You were hit on the 405, the 110, Pacific Coast Highway, or a busy street in Torrance or another South Bay city. You are hurting, the other driver's insurer is already calling, and you are not sure who even has the report. This guide covers what to do next in the South Bay in 2026.
The short answer
Get medical care, get the report number, and do not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer. The California Highway Patrol handles crashes on the freeways. On city streets, the city's own police department usually takes the report, and in Carson and Lomita that job falls to the Los Angeles County Sheriff. You generally have two years to sue the other driver, but only six months to file a claim if a city bus, a public vehicle, or a dangerous public road played a part.
Who takes the report in the South Bay?
The agency depends on the road, not the city on your mailing address.
- Interstate 405, Interstate 110, Interstate 105, and Highway 91: the CHP.
- City streets in Torrance: the Torrance Police Department. That includes surface roads like Pacific Coast Highway and Hawthorne Boulevard inside city limits.
- Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, El Segundo, Hawthorne, and Gardena: each city's own police department.
- Carson and Lomita: sheriff's deputies from the local Sheriff's station, because those cities contract with the county for police service.
Ask for the officer's name and the report number before you leave. If no officer came and anyone was hurt, you still must report the crash to the DMV within 10 days on form SR-1.
What makes South Bay crashes different
Port and refinery truck traffic. The 110 and the 405 carry heavy truck traffic to and from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and the industrial areas of Carson, Gardena, and Torrance add more. A crash with a big rig is a different case. The trucking company may share the blame with the driver, and the evidence lives in logs and onboard data that can be erased. Our truck accident guide explains what to lock down first.
The 405 and 110 interchange. Where the two freeways meet near Carson and Torrance, lanes merge and split fast. Sudden braking and unsafe lane changes cause rear-end and sideswipe crashes at almost every hour.
PCH and the beach cities. Pacific Coast Highway through Torrance, Redondo, and Hermosa mixes commuters, beachgoers, and people looking for parking. Add pedestrians crossing to the beach and cyclists near the coast, and turning crashes are common. If you were on foot, read our guide on crosswalk rights for pedestrians.
Where people get treated
Many South Bay crash victims go to Torrance Memorial Medical Center, Providence Little Company of Mary in Torrance, or Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, the county hospital just east of Torrance. Paramedics choose the hospital based on your injuries, so go where they take you. If you skipped the ambulance, see a doctor or urgent care within a day or two. Neck, back, and head injuries often feel worse on day two or three, and a gap in care is the first thing an adjuster points to.
What to do in the first week
- Keep treating and follow your doctor's plan.
- Photograph everything: the cars, the intersection, skid marks, and your injuries as they change.
- Look for cameras. Gas stations, shopping centers, and doorbell cameras may have caught the crash, but many record over footage within days.
- Tell your own insurer. Your policy requires you to cooperate with your own company.
- Skip the recorded statement to the other driver's insurer. Our guide on recorded statements to the adjuster explains why that call can hurt you.
Your deadlines
Under Code of Civil Procedure 335.1, you generally have two years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver.
The clock is much shorter when a public agency is involved. A crash with a Torrance Transit bus, a city truck, a police car, or a road defect usually requires a written government claim within six months. A lawsuit over a South Bay crash would generally be filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
How we help South Bay drivers
We handle cases in Torrance and the rest of the South Bay by phone, text, and video, and we come to you when it matters. Our car accident lawyers help injured people across Los Angeles County, and we work in Spanish from the first call. Want to know where you stand before you decide anything? Ask for a free case review. No fee unless we win.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Deadlines and rules change; talk to a lawyer about your situation.