If you were injured in El Cajon because of someone else’s carelessness, California law generally gives you two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit (Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1). If the City of El Cajon or another public agency may be responsible, for example because of a dangerous sidewalk, street, or government vehicle, a written claim generally must be presented to that agency within six months (Government Code section 911.2). Our office is open 24/7 and calls are answered at (619) 525-7007.
This page covers personal injury questions for people hurt in El Cajon. If you were in a crash, see our El Cajon car accident page and our San Diego car accident page. For life-changing injuries, see our catastrophic injury page.
Injury cases we handle for people in El Cajon
- Car crashes: collisions on city streets and freeways, including hit-and-run and impaired-driver crashes. See the El Cajon car accident page.
- Slip-and-fall and other property injuries: property owners in California must use reasonable care in keeping their property safe (Civil Code section 1714). See our premises liability page.
- Motorcycle crashes: see our motorcycle accident page.
- Pedestrian accidents: see our pedestrian accident page.
- We also handle construction accidents, dog bites, child injuries, and other negligence cases.
El Cajon crash data from the Office of Traffic Safety
The Office of Traffic Safety counted 572 people killed or injured in El Cajon traffic crashes in 2023. The full breakdown, with alcohol, pedestrian, motorcycle, and speed figures, is on our El Cajon car accident page.
What you can recover
An El Cajon injury claim follows the statewide damages rules: medical costs, lost earnings, and pain and suffering, with punitive damages only for malice, oppression, or fraud (Civil Code section 3294). See how California measures injury damages.
If you were partly at fault
If an El Cajon claim involves shared blame, such as a fall on a store floor while carrying packages, the recovery is cut by the injured person’s share of fault rather than barred. See how comparative fault is decided in California.
Claims against the City of El Cajon or another public agency
A written claim for personal injury generally must be presented to the public entity within six months (Government Code section 911.2). If the claim is rejected in writing, a lawsuit generally must be filed within six months of that notice (Government Code section 945.6). A public entity can be liable for a dangerous condition of its property in the situations described in Government Code section 835.
The courthouse in El Cajon
The San Diego Superior Court’s East County Regional Center is at 250 East Main Street, El Cajon. According to the court, it handles criminal, family, restraining order, and juvenile dependency cases. Other civil cases are filed at the Hall of Justice, 330 West Broadway, San Diego (San Diego Superior Court, East County location).
Learn about the attorney who reviews these cases on the Vikas Bajaj attorney profile.
El Cajon personal injury questions and answers
How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in El Cajon?
Generally two years from the date of injury under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. If a public agency may be responsible, a written claim generally must be presented within six months under Government Code section 911.2.
What if a City of El Cajon sidewalk, street, or vehicle caused my injury?
A written claim generally must be presented to the City within six months (Government Code section 911.2) before a lawsuit can be filed. If the claim is rejected in writing, a lawsuit generally must be filed within six months of that notice (Government Code section 945.6).
Where would a personal injury lawsuit from El Cajon be filed?
In San Diego Superior Court. According to the court, the East County Regional Center at 250 East Main Street, El Cajon, handles criminal, family, restraining order, and juvenile dependency cases, and other civil cases are filed at the Hall of Justice, 330 West Broadway, San Diego (court location page).
What if I was partly at fault?
Your share of fault lowers the amount you can recover, but it does not bar the claim (CACI 405).
What damages can I claim?
Usually medical bills, lost pay, and pain and emotional distress, under CACI 3903A, 3903C, and 3905A.
How do attorney fees work?
No attorney fee unless we recover. If there is no recovery, you owe no attorney fees and no case costs, as stated in your fee agreement.
How do I reach Injury Trial Lawyers about an El Cajon injury?
Injury Trial Lawyers is open 24/7, and calls are answered at (619) 525-7007.
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This page is general information about California law, not legal advice.