If you were injured in a car crash, a fall or another accident in Fresno, 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 Fresno specifically, and how our Bakersfield personal injury attorneys can help.
Looking for a Fresno personal injury lawyer? B&D Law Group, APLC handles Fresno car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian and premises injury cases, and the first consultation is free.
Getting your Fresno collision report
For crashes inside city limits, the Fresno Police Department provides collision reports to drivers, passengers, their authorized representatives and people filing a claim:
- Reports are available online through My Collision Report 48 hours after the crash, for a small fee.
- By mail: send a written request with your name, case number, date and time, type of incident, reason for the request and a copy of your driver’s license to Fresno Police Department, Attention: Records Bureau, P.O. Box 1271, Fresno, CA 93715-1271.
- In person: the Records Bureau public counter at Police Headquarters, 2323 Mariposa Mall, Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
- The department lists no charge for accident reports except reports over 10 pages, which cost $0.20 per page.
Freeway crashes are generally handled by the California Highway Patrol. The CHP Fresno Area office, at 1380 E. Fortune Ave., lists Fresno among the communities it serves.
Fresno roads where serious crashes happen
According to the city’s General Plan Mobility and Transportation Element, State Route 99 crosses Fresno from northwest to southeast, State Routes 41 and 180 bisect the city north-south and east-west, and State Route 168 links Fresno to Clovis and the Sierra. Major streets named in the plan include Blackstone Avenue, Golden State Boulevard, Kings Canyon Road, Shaw Avenue, California Avenue and Friant Road.
The California Office of Traffic Safety’s most recent crash rankings (2023 data) counted 1,600 people killed or injured in Fresno crashes that year, including 202 pedestrians, 88 bicyclists and 57 motorcyclists, with 238 victims in alcohol-involved crashes. Fresno ranked 12th of 15 large California cities (populations over 250,000) for total victims, where 1st is worst. OTS weights its rankings by population and miles driven, so the rank is not a simple head count. The city ranked 2nd of the 15 for pedestrian victims under age 15. (OTS crash rankings)
When the City of Fresno or another public agency may be responsible
- City streets, sidewalks and FAX buses: claims against the City of Fresno are delivered or mailed on the city’s Claim for Damages form to Risk Management, 2600 Fresno Street, Room 1030, Fresno, CA 93721. The city also runs the Fresno Area Express (FAX) bus system, so a crash involving a FAX bus may involve a claim against the city.
The six-month claim deadline below applies, so it is worth acting early.
Courts serving Fresno
Fresno County Superior Court hears unlimited civil cases at the B.F. Sisk Courthouse. The court lists its Civil Unlimited location as 1130 O Street, Fresno. If your case goes to court, we handle where and how it is filed.
Cases we handle for people hurt in Fresno
Our personal injury attorneys represent people injured in Fresno in cases including:
You can also read about our past case results and what clients say about working with us.
What a Fresno 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 Fresno 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 Fresno 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.
Fresno personal injury FAQ
How much does a personal injury lawyer cost in Fresno?
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 Fresno?
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 Fresno 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 Fresno?
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 Fresno claims go.
Where do I get my Fresno accident report?
The “Getting your Fresno 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 Fresno:
- Visalia personal injury attorneys
- Merced personal injury attorneys
- Modesto personal injury attorneys
- Salinas personal injury attorneys
- Bakersfield personal injury attorneys
- San Luis Obispo personal injury attorneys
- Our Bakersfield office
- All areas we serve
Talk to a B&D Law Group attorney
B&D Law Group, APLC represents people hurt in Fresno and across the Central Valley. Our nearest office is the Bakersfield office at 4900 California Ave, Tower B, 2nd Floor, Bakersfield, CA 93309. 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.