California Car Accident Guide
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.
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.