Car accident attorneys · UTC office · Open 24 hours
San Diego Car Accident Lawyer
Hurt in a crash on a San Diego freeway or city street? We find the right report, handle the insurers, and track the short deadlines that apply when a city vehicle, bus or trolley is involved. Free case review.
- 5.0 from 53 Google reviews
- No fee unless we win, and no costs if we don't
- Talk directly with an attorney
- Phones answered 24/7
Free San Diego car accident case review
Tell us what happened. It takes about 30 seconds.
Key Takeaways
- Who writes your report depends on the road. CHP handles freeways and unincorporated county roads, SDPD handles City of San Diego streets, and the Sheriff polices nine contract cities.
- SDPD responds only to injury crashes and some hit-and-runs. In a damage-only crash, you collect the information yourself.
- A crash with a City or County vehicle, an MTS bus or trolley, or a dangerous Caltrans highway usually needs a written claim within six months Gov. Code 911.2.
- A hit-and-run must be reported to police within 24 hours to support an uninsured motorist claim Ins. Code 11580.2(b).
- If a lawsuit is needed, it is filed in San Diego Superior Court, downtown or in Vista.
- Our office is in the UTC area near I-5 and La Jolla Village Drive, and phones are answered 24/7.
What to do after a car accident in San Diego
Call 911 if anyone is hurt. On a freeway, CHP will respond. On a City of San Diego street, SDPD comes only for injury crashes and certain hit-and-runs, so in a fender-bender you gather the facts yourself. Get checked by a doctor the same day, and call a lawyer before you give the other insurer a statement.
- At the scene. Move out of traffic if you safely can. Exchange names, addresses, license and registration details, and insurance information. Photograph the vehicles, the lanes and any signals or freeway signs that show exactly where you were.
- Freeway problems that are not emergencies. SDPD directs drivers to report freeway crashes, road hazards and road rage to CHP at 1-800-835-5247.
- Medical care. San Diego County's trauma system has six trauma centers: Palomar Medical Center, Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, Scripps Mercy Hospital, Sharp Memorial Hospital, UC San Diego Medical Center and Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego. Paramedics decide where a seriously hurt person goes. If you were not transported, see your own doctor or an urgent care within a day.
- Within 10 days. File an SR-1 with the DMV if anyone was hurt or damage to any one person's property tops $1,000 Veh. Code 16000.
- Save local evidence fast. Nearby businesses may record over camera footage within days. MTS buses and trolleys may have onboard video. We send preservation requests early.
For the full step-by-step list and the statewide rules on fault and damages, see our California car accident lawyer page.
Who investigates your crash: CHP, SDPD or the Sheriff
It depends on where the crash happened. CHP covers the freeways and the county-maintained roads in unincorporated communities. SDPD covers streets inside the City of San Diego. The Sheriff's Office is the police department for nine contract cities. Cities such as Chula Vista, Oceanside, Carlsbad and Escondido have their own police departments.
| Agency | Office | Roads it covers |
|---|---|---|
| CHP San Diego Area | 5902 Kearny Villa Road, San Diego 92123 | Freeways through San Diego, Chula Vista, National City and Coronado, plus unincorporated Bonita, Otay Mesa, Lincoln Acres and 4S Ranch |
| CHP Oceanside Area | 435 La Tortuga, Vista 92081 | North County, including I-5, I-15, SR-78 and unincorporated SR-76, plus county roads in Rancho Santa Fe, Bonsall, Fallbrook, Valley Center and Palomar Mountain |
| CHP El Cajon Area | 1722 East Main Street, El Cajon 92021 | East County, including I-8, SR-125, SR-52, SR-67 and SR-94, and unincorporated roads in Lakeside, Spring Valley, Rancho San Diego, Jamul and Alpine, with resident posts in Ramona, Julian, Borrego Springs and Jacumba |
| San Diego Police Department | Records Division, 1401 Broadway, San Diego 92101 | Surface streets inside the City of San Diego |
| San Diego County Sheriff's Office | The station that responded | Del Mar, Encinitas, Imperial Beach, Lemon Grove, Poway, San Marcos, Santee, Solana Beach and Vista |
Sources: CHP Border Division Area office pages; SDPD; San Diego County Sheriff's Office.
The responding officer's card or your incident number tells you which agency has the report. If you crashed near a city line, check before you request, because each agency only releases its own reports.
