This page was written and reviewed by Michael J. Cefali, Esq. Attorney Cefali is a founding partner of Cefali & Cefali, APC, based in San Juan Capistrano, CA. He holds a Juris Doctor from Chapman University Fowler School of Law and a B.A. in Global Studies & Maritime Affairs from the California Maritime Academy. Widely recognized for his advocacy in personal injury law, he has secured multi-hundred-thousand-dollar settlements in motorcycle accidents, hit-and-runs, and red-light collision cases. He maintains a perfect 10.0 “Superb” rating on Avvo.
Beyond his legal practice, Mr. Cefali actively supports his community through the Rotary Club of San Juan Capistrano, contributes to housing and meal programs for those in need, and enjoys fishing and spending time with his rescue dogs.
The date below reflects when this page was last reviewed for accuracy. Please see our Editorial Guidelines.
When a careless driver causes your crash in Anaheim, you can hold that driver responsible for your medical treatment, missed paychecks, car repairs, and physical and emotional suffering, and the payment usually comes from the driver's auto insurer. A lawsuit for your injuries must generally be filed within two years of the collision. An Anaheim car accident lawyer gathers the evidence, deals with the insurers, and values the claim so it covers your full losses, including care you will need in the future.
Crashes are a daily reality here. In 2023, 2,135 people were killed or injured in traffic collisions in Anaheim, and among California's 15 cities of similar size, Anaheim ranked fourth worst for alcohol-involved victims, speed-related crashes, and nighttime crashes, according to the California Office of Traffic Safety.
Cefali & Cefali represents people injured in car accidents throughout Anaheim and North Orange County. We meet Anaheim clients by phone or video and at our San Juan Capistrano office, 27136 Paseo Espada, Suite 1123. There is no charge to discuss your options, and our fee is paid only from a recovery. Reach us at (949) 325-7790.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Anaheim
What happens in the first hours and days after a collision shapes your recovery and the strength of any claim:
Move out of traffic and dial 911. Officers from Anaheim PD take collisions on surface streets, while CHP officers cover the I-5, the SR-91, and the SR-57 inside city limits. If your crash happened just north on the SR-57, see our Fullerton car accident lawyer page.
Get checked by a doctor. Paramedics typically bring the most seriously hurt to UCI Medical Center in Orange, Orange County's only certified Level I adult trauma center. Without an ambulance ride, schedule an exam within 24 to 48 hours anyway; concussion symptoms and neck pain frequently surface a day or more after impact.
Exchange information.Vehicle Code section 20003 requires drivers in an injury crash to share their name, address, license, and registration and to help anyone who is hurt. When the at-fault driver drives off, California hit-and-run law and your own coverage come into play.
Document the scene. Photograph the vehicles, the intersection, skid marks, traffic signals, and your injuries. Get witness names and phone numbers, and note any businesses with cameras that may have recorded the crash.
File with the DMV. Any crash involving an injury, a death, or more than $1,000 in damage triggers a 10-day SR-1 filing duty under Vehicle Code section 16000. Our SR-1 form guide explains how.
Get the police report. Anaheim PD collision reports are posted to the LexisNexis BuyCrash site and take at least 10 working days after the crash to become available; you need the report number. The Anaheim Police Records Bureau is at 425 S. Harbor Blvd., and our step-by-step police report guide covers CHP reports too.
Watch what you tell the other insurer. Tell your own carrier about the crash promptly. The at-fault driver's adjuster may ask for a recorded statement, a signed release, or access to all of your medical history; none of those is required, and each can hurt the claim if given too early.
Keep records. Save medical bills, appointment notes, pay stubs showing missed work, repair estimates, and a short daily log of pain and limits.
Where Car Accidents Happen in Anaheim
Anaheim combines three major freeways, a tourist district that draws millions of visitors, two professional sports venues, and busy commercial corridors, so crash risk changes from neighborhood to neighborhood.
Freeways. The I-5 (Santa Ana Freeway) cuts through central Anaheim, the SR-91 (Riverside Freeway) crosses the north side and climbs through Anaheim Hills toward the Santa Ana Canyon, and the SR-57 (Orange Freeway) runs past Angel Stadium. Stop-and-go congestion and merge zones on these routes produce many rear-end and lane-change crashes.
The Anaheim Resort District. Harbor Boulevard, Katella Avenue, and Disney Way carry visitors who are unfamiliar with the streets, along with tour buses, shuttles, and constant rideshare pickups. Heavy foot traffic also raises the risk of pedestrian crashes.
Event traffic. Games and concerts at Angel Stadium and the Honda Center pack State College Boulevard, Katella Avenue, and the SR-57 ramps, and late-night departures overlap with the hours when impaired-driving crashes peak.
Major streets. Lincoln Avenue, Ball Road, La Palma Avenue, Euclid Street, Brookhurst Street, and Beach Boulevard see frequent left-turn and red-light collisions at signalized intersections.
