If you were injured in a car crash, a fall or another accident in Torrance, 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 Torrance specifically, and how our Los Angeles personal injury attorneys can help.
Looking for a Torrance personal injury lawyer? B&D Law Group, APLC handles Torrance car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian and premises injury cases, and the first consultation is free.
Getting your Torrance collision report
For crashes inside city limits, the Torrance Police Department Records Division provides copies of traffic collision reports:
- Wait at least 15 days after the collision before requesting it.
- Request it online through LexisNexis eCrash for a convenience fee, or by mail or in person at the Records Division, 3300 Civic Center Dr., Torrance, CA 90503. The city lists the fee for a copy as $18.
- Only people the law allows (generally the parties involved and their representatives) can get a copy.
- Reports for hit-and-run and fatal collisions can take longer. The department asks callers to phone (310) 618-5529 about those.
Crashes on state freeways are generally investigated by the California Highway Patrol rather than city police. The CHP South Los Angeles Area office, at 19700 Hamilton Ave. in Torrance, lists Torrance among the communities it serves.
Torrance roads where serious crashes happen
According to the transportation section of the city’s 2009 General Plan Update Draft EIR, Interstate 405 is the only interstate freeway that runs through Torrance. Three state routes cross the city: Hawthorne Boulevard (State Route 107), Western Avenue (State Route 213) and Pacific Coast Highway (State Route 1). Hawthorne Boulevard is the city’s only principal arterial, and major arterials include Redondo Beach Boulevard, Artesia Boulevard, 190th Street, Del Amo Boulevard, Torrance Boulevard, Carson Street and Lomita Boulevard (both east of Hawthorne Boulevard), Sepulveda Boulevard and Crenshaw Boulevard.
The California Office of Traffic Safety’s most recent crash rankings (2023 data) counted 647 people killed or injured in Torrance crashes that year, including 43 pedestrians, 36 bicyclists and 29 motorcyclists, with 50 victims in alcohol-involved crashes. Torrance ranked 32nd of 62 similar-sized California cities for total victims, where 1st is worst (OTS crash rankings).
When the City of Torrance or Caltrans may be responsible
A broken sidewalk, a missing sign or a poorly maintained intersection can make a public agency partly responsible for an injury. Who you file against depends on who maintains the road:
- City streets and sidewalks: claims against the City of Torrance are filed with the City Clerk’s Office at 3031 Torrance Blvd., by mail or in person. The city does not accept claims by email or fax.
- State routes: the city notes that Caltrans maintains Pacific Coast Highway, Western Avenue and Hawthorne Boulevard north of PCH. A claim about a dangerous condition on those roads goes to the State of California, not the city.
Either way, the six-month claim deadline below applies, so it is worth sorting out the right agency early.
Courts serving Torrance
The Torrance Courthouse of the Los Angeles County Superior Court (Southwest District) is at 825 Maple Ave. Los Angeles Superior Court rules decide which courthouse hears a personal injury case, and those rules have changed in recent years. If your case goes to court, we handle where and how it is filed.
What a Torrance 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 Torrance 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 Torrance 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.
Cases we handle for people hurt in Torrance
Our personal injury attorneys represent people injured in Torrance in cases including:
You can also read about our past case results and what clients say about working with us.
Torrance personal injury FAQ
How much does a personal injury lawyer cost in Torrance?
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 Torrance?
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 Torrance 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 Torrance?
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 Torrance claims go.
Where do I get my Torrance accident report?
The “Getting your Torrance 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 Torrance:
- Inglewood personal injury attorneys
- Long Beach personal injury attorneys
- Lakewood personal injury attorneys
- Culver City personal injury attorneys
- Downey personal injury attorneys
- Santa Monica personal injury attorneys
- Our Los Angeles office
- All areas we serve
Talk to a B&D Law Group attorney
B&D Law Group, APLC represents people hurt in Torrance and across the South Bay from our Los Angeles office at 10700 Santa Monica Blvd, Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90025. 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.