Guide · September 28, 2026

Car Accident in Riverside or San Bernardino: Inland Empire Guide

Need a Riverside car accident lawyer? See who writes the report on the 10, 15, 60, 91, or 215, how warehouse truck claims work, and your 2026 deadlines.

You were hit in Riverside or San Bernardino County, maybe on the 15 in a line of warehouse trucks, maybe at an intersection in Fontana or Moreno Valley. You are sore, your car is at a tow yard, and an adjuster already wants a recorded statement. Here is what to do next, in the order it matters.

The short answer

Get medical care first. Then get the report number from whoever responded: the California Highway Patrol for freeways, the city police or the county sheriff for surface streets. Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer. In 2026 you generally have two years to file an injury lawsuit, but only six months to file a claim if a public vehicle or a dangerous public road played a part.

Who writes the report in the Inland Empire

Where the crash happened decides which agency has your report.

Freeways including the 10, 15, 60, 91, and 215: the California Highway Patrol.
Cities with their own police department, such as Riverside, San Bernardino, Corona, Ontario, and Fontana: that city's police.
Contract cities, such as Moreno Valley, Temecula, and Rancho Cucamonga: the county sheriff.
Unincorporated county roads: usually the CHP, though a sheriff's deputy may arrive first.

Before anyone leaves, ask for the report number, the officer's name, and the agency.

How to get your accident report

Request it from the agency that wrote it: the CHP area office for a freeway crash, or the records unit of the police department or sheriff's station for a surface street. The report may not be ready for a while, so ask when to check back.

Read yours carefully. Wrong names, wrong lanes, and misquoted statements are common. A mistake left alone becomes the insurer's favorite fact.

Warehouse trucks on the 10, 15, and 60

The Inland Empire is packed with warehouses and distribution centers, and their trucks share the road with you all day. A crash with a big rig is not an ordinary car accident. The driver, the trucking company, the trailer owner, a freight broker, and sometimes the company that loaded the cargo can each carry separate insurance. Electronic logs and dash camera video can be erased if nobody asks to preserve them.

Photograph the company name on the door, the USDOT number, and the trailer number. Then read our page on truck accident lawyers and call early.

Where to get checked

If you are seriously hurt, call 911 and let paramedics choose the emergency department. If you drove home and now feel stiff, dizzy, or foggy, get seen today at an emergency room or urgent care. Tell the doctor every symptom. Insurers treat a gap in treatment as proof you were not really hurt.

If a bus, county vehicle, or bad road was involved

Crashes involving a Riverside Transit Agency or Omnitrans bus, a city or county vehicle, or a police car follow different rules. California Government Code section 911.2 requires a written claim to the public entity within six months of the injury. Miss it and you can lose the right to sue. The same rule can apply when a broken signal or a dangerous road condition helped cause the crash.

The deadline for everyone else

For a crash between private drivers, California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1 gives you two years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit. Treatment and negotiation eat that time fast.

Help in Spanish

Many Inland Empire families are more comfortable in Spanish. You should be able to explain what happened in the language you think in. Hablamos español.

What not to do this week

Do not post about the crash on social media.
Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer.
Do not sign a release or cash a quick check before a doctor has finished evaluating you.
Do not assume the other driver has enough insurance. The California minimum is only 30/60/15.

If you want someone to look at your situation before you talk to any adjuster, request a free case review. No fee unless we win. For the full checklist, see what to do after a car accident in California. To learn how our car accident lawyers work across both counties, visit our Inland Empire page.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Deadlines and rules change; talk to a lawyer about your situation.

Keep reading

Questions people ask

How do I get a police report for a car accident in Riverside?

If the crash was on a Riverside city street, request it from the Riverside Police Department's records unit. If it was on the 91, 60, or 215, request it from the CHP office that responded. In a contract city like Moreno Valley or Temecula, go through the sheriff's station that serves that city.

Who pays if a warehouse truck hit me?

Usually the trucking company's commercial insurer, and possibly other companies connected to the truck, trailer, or load. These policies are typically larger than a personal auto policy, and the companies behind them move fast to protect themselves.

What if the driver who hit me had no insurance?

Check your own auto policy for uninsured motorist coverage. It pays for your injuries as if the other driver had been insured, up to your limits. Report the crash to your own insurer promptly.

When should I call a Riverside car accident lawyer?

Before you give a recorded statement or sign anything an insurer sends you, and right away if a truck or a public agency is involved. Our guide on how much a personal injury case is worth explains what goes into a claim's value.

How much does Injury Boss charge?

Nothing up front, and no fee unless we win. The fee is a percentage of the recovery, explained in a written agreement before you sign anything. Call (310) 746-5775 for your free case review today.

Hurt? Don't talk to the insurance company. Talk to the Boss.

Free case review. No fee unless we win. Available 24/7 in English and Spanish.

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