If you were injured in a car crash, a fall or another accident in Huntington Beach, 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 Huntington Beach specifically, and how our Orange County personal injury attorneys can help.
Looking for a Huntington Beach personal injury lawyer? B&D Law Group, APLC handles Huntington Beach car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian and premises injury cases, and the first consultation is free.
Getting your Huntington Beach collision report
For crashes inside city limits, the Huntington Beach Police Department provides traffic collision reports to the people involved. Here is how it works:
- Reports can be requested online through HBPD’s “Request Copy of Report” link, and credit card payments can be made online. Payment can also be made in person at the Public Records counter.
- Collision reports can be released to drivers involved, registered owners of the vehicles, parents of a minor driver, passengers listed in the report, insurance companies, anyone with property damage or civil liability from the crash, and attorneys representing any of them.
- Proof of valid identification is required, and HBPD says it is unable to process a request without verifying your identity.
- HBPD may withhold a report if releasing it would endanger the safety of a witness or other involved party, or the successful completion of an investigation.
- The Records Bureau public counter is open 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and offers 24-hour phone assistance at (714) 536-5641.
Freeway crashes are generally handled by the California Highway Patrol. The CHP Westminster Area office, at 13200 Goldenwest Street, Westminster, patrols Interstate 5, Interstate 405, Interstate 605 and State Routes 22 and 91. The office’s phone is (714) 622-3600.
Major roads in Huntington Beach
According to the city’s General Plan Circulation Element (adopted 2017), the San Diego Freeway (I-405) is the major north-south freeway, crossing the northeastern part of the city, and Pacific Coast Highway (SR 1) runs parallel to the coast on the west side. Beach Boulevard is designated by OCTA as a smart street arterial, a class of six- to eight-lane roads with enhanced capacity, and Warner Avenue and Goldenwest Street are among the city’s major and primary arterials. The plan notes that Beach Boulevard (SR 39) and Pacific Coast Highway (SR 1) are under Caltrans jurisdiction, which matters if a road defect on either one played a part in a crash.
The California Office of Traffic Safety’s most recent crash rankings (2023 data) counted 1,076 people killed or injured in Huntington Beach crashes that year, including 55 pedestrians, 198 bicyclists and 52 motorcyclists, with 172 victims in alcohol-involved crashes. Among 62 California cities with populations of 100,001 to 250,000, Huntington Beach ranked 23rd for total victims, where 1st is worst. Huntington Beach ranked 1st of 62 for bicyclists killed or injured, the worst in its group, and 7th of 62 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 Huntington Beach or another public agency may be responsible
- City streets and sidewalks: a Claim Against the City of Huntington Beach must be mailed or delivered to the City Clerk, 2000 Main Street, P.O. Box 190, Huntington Beach, CA 92648.
- State highways: the city’s General Plan places Beach Boulevard and Pacific Coast Highway under Caltrans jurisdiction, so a claim about those roads may belong with the State rather than the City.
- Buses: OCTA, Orange County’s transit agency, runs the county’s bus system. OCTA’s Claim for Damages form is mailed to OCTA Risk Management, P.O. Box 14184, Orange, CA 92863-9831.
Whichever agency is involved, the six-month claim deadline below applies, so it is worth sorting out the right agency early.
Courts serving Huntington Beach
Orange County Superior Court hears unlimited civil cases for all Orange County cities, Huntington Beach included, at the Central Justice Center, 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA 92701. If your case goes to court, we handle where and how it is filed.
Cases we handle for people hurt in Huntington Beach
Our personal injury attorneys represent people injured in Huntington Beach in cases including:
You can also read about our past case results and what clients say about working with us.
What a Huntington Beach 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 Huntington Beach 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 Huntington Beach 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.
Huntington Beach personal injury FAQ
How much does a personal injury lawyer cost in Huntington Beach?
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 Huntington Beach?
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 Huntington Beach 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 Huntington Beach?
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 Huntington Beach claims go.
Where do I get my Huntington Beach accident report?
The “Getting your Huntington Beach 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 Huntington Beach:
- Costa Mesa personal injury attorneys
- Santa Ana personal injury attorneys
- Irvine personal injury attorneys
- Tustin personal injury attorneys
- Anaheim personal injury attorneys
- Long Beach personal injury attorneys
- Our Orange County office
- All areas we serve
Talk to a B&D Law Group attorney
B&D Law Group, APLC represents people hurt in Huntington Beach from our Orange County office at 2 S. Pointe Dr, Ste 248, Lake Forest, CA 92630. 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.