Injury lawyer San Diego: Start with the facts.
Canyon Ledger explains San Diego crash injuries in plain English. Ready to talk to someone? Get a free case review in four short questions.
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Before you go on
The timing is outside this review path
This review path focuses on accidents from the last six months. Deadlines and exceptions vary, so consider speaking directly with a licensed California attorney if you still need guidance. Canyon Ledger is not a law firm and this is not legal advice.
Before you go on
This review is not the right fit
This review path is for crashes caused by another driver. If you need guidance, you can speak directly with a licensed California attorney.
Before you go on
This review is not the right fit
This review path is for people who report pain or injury symptoms after an accident. If your symptoms change, you can return and complete a new evaluation.
Before you go on
This review is not the right fit
This review path is for people who have not signed an agreement with a lawyer for this accident. This does not determine whether you have a valid claim. A licensed attorney can advise you on your options.
Review requested
Your Request Is In
Our partner’s automated assistant will call about your accident. Keep your phone nearby. Call timing depends on availability.
- Expect a call. Our partner’s automated assistant will introduce itself.
- Confirm the details. The assistant asks a few questions before offering a connection to intake.
- Possible attorney review. The intake team can clarify any missing details and discuss the next steps.
Free initial review
Nothing to pay for the first look at your crash.
No obligation
You decide whether to hire an attorney.
4 short questions
Then a name and a phone number.
San Diego County
For crashes anywhere in the county.
Start here
Crash reportsGet your report. First, find out who wrote itCity streets are San Diego Police. Freeways are the CHP, even inside the city.See who has it Who handles a crash in San Diego
The road decides the agency, not where you live.
Police reports
San Diego Police take reports for injury and hit-and-run crashes on city streets. Order one through LexisNexis eCrash, by mail, or at Records, 1401 Broadway, for $12. Freeway crashes are CHP reports.
Courts
The San Diego Superior Court handles civil filings at the Hall of Justice, 330 West Broadway, and at its North County Division in Vista. Small claims go up to $12,500 for a person.
Trauma care
The county has three adult Level I trauma centers: Scripps Mercy in Hillcrest, UC San Diego Health in Hillcrest and Scripps Memorial in La Jolla. Rady Children’s treats injured children.
Roads
I-5, I-8, I-15, I-805, SR-163 and SR-94 are state highways patrolled by the CHP. The city publishes every SDPD-reported collision since 2015 on its open data portal.
The short version
- Stop, help and call 911 if anyone is hurt. California law requires every driver in an injury crash to stop.
- Find out who took the report. San Diego Police on city streets, the CHP on freeways. Write down the number.
- Get checked within a day or two. Keep every bill, receipt and discharge sheet.
- File the SR-1 within 10 days. The DMV needs it if anyone was hurt or damage is over $1,000.
- Watch two clocks. Six months for a claim against a public agency, two years for an injury lawsuit.
- Fault is shared, not all-or-nothing. Your award drops by your share of the blame, with no cut-off.
How to choose an injury lawyer in San Diego
Begin with the State Bar of California attorney search. Type in the name and check that the licence is active and that there is no public discipline you would worry about.
Most injury lawyers work on contingency, taking a share of what they recover. California law requires that agreement to be in writing and signed by both of you (B&P Code § 6147). It must state the percentage, how case costs affect your recovery, and that the fee is negotiable.
Then ask who will handle your case each week and who would stand up in court. Ask whether the lawyer has tried injury cases at the Hall of Justice, and how settlement offers will be passed on to you.
Last, ask about cases like yours: a freeway pileup, a crash with an MTS bus or a work truck, or a driver with no insurance. A San Diego injury lawyer should explain your options without jargon.
California deadlines and the pure comparative fault rule
You have two years to file a lawsuit for injuries from a crash (Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1) and three years for damage to your car (§ 338).
A claim against a public agency has a much shorter clock. If the City of San Diego, the county, MTS or Caltrans may share the blame, the written claim is due within six months (Gov. Code § 911.2).
California uses pure comparative fault. Your damages go down by your share of the blame, but no share bars the claim. With $90,000 in damages and 30% of the fault, you would receive $63,000.
One rule cuts back damages: under Proposition 213, a driver who was uninsured, or convicted of driving under the influence, cannot recover for pain and suffering. Medical bills and lost wages are still recoverable.
Do you need a lawyer after a San Diego crash?
Not always. A damaged bumper, no injuries and a clear at-fault driver is often something you can settle with the insurer yourself, or in small claims court if they refuse.
A lawyer is worth a call when you were hurt, when the insurer says you share the blame, when the other driver had no insurance or only the 30/60/15 minimum, when a bus, truck or rideshare car was involved, or when a public agency may be responsible and the six-month clock is running.
The other driver’s insurer may call within days. You can take the adjuster’s details and call back once you have the report and your notes. You do not have to give a recorded statement on their schedule.
What the free case review covers
Four questions: when the crash happened, whether another driver caused or contributed to it, whether you have pain or injury symptoms, and whether you have already signed with a lawyer for this accident. Not sure who caused it? You can still finish the review.
Then you leave a name and phone number. Our partner’s automated assistant calls, asks a few questions and can connect you with the intake team. The review is free, and you do not have to hire an attorney.
The review is for crashes from the last six months, when you were hurt and have not signed with a lawyer. If that fits,start the free case review.
Reader questions
What San Diego readers ask after a crash, and about the free review.
Is the case review free?
Yes. The first review is free, and you do not have to hire an attorney.
If I finish the review, has a lawyer taken my case?
No. The four questions only check the first criteria. An attorney has to look at the full details before taking a case.
What if I don’t know who caused the crash?
Choose “Not sure” and finish the review. The intake team will go over fault with you.
How do injury lawyers in San Diego get paid?
Most work on a contingency fee, a share of what they recover, with nothing upfront. California requires that agreement in writing, signed by both of you, with the rate and how costs are handled. Ask what you owe for costs if there is no recovery.
My crash was on the 805. Why can’t San Diego Police find my report?
Freeway crashes belong to the California Highway Patrol, even inside city limits. Request the report through the CHP Crash Portal or form CHP 190.
A city bus or a broken signal was involved. Is my deadline different?
Yes. A claim against a public agency, such as the City of San Diego, MTS or Caltrans, generally must be filed in writing within six months. This is a separate step from a lawsuit. Ask a lawyer about the deadline that applies after the agency responds.