If you were injured in a car crash, a fall or another accident in El Monte, 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 El Monte specifically, and how our Los Angeles personal injury attorneys can help.
Looking for a El Monte personal injury lawyer? B&D Law Group, APLC handles El Monte car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian and premises injury cases, and the first consultation is free.
Getting your El Monte collision report
El Monte has its own police department. Its Records page says Records Technicians prepare and retrieve crime and traffic collision reports, and links an application for release of police reports.
- The police FAQ says police report copies are requested in person at the Police Lobby using a request form, that there is no charge for copies, and that release typically takes about 10 business days. It does not say whether collision reports follow the same process, so call the Records Bureau at (626) 580-2115 to confirm.
- The Records page lists El Monte City Hall, 11333 Valley Blvd, El Monte, CA 91731, and the general City line, (626) 580-2001.
Freeway crashes are generally handled by the California Highway Patrol. The CHP Baldwin Park Area office, at 14039 Francisquito Avenue in Baldwin Park, lists Interstate 10 and State Route 60 among its freeways. The page does not name El Monte, so ask the CHP which office took a particular report. The office’s phone is (626) 338-1164.
Major roads in El Monte
According to the City’s Vision El Monte General Plan (2011), Interstate 10 divides the city and Interstate 605 frames its eastern end. Valley Boulevard is the historic spine, with Peck Road, Tyler Avenue, Santa Anita Avenue and Durfee Road running north-south and Garvey Avenue, Ramona Boulevard and Lower Azusa Road running east-west.
The California Office of Traffic Safety’s most recent crash rankings (2023 data) counted 553 people killed or injured in El Monte crashes that year, including 35 pedestrians, 49 bicyclists and 12 motorcyclists, with 74 victims in alcohol-involved crashes. Among 62 California cities in its population group, El Monte ranked 8th for total people killed or injured, 6th for bicyclists and 10th 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 El Monte or another public agency may be responsible
- City streets and sidewalks: the City’s claims FAQ says claims against the City of El Monte are filed with the City Clerk’s Office, and that forms are available there and can be mailed on request. The City posts a Claim for Damages form. City Hall is at 11333 Valley Boulevard, El Monte, CA 91731, (626) 580-2001.
Whichever agency is involved, the six-month claim deadline below applies, so it is worth sorting out the right agency early.
Courts serving El Monte
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 El Monte Courthouse, 11234 East Valley Boulevard, is part of the court’s East District. If your case goes to court, we handle where and how it is filed.
Cases we handle for people hurt in El Monte
Our personal injury attorneys represent people injured in El Monte in cases including:
You can also read about our past case results and what clients say about working with us.
What a El Monte 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 El Monte 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 El Monte 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.
El Monte personal injury FAQ
How much does a personal injury lawyer cost in El Monte?
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 El Monte?
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 El Monte 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 El Monte?
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 El Monte claims go.
Where do I get my El Monte accident report?
The “Getting your El Monte 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 El Monte:
- Alhambra personal injury attorneys
- Arcadia personal injury attorneys
- Covina personal injury attorneys
- West Covina personal injury attorneys
- Pasadena personal injury attorneys
- Pomona 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 El Monte 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.