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Car accidents in Fullerton, California

Fullerton Car Accident Lawyer

Kyle Scott Law represents people injured in Fullerton car accidents, from crashes on the 57 and the 91 to collisions on Harbor Boulevard, State College Boulevard, Orangethorpe Avenue, and Commonwealth Avenue.

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How it works

Three steps, and the first one is free.

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  1. Talk with Kyle

    Call 714-544-1460 or send the form. Your first conversation is with Kyle Scott himself, and it is free and confidential.

  2. Find out where you stand

    Kyle reviews what happened, tells you honestly whether you have a case, and explains your options in plain language.

  3. Let the firm handle it

    If you hire Kyle Scott Law, the firm deals with the insurance companies and builds your case while you focus on getting better. No fees or costs unless there is a recovery.

What the claim involves

A Fullerton car accident claim is about more than the damage you can see.

The 57 and the 91 carry Fullerton’s freeway traffic, and Harbor Boulevard, State College Boulevard, Orangethorpe Avenue, and Commonwealth Avenue lead to downtown, Cal State Fullerton, and the neighborhoods around them. 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, employers, and policies are involved, and how the injuries affect work and daily life. If you are looking for a car accident attorney in Fullerton, your first conversation is with Kyle Scott himself.

01

The 57 and the 91

Crashes on the 57 and the 91 are handled by the California Highway Patrol rather than the Fullerton Police Department, which handles city streets. The CHP’s Santa Ana and Westminster Area offices both list the 91 among the freeways they patrol, so which office took the report depends on exactly where the crash happened. Caltrans lists Fullerton among the cities on its SR-91 Improvement Project between the 57 and the 55, and a crash in a freeway work zone can raise questions about lane closures, signs, and who controlled the zone. CHP reports can be requested through the CHP Crash Portal or with a CHP 190 form, and the firm requests dispatch records and any dashcam or camera video before it is overwritten.

02

Harbor Boulevard, Orangethorpe Avenue, and city streets

The Fullerton Police Department handles collisions within city limits, and its Traffic Bureau is responsible for traffic matters throughout the city. Harbor Boulevard runs from the city’s southern limit to its northern one and Orangethorpe Avenue from its western limit to its eastern one, and the city lists regional traffic signal synchronization projects on both and on Gilbert Street. Cal State Fullerton is on State College Boulevard, and downtown’s eateries and lounges sit on Santa Fe Avenue on both sides of Harbor Boulevard, near Commonwealth Avenue and the Fullerton Transportation Center. Left-turn and red-light disputes often come down to signal timing, witness accounts, and video from nearby businesses, which can be overwritten quickly. The department’s Records Bureau, 237 W. Commonwealth Ave., releases collision reports to people who suffered bodily injury or property damage.

03

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), with claims against the city going to the City Clerk. 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.

04

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.

Rear-end, lane-change, and merge crashes on the 57 and the 91
Intersection and left-turn collisions on Harbor Boulevard, Orangethorpe Avenue, State College Boulevard, and Commonwealth Avenue
Pedestrian and bicycle injuries downtown and on and around the Cal State Fullerton campus
Truck, delivery-van, and rideshare collisions
Crashes in freeway work zones, or where a signal, sign, or road design is in question
Hit-and-run crashes, uninsured or underinsured drivers, and collisions involving city vehicles or public transit buses

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.

The Fullerton Police, CSUF Police, or CHP collision report, dispatch records, and witness contacts
Scene photos, including any work-zone signs or lane closures, dashcam and surveillance video, and vehicle event data
Emergency room, imaging, and follow-up treatment records from the first visit forward
Your own policy’s declarations page, especially the uninsured and underinsured motorist limits
For a crash blamed on a signal, sign, or striping on a city street, the exact location and time; the city’s Traffic Engineering Division is responsible for signals, signs, and striping
Repair estimates, rental receipts, wage-loss records, and a copy of the DMV SR-1 report

Common questions

Questions about car accident claims.

Should I hire a Fullerton 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 Fullerton, and how do I get a copy?

The Fullerton Police Department handles collisions on city streets, the California Highway Patrol handles the 57 and the 91, and Cal State Fullerton’s own police department handles collisions on its campus. The Fullerton Police Records Bureau releases collision reports to people who suffered bodily injury or property damage, online through the link on the department’s Traffic Collision Report page or by a notarized written request mailed to 237 W. Commonwealth Ave.; the department says review can take up to 10 business days. CHP reports are requested through the CHP Crash Portal or a CHP 190 form. Keep the report number you were given at the scene.

Is a Fullerton crash case heard at the courthouse in Fullerton?

Not the injury case. The North Justice Center, 1275 North Berkeley Avenue, Fullerton, is where Fullerton’s criminal and traffic cases are filed, such as a DUI charge or a citation against the driver who caused the crash, and the outcome of that case can matter to the injury claim. Unlimited civil cases are heard at the Central Justice Center, 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana.

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 Fullerton 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.

Related practice areas

Other cases Kyle Scott Law handles.

View every practice area
Car AccidentsKyle Scott Law represents people hurt in car, truck, motorcycle, rideshare, and pedestrian crashes across Orange County, from an office in Tustin.Slip & FallKyle Scott Law represents people hurt in slip, trip, and fall accidents across Orange County, from wet store floors and broken stairs to lifted sidewalks and parking lots.Elder Abuse & NeglectRepresentation for older adults, dependent adults, and their families when a nursing home, assisted-living facility, hospital, or caregiver neglected their care or abused them, including pressure injuries, falls, dehydration, and malnutrition.

Car accident lawyers across Orange County.

30+ yearsPersonal injury experience
Tustin officeServing Orange County and California
No fee or costsUnless there is a recovery

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