How to get your San Diego crash report
Drivers, injured passengers, vehicle owners and their lawyers can get a copy Veh. Code 20012. For SDPD, wait three to 10 business days, then order online through LexisNexis eCrash or pay $12 by mail or in person. For CHP, submit form CHP 190 to your nearest CHP Area office.
SDPD reports
Request online through LexisNexis eCrash, by mail to SDPD Records MS#726, P.O. Box 121431, San Diego, CA 92112, or in person at 1401 Broadway, Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mail and walk-in requests cost $12 per report, payable to the City Treasurer. Include a stamped, self-addressed envelope with a mailed request.
CHP reports
Complete the CHP 190, Application for Release of Information, and mail it or bring it to your nearest CHP Area office. Attach a copy of your driver's license or photo ID, or have the form notarized. CHP charges $10 for a report of up to 25 pages and more for longer reports. By mail, send a check or money order payable to the California Highway Patrol, not cash.
Sheriff reports
Ask the Sheriff's station that responded, or the Sheriff's Records and Identification Division. Bring a government photo ID.
Once you hire us, we order the report and follow up on photos, diagrams and witness statements. Reports contain mistakes, and a fault conclusion in a report is not the final word.
Crashes with a city vehicle, MTS bus or trolley, or Caltrans highway
You usually have six months from the crash to file a written claim with the public agency, for injuries and for vehicle damage Gov. Code 911.2. If the agency rejects the claim in writing, you generally have six months from that notice to sue Gov. Code 945.6. Each agency has its own filing office.
| Agency | Examples | Where the claim goes |
|---|---|---|
| City of San Diego | Police cars, trash trucks, city streets and signals | Risk Management Department, through the city's online claims portal or on form RM-9 mailed to 1200 Third Ave., Suite 1000, San Diego 92101. The city no longer accepts claims by email. |
| County of San Diego | County vehicles and county-maintained roads | Office of County Counsel, Claims and Investigation Division, 1600 Pacific Highway, Room 335, San Diego 92101. Fax filings are not accepted. |
| MTS | MTS buses and the San Diego Trolley | The MTS Claims Administrator, on the form MTS provides. MTS policy applies the claims rules to San Diego Transit Corporation and San Diego Trolley, Inc. |
| Caltrans (State of California) | Dangerous conditions on state highways and freeways | Claims of $12,500 or less may be filed directly with the Caltrans district claims office on form DOT LD-0274. Larger claims go to the state's Government Claims Program. |
The usual pause for minors does not apply to claims against public agencies CCP 352(b). If you missed the six-month deadline, you can apply to the agency for leave to file a late claim within one year of the crash Gov. Code 911.4. The agency must grant it for a child who was a minor for the whole six months Gov. Code 911.6. If the agency denies it, you can ask the court for relief, but relief is not guaranteed Gov. Code 946.6. Other public agencies, such as cities with their own fleets, follow the same six-month rule. Our senior litigation paralegal, Jennifer Kearney, brings knowledge of the California Tort Claims Act to these deadlines.
Uninsured, underinsured and hit-and-run drivers
When the at-fault driver has no insurance, too little insurance or drives off, your own uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is often what pays. California policies include UM coverage unless you deleted it in writing Ins. Code 11580.2(a). A hit-and-run claim has strict reporting steps.
For a hit-and-run to count as an uninsured motorist claim, there must have been physical contact with you or your car, the crash must be reported to police within 24 hours, and a sworn statement must be filed with your insurer within 30 days Ins. Code 11580.2(b). In the City of San Diego, call 911 for any hit-and-run with injuries. On a freeway, report it to CHP.
Underinsured motorist coverage can apply when the other driver's limits are lower than your own UM limits Ins. Code 11580.2(p). California's minimum liability policy pays only $30,000 per person, so we review your policy on every serious case.
If you were the one without insurance, Prop 213 can limit pain and suffering damages, with exceptions Civ. Code 3333.4. Our statewide car accident page explains those rules in full.
San Diego car accident settlement calculator
Our free calculator gives an illustrative damages calculation in about a minute. It applies California's pure comparative fault rule, the Prop 213 limits and the two-year filing deadline. It does not value your claim. San Diego juries and insurers weigh each case on its own facts, so call us to talk through your result.
Have your medical bills, missed pay and repair estimate ready. For a longer explanation, open the car accident settlement calculator page.
Illustration only. Not a guarantee. This automated illustration is not an attorney’s valuation of your claim. It does not determine available insurance coverage or account for attorney fees, costs, or liens. Actual recovery may be substantially lower, including zero.
