If you were injured in a car crash, a fall or another accident in Tustin, 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 Tustin specifically, and how our Orange County personal injury attorneys can help.
Looking for a Tustin personal injury lawyer? B&D Law Group, APLC handles Tustin car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian and premises injury cases, and the first consultation is free.
Getting your Tustin collision report
For crashes inside city limits, the Tustin Police Department provides copies of traffic collision reports online:
- Request a copy through LexisNexis, linked from the department’s page. The online service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- A convenience fee of $10 per report applies to retrieve and print a traffic collision report.
- For general questions, the department’s number is 714-573-3200.
Freeway crashes are generally handled by the California Highway Patrol. The CHP Santa Ana Area office, at 2031 E. Santa Clara Ave., Santa Ana, lists Interstate 5 and 405 and State Routes 55, 22 and 91 among the freeways it patrols. Its page does not name Tustin, so the CHP can confirm which office took a particular report. The office’s phone is (714) 338-5500.
Major roads in Tustin
The Land Use Element of the city’s General Plan refers to the corridors of the Santa Ana Freeway (Interstate 5) and the Costa Mesa Freeway (State Route 55), and to Interstate 5 on- and off-ramps at Red Hill Avenue. The city’s Tustin Legacy Specific Plan describes Red Hill Avenue and Edinger Avenue as regional-serving major arterial highways and Tustin Ranch Road as a six-lane major arterial highway, and notes that Jamboree Road provides access to State Route 261, a toll road.
The California Office of Traffic Safety’s most recent crash rankings (2023 data) counted 317 people killed or injured in Tustin crashes that year, including 31 pedestrians, 17 bicyclists and 11 motorcyclists, with 29 victims in alcohol-involved crashes. Among 103 California cities with populations of 50,001 to 100,000, Tustin ranked 50th for total victims, where 1st is worst. 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 Tustin or another public agency may be responsible
- City streets and sidewalks: according to the city’s City Claims page, claims against the City of Tustin are made on a Claim for Damages form, with an original signed copy returned to the City Clerk’s Office. Completed claims must be mailed or delivered to the City of Tustin, 300 Centennial Way, Tustin, CA 92780. Questions go to (714) 573-3027.
Whichever agency is involved, the six-month claim deadline below applies, so it is worth sorting out the right agency early.
Courts serving Tustin
Orange County Superior Court says unlimited civil actions are heard at one of its justice centers, depending on which judicial officer is assigned to the case: the Central Justice Center, 700 Civic Center Dr., Santa Ana; the North Justice Center, 1275 N. Berkley Ave., Fullerton; or the West Justice Center, 8141 13th Street, Westminster. If your case goes to court, we handle where and how it is filed.
Cases we handle for people hurt in Tustin
Our personal injury attorneys represent people injured in Tustin in cases including:
You can also read about our past case results and what clients say about working with us.
What a Tustin 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 Tustin 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 Tustin 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.
Tustin personal injury FAQ
How much does a personal injury lawyer cost in Tustin?
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 Tustin?
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 Tustin 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 Tustin?
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 Tustin claims go.
Where do I get my Tustin accident report?
The “Getting your Tustin 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 Tustin:
- Santa Ana 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 Tustin 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.