Hurt in a work-zone or commuter crash in Tustin? Call (949) 989-2511 or text (949) 776-8964, 24/7, for a free consultation. Our team speaks Spanish; attorney Suzy Tafreshi speaks Farsi. People Not Just Cases.

Tustin Personal Injury Lawyer

Columbus Tustin, a carriage maker from Northern California, founded the town in 1868 on land from the old Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana. Tustin became a city in 1927 with about 900 people. It is sometimes called “The City of Trees,” and in the 2020 Census it had 80,276 residents. It borders Santa Ana to the west, Irvine to the south and east, and Orange and unincorporated North Tustin to the north.

Two big freeway projects run through Tustin right now, so many local crashes happen in or near construction. A Tustin personal injury lawyer can help you get the right report, preserve photos of the work zone and deal with every insurer involved. Lea esta página en español.

Two Freeways Under Construction

  • SR-55 between I-405 and I-5. OCTA and Caltrans are adding a regular lane and a carpool lane in each direction on about 4 miles of the 55 through Irvine, Santa Ana and Tustin. The schedule runs from August 2022 to 2027. OCTA says more than 260,000 vehicles use this stretch every day. Recent work has included lane shifts, ramp closures and a restriped northbound McFadden Avenue on-ramp to reduce weaving.
  • I-5 between I-405 and SR-55. Construction on this nearly 9-mile stretch through Irvine and Tustin started in January 2026 and is expected to finish in 2030. The project adds general-purpose and auxiliary lanes. OCTA counts more than 276,000 vehicles a day here.

Work zones bring narrow lanes, sudden merges and closed shoulders. If you’re hit near construction, photograph the cones, signs and lane markings. A contractor or public agency may share responsibility along with the other driver, and claims against public agencies have short deadlines.

Tustin Legacy and Old Town

Much of south Tustin used to be Marine Corps Air Station Tustin. About 1,294 acres of the former base, now called Tustin Legacy, have been turned over for homes, shops, schools and parks. The North Hangar, one of two huge wooden blimp hangars from 1942, burned in November 2023. Tustin Police cover Tustin Legacy as well as Old Town Tustin and The District shopping center. New streets, new signals and construction traffic in a growing area can catch drivers off guard.

Who Takes the Report in Tustin

The Tustin Police Department, founded in 1927, handles crashes on city streets, including in Tustin Legacy.

  • Tustin Police Department: 300 Centennial Way, Tustin, CA 92780. Phone (714) 573-3200. Call 911 in an emergency.

Getting a Tustin PD report. The city says copies of crime and traffic reports from Tustin Police are free. Request them through the department’s NextRequest portal. Traffic collision reports are also available online through LexisNexis, which charges a $10 convenience fee per report.

Freeway crashes. On the 5 and the 55, the report comes from the CHP Santa Ana Area office, 2031 E. Santa Clara Ave, Santa Ana, (714) 338-5500. It patrols I-5, I-405, SR-55, SR-22 and SR-91. CHP reports cost $10 for 1 to 25 pages, online or with form CHP 190.

North Tustin isn’t Tustin. The unincorporated area north of the city isn’t patrolled by Tustin Police. The CHP Santa Ana Area also covers about 220 miles of unincorporated roads, so a crash there will usually have a CHP report.

Emergency Care Near Tustin

  • Foothill Regional Medical Center, 14662 Newport Avenue, Tustin, has a 24/7 emergency department.
  • UCI Health – Orange, 101 The City Drive South, Orange, is Orange County’s only Level I adult trauma center.

Cases We Handle in Tustin

Nearby: our Santa Ana and Irvine pages and the El Toro Y guide. See all local accident guides.

Court and Deadlines

Orange County Superior Court hears civil injury cases at the Central Justice Center, 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, a few miles from Tustin. Most injury lawsuits must be filed within two years. For a claim against Caltrans, OCTA, the city or another public agency, a written claim is generally due within six months. See the statute of limitations for car accidents in California.

Minor Crashes Still Matter

A sideswipe during a lane shift on the 55 can still mean a shoulder injury and weeks of therapy. No case is too small to call.

Working With Us

Attorney Suzy Tafreshi leads our firm, supported by a team with over 14 years of combined experience. We return calls, keep you updated and handle the insurance adjusters. Our staff speaks Spanish (página en español), and Suzy speaks Farsi.

Tustin Injury FAQs

Does it cost anything to get a Tustin police report?

The city says Tustin Police reports are free through its NextRequest portal. If you use LexisNexis for a traffic collision report, LexisNexis charges a $10 convenience fee.

I was hurt in a construction zone on the 55. Who could be responsible?

Often the driver who hit you, but sometimes a contractor or public agency shares fault, for example over missing signs or an unsafe lane shift. A claim against a public agency usually has a six-month deadline.

Is Tustin Legacy part of Tustin?

Yes. Tustin Police cover the Tustin Legacy area on the former Marine base.

My address says Tustin, but I live in North Tustin. Who handles a crash on my street?

North Tustin is unincorporated, so Tustin Police don’t patrol it. A crash on an unincorporated road there will usually be handled by the CHP.

When can I reach you?

Any time. We’re available 24/7, and the consultation is free.

Talk to a Tustin Personal Injury Lawyer

Call (949) 989-2511 · Text (949) 776-8964 · Available 24/7 · Hablamos español

  • Fountain Valley office: 18837 Brookhurst St, Ste 207, Fountain Valley, CA 92708
  • Lake Forest office: 22600 Lambert St, Ste 1501, Lake Forest, CA 92630
  • Riverside office: 4121 Brockton Ave, Ste 101, Riverside, CA 92501

See all Tafreshi Law Group locations or our Fountain Valley page.

Attorney Advertising. This page is for general information only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia, “Tustin, California” (founding, incorporation, 2020 population, borders, police)
  2. OCTA, SR-55 Improvement Project (I-405 to I-5), construction updates
  3. OCTA, “I-5 Improvement Project Breaks Ground through Irvine and Tustin” (Jan 23, 2026)
  4. Wikipedia, “Marine Corps Air Station Tustin” (Tustin Legacy, hangars, 2023 fire)
  5. City of Tustin, Report or Traffic Collision (report copies and fees)
  6. California Highway Patrol, (675) Santa Ana Area
  7. California Highway Patrol, Collision Report CHP 190 (fees)
  8. Foothill Regional Medical Center, Emergency Department
  9. UCI Health – Orange (Level I adult trauma center)
  10. Orange County Superior Court, How to Start a Civil Case
  11. California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1
  12. California Government Code section 911.2