If you were injured in a car crash, a fall or another accident in Hawthorne, 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 Hawthorne specifically, and how our Los Angeles personal injury attorneys can help.
Looking for a Hawthorne personal injury lawyer? B&D Law Group, APLC handles Hawthorne car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian and premises injury cases, and the first consultation is free.
Getting your Hawthorne collision report
For crashes inside city limits, the Hawthorne Police Department, 12501 S. Hawthorne Blvd., provides copies of traffic collision reports:
- Allow time after the collision for the department to process the report, and call before ordering if it is recent.
- Buy it online through LexisNexis eCrash, which adds a convenience fee to the report cost.
- Fatality, arrest and juvenile reports are not available online and are handled through the department’s Business Office.
- For general information, the Records Bureau’s number is (310) 349-2700.
Freeway crashes are generally handled by the California Highway Patrol. The CHP West Los Angeles Area office, at 6300 Bristol Parkway in Culver City, lists Hawthorne among the communities it serves. Its phone is (424) 577-8700.
Major roads in Hawthorne
The City’s capital projects page names Hawthorne Boulevard, Imperial Highway, Rosecrans Avenue, El Segundo Boulevard, Crenshaw Boulevard and 120th Street among its major streets, with access to Interstate 105 and Interstate 405.
The California Office of Traffic Safety’s most recent crash rankings (2023 data) counted 238 people killed or injured in Hawthorne crashes that year, including 47 pedestrians, 17 bicyclists and 11 motorcyclists, with 56 victims in alcohol-involved crashes. Hawthorne ranked 5th of 103 for pedestrians killed or injured and 20th for alcohol-involved victims. 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 Hawthorne or another public agency may be responsible
- City streets and sidewalks: claims against the City of Hawthorne go to the City Clerk, 4455 W. 126th Street, Hawthorne, CA 90250, (310) 349-2915.
Whichever agency is involved, the six-month claim deadline below applies, so it is worth sorting out the right agency early.
Courts serving Hawthorne
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. If your case goes to court, we handle where and how it is filed.
Cases we handle for people hurt in Hawthorne
Our personal injury attorneys represent people injured in Hawthorne in cases including:
You can also read about our past case results and what clients say about working with us.
What a Hawthorne 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 Hawthorne 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 Hawthorne 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.
Hawthorne personal injury FAQ
How much does a personal injury lawyer cost in Hawthorne?
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 Hawthorne?
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 Hawthorne 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 Hawthorne?
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 Hawthorne claims go.
Where do I get my Hawthorne accident report?
The “Getting your Hawthorne 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 Hawthorne:
- Inglewood personal injury attorneys
- Gardena personal injury attorneys
- Torrance personal injury attorneys
- Carson personal injury attorneys
- Compton personal injury attorneys
- Culver City 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 Hawthorne 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.