Personal Injury Lawyers in California

About Personal Injury in California

Personal injury lawsuits in California are filed in the Superior Court for the county where the case is being brought.

California Courts states that the general deadline to sue for a personal injury is usually two years from the date of injury, while different rules and exceptions may apply.

Claims involving a California government agency generally require an administrative claim before a lawsuit, and an injury or property-damage claim typically must be submitted within six months.

California Courts says a personal injury case is usually filed in the county where the injury happened or where the defendant lives or does business.

California medical-malpractice claims follow a different limitations rule: generally three years after the injury or one year after discovery, whichever occurs first, subject to statutory exceptions and special rules for minors.

California Courts notes that possible defendants may include the person who caused the injury, an owner of a vehicle or property, or an employer when the person was working at the time.

The Judicial Council provides optional form PLD-PI-001 for a complaint based on personal injury, property damage, or wrongful death, and the complaint must include at least one cause of action.

California Courts recommends checking available insurance because it may cover some costs or affect what remains in dispute.

For a new civil case in Los Angeles County, the Superior Court lists the Civil Case Cover Sheet Addendum and Statement of Location (LACIV109) among the required initial filing documents.

For limited and unlimited civil cases, San Diego Superior Court treats East and South County as part of the Central Division and identifies 330 W. Broadway, Room 225, as the filing location; the court directs users to check its ZIP Code List for the correct division.

San Diego Superior Court requires attorneys filing for represented parties in limited and unlimited civil cases to e-file through a court-approved service provider, subject to listed exceptions; self-represented litigants are not required to e-file.

San Diego Superior Court's Online Case Search can return a civil case's title, number, filing location, case type, filing date, and parties; some documents in civil cases initiated on or after January 1, 2008 may also be available for purchase through the online Register of Actions.

The San Diego Police Department lists online, phone, mail, and in-person methods for requesting traffic-collision reports and identifies requester and release limitations that can affect availability.

The City of San Diego accepts public-liability claims through its online claims portal or in writing using form RM-9 or another compliant written form; first-notice public-liability claims are not accepted by email.

San Diego Superior Court directs civil filers to use the city or ZIP code where the defendant lives or does business, or where the incident occurred, and then consult form ADM-254 for the associated court location and address.

Sources: California Courts Self-Help Guide — Personal Injury Cases, California Courts Self-Help Guide — Government Claims, California Code of Civil Procedure § 340.5, Judicial Council of California — Form PLD-PI-001, Superior Court of Los Angeles County — Civil Division, Superior Court of California, County of San Diego — Where to File, Superior Court of California, County of San Diego — Civil e-Filing, Superior Court of California, County of San Diego — Online Case Search, City of San Diego — Get a Police Report, City of San Diego — Public Liability (verified 2026-07-14)

Frequently Asked Questions