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Just had a crash on Azusa Avenue, Foothill, Citrus or the 210? Start with the checklist below. It covers what to do at the scene and in the days after. When you are ready, you can talk directly with attorney Francisco Morales, about 15 minutes away in San Dimas. Free, and no fee unless we win.
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Tap each item as you finish it. Print it and keep a copy in your glove box.
Each item on that list is there because of how insurance companies evaluate claims. Here is the reasoning, so you know which ones matter most for you.
Neck, back and head injuries often feel worse a day or two after a crash. If you wait a week to see a doctor, the adjuster will argue that something else caused your pain. A same-day or next-day visit closes that door. Kaiser Baldwin Park, Foothill Presbyterian in Glendora and Inter-Community in Covina all have emergency rooms nearby.
The report tells us which agency responded and gives us the other driver’s information, witness names and the officer’s notes. Azusa PD keeps reports for city streets. CHP keeps freeway reports. Knowing which one you need saves weeks.
Photos of the cars show the angle and force of the impact. Video can show who ran the light. Azusa has businesses all along Azusa Avenue, Foothill and Citrus, plus Metro stations with their own cameras, but most systems record over in days. That is the most time-sensitive part of a case.
California requires every driver in a crash with an injury, a death or more than $1,000 in damage to file an SR-1 with the DMV within 10 days. It is separate from the police report. If you skip it, your license can be suspended. DMV accident reporting
The other driver’s adjuster will be friendly and fast. Their job is to limit what their company pays. A recorded statement given while you are hurt, on medication or unsure of the details can be used to argue fault or minimize your injuries. You are not required to give one.
A release ends your claim for good, even if you later learn you need surgery. Broad medical authorizations let the insurer dig through your entire history. We review anything they send you, free.
Azusa sits at the mouth of San Gabriel Canyon. It has Azusa Pacific University in town and Citrus College on its eastern edge, two A Line stations, a freeway along its southern half and a state highway running straight through downtown. These are the places that come up most.
Heavy commuter traffic and on- and off-ramps that back up at rush hour. Rear-end, merge and lane-change crashes are common, and CHP writes the report. The 605 ends at the 210 just west of town, adding more merging traffic. See 210 Freeway crashes and 605 Freeway crashes.
The state highway runs through the middle of town, past downtown and the civic center, then climbs into the canyon. Left turns across busy lanes and red-light crashes are the pattern in town.
The old Route 66 corridor crosses Azusa east to west. Near the east end it becomes Alosta Avenue, past Azusa Pacific University. Driveways, turn pockets and pedestrians make this a T-bone and pedestrian corridor.
Students on foot, on bikes and behind the wheel, plus transit riders heading to the APU/Citrus College station. Drivers turning right on red often miss someone in the crosswalk. Pedestrian accidents
The A Line crosses several Azusa streets at street level, with gates and signals. Drivers who stop on the tracks or go around the gates, and cars that back up across a crossing in traffic, create serious danger. Claims involving Metro are claims against a public agency, with a six-month deadline.
Arrow Highway carries fast east-west traffic along the south side. Gladstone Street and San Gabriel Avenue run through neighborhoods near schools, where stop-sign and speeding crashes happen. Hit-and-runs are a recurring problem. Hit-and-run claims
Narrow and winding, busy with weekend river traffic and motorcycles. Cell service is spotty and help can be slow. CHP generally handles crashes up the canyon. Motorcycle accidents
Azusa has its own police department, so city street reports come from Azusa PD rather than the Sheriff. Freeways and the canyon are a different agency.
| Who | What they handle | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Azusa Police Department | Crashes on city streets, report requests, counter reports | 725 N. Alameda Ave., Azusa 91702 · (626) 812-3200 · azusaca.gov |
| CHP Baldwin Park Area | The 210 and 605 freeways; state highway crashes outside city streets | 14039 Francisquito Ave., Baldwin Park · (626) 517-8500 · chp.ca.gov |
| Emanate Health Foothill Presbyterian | Emergency room | 250 S. Grand Ave., Glendora |
| Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park | Emergency room | 1011 Baldwin Park Blvd., Baldwin Park |
| Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center | Trauma center for serious injuries | 1798 N. Garey Ave., Pomona |
| Pomona Courthouse South | LA Superior Court, East District, where an Azusa case would normally be filed | 400 Civic Center Plaza, Pomona · lacourt.ca.gov |
California is an at-fault state: the driver who caused the crash, through their insurer, pays for the harm. Almost every case then comes down to these three questions.
