If you were injured in a car crash, a fall or another accident in Madera, 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 Madera specifically, and how our Bakersfield personal injury attorneys can help.
Looking for a Madera personal injury lawyer? B&D Law Group, APLC handles Madera car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian and premises injury cases, and the first consultation is free.
Getting your Madera collision report
For crashes inside city limits, the Madera Police Department is the local agency. Its Criminal History and Police Reports page explains how to order a copy of a police report:
- Provide the incident number, or the date and time of the incident, plus the location where it occurred.
- Provide notarized photo identification.
- Fees may apply. The page lists $10.00 in its crime report fee schedule, and asks for a check or money order if you mail your request.
- Requests typically take 7 to 10 business days to process.
- The Police Department is at 330 S C Street, Madera, CA 93638. Its non-emergency line is (559) 675-4220.
Freeway crashes are generally handled by the California Highway Patrol. The CHP Madera Area office, at 3051 Airport Drive, Madera, CA 93637, lists traffic enforcement and collision investigation in unincorporated Madera County as its primary responsibility, and names State Routes 99, 152, 41 and 145 among its roads. Its phone number is (559) 507-8120, and it is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Major roads in Madera
A December 2021 draft environmental impact report for The Villages at Almond Grove Specific Plan, posted on the city’s website, describes State Route 99 as a north-south state highway and identifies Madera Avenue as State Route 145. The report names Avenue 17, Avenue 16, Cleveland Avenue, Westberry Boulevard, Howard Road and Olive Avenue as arterials in its study area.
The California Office of Traffic Safety’s most recent crash rankings (2023 data) counted 192 people killed or injured in Madera crashes that year, including 24 pedestrians, 10 bicyclists and 6 motorcyclists, with 31 victims in alcohol-involved crashes. Among 103 California cities with populations of 50,001 to 100,000, Madera ranked 55th for total victims, where 1st is worst. Madera ranked 1st of 103 for pedestrians under 15 killed and injured and 13th of 103 for hit-and-run fatal and injury crashes. 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 Madera or another public agency may be responsible
- City streets and sidewalks: under the Madera Municipal Code, a claim against the City of Madera is presented by delivering it to the Clerk of the Council, or by mailing it to the Clerk of the Council or the Council at Madera City Hall.
Whichever agency is involved, the six-month claim deadline below applies, so it is worth sorting out the right agency early.
Courts serving Madera
Madera County Superior Court describes the Madera Superior Court, 200 South G Street, Madera, CA 93637, as a full-service court handling all case types, and lists civil limited and unlimited cases among its divisions. If your case goes to court, we handle where and how it is filed.
Cases we handle for people hurt in Madera
Our personal injury attorneys represent people injured in Madera in cases including:
You can also read about our past case results and what clients say about working with us.
What a Madera 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 Madera 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 Madera 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.
Madera personal injury FAQ
How much does a personal injury lawyer cost in Madera?
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 Madera?
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 Madera 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 Madera?
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 Madera claims go.
Where do I get my Madera accident report?
The “Getting your Madera 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 Madera:
- Fresno personal injury attorneys
- Clovis personal injury attorneys
- Merced personal injury attorneys
- Hanford personal injury attorneys
- Visalia personal injury attorneys
- Tulare 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 Madera and across Madera County. 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.