California Accident Resources and City Guides
STATE RESOURCE GUIDE · SOURCES CHECKED OCTOBER 23, 2026
Use this California guide to locate your crash report, organize claim documents, and identify questions about filing deadlines.
Explore Los Angeles resources
Los Angeles accident resources →
LAPD and CHP report routes, city road-safety maps, and official traffic sources.
Local procedures and traffic-source coverage are explained on the city page. Statewide legal information stays in this hub.
Get the official crash report
CHP offers a crash-report request process for eligible parties of interest. Its CHP 190 form can also be submitted in person or by mail. If city police or a sheriff investigated, request the report from that agency instead.
California Highway Patrol report instructions ↗
Understand the general lawsuit deadline
California Courts lists a general two-year limit for personal injury and three years for property damage. Claims involving government agencies have a separate claims process and can require action much sooner.
Read the official deadline source ↗
A lawsuit deadline is different from an insurance notice deadline. The starting date, defendant, type of claim, and exceptions matter. Government claims, minors, and wrongful-death claims can involve different rules. This summary does not calculate your filing date. Ask a licensed attorney to confirm your specific deadlines promptly; negotiations do not necessarily stop a filing clock.
Build your claim file
- Keep the report number and investigating agency’s contact information.
- Save original photographs, witness contact details, and messages about the collision.
- Collect repair estimates, towing and storage invoices, and rental receipts.
- Keep claim numbers and a dated record of conversations with insurers.
- Track documented expenses and missed work separately from estimates.
Useful next steps
Follow the accident checklist · Track your expenses · Organize vehicle-value figures · Prepare for a legal consultation
Questions to take to an attorney
- Which jurisdiction and limitation period apply to this claim?
- Is a government notice or another early filing required?
- What evidence needs to be preserved before it disappears?
- How should insurance benefits and potential claims be coordinated?
General educational information, not legal advice. Sources were checked October 23, 2026; no attorney review is represented. Official agency pages control report access, fees, and procedures.