What the claim involves
A Costa Mesa car accident claim is about more than the damage you can see.
Three freeways run through Costa Mesa: the 405 across the north of the city, the 73 from where it begins at the 405, and the 55 until it ends at 19th Street and becomes Newport Boulevard. Harbor Boulevard, Bristol Street, Fairview Road, and Adams Avenue carry that traffic across the city. A collision on any of them can cause a neck, back, or head injury that only shows its full effect after imaging and follow-up care. Settling before then can leave future treatment and lost earnings out of the claim.
Kyle Scott has practiced law since 1991 and has run his own firm since 2003. He reviews how the crash happened, which drivers and policies are involved, and how the injuries affect work and daily life. If you are looking for a car accident attorney in Costa Mesa, your first conversation is with Kyle Scott himself.
The 405, the 55, and the 73
The 405 crosses the northern part of Costa Mesa, the 73 begins at the 405 between Fairview Road and Bear Street, and the 55 ends at 19th Street, where it becomes Newport Boulevard. The city’s General Plan points to closely spaced on- and off-ramps on the 405 and to congestion where the 55 ends. Freeway cases turn on speed, following distance, and lane changes. The California Highway Patrol’s Santa Ana Area lists I-405 and State Route 55 among the freeways it patrols, its Westminster Area also lists the 405, and its Capistrano Area lists State Route 73, so confirm which office took the report. CHP reports can be requested through the CHP Crash Portal or with a CHP 190 form, and the firm also requests dispatch records and any dashcam or camera video before it is overwritten.
City streets and intersections
The Costa Mesa Police Department’s Traffic Safety Bureau investigates collisions on city streets, and its Major Accident Investigation Team responds to critical-injury and fatal crashes. Copies of traffic accident reports can be requested at the front desk of police headquarters, 99 Fair Drive, or by mail. Harbor Boulevard, Fairview Road, Bear Street, and Bristol Street are six-lane north–south arterials, and streets east of Newport Boulevard run at an angle to the rest of the grid, which leaves odd-angled intersections along Newport Boulevard. The city’s 2024 engineering and traffic survey recommended lower speed limits on 76 of the 137 street segments it studied. In 2026 the city added cycle tracks on Fairview Road between Newport Boulevard and Fair Drive, and it has been building separated bikeways on Adams Avenue between Harbor Boulevard and Fairview Road, so the posted limit and lane layout on the day of the crash matter. Left-turn and red-light disputes often come down to signal timing, witnesses, and business video.
Coverage, deadlines, and where the case goes
A claim can involve more than one policy: the at-fault driver’s liability coverage, your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, or an employer, rideshare, or commercial policy. For policies issued or renewed since January 1, 2025, California’s minimum liability limits are $30,000 for injury to one person, $60,000 for injury to more than one person, and $15,000 for property damage, rising to $50,000, $100,000, and $25,000 for policies issued or renewed from January 1, 2035 (Vehicle Code § 16056). Most injury lawsuits are due in two years (Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1), and a claim involving a city vehicle, a school district vehicle, a public bus, or a dangerous public road generally needs a written claim within six months (Government Code § 911.2). A collision with an injury must be reported to the DMV within 10 days (Vehicle Code § 16000). Unlimited civil cases are heard at the Central Justice Center, 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana. A citation or criminal charge against the other driver is a separate case, filed for Costa Mesa at the West Justice Center in Westminster.
Hit-and-run drivers, uninsured drivers, and shared fault
If the driver is never identified, your own uninsured motorist coverage may respond, but the statute requires physical contact, a report within 24 hours to the police of the city where the crash happened, and a sworn statement to your insurer within 30 days (Insurance Code § 11580.2). Civil Code § 3333.4 generally bars pain-and-suffering damages for a person who owned an uninsured vehicle in the crash, drove without proof of financial responsibility, or was convicted of DUI for the crash. If you were partly at fault, fault reduces a recovery and no percentage bars the claim (CACI No. 405).
Cases the firm reviews
Common car accident matters.
