If you were injured in a car crash, a fall or another accident in Westminster, 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 Westminster specifically, and how our Orange County personal injury attorneys can help.
Looking for a Westminster personal injury lawyer? B&D Law Group, APLC handles Westminster car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian and premises injury cases, and the first consultation is free.
Getting your Westminster collision report
For crashes inside city limits, the Westminster Police Department provides copies of traffic collision reports:
- Buy the report online through LexisNexis, which charges a $10.00 convenience fee. Allow at least 10 days from the date of the collision for the report to be reviewed and approved for release.
- Reports involving a fatality or part of an arrest incident are not released online.
- To avoid the convenience fee, go to the lobby front counter during business hours. The Records Unit is open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, closed weekends and city holidays, and the department warns there may be a long line or wait.
- The department’s records request form gives its address as 8200 Westminster Blvd., Building 5, Westminster, CA 92683, and notes that California Vehicle Code section 20012 sets the rules for who can receive a collision report. The Records phone is (714) 548-3218.
Freeway crashes are generally handled by the California Highway Patrol. The CHP Westminster Area office, at 13200 Goldenwest Street in Westminster, names Interstate 5, Interstate 405, State Route 22 and State Route 91 among the freeways it patrols. Its page does not name the City of Westminster as an area it covers, so the CHP can confirm which office took a particular report. The office’s phone is (714) 622-3600.
Major roads in Westminster
The State of California’s CEQA record for the Westminster General Plan Update lists Interstate 405, State Route 22 and State Route 39 as the state highways in the citywide project area. The city’s history page notes that Westminster’s growth was boosted when the I-405 freeway system was completed.
The California Office of Traffic Safety’s most recent crash rankings (2023 data) counted 562 people killed or injured in Westminster crashes that year, including 35 pedestrians, 45 bicyclists and 35 motorcyclists, with 39 victims in alcohol-involved crashes. Among 103 California cities with populations of 50,001 to 100,000, Westminster ranked 20th for total victims, where 1st is worst. Westminster ranked 9th of 103 for speed-related fatal and injury collisions and 10th of 103 for pedestrians 65 and older 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 Westminster or another public agency may be responsible
- City streets and sidewalks: a Claim Against the City of Westminster is filed with the City Clerk’s Office, in person or by mail, at 8200 Westminster Blvd., Westminster, CA 92683. The city says no electronic claims will be accepted.
Whichever agency is involved, the six-month claim deadline below applies, so it is worth sorting out the right agency early.
Courts serving Westminster
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 Westminster
Our personal injury attorneys represent people injured in Westminster in cases including:
You can also read about our past case results and what clients say about working with us.
What a Westminster 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 Westminster 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 Westminster 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.
Westminster personal injury FAQ
How much does a personal injury lawyer cost in Westminster?
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 Westminster?
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 Westminster 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 Westminster?
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 Westminster claims go.
Where do I get my Westminster accident report?
The “Getting your Westminster 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 Westminster:
- Huntington Beach personal injury attorneys
- Santa Ana personal injury attorneys
- Anaheim personal injury attorneys
- Orange personal injury attorneys
- Costa Mesa personal injury attorneys
- Tustin 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 Westminster 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.