and other critical information

An experienced Castro Valley car accident attorney can help gather and preserve this crucial evidence before it’s lost or destroyed.

Compensation Available for Castro Valley Accident Victims

Even in accidents involving “minor” injuries, victims may be entitled to substantial compensation for various damages:

Economic Damages include quantifiable financial losses such as:

  • Medical expenses (emergency treatment, hospital stays, surgery, rehabilitation)
  • Future medical care costs
  • Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
  • Property damage to your vehicle
  • Out-of-pocket expenses related to your injuries

Non-Economic Damages compensate for subjective losses such as:

  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress and mental anguish
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Scarring or disfigurement
  • Loss of consortium (for spouses of injured victims)

In cases involving egregious negligence, such as drunk driving or road rage, punitive damages may also be available to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct.

Why Intersection Safety Matters in Castro Valley

The intersection of Redwood Road and Grove Way is a vital commercial hub in Castro Valley, with heavy foot traffic from shoppers visiting Trader Joe’s and other nearby businesses. This combination of vehicle traffic, pedestrians, and cyclists creates complex safety challenges that require vigilance from all road users.

Local authorities continually assess high-traffic intersections for safety improvements, including enhanced signage, improved lighting, longer pedestrian crossing times, and traffic signal upgrades. However, even with these measures, driver responsibility remains the most critical factor in preventing intersection accidents.

Steps to Take After a Castro Valley Car Accident

If you’re involved in a traffic collision in Castro Valley or anywhere in the Bay Area, follow these essential steps:

  1. Ensure Safety: Move to a safe location if possible and check for injuries. Call 911 immediately to report the accident and request medical assistance if needed.
  2. Document Everything: Take photos of vehicle damage, the accident scene, traffic signals, road conditions, and any visible injuries. Exchange information with other drivers, including names, contact details, insurance information, and license plate numbers.
  3. Seek Medical Attention: Even if you feel fine, see a doctor as soon as possible. Some injuries, such as whiplash, concussions, or internal trauma, may not manifest symptoms immediately.
  4. Notify Your Insurance: Report the accident to your insurance company, but provide only basic facts. Avoid admitting fault or speculating about what happened.
  5. Preserve Evidence: Keep all medical records, repair estimates, receipts for expenses, and any correspondence related to the accident. This documentation will be essential for your claim.
  6. Consult an Attorney: Before accepting any settlement offer from an insurance company, speak with a qualified personal injury attorney who can evaluate whether the offer adequately compensates you for your injuries and losses.

Understanding Catastrophic Injury Settlement Calculators

A catastrophic injury settlement calculator is a valuable online tool that helps accident victims estimate the potential value of their personal injury claim by analyzing multiple factors that influence compensation amounts. While no calculator can provide an exact settlement figure—as each case has unique circumstances—these tools offer essential insights into what your claim may be worth by considering key variables such as medical expenses (both past and future), lost wages and diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, permanent disability or disfigurement, and the degree of fault assigned to each party involved.

The calculator typically employs established legal formulas and multipliers based on the severity of injuries, multiplying economic damages (such as medical bills and lost income) by a factor of 1.5 to 5 or higher for catastrophic injuries, and then adding non-economic damages, including emotional distress and loss of quality of life. For victims of serious accidents like the Castro Valley collision, understanding these calculations can be empowering—it helps you recognize whether an insurance company’s settlement offer is fair or significantly undervalues your claim.

However, it’s crucial to remember that settlement calculators provide estimates only and cannot account for nuanced factors such as the persuasiveness of evidence, the skill of your legal representation, jury sympathy, or the specific circumstances that make your case unique. An experienced personal injury attorney can provide a more accurate case evaluation by thoroughly reviewing your medical records, consulting with medical experts about long-term prognosis, analyzing comparable verdicts and settlements in your jurisdiction, and accounting for California’s pure comparative negligence rules.

