If you were injured in a car crash, a fall or another accident in Monterey, the first weeks decide a lot: which agency wrote the report, whether a public agency shares the blame, and which deadlines are already running. This page explains how those pieces work in Monterey specifically, and how our San Francisco personal injury attorneys can help.
Looking for a Monterey personal injury lawyer? B&D Law Group, APLC handles Monterey car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian and premises injury cases, and the first consultation is free.
Getting your Monterey collision report
For crashes inside city limits, the Monterey Police Department says that if you were involved in an accident, you may obtain a copy of that report:
- Submit the department’s Application for Release of Police Report, online or as a PDF. The application lists traffic collision as a report type and asks for a copy of your ID. You can also email a request with a copy of your ID.
- Hard copies cost $0.10 per page, and emailed requests are processed at no charge.
- The department is at 351 Madison Street, Monterey, CA 93940. The Records line is (831) 646-3830.
Highway crashes are generally handled by the California Highway Patrol. The CHP Monterey Area office is at 960 East Blanco Road in Salinas. Its page describes an area running from the Big Sur coastline to the highways of Monterey and the Salinas Valley. The office’s phone is (831) 770-8000.
Major roads in Monterey
According to the city’s General Plan Circulation Element, Monterey’s major arterial streets are Aguajito Road, Del Monte Avenue, Foam Street, Fremont Street, Lighthouse Avenue and Soledad Drive. The plan supports widening Holman Highway 68 to four lanes along its entire length and widening Highway 1 to six lanes between Highway 218 and the Fremont Boulevard interchange in Sand City. It names Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST) as the principal public transit operator serving Monterey.
The California Office of Traffic Safety’s most recent crash rankings (2023 data) counted 138 people killed or injured in Monterey crashes that year, including 15 pedestrians, 13 bicyclists and 10 motorcyclists, with 17 victims in alcohol-involved crashes. Among 93 California cities with populations of 25,001 to 50,000, Monterey ranked 14th for total victims, where 1st is worst. Monterey ranked 7th of 93 for pedestrians 65 and older killed or injured. OTS weights its rankings by population and miles driven, so a rank is not a simple head count. (OTS crash rankings)
When the City of Monterey or another public agency may be responsible
- City streets and sidewalks: the city’s Claim for Damages form says to file the original claim form with the City of Monterey Auditor, 735 Pacific St., Suite A, Monterey, CA 93940. The Auditor’s phone is (831) 646-3775. The Finance Department’s Risk Management office, which adjusts property and liability claims, is at (831) 646-3948.
Whichever agency is involved, the six-month claim deadline below applies, so it is worth sorting out the right agency early.
Courts serving Monterey
Monterey County Superior Court’s judicial assignments list its civil trial departments under the Monterey Courthouse, which the court’s locations page places at 1200 Aguajito Road, Monterey. If your case goes to court, we handle where and how it is filed.
Cases we handle for people hurt in Monterey
Our personal injury attorneys represent people injured in Monterey in cases including:
You can also read about our past case results and what clients say about working with us.
What a Monterey injury claim can cover
California law sorts personal injury damages into a few categories:
- Economic damages: objectively verifiable money losses, such as medical expenses, lost earnings and the cost of repairing or replacing property (Civil Code section 1431.2).
- Non-economic damages: subjective losses such as pain, suffering, emotional distress and loss of companionship (same section).
- Punitive damages: available only in limited cases, when it is proven by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant acted with oppression, fraud or malice (Civil Code section 3294).
What a particular claim is worth depends on the injuries, the evidence and the insurance available, so we review each case individually and never promise a result.
How a Monterey personal injury case usually moves
- Free consultation. You tell us what happened and we explain your options. There is no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you.
- Investigation. We gather the collision or incident report described above, photos, witness information and your medical records.
- Claim and negotiation. We present the claim to the insurance company and negotiate for a fair settlement.
- Government claim if needed. If the City of Monterey or another public agency may share responsibility, we prepare the written claim before the six-month deadline.
- Lawsuit if needed. If the case does not settle, we file a lawsuit in the proper California Superior Court and keep pushing toward trial.
Deadlines and fault rules that apply to every California injury claim
- Two years to file a lawsuit. Most personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the injury under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1.
- Six months for claims against a public agency. If a city, county or state agency may be responsible, for example because of a dangerous road condition or a government vehicle, a written claim generally must be presented within six months after the claim accrues under Government Code section 911.2. Missing that deadline can end the claim.
- Partly at fault does not mean no recovery. California uses pure comparative fault (Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804). If you share some of the blame, your compensation is reduced by your share rather than barred.
Monterey personal injury FAQ
How much does a personal injury lawyer cost in Monterey?
B&D Law Group, APLC handles personal injury cases on a contingency fee, which means no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you. The consultation is free.
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in Monterey?
Most California personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the injury (Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1). If a city, county or state agency may be responsible, a written claim generally must be presented within six months (Government Code section 911.2).
What if I was partly at fault for the Monterey accident?
California follows pure comparative fault (Li v. Yellow Cab Co.). If you share some of the blame, your compensation is reduced by your share rather than barred.
Can I make a claim against the City of Monterey?
Yes, but California requires a written claim to the public agency before a lawsuit can be filed (Government Code section 945.4), and the claim generally must be presented within six months. The section above on public agency claims explains where Monterey claims go.
Where do I get my Monterey accident report?
The “Getting your Monterey collision report” section above lists the agency that handles crashes inside city limits and how to request a copy. Freeway crashes are generally handled by the California Highway Patrol.
Nearby cities we serve
We also represent injured people in communities near Monterey:
- Salinas personal injury attorneys
- Santa Cruz personal injury attorneys
- San Jose personal injury attorneys
- Santa Clara personal injury attorneys
- Sunnyvale personal injury attorneys
- Fremont personal injury attorneys
- Our San Francisco office
- All areas we serve
Talk to a B&D Law Group attorney
B&D Law Group, APLC represents people hurt in Monterey and across Monterey County. Our nearest office is the San Francisco office at 50 California St, Suite 1500, San Francisco, CA 94111. The consultation is free, and we handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee, which means no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you. Call (888) 977-2238 or send us your case details.
Attorney advertising. This page is provided for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Reading this page or contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Agency procedures, fees and data on this page were checked against official sources in October 2026 and can change. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.