Hurt in San Juan Capistrano? Call (949) 989-2511 or text (949) 776-8964. We’re here 24/7, and the consultation is free. Our team speaks Spanish; attorney Suzy Tafreshi speaks Farsi. People Not Just Cases.
San Juan Capistrano Personal Injury Lawyer
San Juan Capistrano began in 1776, when Father Junípero Serra founded Mission San Juan Capistrano. The mission’s Serra Chapel is the oldest building in California still in use. The town stayed small and rural for more than a century, then became a tourist destination after the mission was restored in the 1910s and 1920s. It incorporated as a city on April 19, 1961, and had 35,253 residents in the 2020 Census. About 27% of residents speak Spanish at home, according to American Community Survey estimates.
A San Juan Capistrano personal injury lawyer can help you get the right report, preserve evidence and handle the insurers. Our Lake Forest office is less than 10 miles away. Lea esta página en español.
Where I-5 Meets Ortega Highway
Interstate 5 splits San Juan Capistrano in two. Several major routes meet it here:
- Ortega Highway (SR-74) starts at I-5 and heads east into the Santa Ana Mountains toward Lake Elsinore. A rebuilt interchange, finished in 2015, now carries Ortega traffic onto Del Obispo Street toward Dana Point, with a right turn needed to stay on the older stretch of Ortega by the mission.
- SR-1 (Pacific Coast Highway) ends just after its junction with I-5, near the Dana Point line.
- SR-73 has no exits in town other than its junction with I-5.
Ortega Highway is a two-lane mountain road popular with motorcyclists. On the Riverside County side, Caltrans is widening lanes and shoulders near Lake Elsinore, with nightly flagging and some weekend full closures that block through traffic from Orange County. See our Ortega Highway accident lawyer and Lake Elsinore pages.
Trains Through Downtown
The San Juan Capistrano station is served by both Amtrak and Metrolink, so passenger trains pass through town every day. Only one OCTA bus route serves the city: Route 91, along Paseo de Valencia, Camino Capistrano and Del Obispo Street.
Swallows, Parades and Visitors
The cliff swallows return around St. Joseph’s Day, March 19, and leave around October 23. The city celebrates their return with the annual Swallows’ Day Parade and related events. Big crowds and drivers who don’t know the area mean extra care is needed on event days. If you were hit while walking, see our pedestrian accident lawyer page.
Who Takes the Report
San Juan Capistrano contracts with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
- San Juan Capistrano Police Services: 32400 Paseo Adelanto, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675. Office phone (949) 443-6369, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- 24-hour Sheriff non-emergency line: (949) 770-6011. Call 911 in an emergency.
On I-5, SR-73 and SR-74, the CHP Capistrano Area office takes the report. It’s right in town at 32951 Camino Capistrano, (949) 670-7030.
Getting a copy. For a Sheriff’s report, call Records at (714) 834-6454 to confirm it’s ready (usually 7 to 10 days), then submit the request form by email to reportrequest@ocsheriff.gov, in person, by mail or by fax. The fee is 15 cents per page. CHP reports cost $10 for 1 to 25 pages.
Hospitals
- Providence Mission Hospital Mission Viejo, 27700 Medical Center Road, Mission Viejo, is a Level II trauma center for adults and children.
- Providence Mission Hospital Laguna Beach, 31872 Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, has a 24/7 emergency department.
Court and Deadlines
Orange County Superior Court hears civil injury cases at the Central Justice Center, 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana. Most injury lawsuits must be filed within two years. If a city, Caltrans or another public agency may share responsibility, a written claim is generally due within six months. See the statute of limitations for car accidents in California.
Cases We Handle in San Juan Capistrano
- Motorcycle crashes on Ortega Highway. See our motorcycle accident page.
- Car crashes on I-5 and at the Ortega and Del Obispo interchanges.
- Pedestrians hit downtown and near the train station.
- Falls at shops, restaurants and event venues.
Nearby: our Mission Viejo and Ladera Ranch pages.
Small Crash, Big Impact
A slow rear-end in parade traffic on Camino Capistrano can still cause a neck injury that lingers. No case is too small to call.
About Us
Attorney Suzy Tafreshi leads Tafreshi Law Group, with a team that has over 14 years of combined experience. We’re available 24/7 and consultations are free. Our staff speaks Spanish, and Suzy speaks Farsi.
San Juan Capistrano Injury FAQs
I crashed on Ortega Highway east of town. Who has the report?
Usually the CHP Capistrano Area office, which patrols SR-74 on the Orange County side. Once you’re in Riverside County, it’s usually the CHP Temecula Area office.
Does San Juan Capistrano have its own police?
No. The city contracts with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, which runs San Juan Capistrano Police Services on Paseo Adelanto.
I was hurt near the train tracks downtown. Who could be responsible?
It depends on the facts. A driver, a property owner, the railroad or a public agency could be involved. Claims against public agencies have short deadlines, so call early.
Can I talk to you in Spanish?
Yes. Our team speaks Spanish. Call (949) 989-2511 or text (949) 776-8964.
Does the consultation cost anything?
No. It’s free.
Call Our Lake Forest Office
Call (949) 989-2511 · Text (949) 776-8964 · Available 24/7 · Hablamos español
- Lake Forest office (closest to San Juan Capistrano): 22600 Lambert St, Ste 1501, Lake Forest, CA 92630
- Fountain Valley office: 18837 Brookhurst St, Ste 207, Fountain Valley, CA 92708
- Riverside office: 4121 Brockton Ave, Ste 101, Riverside, CA 92501
See all Tafreshi Law Group locations.
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
- Wikipedia, “San Juan Capistrano, California” (mission, history, incorporation, 2020 population, I-5, SR-74, SR-1, SR-73, rail, OCTA, swallows)
- Census Reporter, ACS 2024 5-year, table C16001 (language spoken at home), San Juan Capistrano
- Caltrans District 8, SR-74 Lane Widening Safety Project
- Orange County Sheriff’s Department, San Juan Capistrano (office hours and non-emergency line)
- City of San Juan Capistrano, Police Services
- California Highway Patrol, (690) Capistrano Area
- Orange County Sheriff’s Department, Report Request Guidelines
- California Highway Patrol, Collision Report CHP 190 (fees)
- Providence Mission Hospital Mission Viejo, Trauma Center
- Providence Mission Hospital Laguna Beach, Emergency Care
- Orange County Superior Court, How to Start a Civil Case
- California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1
- California Government Code section 911.2
