Cardiff-by-the-Sea Car Accident & Injury Lawyer

If we do not win, you owe nothing: no attorney fee and no repayment of costs. The consultation is free, our fee is a percentage of the settlement, and we advance all case costs, including medical experts, accident reconstruction, depositions and filing fees.

On this page:

• Car accidents
• Pedestrian and bicycle accidents
• Uber and Lyft accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Slip and fall injuries
• Dog bites
• Wrongful death
• Brain injuries
• Deadlines
• FAQs

How our personal injury law firm serves Cardiff-by-the-Sea clients

We do not have an office in Cardiff-by-the-Sea. Cardiff clients work with us through our San Diego law office at 6725 Mesa Ridge Road, Suite 150, San Diego, CA 92121. Suite 150 is on the first floor of the Vista View Plaza building. Get directions to our office

• Distance: about 13 miles to the San Elijo Lagoon Nature Center on Manchester Avenue and to Cardiff State Beach, and about 14 miles to Newcastle Avenue and Cardiff Elementary School. The usual route is Mira Mesa Boulevard, I-805 and I-5 north, then Birmingham Drive into Cardiff, Manchester Avenue for the Nature Center, or Lomas Santa Fe Drive and Coast Highway 101 for the state beach.
• Visits: if you can't come to our office, we can come to you, at home or in the hospital, or meet virtually.
• Who handles your case: Azadeh Keshavarz, Esq., our founding and managing attorney, was admitted to the California bar in 2012. She personally handles every client's case and stays directly reachable from the first call to the final resolution, and a dedicated case manager supports her. She is a former chiropractor who practiced for about a decade and a past appointed Qualified Medical Evaluator for the State of California's Department of Workers' Compensation.
• Languages: Azadeh Keshavarz speaks English, Farsi and Spanish, and our team includes Spanish-speaking (Jocelyn B.) and Farsi-speaking (Pegah M.) staff. Hablamos español. Nuestra única oficina está en San Diego. Si busca un abogado de lesiones personales en Cardiff-by-the-Sea, llame al (877) 470-4878 para una consulta gratis, o visite nuestra página en español.

Car and auto accidents in Cardiff-by-the-Sea

Cardiff-by-the-Sea is a community within the City of Encinitas, so Encinitas rules and agencies apply to a crash here. South Coast Highway 101 runs along the ocean past Cardiff State Beach and the San Elijo State Beach campground. San Elijo Avenue runs beside the railroad tracks, Chesterfield Drive connects it with the highway, and Birmingham Drive and Manchester Avenue link Cardiff with I-5. Santa Fe Drive runs past Encinitas Community Park and Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas. This page covers crashes on all of these roads.

The City of Encinitas studied ten years of collisions, 2011 through 2020, for its February 2022 Local Roadway Safety Plan. South Coast Highway 101 had 57 midblock collisions, third on the plan's list of Encinitas roads, and Manchester Avenue was fourth with 47. The intersection of Chesterfield Drive and South Coast Highway 101 had 24 collisions and ranked second among Encinitas intersections by crash cost. Chesterfield Drive at San Elijo Avenue, near Glen Park in Cardiff, had 22.

Who takes the police report after a Cardiff-by-the-Sea crash?

Encinitas has no police department of its own. The City contracts with the San Diego County Sheriff, so deputies from the Sheriff's North Coastal Station usually take the report for a crash on Cardiff's streets. The station handles patrol and traffic enforcement for Encinitas from 175 North El Camino Real, Encinitas. Its business line is (760) 966-3500, and the non-emergency dispatch line is (858) 868-3200.

A crash on I-5 is usually handled by the California Highway Patrol. The CHP's Oceanside Area office lists I-5 among the freeways it patrols in North County, so ask the officer at the scene which office has your report.