It gives a rough illustrative damages calculation for general information. It is not legal advice and does not predict or promise any result. Using it, or sending us your answers, does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Where a San Diego car accident lawsuit is filed
Car accident lawsuits in the county go to San Diego Superior Court. Under the court's local rules, civil cases from the East and South County are handled with the Central Division at the Hall of Justice downtown. North County cases are filed at the North County Regional Center in Vista.
- Hall of Justice, 330 West Broadway, Room 225, San Diego, CA 92101
- North County Regional Center, 325 South Melrose Drive, Vista, CA 92081
The court assigns a location by the ZIP code or city where the person or company being sued lives or does business, or where the crash happened. Most injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the crash CCP 335.1. Most cases settle, often through mediation, and we prepare you for any deposition.
Why San Diego drivers call Green Law Group
You work directly with an attorney from our office in the UTC area near I-5 and La Jolla Village Drive. Steven D. Green trained surgeons in the operating room before law school, so he knows how to read spine imaging and surgical records. The case review is free, and phones are answered 24/7.
Before law school, Steven was a manager for several medical device companies and trained surgeons in the operating room on spinal fusion, disc replacement and cardiac laser systems. Many crash injuries are neck injuries, back injuries or spinal cord injuries, and that background helps us explain what an MRI or a fusion surgery means for your future. Read more about Steven D. Green.
We also handle San Diego motorcycle crashes, bicycle crashes and truck collisions. For local help with other injuries, visit our San Diego personal injury lawyer page, or see nearby cities such as Chula Vista, Oceanside, Carlsbad and Escondido. We take cases in all 58 California counties. Ready to talk? Contact us or call (888) 264-3780.
Reviewed by Steven D. Green, Esq. · Updated October 19, 2026
Client reviews
What clients say after a crash
“Due to Steven Green at Green Law Group we were issued the full amount of uninsured motorist coverage through my insurance company.”
“Steven will cut right through the noise and directly tell you the objective facts, which I highly appreciated.”
“Steve and his team were always available, handled all insurance details and my questions always with complete professionalism.”
Testimonials and reviews do not guarantee, warrant or predict the outcome of any legal matter.
Questions
San Diego car accident questions, answered
Who do I call after a car accident on a San Diego freeway?
Call 911 if anyone is hurt or a lane is blocked. The California Highway Patrol handles freeway crashes in San Diego County, and its non-emergency line for freeway problems is 1-800-835-5247. CHP's San Diego, Oceanside and El Cajon Area offices write the reports for crashes in their territory.
Will San Diego police come to a car accident with no injuries?
Usually not. The San Diego Police Department says it responds only to injury crashes and to hit-and-runs with injuries or suspect leads. In a damage-only crash, exchange information with the other driver, take photos and notify your insurer. You may still need to file an SR-1 with the DMV within 10 days if damage tops $1,000.
How do I get a San Diego police traffic collision report?
Wait three to 10 business days, then request it online through LexisNexis eCrash, by mail to SDPD Records, or in person at 1401 Broadway, Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. SDPD charges $12 per report for mail and in-person requests. CHP reports are requested on form CHP 190, mailed or brought to your nearest CHP Area office.
How long do I have to file a claim if an MTS bus or trolley hit me?
Usually six months from the crash (Government Code section 911.2). MTS requires claims against MTS, San Diego Transit Corporation and San Diego Trolley, Inc. to follow the Government Claims Act. The same six-month rule applies to crashes with City of San Diego or County vehicles and to dangerous conditions on Caltrans highways.
What if the driver who hit me in San Diego was uninsured or fled?
Your own uninsured motorist coverage may pay. For a hit-and-run claim, California law requires that there was physical contact, that the crash was reported to police within 24 hours, and that a sworn statement was filed with your insurer within 30 days (Insurance Code section 11580.2(b)). Report a hit-and-run right away.
Where would my San Diego car accident lawsuit be filed?
In San Diego Superior Court. Civil cases from central, east and south county go to the Hall of Justice at 330 West Broadway downtown. North County civil cases go to the North County Regional Center at 325 South Melrose Drive in Vista. Most car accident cases settle before trial.
How much does a San Diego car accident lawyer cost?
Green Law Group works on a contingency fee: no fee unless we win, and no costs if we don't. The firm advances case costs and is reimbursed from the recovery. California requires the fee agreement to be in writing and to state that the fee is negotiable (Business and Professions Code section 6147). The case review is free.
Hurt in a San Diego car accident? Talk to an attorney today.
Free case review. No fee unless we win, and no costs if we don't. Phones answered 24 hours a day.