If you were injured in a car crash, a fall or another accident in Murrieta, 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 Murrieta specifically, and how our Orange County personal injury attorneys can help.
Looking for a Murrieta personal injury lawyer? B&D Law Group, APLC handles Murrieta car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian and premises injury cases, and the first consultation is free.
Getting your Murrieta collision report
For crashes inside city limits, the Murrieta Police Department Records Unit provides traffic collision reports in person or online:
- In person: fill out the request form and provide a copy of valid government identification at the front counter of the Murrieta Police Station. Records staff have up to ten working days to process the request and will call you when the report is ready to pick up.
- The in-person fee is $19.90, payable by cash, check, MasterCard, Visa or Discover. Card payments carry a 2.9% service fee charged by a third-party provider.
- Online: reports are available through LexisNexis for a $19.90 convenience fee. It can take up to ten working days for a report to be uploaded. LexisNexis customer service: (866) 215-2771.
- Questions: Records Unit, (951) 304-2677.
Freeway crashes are generally handled by the California Highway Patrol. The CHP Temecula Area office, at 27685 Commerce Center Drive, Temecula, serves southern Riverside County and patrols Interstate 15 and Interstate 215, along with State Routes 74, 79 and 371.
Major roads in Murrieta
According to the Executive Summary of the Program Environmental Impact Report for the city’s General Plan 2035, regional access to Murrieta is provided by Interstates 15 and 215. The plan’s Circulation Element includes policies on the Jefferson Avenue Corridor and supports building the French Valley Parkway connector system south of the I-15/I-215 confluence and a new east-west corridor and interchange at Keller Road.
The California Office of Traffic Safety’s most recent crash rankings (2023 data) counted 380 people killed or injured in Murrieta crashes that year, including 21 pedestrians, 28 bicyclists and 33 motorcyclists, with 28 victims in alcohol-involved crashes. Among 62 California cities with populations of 100,001 to 250,000, Murrieta ranked 34th for total victims, where 1st is worst. Murrieta ranked 2nd of the 62 for motorcyclist victims and 7th for speed-related 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 Murrieta or another public agency may be responsible
- City streets and sidewalks: claims against the City of Murrieta are made on the Claim for Money or Damages form listed on the City Clerk’s forms page and submitted in person or by mail to the City Clerk Department, 1 Town Square, Murrieta, CA 92562. The city does not accept electronic submissions.
Whichever agency is involved, the six-month claim deadline below applies, so it is worth sorting out the right agency early.
Courts serving Murrieta
Under a Riverside County Superior Court administrative order effective August 1, 2026, unlimited civil cases from Murrieta are filed at the Riverside Historic Courthouse, 4050 Main Street, Riverside. If your case goes to court, we handle where and how it is filed.
Cases we handle for people hurt in Murrieta
Our personal injury attorneys represent people injured in Murrieta in cases including:
You can also read about our past case results and what clients say about working with us.
What a Murrieta 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 Murrieta 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 Murrieta 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.
Murrieta personal injury FAQ
How much does a personal injury lawyer cost in Murrieta?
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 Murrieta?
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 Murrieta 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 Murrieta?
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 Murrieta claims go.
Where do I get my Murrieta accident report?
The “Getting your Murrieta 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 Murrieta:
- Temecula personal injury attorneys
- Mission Viejo personal injury attorneys
- Carlsbad personal injury attorneys
- Riverside personal injury attorneys
- Corona personal injury attorneys
- Escondido 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 Murrieta and across southwest Riverside County. Our nearest office is the 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.