If you were hurt in a car crash in Los Angeles, the first weeks matter: which agency wrote the report, how much insurance is available, whether a public agency shares the blame, and which deadlines are already running. This page explains how those pieces work, and how our Los Angeles personal injury attorneys can help.
Looking for a Los Angeles car accident lawyer? B&D Law Group, APLC handles car accident cases across Los Angeles, and the first consultation is free.
Getting your Los Angeles collision report
For crashes inside the City of Los Angeles, the LAPD Records and Identification Division releases traffic collision reports to authorized people, such as those involved in the crash and their representatives, as provided in Vehicle Code section 20012. The LAPD says you can request a report online through LexisNexis or by mail to Los Angeles Police Department, Records and Identification Division, Document Processing Unit, P.O. Box 30158, Los Angeles, CA 90030. Its recorded line for questions or a status update is (213) 486-8130. Fees change, so check the LAPD’s current instructions before you pay. Crashes on state freeways, such as the 5, 10, 101 or 405, are generally investigated by the California Highway Patrol instead.
What to do after a car accident in Los Angeles
- Get medical care. Some injuries show up days later, and a prompt record links the injury to the crash.
- Exchange information and document the scene. Get names, plates and insurance details, and take photos of the vehicles, the road and any signals or signs.
- Report the crash to the DMV when required. A driver involved in a crash that injures anyone or causes more than $1,000 in property damage must report it to the DMV within 10 days (Vehicle Code section 16000).
- Notify your insurer, then talk to a lawyer before giving a recorded statement. The other side’s insurer is not working for you.
- Keep every record. Bills, missed work, repair estimates and the collision report all matter later.
Insurance limits and why they matter
California requires drivers to carry minimum liability coverage. For policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025, the minimums are $30,000 for bodily injury to one person, $60,000 for bodily injury to two or more people in one accident, and $15,000 for property damage (Vehicle Code section 16056). Those are floors, not a measure of what an injury is worth. Serious injuries can run past them, which is why we look at the at-fault driver’s actual policy, your own policy’s uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage if you have it, and any other responsible party such as an employer or a vehicle owner.
When the City of Los Angeles or another agency may be responsible
A broken traffic signal, a poorly maintained road or a city vehicle can make a public agency partly responsible for a crash. California does not allow a lawsuit against a public entity until a written claim has been presented and acted on (Government Code section 945.4), and a claim for injury to a person generally must be presented within six months of the incident (Government Code section 911.2). The City of Los Angeles accepts claims through the Office of the City Clerk online, by mail or in person at 200 North Spring Street, Room 395, City Hall, Los Angeles, CA 90012; the city does not accept claims by email or fax (see also the City Attorney claims page). Claims involving state roads, LA County or LA Metro go to those agencies, so identify the right one early.
Fault, deadlines and what a claim can cover
- Two years to file a lawsuit. Most California personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the injury (Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1).
- Six months for government claims. If a public agency may share the blame, the written claim deadline is much shorter (Government Code section 911.2).
- Shared fault reduces, but does not bar, your claim. California follows pure comparative fault, so your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault rather than eliminated (Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804).
Depending on the facts, a claim can seek compensation for medical bills, future care, lost income, reduced earning ability, property damage and the pain and disruption the injury has caused.
How a Los Angeles car accident 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 report described above, photos, witness information, insurance details 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 Los Angeles 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.
Cases we handle for people hurt in Los Angeles
Our personal injury attorneys represent people injured in Los Angeles in cases including:
You can also read about our past case results and what clients say about working with us.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Los Angeles car accident lawyer cost?
The consultation is free. We handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee, which means no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you.
How long do I have to file a car accident claim in Los Angeles?
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 crash?
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.
What if the other driver has little or no insurance?
For policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025, California requires minimum liability coverage of $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident for bodily injury and $15,000 for property damage (Vehicle Code section 16056). Serious injuries can exceed those amounts, so we look at every source of recovery, including your own policy’s uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage if you have it, and any other responsible party.
Where do I get my Los Angeles accident report?
If the LAPD responded, you can request the traffic collision report online through LexisNexis or by mail from the LAPD Records and Identification Division. If the California Highway Patrol responded, such as on a freeway, request it from the CHP office that handled the crash.
Related pages and nearby areas
More ways we help injured people across Los Angeles County:
- Los Angeles truck accident lawyer
- Los Angeles motorcycle accident lawyer
- Los Angeles pedestrian accident lawyer
- Los Angeles bicycle accident lawyer
- Los Angeles dog bite lawyer
- Los Angeles slip and fall lawyer
- Los Angeles wrongful death attorney
- California car accident attorneys
- Los Angeles personal injury attorneys
- Santa Monica personal injury lawyer
- Culver City personal injury lawyer
- Hollywood personal injury lawyer
- Inglewood personal injury lawyer
- Glendale personal injury lawyer
- Long Beach personal injury lawyer
- All California and Nevada areas we serve
Talk to a B&D Law Group attorney
B&D Law Group, APLC represents people hurt in Los Angeles from our Los Angeles office at 10700 Santa Monica Blvd, Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90025. 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 (310) 424-5252 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.