Last updated
By Ron McMinn, Esq. | Official sources rechecked November 9, 2026.
Read this article in Español.
We have written about who may be responsible for potholes and road defects, highway work zone crashes, and lane closures on eroding roads. This guide is about the filing mechanics: where a claim against Caltrans, the California Department of Transportation, actually goes, and why the answer depends on the dollar amount.
Why a claim comes first
Caltrans’ own Submit Damage Claim page says the Government Claims process must be followed to preserve the right to sue Caltrans for many types of claims. It also says the process is not a reimbursement or insurance program, but an early resolution process for potential lawsuits, and that receiving information or an investigation is not an admission of liability.
The six-month deadline
Government Code section 911.2 says a claim for death or for injury to a person or to personal property must be presented no later than six months after the cause of action accrues. Most other claims get one year. Accrual is a legal question, so do not guess at the start date.
Claims of $12,500 or less: file with the Caltrans District Claims Office
For death, personal injury, or injury to personal property or growing crops that you believe Caltrans caused, Caltrans says that if the claim is $12,500 or less you may file directly with Caltrans, with no filing fee. Use form DOTLD-0274, Claim Against Department of Transportation for Amounts $12,500 or Less, linked from the Caltrans claim page. Send the completed and signed original with your supporting documents to the District Claims Office that covers the county where the incident happened.
Caltrans lists these offices for Southern California:
- District 7 (Los Angeles and Ventura counties): 100 South Main Street, 13th floor, Los Angeles, CA 90012. 213-897-0816.
- District 8 (Riverside and San Bernardino counties): 464 West 4th Street, MS 1244, San Bernardino, CA 92401. 909-383-4351.
- District 11 (Imperial and San Diego counties): 4050 Taylor Street, MS 130, San Diego, CA 92110. 619-688-2531.
- District 12 (Orange County): 1750 East 4th Street, Suite 100, Santa Ana, CA 92705. 657-328-6400.
Caltrans lists every district, including Northern and Central California, on the same page. Check the county before you mail anything.
Claims over $12,500: the DGS Government Claims Program
If the claim is over $12,500, or involves a State agency other than Caltrans, Caltrans says it must be filed with the Government Claims Program, run by the Department of General Services Office of Risk and Insurance Management. That matches Government Code section 915, which says claims against the State are presented by delivering them to a DGS office or mailing them to DGS at its principal office.
Mailing address: Office of Risk and Insurance Management, Government Claims Program, P.O. Box 989052, MS 414, West Sacramento, CA 95798-9052. Physical address: 707 3rd Street, 1st Floor, West Sacramento, CA 95605. Toll-free: 1-800-955-0045. Email: gcinfo@dgs.ca.gov.
The DGS File a Claim page offers an online claim form hosted by a third-party vendor and says there is a $25 filing fee, payable by credit card or e-check. If you cannot pay online, DGS points to its paper Government Claim form, DGS ORIM 006, which says to include a $25 check or money order payable to the State of California and to send copies, not originals, of supporting documents.
Serious injuries rarely fit under $12,500
A crash with hospital care, lost work, or a death will usually exceed $12,500, which points to the DGS route. If you are unsure of the final value, talk to a lawyer before choosing a route, because the amount you claim and where you send it both matter. Keep photos of the road condition, the location, and the date, and save any CHP report number.
After the claim
Under Government Code section 945.4, you generally cannot sue the State for money damages until a required claim has been presented and acted on, or deemed rejected. Section 912.4 generally gives the public entity 45 days to act. If it does not act, the claim is deemed rejected on the last day of that period.
After written notice of rejection, Government Code section 945.6 generally gives you six months from the date the notice is personally delivered or mailed to file suit. If no written notice is given, a two-year period from accrual can apply instead.
Missed the six-month window? Government Code section 911.4 allows a written application for leave to present a late claim within a reasonable time, not more than one year after accrual, with the proposed claim attached. Relief is not automatic. See our guide on a missed six-month government claim deadline.
For a San Diego County example of State highway issues, see our SR-67 article.
Talk to us
If you were hurt in California and a city, county, transit agency, or the State may be involved, Win Attorneys handles government claims and personal injury matters statewide from our Tustin office. We speak Spanish and Vietnamese.
Call us at (562) 296-5380, reach us through our contact page, or start online with our intake form. Office: 17291 Irvine Blvd., Suite 210, Tustin, CA 92780.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file a claim against Caltrans for $12,500 or less?
Caltrans says claims for death, personal injury, or personal property of $12,500 or less may be filed directly with Caltrans on form DOTLD-0274, sent with supporting documents to the District Claims Office for the county where the incident happened. No filing fee is required for those claims.
What if my Caltrans claim is over $12,500?
Caltrans says claims over $12,500, or claims against a different State agency, must be filed with the Government Claims Program at the Department of General Services, Office of Risk and Insurance Management, P.O. Box 989052, MS 414, West Sacramento, CA 95798-9052.
Is there a fee to file a State government claim?
DGS says there is a $25 fee to file a government claim with the Government Claims Program, payable online by card or e-check, or by check or money order with the paper form. Caltrans says no fee is required for claims of $12,500 or less filed directly with Caltrans.
What is the deadline for a Caltrans injury claim?
Government Code section 911.2 requires claims for death or injury to a person or personal property to be presented no later than six months after accrual. Most other claims have one year.
Which Caltrans district covers Orange County, Los Angeles, the Inland Empire, and San Diego?
Caltrans lists District 12 for Orange County, District 7 for Los Angeles and Ventura counties, District 8 for Riverside and San Bernardino counties, and District 11 for Imperial and San Diego counties.