Hurt in Placentia? Call (949) 989-2511 or text (949) 776-8964. We answer around the clock and the consultation is free. Our team speaks Spanish; attorney Suzy Tafreshi speaks Farsi. People Not Just Cases.

Placentia Personal Injury Lawyer

Placentia got its name in 1878, when Sarah Jane McFadden renamed the local school district from a Latin word meaning “pleasant place to live.” Citrus groves came first, then oil wells after 1919, and the city incorporated in 1926. In 1971 it won the National Civic League’s All-America City Award. Today it’s a residential city of 51,233 people (2020 Census) in north Orange County. About 24% of residents speak Spanish at home, according to American Community Survey estimates.

A Placentia personal injury lawyer can help you get the police report, organize your medical bills and negotiate with the insurers. Our Fountain Valley office is about 14 miles away. Lea esta página en español.

A City Shaped by Freight Trains

The BNSF freight line, which also carries Metrolink’s 91/Perris Valley Line, runs through southern Placentia. OCTA’s OC Bridges program built seven road-rail grade separations along the BNSF line in Anaheim, Fullerton and Placentia, separating cars and pedestrians from the trains. OCTA says the work reduces delays and improves safety:

  • Placentia Avenue and Kraemer Boulevard underpasses (2014)
  • Tustin Avenue/Rose Drive and Orangethorpe Avenue overpasses (2015–2016)
  • Lakeview Avenue overpass (2017)
  • State College Boulevard and Raymond Avenue underpasses in Fullerton (2018)

In 2007 Placentia also became the first city to set up a railroad quiet zone using crossing-warning technology, so trains don’t routinely sound their horns through town. At any crossing that remains, rely on the gates and signals, not on hearing a train.

If you were hurt at a rail crossing or in an underpass, the railroad, a public agency or a contractor could be involved along with any driver. Those cases have special rules and short claim deadlines.

The 57 and the 91

SR-57 (Orange Freeway) runs through southwest Placentia, and SR-91 (Riverside Freeway) passes just south of the city. Crashes on those freeways are handled by the California Highway Patrol. On city streets such as Kraemer Boulevard, Chapman Avenue and Rose Drive, the Placentia Police Department usually takes the report.

Getting a Placentia Police Report

  • Placentia Police Department Records Bureau: 401 E. Chapman Avenue, Placentia, CA 92870. Phone (714) 993-8164, ext. 2. Email records@placentia.org. Open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

You can request a report by phone, email, fax or in person. The department says the fee is $10 per report, and digital copies are free. Under the Public Records Act it has 10 days to respond and up to 14 more to produce the report. If you’re facing a deadline, tell them. CHP reports cost $10 for 1 to 25 pages, online or by form CHP 190.

Emergency Care

  • UCI Health – Placentia Linda, 1301 N. Rose Drive, Placentia, has an emergency department open 24/7.
  • UCI Health – Orange, 101 The City Drive South, Orange, is Orange County’s Level I adult trauma center.

Court and Deadlines

Civil injury cases from Placentia go to Orange County Superior Court at the Central Justice Center, 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana. Most injury lawsuits must be filed within two years. A claim against a city, OCTA or another public agency generally needs a written claim within six months. See the statute of limitations for car accidents in California.

Cases We Handle in Placentia

Nearby: our Fullerton and Anaheim pages, and our local accident guides.

Small Crashes, Real Injuries

A rear-end at the bottom of an underpass can feel minor and still leave you with whiplash that lasts for weeks. No case is too small to call.

About the Firm

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.

Placentia Injury FAQs

Why don’t trains blow their horns in Placentia?

Placentia set up a railroad quiet zone in 2007, using warning technology at crossings instead. Trains can still sound horns in an emergency, but you shouldn’t count on hearing one.

How much is a Placentia police report?

The Records Bureau lists $10 per report, and digital copies are free. Call (714) 993-8164, ext. 2, or email records@placentia.org.

Who takes the report on the 57 freeway?

The California Highway Patrol. On city streets, usually the Placentia Police Department.

Can I get help in Spanish?

Yes. Our team speaks Spanish. Call (949) 989-2511 or text (949) 776-8964.

What does it cost to talk to you?

Nothing. The consultation is free.

Contact Tafreshi Law Group

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.

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, “Placentia, California” (name, history, incorporation, 2020 population, All-America City, freeways, rail line, quiet zone, OC Bridges)
  2. Census Reporter, ACS 2024 5-year, table C16001 (language spoken at home), Placentia
  3. OCTA, OC Bridges
  4. City of Placentia, Police Records (report requests and fees)
  5. California Highway Patrol, Collision Report CHP 190 (fees)
  6. UCI Health – Placentia Linda, Emergency Department
  7. UCI Health – Orange (Level I adult trauma center)
  8. Orange County Superior Court, How to Start a Civil Case
  9. California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1
  10. California Government Code section 911.2