The City of Encinitas does not process Sheriff records requests. You can request a Sheriff's report through the Sheriff's online Public Records Center, from the station that wrote it, or with a Service Request Form sent by mail or brought to the Records & ID Division at 9621 Ridgehaven Court, San Diego. Reports are generally released to interested parties and victims, and you need a photo ID. The fee is $20, and the department aims to process requests in 3 to 10 business days. CHP reports are requested with form CHP 190.

Which hospitals near Cardiff-by-the-Sea have trauma care?

Palomar UC San Diego Health Escondido, at 2185 Citracado Parkway, is a Level II trauma center that serves an area of more than 800 square miles. To the south, Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla runs a Level I trauma center verified by the American College of Surgeons. Closest to Cardiff, Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas has an emergency room open 24 hours a day at 354 Santa Fe Drive. Its ER page lists no trauma designation and says fast transport to a trauma center is available. Paramedics decide where you go. For your claim, get checked the same day and keep every record and bill.

Insurance after a Cardiff-by-the-Sea crash

Since January 1, 2025, California drivers must carry at least $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident for injuries, plus $15,000 for property damage. A serious injury can cost more than $30,000. When it does, your own underinsured motorist coverage may help. Once the other driver's insurer pays its full limit, and only if your limit is higher, your policy pays up to your limit minus what they paid.

If the driver who hit you on Coast Highway 101 was in a rental car, more than one policy can apply: the driver's own policy, any coverage bought at the rental counter, and your own coverage. Under a federal law, 49 U.S.C. §30106, a rental company is generally not liable just because it owns the car, unless the company itself was negligent or committed criminal wrongdoing.

If a City of Encinitas vehicle or a problem with a Cardiff street caused your crash, a written claim to the City comes first, usually within six months. The City's Administrative Services Department handles claims against the City of Encinitas. Claims must be filed with the City Clerk's Department, and claim forms are available there and at Administrative Services. The City Clerk's Office phone number is (760) 633-2601.

If anyone was hurt, or damage tops $1,000, each driver must also file form SR-1 with the DMV within 10 days. That is separate from the police report.

Read more about our car accident practice

What if you were partly at fault for the crash?

California uses comparative fault, so being partly at fault for a crash does not by itself bar your claim. Your damages are reduced by your percentage of responsibility (CACI No. 405; Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804). Photos, video and witness names help show how the crash happened.

• Auto accident: $500,000, policy limits. First offer: $6,500.
• Auto accident: $350,000. First offer: $75,000.

These are past results for AK Injury Law Firm clients and are not presented as Cardiff-by-the-Sea cases. Every case is different. These results depend on the facts of each case and do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any other matter. See more results

Pedestrian and bicycle accidents in Cardiff-by-the-Sea

In the City's safety plan, bicycle crashes were 8% of all Encinitas collisions from 2011 through 2020 but 19% of those that killed or seriously injured someone. For 2010 through 2019, the plan puts pedestrian crashes at 5% of Encinitas collisions and more than 24% of the deadly or serious ones. It lists Birmingham Drive at San Elijo Avenue among the signalized intersections with a crash history that a head start for people in the crosswalk, or a check of walk times, could address.

People on foot and on bikes in Cardiff use the Coastal Rail Trail, a 1.3-mile path for walking and biking that SANDAG opened in May 2019. It runs along the east side of the railroad tracks near San Elijo Avenue, from Chesterfield Drive to the Santa Fe Drive undercrossing. On Coast Highway 101, the City's November 2023 infrastructure project list cites one undated pedestrian count of 200 people a day crossing the highway without a crosswalk between the Solana Beach border and the State Beach parking lot.

California law requires drivers to give a bicycle at least three feet when passing (Vehicle Code §21760). For a pedestrian or bicycle crash on Cardiff's streets, the Sheriff's North Coastal Station usually takes the report. Many camera systems record over old footage within days, so ask the businesses facing the spot for video quickly. Pedestrian accidents · Bicycle accidents

Uber and Lyft accidents in Cardiff-by-the-Sea

Rideshare coverage depends on what the driver's app showed at the moment of the crash.

