If you were injured in a car crash, a fall or another accident in Lincoln, 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 Lincoln specifically, and how our San Francisco personal injury attorneys can help.
Looking for a Lincoln personal injury lawyer? B&D Law Group, APLC handles Lincoln car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian and premises injury cases, and the first consultation is free.
Getting your Lincoln collision report
For crashes inside city limits, the Lincoln Police Department Records Unit provides copies of vehicle collision reports:
- Allow at least 45 days from the date of the collision.
- Request a report online through the department’s electronic Report Request Form, in person at the Records Unit, or by mail with a completed Release of Information Form sent to Lincoln Police Department, Records, 770 7th Street, Lincoln, CA 95648.
- Reports involving emergency vehicles, a fatality, a felony hit-and-run, or a juvenile who is the subject of a criminal citation cannot be released online and must be requested by mail or in person.
- Involved drivers, injured people, property owners, insurers and their attorneys may request reports. Attorneys must include a declaration under penalty of perjury that they represent the person.
- For questions, the Records Unit can be reached at (916) 645-4040.
Freeway crashes are generally handled by the California Highway Patrol. The CHP Auburn Area office, at 9440 Indian Hill Road in Newcastle, describes its primary responsibility as traffic management and collision investigation in the unincorporated areas of Placer County. Its page notes that State Route 65 runs north from Interstate 80 toward Roseville, Rocklin and Lincoln, but it does not say the office covers the city of Lincoln, so the CHP can confirm which office took a particular report. The office’s phone is (530) 401-9910.
Major roads in Lincoln
According to a 2015 traffic impact analysis published by the city, State Route 65, which begins at Interstate 80 in Roseville, is a four-lane freeway with interchanges at Ferrari Ranch Road, Lincoln Boulevard and Twelve Bridges Drive in the City of Lincoln. The highway used to run directly through downtown Lincoln as F Street and was rebuilt as the Lincoln Bypass. Lincoln Boulevard, formerly F Street and SR 65, runs through downtown, and Joiner Parkway is a north-south roadway that begins in the western part of downtown.
The California Office of Traffic Safety’s most recent crash rankings (2023 data) counted 75 people killed or injured in Lincoln crashes that year, including 6 pedestrians, 2 bicyclists and 9 motorcyclists, with 14 victims in alcohol-involved crashes. Among 103 California cities with populations of 50,001 to 100,000, Lincoln ranked 97th for total victims, where 1st is worst. 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 Lincoln or another public agency may be responsible
- City streets and sidewalks: according to the city’s claims page, the City Clerk’s Office is the only office that accepts claims against the City of Lincoln. Claims should not be sent to the City Attorney or any other city department. The claim form can be completed electronically, picked up in person at City Hall, City Clerk’s Department, 600 Sixth Street, Lincoln, or requested by mail by calling the City Clerk at (916) 434-2494.
Whichever agency is involved, the six-month claim deadline below applies, so it is worth sorting out the right agency early.
Courts serving Lincoln
Placer County Superior Court lists civil cases among those served at its main courthouse, the Hon. Howard G. Gibson Courthouse, 10820 Justice Center Drive, Roseville. If your case goes to court, we handle where and how it is filed.
Cases we handle for people hurt in Lincoln
Our personal injury attorneys represent people injured in Lincoln in cases including:
You can also read about our past case results and what clients say about working with us.
What a Lincoln 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 Lincoln 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 Lincoln 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.
Lincoln personal injury FAQ
How much does a personal injury lawyer cost in Lincoln?
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 Lincoln?
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 Lincoln 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 Lincoln?
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 Lincoln claims go.
Where do I get my Lincoln accident report?
The “Getting your Lincoln 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 Lincoln:
- Roseville personal injury attorneys
- Citrus Heights personal injury attorneys
- Folsom personal injury attorneys
- Sacramento personal injury attorneys
- Elk Grove personal injury attorneys
- Stockton personal injury attorneys
- Our San Francisco office
- All areas we serve
Talk to a B&D Law Group attorney
B&D Law Group, APLC represents people hurt in Lincoln and across Placer County. Our nearest office is the 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.