If you were injured in a car crash, a fall or another accident in San Bernardino, 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 San Bernardino specifically, and how our Orange County personal injury attorneys can help.
Looking for a San Bernardino personal injury lawyer? B&D Law Group, APLC handles San Bernardino car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian and premises injury cases, and the first consultation is free.
Getting your San Bernardino collision report
Crashes on freeways and state highways are generally handled by the California Highway Patrol. The CHP San Bernardino Area office, at 2211 Western Ave., San Bernardino, CA 92411, has primary responsibility for traffic enforcement and collision investigations on freeways, state highways and unincorporated areas in its region, including Interstates 10, 15 and 215 and State Route 210, and lists the City of San Bernardino among the cities in its area. The office’s phone is (909) 383-4247.
San Bernardino crash numbers
The California Office of Traffic Safety’s most recent crash rankings (2023 data) counted 1,475 people killed or injured in San Bernardino crashes that year, including 104 pedestrians, 53 bicyclists and 90 motorcyclists, with 167 victims in alcohol-involved crashes. Among 62 California cities with populations of 100,001 to 250,000, San Bernardino ranked 13th for total victims, where 1st is worst. San Bernardino ranked 3rd of 62 for motorcyclists killed or injured. 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 San Bernardino or another public agency may be responsible
If a city street, sidewalk or other public property played a part, California generally requires a written claim to the responsible public agency before a lawsuit can be filed.
Whichever agency is involved, the six-month claim deadline below applies, so it is worth sorting out the right agency early.
Courts serving San Bernardino
San Bernardino County Superior Court lists San Bernardino among the areas served by its Civil Division at the San Bernardino Justice Center, 247 West 3rd Street, San Bernardino, which accepts limited and unlimited civil filings. If your case goes to court, we handle where and how it is filed.
Cases we handle for people hurt in San Bernardino
Our personal injury attorneys represent people injured in San Bernardino in cases including:
You can also read about our past case results and what clients say about working with us.
What a San Bernardino 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 San Bernardino 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 San Bernardino 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.
San Bernardino personal injury FAQ
How much does a personal injury lawyer cost in San Bernardino?
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 San Bernardino?
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 San Bernardino 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 San Bernardino?
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 San Bernardino claims go.
Where do I get my San Bernardino accident report?
The “Getting your San Bernardino 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 San Bernardino:
- Redlands personal injury attorneys
- Fontana personal injury attorneys
- Riverside personal injury attorneys
- Rancho Cucamonga personal injury attorneys
- Ontario personal injury attorneys
- Corona 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 San Bernardino 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.