Last updated
By Ron McMinn, Esq. | Official sources rechecked November 9, 2026.
Read this article in Español.
We have written about traffic deaths in Long Beach and street design. When a City vehicle, employee, or a dangerous condition of City property may be part of an injury, the first legal step is usually a written claim to the City. This guide covers what the City Clerk’s claim page says.
Is it a City of Long Beach claim?
Long Beach Transit is a separate agency, and this guide does not cover its process. LA Metro buses and trains go to Metro (see our LA Metro claim article), County of Los Angeles property goes to the County (see our County of Los Angeles claim guide), and freeways such as the I-405 and I-710 generally go to Caltrans (see our Caltrans claim guide).
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.
The City’s page states the same rule: six months after the occurrence for death or injury to a person or personal property, and one year for other claims, including damage to real property. It adds that its page is not legal advice and that you should consult an attorney about the time to file a claim or a lawsuit.
How to file
The City says you may complete and submit the claim online, or download and print the form. The form is also posted in Spanish, Khmer, and Tagalog.
Paper forms and attachments may be mailed or delivered to: City Clerk, 411 West Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90802. City Clerk’s office: (562) 570-6101, cityclerk@longbeach.gov.
The City asks that the form be completed thoroughly and says incomplete forms may delay the investigation. For personal injury claims it suggests attaching medical records, itemized billing, and proof of payments, and keeping copies for your records. It also asks you to disclose whether the loss was claimed with another entity such as an insurance carrier, with the company, claims representative, and claim number.
Government Code section 910 lists what every claim must show: the claimant’s name and address, the address for notices, the date, place, and other circumstances of the incident, a general description of the injury or loss, the name of any public employee who caused it if known, and the amount claimed or, for claims over $10,000, whether it would be a limited civil case.
After you file
Under Government Code section 945.4, you generally cannot sue the City 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.
See our Los Angeles page for more on injury cases in LA County.
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
Can I file a claim against the City of Long Beach online?
Yes. The City Clerk’s claim page says you may complete and submit the claim form online. You can also download and print the form.
Where do I mail or deliver a Long Beach claim?
The City says completed forms and attachments may be mailed or delivered to the City Clerk, 411 West Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90802. The City Clerk’s office can be reached at (562) 570-6101.
Is the Long Beach claim form available in Spanish?
Yes. The City posts the claim form in Spanish, Khmer, and Tagalog, along with English.
What should I attach to a Long Beach injury claim?
For personal injury claims, the City suggests medical records, itemized billing, and proof of payments. It also asks you to disclose whether the loss was claimed with another entity, such as an insurance carrier.
What is the deadline for an injury claim against Long Beach?
The City’s page says claims for death, injury to a person, or injury to personal property must be filed no later than six months after the occurrence, and other claims within one year, citing Government Code section 911.2.