Driver's app status	Coverage California requires
Logged in, waiting for a ride request	$50,000 per person and $100,000 per incident for injury or death, $30,000 for property damage, plus $200,000 in excess coverage
Ride accepted, through the end of the trip	$1,000,000 for injury, death and property damage, carried by the driver, the company, or both
Passenger in the car	The company's uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage: $60,000 per person and $300,000 per incident since January 1, 2026 (it was $1,000,000)

Amounts are from Public Utilities Code §5433, as amended by SB 371 (2025). For a rideshare crash on Cardiff's streets, such as Coast Highway 101 or Birmingham Drive, deputies from the Sheriff's North Coastal Station in Encinitas usually take the report. On I-5, the CHP takes it, so get the officer's office name and the report number before you leave. If you were the passenger, screenshot the trip in your app, with the pickup and drop-off points. Uber and Lyft accidents

Motorcycle accidents in Cardiff-by-the-Sea

Riders in Cardiff share I-5, Manchester Avenue and Coast Highway 101 with commuters and beach traffic, and the City's safety plan counted 57 midblock collisions on South Coast Highway 101 over ten years. California law recognizes lane splitting, defined as riding a two-wheeled motorcycle between rows of stopped or moving vehicles in the same lane (Vehicle Code §21658.1). Insurers often blame the rider anyway. The Sheriff or CHP report, dash-camera and business video, witness names and photos of the damage to both vehicles show how the crash happened. Motorcycle accidents

Slip and fall and premises injuries in Cardiff-by-the-Sea

Falls in Cardiff happen in shops, restaurants and rentals, and on public property such as Glen Park, at 2149 Orinda Drive near San Elijo Avenue and Chesterfield Drive. The City of Encinitas owns Glen Park, and it lists Glen Park and Encinitas Community Park, at 425 Santa Fe Drive, as its Cardiff parks. Who owns the spot matters. For a business or private home, you generally have two years to file suit. For City, County or state property, a written government claim is usually due within six months (Government Code §911.2), and the usual pause for children does not apply to it.

Cardiff State Beach and San Elijo State Beach are California State Parks, so a claim for a fall there goes to the State through its Government Claims Program, not to the City. Public entities are generally not liable for injuries caused by natural conditions of unimproved public property, including beaches (Government Code §831.2), so a fall on sand or rocks may not support a claim. Photograph the hazard and your shoes, and keep the receipt, parking slip or booking that shows you were there. Slip and fall accidents

Dog bites in Cardiff-by-the-Sea

California holds a dog's owner liable for a bite in a public place, or on private property where you were lawfully present, even if the dog never bit anyone before (Civil Code §3342). That covers a bite on a Cardiff sidewalk, on the Coastal Rail Trail, at a home you were invited into, or at Encinitas Community Park on Santa Fe Drive, which has a dog park, according to the City's parks page. Get the owner's name and phone number, and photograph the dog and its license tag. Photograph the bite on the day it happens and again as it heals, so the record shows any scarring. Dog bites

Wrongful death claims for Cardiff-by-the-Sea families

When a crash or fall in Cardiff takes a life, California lets the surviving spouse or domestic partner and children bring a wrongful death claim. In some cases others, such as heirs or dependents, can bring one too (Code of Civil Procedure §377.60). The deadline is generally two years, or six months for a claim against a public entity such as the City of Encinitas. For Cardiff's ZIP code, 92007, the San Diego Superior Court's ZIP code list assigns the North County Division, whose courthouse, the North County Regional Center at 325 South Melrose Drive in Vista, hears civil cases. The consultation is free and our fee is a percentage of the settlement. If we do not win, you owe nothing: no attorney fee and no repayment of costs. Wrongful death

Brain injury claims after Cardiff-by-the-Sea accidents

Head injuries from a crash on Coast Highway 101 or Manchester Avenue, or a bike fall on the Coastal Rail Trail, can seem mild at first and get worse over the following weeks. The CDC says some concussion symptoms may not appear for hours or days. If paramedics took you to Palomar UC San Diego Health Escondido, a Level II trauma center, or Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, a Level I trauma center, or you were first seen at the Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas emergency room on Santa Fe Drive, ask for copies of your imaging and records from that first visit. Each hospital keeps its own file, so ask both if you were transferred.

