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Orange County Personal Injury Lawyer
If you were hurt in a car crash, truck crash, fall, or other accident in Orange County, Geller Legal can help you pursue a claim against the person, company, or public agency responsible. Unlimited civil injury cases from every Orange County city are filed and heard at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana. A claim against the County of Orange itself must be filed within six months. Call 213-770-4870 for a free, confidential consultation.
Which Orange County Superior Court courthouse hears personal injury cases?
The Central Justice Center in Santa Ana. The court designates unlimited civil cases from all Orange County cities to the Central Justice Center, and a judicial officer is assigned to the case for all purposes.
| Case type | Courthouse |
|---|---|
| Unlimited civil, including personal injury (all cities) | Central Justice Center, 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana. |
| Complex civil cases | Civil Complex Center, 751 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana. |
Limited civil and small claims cases are also handled at the Central Justice Center. Source: OC Superior Court: Civil Self-Help; OC Court Designation List; Central Justice Center
Who takes crash reports in Orange County?
It depends on where the crash happened. The CHP covers freeways, state highways, and unincorporated roads. City police departments, such as the Anaheim Police Department, cover their own city streets, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department takes reports in areas it patrols, including cities that contract with it.
Orange County Sheriff
Report requests for incidents the Sheriff’s Department handled. Call Records to confirm the report is available before requesting. Source: OCSD: Report Request Guidelines
Anaheim Police
Traffic collision reports for crashes on Anaheim city streets. Source: Anaheim PD: Traffic Accident Reports
CHP Area offices serving Orange County
Three CHP Area offices in Border Division serve Orange County. Report requests go to the Area office that handled the crash. If you are not sure which office that is, use the CHP Find an Office page.
| CHP Area | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Westminster | 13200 Goldenwest Street, Westminster | (714) 622-3600 |
| Santa Ana | 2031 E. Santa Clara Ave., Santa Ana | (714) 338-5500 |
| Capistrano | 32951 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano | (949) 670-7030 |
Source: CHP Westminster Area; CHP Santa Ana Area; CHP Capistrano Area; CHP: Request a Crash Report
How do I file a claim against Orange County?
Complete and sign the County’s Claim for Money or Damages form and mail it or deliver it to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, 400 W. Civic Center Drive, 6th Floor, Santa Ana, within six months of the injury.
- Form: the Claim for Money or Damages Against the County of Orange, available from County Risk Management and the Clerk of the Board.
- Deadline: 6 months for death or injury to a person or personal property, and 1 year for other claims (Gov. Code §911.2).
- After filing: the County generally has 45 days to act on the claim (Gov. Code §912.4). After a written denial, you generally have six months to sue (Gov. Code §945.6).
A claim against a city such as Anaheim, a school district, or OCTA goes to that agency, not the County. The Anaheim Accident Guide lists City of Anaheim claim steps. A claim against Caltrans for $12,500 or less is filed with Caltrans; larger claims against Caltrans and claims against most other State agencies go to the Department of General Services Government Claims Program. Source: OC Risk Management: Forms; County of Orange Claim Form (PDF)
Major routes in Orange County
These routes in Orange County are named on the CHP Area office pages for the county. Crashes on freeways and state highways are usually handled by the CHP Area office for that stretch of road.
- I-5
- I-405
- SR-1 (Pacific Coast Highway)
- SR-22
- SR-55
- SR-57
- SR-91
- SR-73
- SR-133
- SR-241
Cities we serve in Orange County
Geller Legal represents people hurt anywhere in Orange County, including incorporated cities and unincorporated communities. For practical steps after a crash in a specific city, see our city accident guide.
Anaheim Accident Guide
Anaheim police and CHP reports, plus City of Anaheim and County claims.
More guides are on the Accident Guides page.
Injury cases we handle in Orange County
Car Accidents
Crashes on surface streets and freeways, including uninsured and hit-and-run drivers.
Truck Accidents
Collisions with big rigs, delivery trucks, and commercial vehicles.
Motorcycle Accidents
Riders hurt by drivers who turn, merge, or change lanes into them.
Pedestrian Accidents
People hit in crosswalks, parking lots, and driveways.
Bicycle Accidents
Bike and e-bike riders hit by cars or hurt by road hazards.
Rideshare Accidents
Passengers, drivers, and others hurt in Uber and Lyft crashes.
Slip and Fall
Falls caused by unsafe conditions on someone else’s property.
Dog Bites
Bites and attacks, under California’s strict liability dog bite law.
Catastrophic Injuries
Brain, spinal cord, and other life-changing injuries.
See all personal injury practice areas.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file a personal injury lawsuit in Orange County?
At the Central Justice Center, 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana. The Orange County Superior Court hears unlimited civil cases from all Orange County cities there, and complex cases go to the Civil Complex Center nearby.
How long do I have to file a claim against Orange County?
Six months for death or injury to a person under Government Code section 911.2. Send the signed claim form to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, 400 W. Civic Center Drive, 6th Floor, Santa Ana. You generally must file that claim, and have it denied, before you can sue the County.
Who do I get my crash report from in Orange County?
From the agency that took the report. City police handle their own city streets, the Sheriff’s Office handles incidents it responds to, and the CHP handles freeways, state highways, and unincorporated roads.
How long do I have to file an injury lawsuit in California?
For most injury claims against a private person or company, two years from the injury under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. Claims against a public entity follow the shorter government claim rules, starting with the six-month claim.
How much does it cost to hire Geller Legal?
Nothing up front. Geller Legal handles injury cases on a contingency fee, so there is no fee unless we recover. The first consultation is free and confidential.
Talk with Geller Legal about your options in a free, confidential consultation. Call 213-770-4870. No fee unless we recover.*
Contact Geller LegalCall 213-770-4870*Under our written contingency fee agreement, if there is no recovery you owe no attorney fees and do not have to repay the case costs we advanced. Medical bills and other non-litigation expenses remain your responsibility.
This page is general information about California law and Orange County procedures, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Agency addresses, phone numbers, and procedures change; confirm with the linked official source. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Attorney advertising. Geller Legal, a dba of The Geller Firm, Inc.