Orange County injury claims · Fullerton to San Clemente · Calls answered 24/7
Orange County Personal Injury Lawyer
From a rear-end crash on the 91 to a fall at an Irvine shopping center or a bike collision on Pacific Coast Highway, we help Orange County residents and visitors pursue full compensation. The case review is free.
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Key Takeaways
- Congested I-5, I-405 and SR-91 corridors and busy coastal roads cause many of the county's serious crashes.
- Toll-lane merges bring rear-end neck and back injuries, while PCH bike crashes and Ortega Highway collisions can cause fractures and head trauma.
- A claim against the County of Orange, OCTA, a city such as Anaheim or Irvine, or Caltrans usually must be filed within six months Gov. Code 911.2.
- CHP's Santa Ana, Westminster and Capistrano Areas report freeway crashes; city police or the Sheriff handle local streets.
Why people in Orange County choose Green Law Group
Toll-lane commuters, beach-city cyclists, students and theme park visitors pick us for two reasons: a lawyer with real operating-room medical experience and a free review by phone or video at any hour.
- Strong reviews. Our firm holds 5.0 stars across 53 Google reviews. Read our client reviews.
- A lawyer fluent in medicine. Steven D. Green trained surgeons on spine and cardiac devices before law school. When a PCH cyclist or an express-lane commuter faces neck or back treatment, he reads the plan line by line.
- Loyola law training. He earned his law degree cum laude at Loyola Chicago, adding a Health Law certificate.
- Calls answered 24/7. Phone us any hour.
Common causes of serious injuries in Orange County
Orange County's injury risks follow its freeways, its coastline and its crowds: toll-lane commuters, cyclists on beach roads, and busy hotels, malls and attractions.
- I-5, I-405 and SR-55. These Caltrans corridors carry heavy commuter traffic and frequent construction. OCTA also runs the 405 Express Lanes. See our car accident page and, for big-rig collisions, truck accident claims.
- SR-91 and SR-57 in north county. The Riverside Freeway, its OCTA-run 91 Express Lanes and the Orange Freeway carry heavy daily traffic, and stop-and-go merges lead to rear-end and lane-change collisions.
- Pacific Coast Highway (SR-1). Caltrans has a bike lane project on SR-1 here, and the road mixes beach drivers, cyclists and people crossing to the sand. Read about bicycle and pedestrian claims.
- Ortega Highway (SR-74). Caltrans describes SR-74 as running from San Juan Capistrano through the Cleveland National Forest, with two-lane mountain stretches that leave little room for error. See motorcycle accidents.
- Hotels, malls and attractions. Wet floors, broken stairs and poor security at visitor properties can support a premises liability claim.
Common injuries after accidents in Orange County
Orange County's crash patterns shape its injuries. Express-lane merges and freeway backups cause rear impacts, PCH puts cyclists beside beach traffic, and Ortega Highway's curves are unforgiving for riders. Each brings its own set of injuries and medical records.
- Whiplash and disc injuries on the 91, 405 and 55. Sudden stops at express-lane entries are a classic cause of neck injuries and back injuries that may need imaging and months of therapy.
- Collarbone, wrist and head injuries for PCH cyclists. A rider struck by an opening door or a turning car usually lands on an outstretched arm or the head.
- Severe trauma on Ortega Highway. Head-on and run-off-road crashes on two-lane SR-74 can cause spinal cord injuries, and some are fatal, leaving families with a wrongful death claim.
- Hip and ankle fractures from falls. Wet floors and broken steps at hotels and malls often cause fractures, especially for older visitors.
Getting your crash report
The CHP's Santa Ana, Westminster and Capistrano Area offices cover freeways. Anaheim, Irvine, Santa Ana and Huntington Beach police handle their own streets, and the Orange County Sheriff's Department writes reports in contract cities like Stanton, San Juan Capistrano and Rancho Santa Margarita.
Filing deadlines for Orange County injury claims
You generally have two years to file an injury lawsuit CCP 335.1. If a public agency is involved, a written claim is due within six months Gov. Code 911.2. That includes the County of Orange, OCTA and OC Bus, and cities like Santa Ana, Anaheim and Newport Beach.
The rule also applies to public school districts and to Caltrans for state highway defects. When an agency rejects the claim in writing, the lawsuit is usually due six months after that notice Gov. Code 945.6. Children get extra time on ordinary lawsuits, but not on government claims CCP 352. Our Claim Clock shows your dates.
Injury cases we handle in Orange County
We take on freeway and surface-street crashes, cyclist and pedestrian injuries along the coast, falls at commercial properties, on-the-job injuries and fatal accidents across all 34 Orange County cities.
- Personal injury
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle and pedestrian accidents
- Back injuries
- Neck injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Premises liability and slip and fall
- Medical malpractice
- Wrongful death
- Workplace injuries and workers' comp
Want a ballpark figure for a crash claim first? Our California car accident settlement calculator gives an estimate in about a minute.
Cities and communities we serve in Orange County
Santa Ana is the county seat. We help injured people in all 34 incorporated cities, including these.
- Santa Ana
- Anaheim
- Irvine
- Huntington Beach
- Garden Grove
- Fullerton
- Orange
- Costa Mesa
- Mission Viejo
- Westminster
- Lake Forest
- Buena Park
- Newport Beach
- Tustin
- Yorba Linda
- San Clemente
- Laguna Beach
- Dana Point
Nearby counties
Orange County shares borders with Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside and San Diego counties. We take cases in all 58 California counties.
Reviewed by Steven D. Green, Esq. · Updated October 13, 2026
Client reviews
Every one of our 53 Google reviews is five stars.
“Steve and his team were always available, handled all insurance details and my questions always with complete professionalism.”
“Steven will cut right through the noise and directly tell you the objective facts, which I highly appreciated.”
“Working with Steven Green and Jen Kearney has been a very easy and smooth ride.”
Testimonials and reviews do not guarantee, warrant or predict the outcome of any legal matter. Every case is different.
Questions
Orange County personal injury FAQ
A car hit me while I was cycling on Pacific Coast Highway. What should I do?
Get medical care first, including a check for concussion even if your helmet looks fine. Keep the helmet, bike and torn clothing as they are, because they show how the impact happened. Photograph the lane, any parked cars and the driver's plate, and ask witnesses for contact details. Then call us before you speak with the driver's insurer about fault.
How do I bring a claim after an OC Bus crash?
OC Bus is run by the Orange County Transportation Authority, a public agency. You generally must file a written government claim within six months of the crash (Government Code section 911.2) before you can sue. If OCTA denies it in writing, a lawsuit is usually due within six months of that notice (Government Code section 945.6). Keep your transfer or fare receipt and photos.
Which agency wrote my crash report in Orange County?
Freeway crashes usually go to the CHP Santa Ana, Westminster or Capistrano Area office. City streets are handled by that city's police department, such as Anaheim, Irvine or Huntington Beach. Cities that contract with the Orange County Sheriff's Department, including Stanton and San Juan Capistrano, get reports from the Sheriff.
I live out of state and was hurt visiting Orange County. Do I still have a claim?
Yes. California law governs a crash or fall that happened here, wherever you live, including the two-year limit for most injury suits (Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1). Keep hotel receipts, ride-share records and medical bills from both states. Your case review is free by phone or video.
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