If you were injured in a car crash, a fall or another accident in Whittier, 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 Whittier specifically, and how our Los Angeles personal injury attorneys can help.
Looking for a Whittier personal injury lawyer? B&D Law Group, APLC handles Whittier car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian and premises injury cases, and the first consultation is free.
Getting your Whittier collision report
For crashes inside city limits, the Whittier Police Department Traffic Bureau investigates collisions in Whittier and Santa Fe Springs. Its line is (562) 567-9256.
- The Police Department is at 13200 Penn St., Whittier, CA 90602, (562) 567-9200. The department’s FAQ lists the public counter as open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Saturday, Sunday and holidays from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
- The Police Records page gives (562) 567-9131 as the Records line when the counter is closed.
- The City’s pages do not state a collision-report fee, an online portal or a waiting period, so call before you go.
Freeway crashes are generally handled by the California Highway Patrol. The CHP Santa Fe Springs Area office, at 10051 Orr and Day Road in Santa Fe Springs, lists Whittier among the communities it serves. Its phone is (562) 649-6800.
Major roads in Whittier
The City’s Whittier Boulevard Specific Plan (2015) describes Whittier Boulevard, also State Route 72, as the city’s east-west spine, with Hadley Street, Greenleaf Avenue, Painter Avenue and Colima Road among the busy cross streets. It places Interstate 5 at the city’s western boundary and notes that Interstate 605 is reached from Whittier Boulevard.
The California Office of Traffic Safety’s most recent crash rankings (2023 data) counted 419 people killed or injured in Whittier crashes that year, including 28 pedestrians, 16 bicyclists and 25 motorcyclists, with 48 victims in alcohol-involved crashes. Whittier ranked 32nd of 103 for total people 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 Whittier or another public agency may be responsible
- City streets and sidewalks: the City’s claim page directs claims against the City of Whittier to the City Clerk’s Department, 13230 Penn Street, Whittier, CA 90602, in person, and says a signed form may also be emailed to cc*@************er.org. The Clerk answers filing questions at (562) 567-9850. The claim form lists six months for death, bodily injury or personal property and one year for real property.
Whichever agency is involved, the six-month claim deadline below applies, so it is worth sorting out the right agency early.
Courts serving Whittier
Los Angeles Superior Court’s Local Rule 2.3 requires unlimited personal injury cases to be filed at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, 111 North Hill Street, Los Angeles, or the Michael Antonovich Antelope Valley Courthouse, 42011 4th Street West, Lancaster. The Whittier Courthouse, 7339 South Painter Avenue, is part of the court’s Southeast District. If your case goes to court, we handle where and how it is filed.
Cases we handle for people hurt in Whittier
Our personal injury attorneys represent people injured in Whittier in cases including:
You can also read about our past case results and what clients say about working with us.
What a Whittier 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 Whittier 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 Whittier 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.
Whittier personal injury FAQ
How much does a personal injury lawyer cost in Whittier?
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 Whittier?
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 Whittier 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 Whittier?
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 Whittier claims go.
Where do I get my Whittier accident report?
The “Getting your Whittier 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 Whittier:
- Norwalk personal injury attorneys
- Downey personal injury attorneys
- West Covina personal injury attorneys
- Lakewood personal injury attorneys
- Long Beach personal injury attorneys
- Los Angeles personal injury attorneys
- Our Los Angeles office
- All areas we serve
Talk to a B&D Law Group attorney
B&D Law Group, APLC represents people hurt in Whittier 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 (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.