Calling Police After a Truck Accident in Torrance

By Payam Soliemanzadeh, Founder and President

Key takeaways

• California law mandates reporting crashes with injury or damage over $1,000 to police or the California Highway Patrol.
• Cases arising from Torrance truck accidents are filed at Torrance Courthouse, 825 Maple Avenue, Torrance, CA 90503.
• Severe injuries from Interstate 405 or Pacific Coast Highway crashes are treated at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.
• You have two years to file under CCP §335.1, but six months for government claims under Gov. Code §911.2.

Commercial trucks traveling Interstate 405, Interstate 110, and State Route 1 through Torrance carry significant weight and momentum. Collisions involving big rigs on the San Diego Freeway or along Hawthorne Boulevard often result in catastrophic injuries, substantial property damage, and complex liability questions. When a crash occurs, your immediate decisions shape both your safety and your legal options.

Calling law enforcement is not optional in most circumstances. It is a legal duty and a practical necessity. The responding officer creates a contemporaneous record of the collision, identifies witnesses, and documents road conditions, vehicle positions, and driver statements—evidence that becomes difficult or impossible to reconstruct later.

When California law requires you to call police

California Vehicle Code section 20008 imposes a duty to report any collision resulting in injury or death, or property damage exceeding $1,000. Given the size and force of commercial trucks, nearly every collision with a passenger vehicle meets this threshold. The California Highway Patrol responds to freeway incidents on the 405, the 110, and Pacific Coast Highway, while Torrance Police Department handles surface-street crashes on corridors like Torrance Boulevard and Crenshaw Boulevard.

Failing to report a collision is a misdemeanor. Beyond criminal exposure, omitting a report undermines your injury claim. Insurance adjusters and defense attorneys routinely argue that the absence of a police report suggests minimal damage or questionable causation. A written report from a neutral officer carries far greater weight than a claimant's after-the-fact account.

How a police report protects your injury claim

The responding officer's narrative memorializes the physical evidence, including skid marks, debris fields, and vehicle damage patterns. In truck accident cases, these details help reconstruct speed, braking distance, and point of impact. The report also captures driver admissions and witness statements before memories fade or parties coordinate stories. Insurers and courts treat contemporaneous documentation as more reliable than recollections offered weeks or months later.

The report serves another function: it triggers the investigation and preservation of additional evidence. Commercial trucks carry electronic logging devices and event data recorders—"black boxes"—that capture hours of service, speed, braking, and other data. Once you retain counsel, that attorney can issue a spoliation letter demanding preservation, but the initial report establishes the collision date and parties, enabling timely legal action before critical data is overwritten or destroyed.

What to do at the scene before police arrive

Call 911 first. Request both police and medical assistance if anyone reports pain, dizziness, or visible injury. Move to a safe location if possible, but do not leave the scene. Exchange information with the truck driver: name, license, carrier name, Department of Transportation number, and insurance. Photograph vehicle positions, damage, license plates, road conditions, and any visible injuries using your phone.

Do not apologize or speculate about fault. California follows pure comparative negligence, meaning your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. Statements like "I didn't see you" or "I was distracted" become evidence against you. Provide facts to the officer but avoid opinions. If you feel symptoms develop after the adrenaline wears off—common in crashes involving sudden deceleration or airbag deployment—go to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center at 1000 West Carson Street, Torrance, CA 90509, a Level I trauma center equipped to diagnose traumatic brain injuries, spinal fractures, and internal bleeding.

Local details

If you file a personal injury lawsuit arising from a commercial truck collision in Torrance, your case is assigned to the Los Angeles Superior Court, Southwest District, and heard at the Torrance Courthouse, 825 Maple Avenue, Torrance, CA 90503. The courthouse handles civil matters for the South Bay, including Torrance, Redondo Beach, and surrounding communities. You must file within two years of the collision under CCP §335.1. If the truck was operated by a government entity—a municipal utility truck, a transit bus, or a public-works vehicle—you must first submit an administrative claim within six months under Gov. Code §911.2. Missing that deadline forfeits your right to sue.

Torrance sits at the intersection of the 405 and the 110, making it a major corridor for port-bound freight traveling between the Port of Los Angeles and inland distribution centers. Truck traffic on Crenshaw Boulevard and Hawthorne Boulevard is heavy, particularly during morning and evening commutes. Harbor-UCLA Medical Center treats many of the region's most serious crash victims, and medical records generated there form a critical part of the damages evidence your attorney will present.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if the truck driver says we don't need to call police?

Call anyway. Trucking companies and their insurers benefit from incomplete documentation. California law requires reporting crashes with injury or damage over $1,000. The driver has no authority to waive that duty. A police report protects your right to pursue compensation, establishes an independent record, and ensures the carrier is identified and its insurance confirmed.

Can I file a claim without a police report?

Yes, but it is much harder. Insurers frequently deny claims lacking a police report, arguing the collision did not occur or the claimant is exaggerating injuries. Courts and juries view contemporaneous documentation as more credible than later statements. Without a report, you bear a heavier burden of proving the crash, the at-fault party, and the causal link to your injuries.

How long does it take to get a copy of the police report?

Most agencies release traffic collision reports within 10 to 14 business days. The California Highway Patrol posts reports online through its public-records portal. Torrance Police Department provides copies by request. Your attorney can obtain the report on your behalf and immediately begin investigating liability, including identifying the carrier, verifying insurance, and preserving electronic data before it is lost.

What if I was partly at fault for the crash?

California applies pure comparative negligence. You may recover damages even if you were 99 percent at fault, though your award is reduced by your fault percentage. The police report often includes the officer's opinion on primary collision factors, which influences how insurers and juries apportion fault. Honest, accurate documentation at the scene gives you the best chance of a fair evaluation.

Related reading

• Truck Accident Practice Area
• Torrance Truck Accident Page
• Common Truck Accident Injuries in Los Angeles: Symptoms, Care, and Claims
• Why Truck 'Black Box' Data Disappears in Long Beach Cases
• Who Is Liable for a Woodland Hills Truck Accident Besides the Driver?

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.