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San Bernardino County Personal Injury Lawyer
If you were hurt in a car crash, truck crash, fall, or other accident in San Bernardino County, Geller Legal can help you pursue a claim against the person, company, or public agency responsible. Civil cases are filed with the civil clerk at the San Bernardino Justice Center, and some are heard in civil courtrooms in Rancho Cucamonga or Victorville. A claim against the County itself must be filed within six months. Call 213-770-4870 for a free, confidential consultation.
Which San Bernardino County Superior Court courthouse hears personal injury cases?
Civil cases, limited and unlimited, are filed at the Civil Division of the San Bernardino District in the San Bernardino Justice Center, in person or through the court’s eFile portal. Since December 11, 2023, some civil cases from the Rancho Cucamonga and Victorville districts are heard in civil courtrooms at those courthouses.
| Role | Courthouse |
|---|---|
| Civil filing and most civil courtrooms | San Bernardino Justice Center, 247 W. Third Street, San Bernardino. |
| West End civil courtroom | Rancho Cucamonga Courthouse, 8303 Haven Avenue, Rancho Cucamonga (Courtroom R17). |
| High Desert civil courtroom | Victorville Courthouse, 14455 Civic Drive, Victorville (Courtroom V11). |
The court’s Where Can I File page lists which communities belong to each district, and the Court Access Portal shows where a hearing is set. Source: SBSC: Where Can I File?; SBSC notice: Civil Filings in Rancho Cucamonga and Victorville
Who takes crash reports in San Bernardino County?
It depends on where the crash happened. The CHP covers freeways, state highways, and unincorporated roads. City police departments cover their own city streets, and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department takes reports in areas it patrols, including cities that contract with it.
San Bernardino County Sheriff
Public records requests for reports the Sheriff’s Department took. Source: SBCSD: Public Records
City police
Crashes on city streets in cities with their own police department, such as San Bernardino, Fontana, and Ontario are reported to that department. Request the report from the department that responded. Source:
CHP Area offices serving San Bernardino County
Seven CHP Area offices in Inland Division serve San Bernardino County, from the valley to the mountains and the desert. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| San Bernardino | 2211 Western Ave., San Bernardino | (909) 383-4247 |
| Rancho Cucamonga | 9530 Pittsburgh Ave, Rancho Cucamonga | (909) 980-3994 |
| Arrowhead | 31230 Highway 18, Running Springs | (909) 867-2791 |
| Victorville | 14210 Amargosa Road, Victorville | (760) 241-1186 |
| Barstow | 300 East Mountain View Street, Barstow | (760) 255-5900 |
| Needles | 1916 J Street, Needles | (760) 326-2000 |
| Morongo Basin | 63683 Twentynine Palms Highway, Joshua Tree | (760) 366-3707 |
Source: CHP San Bernardino Area; CHP Rancho Cucamonga Area; CHP Arrowhead Area; CHP Victorville Area; CHP Barstow Area; CHP Needles Area; CHP Morongo Basin Area; CHP: Request a Crash Report
How do I file a claim against San Bernardino County?
Complete the Claim Against County of San Bernardino form, print and sign it, and send it to the address listed on the form within six months of the injury. Risk Management handles County liability claims.
- Form: Claim Against County of San Bernardino (PDF), linked from the Risk Management Liability Claims page.
- Questions: Risk Management, 222 W. Hospitality Lane, Third Floor, San Bernardino, 909-386-8655.
- 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, a school district, or a transit agency goes to that agency, not the County. 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: San Bernardino County Risk Management: Liability Claims
Major routes in San Bernardino County
These routes in San Bernardino 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-10
- I-15
- I-40
- I-215
- SR-18
- SR-62
- SR-138
- SR-210
- US-395
Cities we serve in San Bernardino County
Geller Legal represents people hurt anywhere in San Bernardino County, including San Bernardino, Fontana, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Victorville, and Redlands, and unincorporated communities.
For crash guides in other California cities, see our Accident Guides page.
Injury cases we handle in San Bernardino 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 San Bernardino County?
The civil clerk’s office is at the San Bernardino Justice Center, 247 W. Third Street, and civil cases can also be eFiled. Some cases from the West End and High Desert are heard in civil courtrooms in Rancho Cucamonga and Victorville.
How long do I have to file a claim against San Bernardino County?
Six months for death or injury to a person under Government Code section 911.2. Use the Claim Against County of San Bernardino form and send it to the address on the form. 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 San Bernardino 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 San Bernardino 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.