ESQ CoPilotAI Lawyer Matching

Car accidents in San Diego, California

This page is for people hurt in a car accident in San Diego County. It explains the report you may owe the DMV, the deadlines to bring a claim, and links to licensed lawyers with personal injury on record.

Find a lawyer for this issue

Report to the DMV[2]

A driver involved in an accident that caused injury, death, or more than $1,000 in property damage must report it to the DMV within 10 days. This is separate from any police report.

Deadline to sue[1]

In general, a lawsuit for personal injury caused by someone else's wrongful act or negligence must be filed within two years.

If a city, county or state vehicle was involved[3]

If a public agency or its driver may be responsible, a written claim must be presented to that agency within six months. Missing this deadline can bar the case.

Steps to take[2][1]

  1. Get medical care and keep records of every visit and bill.
  2. Make the DMV report within 10 days if the accident meets the rule.
  3. Keep photos, the other driver's information, witness names and the police report number.
  4. Calendar the deadlines: six months for a public agency claim, two years for most injury lawsuits.

Lawyers in San Diego, California

The directory lists 3,855 lawyers with an active California license and an office of record in San Diego, California; 343 of them have Personal Injury as a practice area on record (listed in the directory's source file; origin not confirmed, not a certification).

A license record shows a lawyer may practice. It does not show experience with a specific kind of case.

You can check any lawyer's license yourself with the State Bar of California lookup.

State Bar of California license lookup · Browse these lawyers in the directory

Questions

Do I have to report a minor accident?[2]

The DMV report is required when anyone is injured or killed or property damage is over $1,000.

How long do I have to file an injury lawsuit in California?[1][3]

Generally two years, but a claim against a public agency must be presented within six months.

Find a lawyer for this issue

You choose which lawyer to contact and what to share. Nothing you type is sent to a lawyer without your say-so.

Sources

  1. California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1 (two-year injury deadline), California Legislature (official). Checked 2026-10-30.
  2. California Vehicle Code section 16000 (accident report to DMV), California Legislature (official). Checked 2026-10-30.
  3. California Government Code section 911.2 (claims against public entities), California Legislature (official). Checked 2026-10-30.

This page is general information, not legal advice, and reading it does not create a lawyer-client relationship. Laws change and every situation is different. Check the official sources linked here and talk to a licensed lawyer about your facts.

Reviewed and last updated 2026-10-31. To report an error, write to notices@esqcopilot.com.