When life changes in Torrance, we answer — 24/7, in English y español. You pay nothing unless we win.
What if the driver who hit you in Torrance had no insurance?
When a driver without insurance causes a crash in Torrance, your options for recovery depend on your own auto policy. Your uninsured motorist (UM) coverage can step in to cover your damages. This coverage is crucial if the at-fault driver has no insurance or insufficient insurance to cover the harm they caused.
If you don't have UM coverage, getting compensation can be much harder. You might need to sue the at-fault driver directly, but recovering funds from someone without insurance is often difficult. The specific facts of your policy and the crash will determine how you can proceed.
Where do you file a car accident claim in Torrance?
A car accident claim involving an incident in Torrance is generally filed in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles. Specifically, cases are assigned to the Southwest District's Personal Injury Hub department at the Torrance Courthouse. This is according to Los Angeles Superior Court Local Rule 2.3 and the General Order regarding Assignment and Transfer of Personal Injury Cases, effective May 17, 2024. The Torrance Courthouse is located at 825 Maple Ave, Torrance, CA 90503.
What should you do after a car accident?
After a car accident, your first priority is your safety and well-being. Getting immediate medical attention for any injuries is crucial. Once you are safe, there are several steps you can take to protect your rights:
Get medical help: Even if you feel fine, some injuries might not show up immediately. A medical professional can diagnose hidden problems. Prompt medical records also document a direct link between the crash and your injuries.
Report the crash: Call 911 to report the accident. A police report creates an official record of the incident, which can be very useful later.
Gather information: If you can safely do so, collect contact and insurance details from all involved drivers. Get names and phone numbers of any witnesses. Take photos or videos of the accident scene, vehicle damage, road conditions, and any visible injuries.
Do not admit fault: Never say anything that could be interpreted as admitting fault, even if you are just being polite. Stick to the facts when speaking with police or other parties.
Limit communication with insurers: You should report the accident to your own insurance company, but be careful what you say. Do not provide recorded statements or sign anything without speaking to an attorney first.
Talk to an attorney: An attorney can explain your legal options and handle communication with insurance companies. This protects your claim and ensures your rights are upheld.
How long do you have to file a claim?
Most personal injury claims in California, including car accident claims, must be filed within two years (California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1). This two-year period begins on the date of the injury. If you were injured in Torrance by a city, county, or other public agency vehicle or employee, you have a much shorter deadline. A written claim must be presented to the public entity within six months of the injury (California Government Code § 911.2). Missing these deadlines means losing your right to pursue compensation.
The deadline is generally paused while an injured person is a minor (California Code of Civil Procedure § 352). However, that pause does not apply to claims against public entities. For those claims, the six-month government claim deadline remains strict, even for minors.
If your claim moves forward, California law allows recovery for medical costs, lost earnings, and non-economic harm such as pain and suffering.
What kinds of car accident cases do we handle?
We represent individuals injured in many types of car accidents across Los Angeles County. This includes rear-end collisions, side-impact crashes, head-on collisions, and multi-vehicle pile-ups. Whether the accident involved distracted driving, impaired driving, or simple negligence, we work to protect your rights. We also assist those affected by uninsured or underinsured drivers, ensuring they receive the full compensation available under California law. For more detailed information on personal injury law, you can visit our personal injury practice area page. If you were injured in a nearby city, our attorneys also serve areas like Carson and Bell.
What does working with Casa Legal Los Angeles involve?
Working with Casa Legal Los Angeles means you have experienced legal representation focused on your recovery. We start by thoroughly investigating your accident to gather evidence, identify responsible parties, and determine the full extent of your damages. This includes collecting police reports, witness statements, medical records, and vehicle damage reports. We then handle all communication with insurance companies, working to prevent them from minimizing your claim or unfairly denying compensation.
Our goal is to resolve your case efficiently, either through settlement negotiations or by taking your case to court if necessary. We explain each step of the process in plain language, so you always understand what is happening with your claim. We pursue the full compensation available under California law for your medical bills, lost wages, pain, and suffering. If you or a loved one suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car accident, you can learn more about how we help on our Torrance brain injury page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum car insurance required in California?
California law requires drivers to carry specific minimum liability insurance coverage for policies issued or renewed from January 1, 2025. This minimum is $30,000 for injury or death to one person, $60,000 for injury or death to more than one person, and $15,000 for property damage (Vehicle Code § 16056). This coverage helps pay for harm you cause to others, but it does not cover your own injuries or vehicle damage.
Can I still get compensation if the accident was partly my fault?
Yes, California follows a pure comparative negligence rule, which means you can still recover damages even if you were partly at fault for the accident. Your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found 20% responsible for a Torrance car accident, you would receive 80% of your total damages. This system allows injured parties to recover some compensation, regardless of their share of responsibility.
What if I was involved in a car accident with a public entity vehicle?
If a public entity, like the City of Torrance or Los Angeles County, was involved in your car accident, you must act quickly. A formal claim must be presented to the specific government agency within six months of the accident date (Government Code § 911.2). This short deadline is strict, and failing to meet it can prevent you from filing a lawsuit later. It is crucial to contact an attorney immediately if a public entity is involved.
How does a personal injury case proceed in the Torrance Courthouse?
Personal injury cases filed in the Torrance Courthouse follow the procedures of the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles. After a complaint is filed, the process typically involves discovery, where both sides exchange information and evidence. This can include depositions, interrogatories, and requests for documents. Many cases resolve through negotiation or mediation before going to trial. The specific timeline varies depending on the complexity of the case and the court's schedule.
If you have been injured in a car accident in Torrance, get answers about your rights. Call Casa Legal Los Angeles today at 888-585-2529. No attorney's fees unless we win — and no case costs either.
Serving Torrance
Our attorneys represent clients throughout Torrance and the greater Los Angeles area.
Where a Torrance claim is filed
A personal injury claim arising in Torrance is filed in Torrance Courthouse, Southwest District of the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles.
In Los Angeles County a personal injury case is filed in the judicial district where the incident occurred and is assigned to that district's Personal Injury Hub department (LASC Local Rule 2.3; General Order re Assignment and Transfer of Personal Injury Cases, effective May 17, 2024).
Catchment boundaries change. Confirm the filing courthouse on the court's official locator before relying on it.
Source: Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles — Local Rules, Chapter 2 (verified August 23, 2026).
Deadlines that apply in Torrance
The California filing deadlines that apply to an incident in Torrance (Los Angeles County) come from state statute, not a local rule. These are the deadlines cited most often.
2 years — personal injury lawsuit
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1 — two years from the date of injury for most personal injury and wrongful death claims.
6 months — claim against a public entity
Cal. Gov. Code § 911.2 — a written claim must be presented to the public entity within six months for claims involving death or injury to person or personal property, before a lawsuit may be filed.
Injured minors
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 352 — the limitations period is generally tolled while the injured person is a minor, but the six-month government claim deadline is not tolled the same way.
This is general information about California law, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Deadlines change with the facts and with who the defendant is — a claim against a city, county, transit agency, or the state triggers a much shorter deadline, and delayed discovery, tolling, and other exceptions apply. Casa Legal Los Angeles is licensed to practice in California. Confirm any deadline with an attorney.
Sources: California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1; California Government Code § 911.2 (verified August 23, 2026).