Insurers often argue a concussion has healed, so keep a dated log of your symptoms, treatment and missed work from the start. If a City of Encinitas vehicle or street was involved, keep the six-month City claim deadline in mind while you are still being diagnosed. Brain injury

Deadlines for Cardiff-by-the-Sea injury claims

Claim	Deadline	Law
Injury or wrongful death lawsuit	Generally 2 years from the injury or death	Code of Civil Procedure §335.1
Vehicle or other personal property damage	Generally 3 years	Code of Civil Procedure §338(c)(1)
Claim against the City of Encinitas, the County or a state agency	Usually 6 months, as a written claim before any lawsuit	Government Code §911.2
Injured child (private defendant)	Time is generally paused until age 18	Code of Civil Procedure §352(a)
Injured child (public entity)	The pause does not apply; the government claim rules govern	Code of Civil Procedure §352(b)
DMV report (form SR-1)	10 days, if anyone was hurt or damage is over $1,000	California DMV

Exceptions can shorten or extend these deadlines, so ask about yours in a free consultation.

Where a Cardiff-by-the-Sea injury lawsuit is filed

An injury lawsuit is usually filed in the county where the injury happened or where the person or company being sued lives (Code of Civil Procedure §395). For Cardiff's ZIP code, 92007, the San Diego Superior Court's ZIP code list assigns the North County Division, as it does for Encinitas ZIP codes 92023 and 92024. That division's courthouse is the North County Regional Center, 325 South Melrose Drive in Vista, where the court hears civil cases. The court's civil filing rules include the East and South County divisions in the downtown Central Division, but not North County.

What to do after a crash in Cardiff-by-the-Sea

1. Call 911. Sheriff's deputies from the North Coastal Station usually respond on Cardiff's streets; CHP usually responds on I-5.
2. Get checked the same day, even if you feel fine. Keep every record and bill.
3. Photograph everything: the cars, the road, signals, and the nearest cross street, for example Chesterfield Drive at San Elijo Avenue.
4. Exchange information. If the other driver is a visitor, also photograph their license, insurance card, and the rental agreement or rental company name.
5. Look for cameras. Note shops, homes and parking lots facing the scene. Footage is often overwritten within days.
6. File the DMV SR-1 within 10 days if anyone was hurt or damage is over $1,000.
7. Request the police report. A Sheriff's report costs $20, and the department aims to process requests in 3 to 10 business days.
8. Talk to a lawyer before giving a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer. Call (877) 470-4878.

Cardiff-by-the-Sea car accident and injury FAQs

Do you have an office in Cardiff-by-the-Sea?

No. AK Injury Law Firm has one office, at 6725 Mesa Ridge Road, Suite 150, San Diego, CA 92121. By car it is about 13 miles from Cardiff State Beach and about 14 miles from Newcastle Avenue in Cardiff-by-the-Sea. If you can't come to the office, the firm can come to you, at home or in the hospital, or meet virtually.

How much does a Cardiff-by-the-Sea car accident lawyer cost?

At AK Injury Law Firm, the consultation for a Cardiff-by-the-Sea car accident is free and the fee is a percentage of the settlement. The firm advances all case costs, including medical experts, accident reconstruction, depositions and filing fees. If we do not win, you owe nothing: no attorney fee and no repayment of costs.

Who takes the police report for a car accident in Cardiff-by-the-Sea?

Cardiff-by-the-Sea is part of Encinitas, which contracts with the San Diego County Sheriff, so on Cardiff's streets, deputies from the Sheriff's North Coastal Station in Encinitas usually take the crash report. On I-5, the California Highway Patrol does. A Sheriff's report costs $20, and the department aims to process requests in 3 to 10 business days. CHP reports are requested with form CHP 190.