Before accepting any settlement offer, use a catastrophic injury calculator as a starting point for understanding your claim’s value, then consult with a qualified attorney who can ensure you receive full and fair compensation for all your damages—not just your immediate expenses, but also the long-term impact of your injuries on your life, career, and future. Call us now at +1-866-218-3776 to speak with our experts.

How GJEL Accident Attorneys Can Help Castro Valley Crash Victims

At GJEL Accident Attorneys, we understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll that even “minor” car accidents can take on victims and their families. With decades of experience representing Bay Area accident victims, our team has recovered over $1 billion for our clients.

When someone is injured in a traffic accident, insurance companies often rush to settle claims before the full extent of injuries becomes apparent. GJEL accident attorneys encourage anyone injured in a collision to seek experienced legal guidance before accepting any settlement. Too often, we see victims who accepted early offers that didn’t come close to covering their medical expenses, lost wages, and long-term impacts of their injuries.

Our Castro Valley car accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. We handle all aspects of your claim, from investigating the accident and gathering evidence to negotiating with insurance companies and, if necessary, taking your case to trial. We understand the local area, including the specific challenges of intersections like Redwood Road and Grove Way, and we know how to build compelling cases that hold negligent drivers accountable.

Contact GJEL for a Free Consultation

“Even when injuries seem minor at first, intersection accidents can have lasting consequences that aren’t immediately apparent. If you were involved in this Castro Valley collision or any traffic accident, please don’t minimize what happened to you. Seek medical attention right away—some of the most serious injuries, like concussions or soft tissue damage, don’t show symptoms for hours or even days. And before you speak with any insurance adjuster or accept a settlement offer, talk to an experienced attorney who can protect your rights. Insurance companies often pressure accident victims to settle quickly, before they fully understand the extent of their injuries or the compensation they truly deserve. At GJEL, we’ve seen too many people accept early settlements that didn’t begin to cover their medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. We offer free consultations and work on a contingency basis—you don’t pay us anything unless we recover compensation for you. Let us review your case and make sure you’re not being taken advantage of during an already difficult time.” — Andy Gillin, GJEL Accident Attorneys

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in Castro Valley, don’t wait to protect your rights. The sooner you contact an experienced personal injury attorney, the better we can preserve evidence and build a strong case on your behalf.

Contact GJEL Accident Attorneys today for a free, no-obligation consultation. We’ll review the details of your case, explain your legal options, and help you understand what compensation you may be entitled to receive. Remember, you pay nothing unless we win your case.

Call us at +1-866-218-3776  or visit our Concord office to schedule your consultation. Remember, California has time limits for filing a claim, so acting promptly is crucial.

At GJEL Accident Attorneys, we’re more than just lawyers – your advocates, support system, and path to justice. Let us help you take the first step towards recovery and peace of mind. Call us now to talk to the experts!

Local Resources for Castro Valley Accident Victims

If you’ve been involved in the Redwood Road collision or any traffic accident in Castro Valley, the following local resources can provide assistance, information, and support:

Law Enforcement and Emergency Services

Alameda County Sheriff’s Office – Castro Valley Station. The Sheriff’s Office provides law enforcement services for Castro Valley and can offer accident reports and investigative information.

  • Address: 3500 School Street, Castro Valley, CA 94546
  • Non-Emergency Phone: (510) 667-7721
  • Emergency: 911
  • Website: https://www.alamedacountysheriff.org
  • Services: Accident reports, traffic enforcement, victim assistance

California Highway Patrol – Hayward Area Office CHP responds to accidents on state highways and major thoroughfares in the Castro Valley area, including Redwood Road incidents.

Transportation and Traffic Management

Alameda County Transportation Commission (Alameda CTC) manages transportation planning, funding, and safety programs throughout Alameda County.

  • Address: 1111 Broadway, Suite 800, Oakland, CA 94607
  • Phone: (510) 208-7400
  • Website: https://www.alamedactc.org
  • Services: Traffic safety initiatives, road improvement projects, transportation planning

Alameda County Public Works Department is responsible for maintaining county roads, including Redwood Road, and addressing road hazards.