Anaheim Hills. Weir Canyon Road, Imperial Highway, and Santa Ana Canyon Road combine curves, grades, and higher speeds.
Common Causes of Car Crashes in Anaheim
Most crashes come down to a driver breaking a traffic rule. Under Evidence Code section 669, a driver who violates a safety statute and causes the kind of harm it was meant to prevent is presumed negligent, which makes these violations powerful evidence:
Speeding. Driving faster than is safe for traffic and conditions violates the basic speed law in Vehicle Code section 22350, even below the posted limit.
Unsafe left turns. A left-turning driver must let approaching vehicles pass when they are near enough to pose a danger, under Vehicle Code section 21801.
Running red lights.Vehicle Code section 21453 requires a full stop at a red signal, and red-light running causes many T-bone crashes.
Unsafe lane changes.Vehicle Code section 21658 forbids moving out of a lane until the driver can do so safely.
Dangerous roads. Potholes, missing signs, faulty signals, or poor design can make a public agency responsible, under special rules explained below.
Common Car Accident Injuries
The force of a collision can injure nearly any part of the body, and some of the most serious injuries are not obvious at the scene. The injuries we see most often include:
Brain injuries. Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries can occur even when the head never strikes anything, because the brain moves inside the skull.
Neck and back injuries. These range from whiplash and herniated discs to vertebral fractures such as a C2 fracture.
Spinal cord injuries. Damage to the cord can cause partial or complete paralysis and lifelong care needs; see our spinal cord injury guide.
Broken bones. Wrist, arm, hip, leg, and rib fractures are common and may need surgery and months of therapy.
Cuts, burns, and scarring. Broken glass, airbags, and fires can leave scars that need plastic surgery.
Emotional trauma. Anxiety, sleep problems, and post-traumatic stress after a crash are real injuries and part of the claim.
Fatal injuries. When a crash takes a life, the family may bring a claim with the help of an Anaheim wrongful death lawyer.
Who Is Liable for a Car Accident in California?
California holds people accountable for injuries caused by their lack of ordinary care, a rule set out in Civil Code section 1714(a). To win a claim, you show that the other driver was careless, that the carelessness caused the crash, and that the crash caused your injuries and losses. Fault is proven with the police report, photos, witness statements, video, vehicle damage, and sometimes crash reconstruction or data from the cars' event data recorders.
Shared Fault
Since the California Supreme Court's decision in Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804, the state has followed pure comparative fault. Your own share of blame lowers the award proportionally and never wipes it out, so a driver found 20 percent at fault still collects 80 percent of their damages. Our guide to pure comparative fault in California explains how insurers use this argument. When several parties share fault, Civil Code section 1431.2 makes each defendant fully responsible for economic damages but responsible for non-economic damages only in proportion to its own fault.
Other Parties Who May Be Responsible
Employers. A company is usually answerable for a crash its employee causes during work, such as a delivery van or service truck making rounds. Crashes with big rigs are covered on our Orange County truck accident lawyer page.
Rideshare companies. Once an Uber or Lyft driver accepts a ride request, a $1 million commercial liability policy applies.
Vehicle owners. An owner who lets someone else drive is liable under Vehicle Code section 17150, but section 17151 caps the owner's share for injuries at $15,000 for one person and $30,000 for everyone hurt in the crash.
Public agencies. Under Government Code section 835, the city, county, or state can be liable for a dangerous road condition it created or knew about and failed to fix, but a written claim must be filed first.
Manufacturers. A defective part, such as failed brakes or airbags, can create a product liability claim against the maker.
Compensation in an Anaheim Car Accident Claim
A car accident claim reaches the money a crash cost you and the personal toll it took:
Type of damages
What it covers
Medical expenses
Ambulance, ER, surgery, therapy, medication, and future care your doctors expect you to need
Lost income
Paychecks, bonuses, and benefits lost while healing, plus lower future earnings when the injuries limit your work
Property damage
Repairs or the value of a totaled car, a rental vehicle, and damaged belongings
Pain and suffering
Ongoing pain, anxiety, scars, and activities you can no longer enjoy
Punitive damages
Extra damages to punish malice or conscious disregard of safety, such as some drunk-driving cases, under Civil Code section 3294
Wrongful death
Lost financial support, household services, and the companionship of a family member who died
A few California rules shape the numbers. Recovery for medical care already received is usually tied to the amounts paid or still owed instead of the sticker price on the bill (Howell v. Hamilton Meats & Provisions, Inc. (2011) 52 Cal.4th 541). No statute caps pain and suffering awards after an auto collision. One exception cuts the other way: if you were driving without insurance when the crash happened, Civil Code section 3333.4 generally bars pain and suffering damages. Our guides to economic vs. non-economic damages and the average car accident settlement explain how claims are valued.
