If you were injured in a car crash, a fall or another accident in Long 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 Long Beach specifically, and how our Los Angeles personal injury attorneys can help.
Looking for a Long Beach personal injury lawyer? B&D Law Group, APLC handles Long Beach car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian and premises injury cases, and the first consultation is free.
Getting your Long Beach collision report
For crashes inside city limits, the Long Beach Police Department provides collision reports:
- Complete the LBPD Application for Release of Traffic Collision and/or Crime Report and submit it by mail or hand delivery to Long Beach Police Department, ATTN: Information Management Division, 400 West Broadway, Long Beach, CA 90802. Mailed requests must include a copy of photo ID.
- A non-refundable $30 processing fee applies to each application.
- The department says processing time varies and can take up to about six months, so request the report early.
Freeway crashes are generally handled by the California Highway Patrol. The CHP South Los Angeles Area office, at 19700 Hamilton Avenue in Torrance, lists Long Beach among the communities it serves.
Long Beach roads where serious crashes happen
According to the city’s General Plan Mobility Element, I-405 runs east-west through the middle of Long Beach, I-710 runs north-south on the west side, SR-91 crosses the north part of the city and I-605 serves East Long Beach. Pacific Coast Highway is the main east-west regional corridor and Lakewood Boulevard the main north-south corridor in east Long Beach. The busiest east-west streets include Pacific Coast Highway, Anaheim Street, 7th Street and Ocean Boulevard; key north-south streets include Pacific Avenue, Long Beach Boulevard and Atlantic Avenue.
The California Office of Traffic Safety’s most recent crash rankings (2023 data) counted 3,774 people killed or injured in Long Beach crashes that year, including 339 pedestrians, 213 bicyclists and 182 motorcyclists, with 373 victims in alcohol-involved crashes. Long Beach ranked 1st 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. Long Beach also ranked 2nd of the 15 for pedestrian, bicyclist and motorcyclist victims. (OTS crash rankings)
When the City of Long Beach or another public agency may be responsible
- City streets and sidewalks: government claims against the City of Long Beach are filed with the City Clerk, 411 West Ocean Blvd (City Hall, Lobby Level), Long Beach, CA 90802, by mail, hand delivery or the city’s online claim form. The City Attorney’s Office then handles the claim.
- Buses: Long Beach Transit operates the city’s bus service; its mailing address is 1963 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach, CA 90813.
Either way, the six-month claim deadline below applies, so it is worth sorting out the right agency early.
Courts serving Long Beach
Long Beach has its own courthouse, the Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse at 275 Magnolia Avenue, but Los Angeles Superior Court local rules generally require unlimited personal injury lawsuits to be filed at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles. If your case goes to court, we handle where and how it is filed.
Cases we handle for people hurt in Long Beach
Our personal injury attorneys represent people injured in Long Beach in cases including:
You can also read about our past case results and what clients say about working with us.
What a Long 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 Long 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 Long 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.
Long Beach personal injury FAQ
How much does a personal injury lawyer cost in Long 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 Long 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 Long 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 Long 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 Long Beach claims go.
Where do I get my Long Beach accident report?
The “Getting your Long 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 Long Beach:
- Torrance personal injury attorneys
- Downey personal injury attorneys
- Huntington Beach personal injury attorneys
- Inglewood personal injury attorneys
- Anaheim personal injury attorneys
- Costa Mesa 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 Long Beach 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.