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Calling Police After a Truck Accident in Pasadena
truck-accident · By Sean Bina, Co-Founder and Partner ·
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California law and practical necessity both require calling police after a commercial truck crash in Pasadena.
Yes. You should always call the police after a commercial truck crash in Pasadena. California law requires a crash report when there is injury, death, or property damage over $1,000. Police documentation creates an independent record of fault, meets DMV filing requirements under the SR-1 rule, and protects your claim against trucking companies that often deny liability.
Yes. California law requires a police report for any collision involving injury, death, or property damage exceeding $1,000. A commercial truck crash in Pasadena almost always meets that threshold. Calling the police creates an official record that protects your legal rights under CCP §335.1 and strengthens your claim against the trucking company and its insurers.
Key takeaways
- California law mandates a crash report when injury, death, or damage exceeds $1,000.
- Police documentation is essential evidence for claims filed at Pasadena Courthouse, 300 East Walnut Street.
- You have two years under CCP §335.1 to file; six months under Gov. Code §911.2 for government claims.
- Huntington Hospital at 100 West California Boulevard is Pasadena's Level II trauma center for serious injuries.
Commercial truck collisions on Interstate 210, State Route 134, and the Arroyo Seco Parkway injure Pasadena residents every year. These crashes involve tractor-trailers, delivery vans, and flatbeds whose size and weight cause catastrophic harm. The moments after impact determine whether you preserve evidence or lose it forever.
Calling the police is not optional. It is both a legal duty and a strategic necessity. A police report becomes the foundation of your claim, especially when trucking companies deploy investigators within hours to shift blame. Pasadena's unique mix of freeway interchanges and surface streets like Colorado Boulevard and Fair Oaks Avenue creates collision patterns that demand immediate, independent documentation.
California law requires a police report for most truck crashes
Vehicle Code section 20008 requires you to notify law enforcement if anyone is injured, killed, or if property damage appears to exceed $1,000. A commercial truck crash almost always crosses that threshold. Big rigs weigh up to 80,000 pounds; even a low-speed impact can total a passenger vehicle. Failing to report the collision can result in a misdemeanor charge and suspension of your driver license.
The California DMV also mandates an SR-1 form within ten days of any reportable crash. The police report provides critical details for that filing. Without it, you risk administrative penalties and gaps in your insurance claim. The California DMV tracks these filings carefully, and missing the deadline complicates both your driving record and your injury case.
A police report is essential evidence for your injury claim
Trucking companies and their insurers routinely deny fault. They send adjusters and accident reconstructionists to the scene within hours to photograph, measure, and build their defense. A police report provides an independent, contemporaneous account: the officer's observations, witness statements, photographs, and preliminary fault determination. These details become critical when your Pasadena truck accident case proceeds to settlement or trial.
California is an at-fault state, meaning you must prove the truck driver or carrier caused your injuries. Pure comparative negligence applies, so even partial fault reduces your recovery. The police report anchors your claim. It documents road conditions, traffic-control devices, skid marks, vehicle positions, and driver statements made before lawyers intervene. Judges and juries in Los Angeles County give significant weight to these contemporaneous records, especially when the report cites Vehicle Code violations.
When to call the California Highway Patrol versus Pasadena Police
On Interstate 210, State Route 134, or State Route 110, call the California Highway Patrol. The CHP has exclusive jurisdiction over state highways and freeways. On surface streets—Colorado Boulevard, Lake Avenue, Fair Oaks Avenue—call Pasadena Police. Jurisdiction matters because the responding agency writes the report, and the UC Berkeley TIMS database archives these records using the issuing agency's code.
If you are unsure, call 911. Dispatch will route your call to the correct agency. Do not leave the scene without making contact. If the truck driver flees or pressures you to skip the report, that alone is evidence of liability. Document everything on your phone: vehicle numbers, company names, DOT placards, damage, and the driver's statements. These records supplement the police report and protect your truck accident claim when the carrier's version contradicts the facts.
Local details
Any truck accident lawsuit in Pasadena is filed at the Pasadena Courthouse, located at 300 East Walnut Street, Pasadena, CA 91101, in the Northeast District of the Los Angeles County Superior Court. You must file within two years under CCP §335.1; if a government truck or road defect contributed, you have only six months to file an administrative claim under Gov. Code §911.2. Missing either deadline forfeits your right to recover. California Courts Self-Help provides filing instructions, but an attorney ensures compliance with these strict rules.
Serious injuries from crashes on the Foothill Freeway or Ventura Freeway often require immediate care at Huntington Hospital, a Level II trauma center at 100 West California Boulevard. Emergency room records from Huntington become key evidence linking your injuries to the collision. The police report and hospital records together establish the severity, timing, and cause of your harm, which is essential when the trucking company's insurer minimizes your claim or denies it outright.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if the truck driver says we don't need to call the police?
Call anyway. Trucking companies train drivers to minimize incidents. California law requires a report for injury or damage over $1,000, and you face penalties for noncompliance. The driver's employer will file its own report; you need an independent record. Document the driver's request on your phone—it can show consciousness of guilt later.
Can I still file a claim if I didn't call the police at the scene?
Yes, but your case is harder to prove. File a report with the agency that has jurisdiction as soon as possible. California allows delayed reports, though gaps raise questions. Seek medical care immediately, preserve all evidence, and consult an attorney. The two-year deadline under CCP §335.1 still applies, but the absence of a contemporaneous report weakens your position.
How long does it take to get a copy of the police report?
Pasadena Police and the CHP typically release reports within 10 to 14 business days. You can request a copy in person, by mail, or online. The report number given at the scene expedites the request. Your attorney can obtain the report and begin investigating immediately, preserving evidence like truck black box data before it is overwritten.
What if the crash involved a government truck or a municipal vehicle?
You still call the police, but you must also file a government tort claim within six months under Gov. Code §911.2. This applies to city, county, or state vehicles. The California Courts website explains the claim process, but missing the deadline bars your lawsuit permanently. An attorney ensures you meet both the six-month and two-year deadlines.
Related reading
- Truck Accident Practice Area
- Pasadena Truck Accident Lawyer
- Common Truck Accident Injuries in Los Angeles: Symptoms, Care, and Claims
- Who Is Liable for a Woodland Hills Truck Accident Besides the Driver?
Sources
Talk to a Pasadena truck accident attorney
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Attorney advertising. This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.