Insurance Coverage After an Anaheim Car Accident
The legal minimum for a California auto policy rose on January 1, 2025, to $30,000 for one injured person, $60,000 for all injuries in a crash, and $15,000 for property, under Vehicle Code section 16056. Those limits run out quickly when someone needs surgery or misses months of work, so other coverage often matters:
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. UM and UIM protection on your own policy, governed by Insurance Code section 11580.2, steps in for an uninsured or underinsured driver and for many hit-and-run crashes. A hit-and-run claim under this coverage generally requires reporting the crash to police within 24 hours. See our guide to uninsured motorist coverage in California.
Medical payments coverage. MedPay on your own policy pays medical bills regardless of fault, up to its limit.
Commercial and rideshare policies. Work vehicles and rideshare trips usually carry much higher limits than personal policies.
Umbrella policies. Some at-fault drivers carry excess coverage above their auto policy.
Deadlines for Anaheim Car Accident Claims
Missing a deadline can end a claim no matter how strong it is:
Deadline
Time limit
Law
DMV SR-1 report (injury or damage over $1,000)
10 days
Vehicle Code section 16000
Claim against a city, county, or state agency
6 months
Government Code section 911.2
Personal injury lawsuit
2 years from the crash
Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1
Wrongful death lawsuit
2 years from the date of death
Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1
Vehicle and property damage lawsuit
3 years
Code of Civil Procedure section 338
Code of Civil Procedure section 352 generally pauses the two-year clock on a private claim for an injured minor until their 18th birthday, but the six-month deadline for a claim against a public agency still applies. Lawsuits arising from Anaheim crashes are filed in Orange County Superior Court.
How Our Anaheim Car Accident Lawyers Help
Founding partner Michael J. Cefali has recovered more than $60 million for clients over his career, and our team handles every part of an injury claim so you can focus on getting better. You can review examples on our case results page.
Lock down the crash report, scene photos, witness accounts, and camera footage while it still exists.
Track down each party who shares the blame and each policy that can pay.
Build a clear medical record with your providers, including the treatment you will need later.
Take over every insurer call, form, and deadline.
Press for a fair settlement, and file in Orange County Superior Court whenever an insurer refuses to pay what it owes.
Our contingency fee means nothing out of pocket now; we are paid from the recovery, if there is one.
Dog bites, which California treats under a strict liability rule.
Anaheim Car Accident FAQs
What is the deadline for an Anaheim car accident lawsuit?
Injury suits must be filed within two years after the collision (Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1); for vehicle damage alone, three years. A claim involving a city, county, or state agency needs a written claim to that agency inside six months (Government Code section 911.2).
Is reporting an Anaheim car accident required?
Yes, whenever someone is hurt. Vehicle Code section 20008 requires drivers in an injury crash to make sure a written report reaches Anaheim PD or the CHP within 24 hours, which usually happens when officers respond and document the scene. Separately, the DMV needs an SR-1 within 10 days for any injury crash or damage above $1,000.
Where can I find my Anaheim crash report?
Anaheim Police Department reports are available on the LexisNexis BuyCrash site with your report number, usually at least 10 working days after the crash. The Records Bureau is at 425 S. Harbor Blvd. Freeway crash reports come from the CHP.
Can I recover if the crash was partly my fault?
Yes. Under pure comparative fault, your award shrinks by the percentage of blame assigned to you, and the claim survives even if most of the fault is yours.
Who pays if the at-fault driver is uninsured?
Uninsured motorist coverage on your own policy covers your injuries, and underinsured coverage fills the gap when the at-fault policy is too small. Other sources may include MedPay, an employer's policy, or a rideshare policy.
How much does an Anaheim car accident lawyer cost?
Nothing upfront. We charge a contingency fee taken from the recovery, and the first consultation costs nothing.
Talk to an Anaheim Car Accident Lawyer Today
After a crash, the insurance company starts building its side of the case right away. Our attorneys can preserve the evidence, deal with the adjusters, and pursue compensation that covers your medical care, lost income, and everything the injuries have taken from you. Your no-cost case review is one call away at (949) 325-7790; prefer to write? Our online form gets a prompt reply.
Michael Cefali is a dedicated accident attorney based in San Juan Capistrano, California, committed to securing justice and fair compensation for accident victims.
A graduate of Newport Harbor High School, he went on to earn his Bachelor’s degree in Global Studies and Maritime Affairs from the California Maritime Academy, followed by his Juris Doctor from Chapman University School of Law.
Deeply invested in his community, Michael is an active member of the Rotary Club of San Juan Capistrano, contributing to efforts that provide meals, housing, and support to those in need. Outside of his legal work and volunteer service, he enjoys fishing in Dana Point and spending time with his three rescue dogs—a Chihuahua, a Spaniel mix, and a Shepherd mix.
Driven by his strong belief in justice and fairness, Michael remains steadfast in advocating for individuals harmed by the negligence or inaction of others.
