Torrance Drunk-Driving Accident Lawyer

Call 213-380-5858 for a free consultation, available 24/7. No fee unless we win.

This page is for injured people seeking compensation, not criminal DUI defense. We serve Torrance from our Los Angeles office.

A DUI investigation and your injury claim are separate

California law recognizes separate civil and criminal remedies. (California Code of Civil Procedure section 32) An investigation into the driver’s conduct does not resolve your civil claim for injuries. You can ask a lawyer to assess that claim while the criminal matter is still open. Do not postpone checking your civil deadlines just because you are waiting for an arrest, charges or a court update.

The distinction matters when an insurance adjuster calls before you know what happened in the criminal case. A DUI allegation does not tell you what an offer covers, what your injuries will require or whether the proposed settlement makes sense for you.

Bring any police reference number, prosecutor’s letter or court notice to the consultation. Tell us what you personally observed and what someone else told you. We will separate those accounts rather than treating suspicion as established fact. Our Los Angeles DUI injury practice page explains the broader civil-claim issues.

What Providence will work through with you

We start by listening to the full account, including the parts you are unsure about. An injured passenger may have different information from the driver of another vehicle. You do not need to reconstruct everything before you call.

Our work includes identifying evidence to preserve, reviewing insurance communications and preparing the claim with trial in mind. We communicate directly about the choices you face. If an offer arrives, we explain the proposal and the unresolved questions rather than asking you to decide from a dollar figure alone. We will not settle your case without your approval.

Providence Trial Lawyers, formerly Law Offices of Edward Y. Lee, has helped injured clients since 1995. The firm’s $375M+ recovered is a firmwide figure, not a total for Torrance or drunk-driving cases. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. You can meet our lawyers and read client reviews as you decide whom to contact.

Request Torrance or CHP crash records for your injury claim

Start with the agency named on the paperwork you received. A Torrance location alone is not enough to identify who holds the report. Requesting a copy of a report is also different from filing an insurance claim, a government claim or a lawsuit.

If Torrance Police handled the collision

The City’s police-records instructions list victims, authorized representatives and other eligible parties who may request records. The posted instructions ask for a completed Request for Release of Police Records form, a copy of valid government-issued identification, and a $1 check or money order payable to the City of Torrance. (City of Torrance records instructions)

Mail or drop off the materials at:

Torrance Police Department, Records Division
3300 Civic Center Drive
Torrance, CA 90503

For help with eligibility or the request, the Records Division number is (310) 618-5529. Check the City’s instructions before sending payment or documents. A request does not guarantee immediate access to every part of an investigation. (City of Torrance records instructions)

If CHP handled the collision

Use the CHP crash-report instructions. CHP permits a proper party of interest to request a report through its online Crash Portal or submit form CHP 190 by mail or in person to the nearest CHP Area office. CHP directs applicants to contact the office for the applicable fee. (CHP report instructions)

If you are unsure which agency responded, bring the incident date, exact location and any reference number you have. We can help identify what to request.

Keep a separate record for each task. Note the investigating agency and report number; record what you requested, when and any response. Keep insurer claim numbers and any DMV SR-1 confirmation separately. The DMV explains that the SR-1 is additional to police, CHP and insurance reports. This organizer does not replace a required report or establish that your civil claim has been filed.

Keep evidence of the crash and the injury’s effect

Get medical help for injuries first. Call 911 if someone needs emergency assistance. Do not confront the other driver or put yourself at risk to gather evidence.

When it is safe, keep these materials together:

Tell us about nearby cameras or possible witnesses even if you do not have the recording or statement. We can assess what preservation steps to take. Do not assume the criminal investigation will collect every item relevant to your injuries, or that every recording or test result is available to you immediately.

Describe changes to your daily life accurately. Notes about missed shifts, difficulty with ordinary tasks or help you now need are more useful than trying to estimate a settlement yourself.

What compensation can a drunk-driving injury claim address?

Depending on the facts and applicable law, an injury claim may involve economic losses such as medical expenses, lost earnings and property damage, along with non-economic harm such as pain, suffering and emotional distress. California law distinguishes these categories. (California Civil Code section 1431.2) Not every claimed loss is recoverable, and an allegation of drunk driving does not establish the amount owed.

We review your records and the losses the collision caused before discussing an offer. Tell us if treatment is continuing or if you do not yet know when you can return to work. The review should account for what is known and what still needs support, without treating an estimate as a promised recovery.

Are punitive damages automatic?

No. Under California Civil Code section 3294, punitive damages require clear and convincing evidence of oppression, fraud or malice. The statute’s definition of malice includes despicable conduct carried on with a willful and conscious disregard of others’ rights or safety. (California Civil Code section 3294) A drunk-driving allegation alone does not establish every requirement for a punitive award.

Punitive damages are a separate issue from compensation for your injuries. We assess whether the evidence supports that request; we do not promise an award or use one to inflate a settlement estimate.

Check deadlines before the investigation is finished

California’s general deadline for a personal-injury lawsuit is two years from the injury, but the facts and parties can change the analysis. (section 335.1; California Courts deadline guidance) Claims involving a public entity can require a much earlier step. For covered injury claims, Government Code section 911.2 generally requires presentation of a claim within six months after the cause of action accrues. (Government Code section 911.2) That is a claim-presentation deadline, not the deadline to file the lawsuit.

Ask for a review of the actual dates, parties and any notices you have received. This page cannot calculate your deadline. Do not assume that waiting for a police report, negotiating with an insurer or following a criminal case answers the civil timing question.

Questions before you call

Is a police report the same as a DMV SR-1?

No. DMV says the SR-1 is required in addition to a report to police, CHP or an insurer. Its instructions require submission within 10 days when someone is injured or killed, or property damage exceeds $1,000. The report may be completed by you or your insurance agent, broker or legal representative. (DMV SR-1 instructions) If you were a driver in the collision, check the DMV reporting instructions promptly.

What if I suspect impairment but have no test result?

Tell us what you saw or heard without guessing at a blood alcohol level. Bring the records you have and identify what is missing. We can assess the civil injury issues without asking you to prove intoxication before the consultation. For broader crash questions, see our Torrance car accident page.

Should I accept an insurance offer while the criminal case is open?

The criminal case’s status alone should not decide that question. Ask what the offer covers, what the release says and which losses remain uncertain. Bring the complete proposal for review. At Providence, the settlement decision is yours, and we will not accept a settlement without your approval.

Do you have an office in Torrance?

Our sole office is in Los Angeles at 777 S. Figueroa St, Suite 3050, Los Angeles, CA 90017. We serve people injured in Torrance from that office; this is not a Torrance branch location.

Talk with us about the injury claim

If an insurer is asking for a response, or you are waiting for news about the driver, tell us what is happening now. Have the collision date and any messages nearby if you can. Missing paperwork should not keep you from asking for help.

Call 213-380-5858 or request a free consultation. We are available 24/7. No fee unless we win.

This page provides general information, not legal advice about a particular claim.

Sources

1. California Code of Civil Procedure section 32: separate civil and criminal remedies
2. City of Torrance: Request Public Police Records
3. California Highway Patrol: Request a Crash Report
4. California Civil Code section 1431.2: economic and non-economic damage definitions
5. California Civil Code section 3294: punitive damages
6. California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1
7. California Courts: Deadlines to sue someone
8. California Government Code section 911.2
9. California DMV: Report of Traffic Accident Occurring in California (SR-1)