Information that can matter
A strong claim starts with preserved evidence.
The useful records vary by case. The initial review identifies what exists, what may need to be requested, and what should be preserved before it is lost.
Legal guides
Answers to common car accident questions.
Common questions
Questions about car accident claims.
Should I hire a Costa Mesa car accident lawyer if the insurer already accepted fault?
Accepting fault settles who caused the crash, not what the claim is worth. Insurers still dispute diagnoses, whether treatment was related, future care, and lost earnings, and a signed release usually ends the claim for good. A free consultation can help you decide whether an offer accounts for everything. Some people with minor, property-only claims handle them without a lawyer.
Who writes the police report for a crash in Costa Mesa, and how do I get a copy?
The Costa Mesa Police Department’s Traffic Safety Bureau handles collisions on city streets, and the California Highway Patrol handles the 405, the 55, and the 73. Request a Costa Mesa police report at the front desk of police headquarters, 99 Fair Drive, or by mail to P.O. Box 1200, Costa Mesa, CA 92628, with the report number, your name, your date of birth, and the fee the department lists. CHP reports are requested through the CHP Crash Portal or a CHP 190 form. Keep the report number you were given at the scene.
Will Costa Mesa police take a report for a crash in a parking lot?
If anyone was hurt, yes. The Costa Mesa Police Department says it typically does not take a report for a collision on private property, such as a parking lot, but that a report will be taken when someone is injured. It also asks people to report drunk driving or a hit-and-run immediately. Before you leave, photograph the vehicles and the lot, ask the property for its security video, and get witness names.
How long do I have to bring a car accident claim in California?
Under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1, most injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the crash. If a public entity is involved, such as a City of Costa Mesa vehicle, a school district, or a public bus, a written government claim is generally due within six months under Government Code § 911.2. The DMV SR-1 report is due within 10 days. Exceptions exist, so confirm the dates early.
What if the driver who hit me had no insurance or drove away?
If your policy includes uninsured motorist coverage, it may pay for your injuries. For a hit-and-run, Insurance Code § 11580.2 generally requires physical contact, a police report within 24 hours, and a sworn statement to your insurer within 30 days. Underinsured motorist coverage may help when the other driver’s limits are too low. California’s minimum is $30,000 for injury to one person, or $50,000 for a policy issued or renewed from January 1, 2035.
Can I still recover if I was partly at fault?
Yes. California follows pure comparative fault: your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault, not eliminated (CACI No. 405). A separate rule, Civil Code § 3333.4 (Proposition 213), generally bars pain-and-suffering damages for an injured person who drove uninsured or was convicted of DUI for the crash, even if the other driver was at fault.
This page provides general information, not legal advice. A consultation is needed to evaluate the facts, deadlines, parties, and law that may apply to a specific matter.
Sources
Official sources.
The figures and rules of law on this page come from these official sources.
- California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1
- California Government Code § 911.2 (six-month presentation period)
- California Vehicle Code § 16000 (report of accident to the DMV)
- California Vehicle Code § 16056 (minimum liability limits)
- California Insurance Code § 11580.2 (uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage)
- California Civil Code § 3333.4 (Proposition 213)
- California Judicial Council — CACI No. 405 (comparative fault), 2026 Civil Jury Instructions
- California DMV — SR-1 accident reporting
- California Highway Patrol — Santa Ana Area office
- California Highway Patrol — Westminster Area office
- California Highway Patrol — Capistrano Area office
- California Highway Patrol — request a crash report
- Costa Mesa Police Department — Traffic Safety Bureau
- Costa Mesa Police Department — Records and Evidence Bureau
- Costa Mesa Police Department — services and fees (report requests)
- Costa Mesa Police Department — hours and location
- Costa Mesa Police Department — traffic collisions (reports on private property)
- City of Costa Mesa — General Plan, Circulation Element (freeways and arterials)
- City of Costa Mesa — transportation projects (2024 speed limit survey, bikeways)
- City of Costa Mesa — Fire & Rescue department information
- Orange County Superior Court — court designation list
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