If you were injured in a car crash, a fall or another accident in Riverside, 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 Riverside specifically, and how our Orange County personal injury attorneys can help.
Looking for a Riverside personal injury lawyer? B&D Law Group, APLC handles Riverside car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian and premises injury cases, and the first consultation is free.
Getting your Riverside collision report
The Riverside Police Department Records Bureau provides collision reports to involved parties and registered owners of involved vehicles:
- Reports are available about 10 working days after the crash.
- In person at the front counter, 10540 Magnolia Ave., Ste B, Riverside, CA 92505, for a $20.00 fee, or by mail with a check or money order payable to the City of Riverside.
- Online through LexisNexis eCrash, with an additional $10.00 convenience fee. Reports involving a fatality or an on-duty emergency vehicle must be requested from the department.
- Questions: Records Bureau, (951) 826-5700, option 2.
Freeway crashes are generally handled by the California Highway Patrol. The CHP Riverside Area office, at 8118 Lincoln Ave., serves most of western Riverside County and patrols I-15, I-215 and State Routes 60, 71, 74 and 91.
Riverside roads where serious crashes happen
The city’s General Plan Circulation Element names SR-91, SR-60 and I-215 as the freeways serving Riverside. Major arterials it names include Magnolia Avenue/Market Street, University Avenue, Arlington Avenue, Alessandro Boulevard, Van Buren Boulevard, Victoria Avenue and La Sierra Avenue.
The California Office of Traffic Safety’s most recent crash rankings (2023 data) counted 1,805 people killed or injured in Riverside crashes that year, including 113 pedestrians, 62 bicyclists and 89 motorcyclists, with 159 victims in alcohol-involved crashes. Riverside ranked 6th 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. (OTS crash rankings)
When the City of Riverside or another public agency may be responsible
- City streets and sidewalks: claims against the City of Riverside are received by the City Clerk’s Office and processed by the City Attorney. You can submit the Claim for Damages online, in person, or by mail to City Clerk’s Office, 3900 Main Street, Riverside, CA 92522.
The six-month claim deadline below applies, so it is worth acting early. For serious injuries, Riverside Community Hospital is one of the hospitals Riverside County designates as an adult trauma center.
Courts serving Riverside
Under a Riverside Superior Court order effective August 1, 2026, unlimited civil cases arising in the City of Riverside are filed at the Riverside Historic Courthouse, 4050 Main Street. If your case goes to court, we handle where and how it is filed.
Cases we handle for people hurt in Riverside
Our personal injury attorneys represent people injured in Riverside in cases including:
You can also read about our past case results and what clients say about working with us.
What a Riverside 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 Riverside 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 Riverside 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.
Riverside personal injury FAQ
How much does a personal injury lawyer cost in Riverside?
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 Riverside?
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 Riverside 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 Riverside?
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 Riverside claims go.
Where do I get my Riverside accident report?
The “Getting your Riverside 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 Riverside:
- Fontana personal injury attorneys
- Corona personal injury attorneys
- San Bernardino personal injury attorneys
- Redlands personal injury attorneys
- Rancho Cucamonga personal injury attorneys
- Ontario personal injury attorneys
- Our Orange County office
- Inland Empire personal injury attorneys
- All areas we serve
Talk to a B&D Law Group attorney
B&D Law Group, APLC represents people hurt in Riverside and across the Inland Empire. 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.