If you were injured in a car crash, a fall or another accident in Santa Ana, 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 Santa Ana specifically, and how our Orange County personal injury attorneys can help.
Looking for a Santa Ana personal injury lawyer? B&D Law Group, APLC handles Santa Ana car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian and premises injury cases, and the first consultation is free.
Getting your Santa Ana collision report
Crashes inside city limits are investigated by the Santa Ana Police Department. Parties involved in a collision and their insurers can get a copy:
- Collision reports are requested from the SAPD Records Division.
- Fatal collision reports require traffic investigator approval and may be submitted to the Records Division directly.
- Questions go to the Traffic Division’s Collision Investigative Unit at (714) 245-8200. Police headquarters is at 60 Civic Center Plaza.
Freeway crashes are generally handled by the California Highway Patrol. The CHP Santa Ana Area office, at 2031 E. Santa Clara Ave. in Santa Ana, patrols I-5, I-405, SR-55, SR-22 and SR-91.
Santa Ana roads where serious crashes happen
Major routes in and around Santa Ana include I-5, I-405, SR-55 and SR-22, which the CHP Santa Ana Area office patrols, and city streets such as Dyer Road, Bristol Street, Harbor Boulevard and Edinger Avenue.
The California Office of Traffic Safety’s most recent crash rankings (2023 data) counted 1,972 people killed or injured in Santa Ana crashes that year, including 157 pedestrians, 115 bicyclists and 64 motorcyclists, with 109 victims in alcohol-involved crashes. Santa Ana ranked 4th 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. Santa Ana ranked 3rd of the 15 for speed-related fatal and injury collisions. (OTS crash rankings)
When the City of Santa Ana or another public agency may be responsible
- City streets and sidewalks: according to the City Clerk’s claims page, the original claim form, with an original signature, is submitted in person to the City Clerk’s Office, 20 Civic Center Plaza, 8th Floor, Santa Ana, CA 92701, or by mail to the City Clerk’s Office, P.O. Box 1988, Santa Ana, CA 92701. Questions go to the City Clerk’s Office at (714) 647-6520.
- OCTA buses: the Orange County Transportation Authority takes Claim for Damage forms by mail to OCTA Risk Management, P.O. Box 14184, Orange, CA 92863-9831, and says claims must be filed within six months of the accident.
Either way, the six-month claim deadline below applies, so it is worth sorting out the right agency early.
Courts serving Santa Ana
Orange County Superior Court hears limited and unlimited civil cases from every city in the county at the Central Justice Center, 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana. If your case goes to court, we handle where and how it is filed.
Cases we handle for people hurt in Santa Ana
Our personal injury attorneys represent people injured in Santa Ana in cases including:
You can also read about our past case results and what clients say about working with us.
What a Santa Ana 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 Santa Ana 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 Santa Ana 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.
Santa Ana personal injury FAQ
How much does a personal injury lawyer cost in Santa Ana?
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 Santa Ana?
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 Santa Ana 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 Santa Ana?
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 Santa Ana claims go.
Where do I get my Santa Ana accident report?
The “Getting your Santa Ana 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 Santa Ana:
- Tustin personal injury attorneys
- Irvine personal injury attorneys
- Anaheim personal injury attorneys
- Costa Mesa personal injury attorneys
- Huntington Beach personal injury attorneys
- Mission Viejo 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 Santa Ana from our 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.