Santa Ana Personal Injury Lawyer
Santa Ana is the county seat of Orange County and one of its busiest cities, with more than 300,000 residents and a downtown where people walk, bike, ride the bus and drive side by side. If you were hurt here, a Santa Ana personal injury lawyer can help you sort out the police report, the insurance claim and your medical bills while you focus on getting better.
Tafreshi Law Group serves Santa Ana from our office at 18837 Brookhurst Street in neighboring Fountain Valley. Many of the cases we handle for Santa Ana families start on the same streets you drive every day.
Call (949) 989-2511 — available 24/7
Why Santa Ana Streets See So Many Injuries
Santa Ana is crisscrossed by freeways and long commercial corridors:
- Freeways. The I-5 (Santa Ana Freeway), SR-55 (Costa Mesa Freeway) and SR-22 (Garden Grove Freeway) all run through or along the city, and the I-405 skirts its southern edge. Interchange merges, sudden slowdowns and lane changes cause many rear-end and sideswipe crashes.
- Arterial streets. Bristol Street, Main Street, Harbor Boulevard, Grand Avenue, First Street, 17th Street, Edinger Avenue and MacArthur Boulevard carry heavy traffic past shopping centers, schools and bus stops, with many driveways and left turns.
- Downtown and the Civic Center. Courthouses, county offices and the downtown dining district bring crowds of people on foot, which raises the risk for pedestrians at crosswalks and in parking structures.
What state data shows
The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) compares each city with others of similar size; a ranking of 1 is the worst. In 2023, OTS counted 1,972 people killed or injured in Santa Ana crashes, ranking the city 4th of 15 large California cities. Santa Ana ranked 3rd of 15 for speed-related crashes (319), 5th of 15 for hit-and-run crashes (229), 5th of 15 for pedestrians killed or injured (157), 3rd of 15 for pedestrians under 15 (17) and 4th of 15 for bicyclists (115).
Those numbers line up with what Santa Ana families tell us: crashes involving people walking and biking, and drivers who don’t stop.
Your Accident Doesn’t Have to Be Major to Matter
Many people think they should call a lawyer only after a catastrophic crash. That isn’t true. A “minor” rear-end collision on Bristol Street can still leave you with neck or back pain, missed work and doctor visits. No case is too small for us to take a look. If you were hurt and it wasn’t your fault, a free consultation can tell you whether you have a claim, and what it may be worth, before you talk to the other driver’s insurance company.
Cases We Handle for Santa Ana Residents
- Car accidents on the 5, 55 and 22 and on city streets. See our Orange County car accident lawyer page.
- Hit-and-run crashes. Your own uninsured motorist coverage may help. Read steps to take after a hit-and-run accident.
- Pedestrian accidents in crosswalks, parking lots and near bus stops. Visit our pedestrian accident page.
- Bicycle and e-bike accidents. See our bicycle accident lawyer page.
- Bus, rideshare and delivery-vehicle crashes. See our rideshare accident page.
- Slip-and-fall and other premises injuries at stores and apartment complexes. Learn about premises liability in Orange County.
Who Handles Your Report and Your Case
Police reports. The Santa Ana Police Department investigates most crashes on city streets. Crashes on the freeways are generally handled by the California Highway Patrol. Get the report number at the scene if you can.
The courthouse. If your case needs to be filed, Orange County Superior Court generally hears personal injury lawsuits at the Central Justice Center, 700 Civic Center Drive West, right in downtown Santa Ana. Most claims settle without a trial, but your claim should be prepared as if it may go to court.
Deadlines. Most California injury lawsuits must be filed within two years. If a city bus, a city vehicle or a dangerous public road was involved, a claim with the government agency usually must be filed within six months. Read more about the statute of limitations for car accidents in California.
What to Do After a Crash in Santa Ana
- Call 911 and get medical care, even if you feel okay.
- Photograph the vehicles, the intersection, traffic signals and your injuries.
- Get names and phone numbers of witnesses. Ask nearby businesses about security video right away, because footage is often erased.
- Don’t give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer before getting advice. See our tips on dealing with insurance adjusters.
- Call a Santa Ana personal injury lawyer for a free consultation.
People, Not Just Cases
Our firm is led by attorney Suzy Tafreshi and supported by a team with over 14 years of combined experience. We treat you as a person, not a file number. That means returning your calls, explaining your options in plain language, and handling the paperwork and the insurers for you.
Hablamos español. Our staff speaks Spanish, so you can explain what happened in the language you’re most comfortable with. Prefer Spanish? Visit our Spanish personal injury page. Suzy also speaks Farsi.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have an office near Santa Ana?
Yes. Our Fountain Valley office at 18837 Brookhurst Street, Suite 207, is in the city next door. We also have offices in Lake Forest and Riverside. Call (949) 989-2511 to set up a free consultation.
Who writes the police report for a crash in Santa Ana?
The Santa Ana Police Department usually handles crashes on city streets. The California Highway Patrol usually handles crashes on the I-5, SR-55, SR-22 and I-405. We can help you request the right report.
My accident was small. Is it worth calling?
Yes. Even low-speed crashes can cause injuries that show up days later. A free consultation costs you nothing and can help you avoid settling too early.
Where would my Santa Ana injury case be filed?
Orange County Superior Court generally hears personal injury cases at the Central Justice Center in downtown Santa Ana.
Can I talk to someone in Spanish?
Yes. Our staff speaks Spanish, and attorney Suzy Tafreshi speaks Farsi. We’re available 24/7 at (949) 989-2511.
Talk to a Santa Ana Personal Injury Lawyer Today
If you or someone you love was hurt in Santa Ana, call us anytime, day or night. The consultation is free.
- 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
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.
