If you were injured in a car crash, a fall or another accident in Hayward, 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 Hayward specifically, and how our San Francisco personal injury attorneys can help.
Looking for a Hayward personal injury lawyer? B&D Law Group, APLC handles Hayward car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian and premises injury cases, and the first consultation is free.
Getting your Hayward collision report
For crashes inside city limits, the Hayward Police Department provides copies of traffic accident reports:
- Reports can be obtained by those involved in the accident, in person or by mail.
- By mail, send a written request with the date, time and location of the accident and the report number if known, with a check or money order payable to the Hayward Police Department, to Hayward Police Department, Attn: Records Unit, 300 W. Winton Ave., Hayward, CA 94544.
- Processing takes 10 working days per report. Office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and the phone is 510.293.7023.
- The fee differs between the city’s accident report page and its police report request page, so confirm the current fee with the department before you pay.
- For accidents in unincorporated areas such as Castro Valley, Cherryland and San Lorenzo, the city directs people to the California Highway Patrol at 510.581.9028.
Freeway crashes are generally handled by the California Highway Patrol. The CHP Hayward Area office, at 2434 Whipple Road in Hayward, covers the southwest portion of Alameda County, and its page lists I-580, I-880, I-238, SR-84, SR-92 and SR-262 among its freeways. Its page does not list the City of Hayward among the areas it serves, so the CHP can confirm which office took a particular report. The office’s phone is (510) 489-1500.
Major roads in Hayward
According to the city’s 2040 General Plan Mobility Element, Hayward is a major crossroad for the interstate highways I-238, I-580 and I-880 and the state highways SR 92 and SR 185. The element notes that two BART lines, Fremont-Richmond and Fremont-Daly City/Millbrae, serve the city, and it commits the city to work with AC Transit on bus routes and service times.
The California Office of Traffic Safety’s most recent crash rankings (2023 data) counted 378 people killed or injured in Hayward crashes that year, including 57 pedestrians, 24 bicyclists and 28 motorcyclists, with 30 victims in alcohol-involved crashes. Among 62 California cities with populations of 100,001 to 250,000, Hayward ranked 60th for total victims, where 1st is worst. Hayward ranked 11th of 62 for pedestrians under 15 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 Hayward or another public agency may be responsible
- City streets and sidewalks: claims against the City of Hayward go on the city’s claim form. According to the city’s claims page, after signing it, you deliver the completed form to the City Clerk, 777 B Street, 4th Floor, Hayward, CA 94541, 510.583.4400. Questions about a claim’s status go to Risk Management at 510.583.4450.
- AC Transit: claims against AC Transit go on its Claim for Damages form to the AC Transit District Secretary, 1600 Franklin Street, Oakland, CA 94612, by mail or in person. AC Transit does not accept claims by fax or email.
Whichever agency is involved, the six-month claim deadline below applies, so it is worth sorting out the right agency early.
Courts serving Hayward
Alameda County Superior Court’s Hayward Hall of Justice, 24405 Amador Street, Hayward, lists civil cases among the cases it serves. The court’s Civil Division lists Hayward as one of its civil court locations, along with Alameda and two locations in Oakland. If your case goes to court, we handle where and how it is filed.
Cases we handle for people hurt in Hayward
Our personal injury attorneys represent people injured in Hayward in cases including:
You can also read about our past case results and what clients say about working with us.
What a Hayward 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 Hayward 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 Hayward 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.
Hayward personal injury FAQ
How much does a personal injury lawyer cost in Hayward?
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 Hayward?
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 Hayward 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 Hayward?
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 Hayward claims go.
Where do I get my Hayward accident report?
The “Getting your Hayward 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 Hayward:
- Fremont personal injury attorneys
- Oakland personal injury attorneys
- San Mateo personal injury attorneys
- Walnut Creek personal injury attorneys
- San Francisco personal injury attorneys
- Sunnyvale personal injury attorneys
- Our San Francisco office
- Bay Area personal injury attorneys
- All areas we serve
Talk to a B&D Law Group attorney
B&D Law Group, APLC represents people hurt in Hayward from our San Francisco office at 50 California St, Suite 1500, San Francisco, CA 94111. 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.