California uses pure comparative fault, adopted by the state Supreme Court in Li v. Yellow Cab Co. If you were 30 percent at fault, you still recover 70 percent of your damages.
So the real fight is over percentages. The Vehicle Code, signal timing, video, damage patterns and witnesses decide it. A driver turning left, for example, has to yield to oncoming traffic close enough to be a hazard.
Rideshare? After a driver accepts a ride, California requires $1 million in liability coverage. Uber and Lyft accidents
Your medical records drive the value of the case. That is why steady treatment and honest reporting of symptoms matter so much.
One rule to know: under Proposition 213 (Civil Code section 3333.4), a driver who was uninsured at the time of the crash generally cannot recover pain and suffering, with narrow exceptions. Medical bills, lost wages and property damage are still recoverable.
We do not post settlement numbers. Every case is different and depends on your records. These are the categories that make up a claim:
On the car side, Francisco has a background most injury lawyers lack. Before law school he was a certified automotive service consultant, so he knows when a repair estimate is missing damage, when cheap parts are being written in, and when a total loss offer is too low. See our case value guide for more.
For general court information, the California Courts self-help site is a good free resource.
You talk directly with Francisco about the crash, in English or Spanish. He tells you honestly where you stand.
We get the Azusa PD or CHP report, send preservation letters for video, and reach witnesses.
We help you get care, including doctors who wait for payment, and handle the repair, total loss and rental.
When treatment is complete we send a full demand. If the offer is not fair, we file suit and prepare for trial.
Francisco grew up in West Covina, just down the 210 from Azusa, and went to UCLA and Loyola Law School. He runs Morales Law Firm from Bonita Avenue in San Dimas and handles every case himself. When you call, you talk to him, not a case manager. He is fully bilingual, and before law school he worked as a certified automotive service consultant.
Free and confidential. Francisco reads every message and usually replies the same day.
Morales Law Firm, 151 W. Bonita Ave., San Dimas, CA 91773. Take the 210 east to San Dimas. If you cannot drive after the crash, we come to you. Call or text (626) 521-5402.
On city streets like Azusa Avenue, Foothill Boulevard, Alosta Avenue, Citrus Avenue, Arrow Highway and Gladstone Street, the Azusa Police Department responds. Its station is at 725 N. Alameda Ave. Crashes on the 210 and 605 freeways, and on Highway 39 up the canyon, are usually handled by the CHP. We find out who has your report and request it.
You can still report it. Call the Azusa Police Department’s non-emergency line at (626) 812-3200 and ask how to file a report, or contact the CHP if it happened on the freeway. You also still need to file the DMV SR-1 within 10 days if anyone was hurt or damage is over $1,000.
Yes. Metro, Foothill Transit and city agencies are public entities. In most injury cases you must file a written government claim within six months of the crash under Government Code section 911.2 before you can sue. Call us right away so that deadline is not missed.
Generally two years from the crash for an injury lawsuit under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, and three years for property damage under section 338. The six-month government claim deadline applies when a public agency or public vehicle is involved.
Usually the insurance on the car they were driving. Students often drive a parent’s car, and that policy normally covers a permitted driver. If the coverage is too small, your own underinsured motorist coverage may pay the difference. We look at every policy that could apply.
An Azusa crash case would normally be filed in the Los Angeles County Superior Court’s East District, at the Pomona Courthouse South. Most car accident cases settle, and many settle before a lawsuit is ever filed.
Yes. California uses pure comparative fault. Your damages are reduced by your share of fault, but you can still recover the rest. Insurers often exaggerate a driver’s share of the blame, so the evidence matters.
No. The consultation is free and we work on contingency. Our fee comes out of the recovery at the end. If there is no recovery, you owe no attorney’s fee.
Our office is at 151 W. Bonita Ave. in San Dimas, about 15 minutes east of Azusa on the 210. If you cannot drive, we will come to you.
You will talk directly with attorney Francisco Morales. He handles every case himself and returns his own calls.
Sí. Francisco Morales habla español y puede llevar todo su caso en español. También puede leer esta información en nuestra página en español.
Before you talk to the other driver’s insurance company, call us. Free consultation, no fee unless we win, and you speak directly with the attorney, in English or Spanish.