If you were injured in a car crash, a fall or another accident in Downey, 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 Downey specifically, and how our Los Angeles personal injury attorneys can help.
Looking for a Downey personal injury lawyer? B&D Law Group, APLC handles Downey car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian and premises injury cases, and the first consultation is free.
Getting your Downey collision report
For crashes inside city limits, the Downey Police Department provides copies of traffic collision reports:
- The department’s Records page says accident reports are available online, through an account you register for.
- Or get a copy in person from the Records Bureau, where the listed fee is $1.60 for the first page and $1.10 for each additional page.
- The Records Bureau is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Its phone is (562) 904-2315.
- The department is at 10911 Brookshire Ave., Downey, CA 90241.
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 Downey among the southeast Los Angeles County cities it serves. The freeways its page names are Interstate 5, Interstate 105, Interstate 605, State Route 60 and State Route 91. The office’s phone is (562) 649-6800.
Major roads in Downey
The city’s 2020 General Plan Annual Report says Downey is provided regional access by four interstate highways: the I-605, I-5, I-105 and I-710 freeways. Its Circulation Element progress notes describe intersection projects on Lakewood Boulevard at Florence Avenue, Firestone Boulevard and Imperial Highway, and on Paramount Boulevard at Imperial Highway, along with traffic signal systems on Florence Avenue, Paramount Boulevard, Bellflower Boulevard and Imperial Highway. The report also mentions a bus transit priority system benefiting Metro and Downey LINK buses.
The California Office of Traffic Safety’s most recent crash rankings (2023 data) counted 736 people killed or injured in Downey crashes that year, including 54 pedestrians, 27 bicyclists and 24 motorcyclists, with 58 victims in alcohol-involved crashes. Among 62 California cities with populations of 100,001 to 250,000, Downey ranked 3rd for total victims, where 1st is worst. Downey also ranked 3rd of 62 for nighttime (9:00 p.m. to 2:59 a.m.) fatal and injury collisions. 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 Downey or another public agency may be responsible
- City streets and sidewalks: a claim against the City of Downey is filed with the City Clerk’s Office, by mail or in person at 11111 Brookshire Ave., 3rd floor, Downey, CA 90241. The Clerk’s page says claims will not be accepted electronically. The City Clerk’s phone is (562) 904-7280.
Whichever agency is involved, the six-month claim deadline below applies, so it is worth sorting out the right agency early.
Courts serving Downey
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 D. Antonovich Antelope Valley Courthouse, 42011 4th Street West, Lancaster. The local Downey Courthouse, 7500 East Imperial Highway, 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 Downey
Our personal injury attorneys represent people injured in Downey in cases including:
You can also read about our past case results and what clients say about working with us.
What a Downey 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 Downey 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 Downey 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.
Downey personal injury FAQ
How much does a personal injury lawyer cost in Downey?
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 Downey?
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 Downey 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 Downey?
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 Downey claims go.
Where do I get my Downey accident report?
The “Getting your Downey 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 Downey:
- Los Angeles personal injury attorneys
- Long Beach personal injury attorneys
- Inglewood personal injury attorneys
- Torrance personal injury attorneys
- West Covina personal injury attorneys
- Pasadena 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 Downey 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.