  • Phone: (510) 670-5500
  • Road Maintenance Hotline: (510) 670-5480
  • Website: https://www.acgov.org/pwa
  • Services: Road hazard reporting, traffic signal maintenance, road condition information

511 Contra Costa and Alameda Real-time traffic information and incident alerts for the Bay Area.

  • Phone: 511 (from any phone)
  • Website: https://511.org
  • Services: Live traffic updates, accident alerts, alternative route information, transit information

Medical and Emergency Care

Eden Medical Center (Sutter Health) is the closest full-service hospital to Castro Valley, providing emergency care for accident victims.

  • Address: 20103 Lake Chabot Road, Castro Valley, CA 94546
  • Emergency Department: (510) 537-1234
  • Main Hospital: (510) 537-1234
  • Website: https://www.sutterhealth.org/eden
  • Services: 24/7 emergency care, trauma treatment, diagnostic imaging, surgical services

Stanford Health Care – ValleyCare (Pleasanton) is another nearby option for emergency medical care.

Washington Hospital Healthcare System (Fremont) offers Comprehensive emergency and trauma services.

  • Address: 2000 Mowry Avenue, Fremont, CA 94538
  • Emergency Department: (510) 797-1111
  • Website: https://www.whhs.com

Victim Support and Legal Resources

California Victim Compensation Board provides financial assistance to victims of violent crimes, including hit-and-run accidents and DUI collisions.

  • Phone: 1-800-777-9229
  • Website: https://victims.ca.gov
  • Services: Medical expenses, lost wages, funeral costs, mental health counseling

State Bar of California – Lawyer Referral Service helps connect accident victims with qualified attorneys.

Alameda County Bar Association is a Local bar association offering legal referral services.

Bay Area Legal Aid provides free civil legal services to low-income residents.

  • Phone: 1-800-551-5554
  • Hayward Office: (510) 250-5270
  • Website: https://baylegal.org
  • Services: Free legal assistance for qualifying individuals

Vehicle and Insurance Resources

California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Required reporting for accidents involving injuries, death, or property damage over $1,000.

California Department of Insurance: Consumer Assistance for Insurance-Related Questions and Complaints.

  • Consumer Hotline: 1-800-927-4357
  • Website: https://www.insurance.ca.gov
  • Services: Insurance complaint assistance, understanding your policy, and finding insurance

Community Resources

Castro Valley Library: A community information hub with resources on local services and safety programs.

Castro Valley/Eden Area Chamber of Commerce: A local business organization that provides community resources and connections.

  • Address: 3305 Village Drive, Castro Valley, CA 94546
  • Phone: (510) 537-5300
  • Website: https://www.castovalleychamber.com
  • Services: Community connections, local business information

Alameda County Office of Emergency Services: Emergency preparedness and disaster response coordination.

  • Phone: (510) 267-7900
  • Website: https://www.acgov.org/oes
  • Services: Emergency planning, disaster resources, public safety information

Additional Safety and Information Resources

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is a Federal agency providing vehicle safety information and recall notices.

  • Phone: 1-888-327-4236
  • Website: https://www.nhtsa.gov
  • Services: Vehicle safety ratings, recall information, safety campaign data

California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) is a State agency focused on traffic safety programs and education.

  • Phone: (916) 509-3030
  • Website: https://www.ots.ca.gov
  • Services: Traffic safety education, grant programs, collision data

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) – Bay Area Support for victims of drunk driving accidents.

  • 24-Hour Victim Helpline: 1-877-623-3435
  • Website: https://www.madd.org
  • Services: Victim support, court accompaniment, and emotional support groups

Author Headshot

Andy Gillin

Andy Gillin received his Bachelor's Degree from the University of California at Berkeley and his law degree from the University of Chicago. He is the managing partner of GJEL Accident Attorneys and has written and lectured in the field of plaintiffs' personal injury law for numerous organizations. Since 1972 he has been helping seriously injured victims throughout California fight & win their personal injury cases. Andy specializes in serious injury and wrongful death cases throughout California.

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