How long do I have to file an injury claim after a Cardiff-by-the-Sea crash?

In California you generally have two years from the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit (Code of Civil Procedure §335.1) and three years for vehicle damage. If the City of Encinitas, the County or a state agency is responsible for a Cardiff-by-the-Sea crash, a written government claim is usually due within six months (Government Code §911.2). Exceptions can change these deadlines.

What if I was hurt at Cardiff State Beach or San Elijo State Beach?

Cardiff State Beach and San Elijo State Beach are California State Parks, so a claim for an injury caused by the State goes to the State's Government Claims Program, not to the City of Encinitas. A written claim is usually due within six months (Government Code §911.2). For an injury in Glen Park or another City park in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, the claim goes to the City Clerk.

What if I was hurt in an Uber or Lyft in Cardiff-by-the-Sea?

Once an Uber or Lyft driver accepts a ride, through the end of the trip, California requires $1,000,000 in liability coverage, carried by the company, the driver, or both (Public Utilities Code §5433). Since January 1, 2026, under SB 371, passenger uninsured and underinsured coverage is $60,000 per person and $300,000 per incident. After a rideshare crash on Cardiff streets, the Sheriff's North Coastal Station usually takes the report.

Where would my Cardiff-by-the-Sea injury lawsuit be filed?

An injury lawsuit is usually filed in the county where the injury happened or where the defendant lives, so a Cardiff-by-the-Sea case usually belongs in San Diego County. For Cardiff's ZIP code, 92007, the San Diego Superior Court's ZIP code list assigns the North County Division, whose courthouse, the North County Regional Center at 325 South Melrose Drive in Vista, hears civil cases.

What if I was hit while walking or biking in Cardiff-by-the-Sea?

You may have a claim against the driver. California requires drivers to give a bicycle at least three feet when passing (Vehicle Code §21760). If you were partly at fault, your damages are reduced by your share of responsibility (CACI No. 405). After a pedestrian or bicycle accident on Cardiff-by-the-Sea streets such as Coast Highway 101, the Sheriff's North Coastal Station usually takes the report. Ask nearby businesses for video quickly.

What if I was hurt in a motorcycle crash in Cardiff-by-the-Sea?

California law defines lane splitting as riding a two-wheeled motorcycle between rows of stopped or moving vehicles in the same lane (Vehicle Code §21658.1). If an insurer blames you for a motorcycle crash in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, the comparative fault rule reduces your damages by your share of fault and does not by itself bar the claim (CACI No. 405). The police report, photos and video help show what happened.

Can I make a claim if I slip and fall at a Cardiff-by-the-Sea business or park?

Under Civil Code §1714, people are responsible for injuries caused by careless management of their property. After a slip and fall at a Cardiff-by-the-Sea shop, restaurant or rental, the claim goes to the owner or business, and you generally have two years to sue. For Glen Park, a City of Encinitas park, a written claim to the City is usually due within six months (Government Code §911.2).

Can I sue if a dog bit me in Cardiff-by-the-Sea?

Usually, yes. Under Civil Code §3342, a dog's owner is liable for a bite in a public place, or on private property where you were lawfully present, regardless of the dog's past behavior, with narrow exceptions such as some police dog bites. That includes a dog bite on a Cardiff-by-the-Sea sidewalk or in a park. You generally have two years to sue (Code of Civil Procedure §335.1).

Who can file a wrongful death claim after a Cardiff-by-the-Sea accident?

Under Code of Civil Procedure §377.60, the surviving spouse or domestic partner and the children can bring a wrongful death claim. In some cases others can too, such as heirs or dependents. After a fatal crash or fall in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, the lawsuit is generally due within two years of the death (§335.1), or a written claim within six months if a public entity is responsible (Government Code §911.2).

What if a head injury from a Cardiff-by-the-Sea accident seemed minor at first?

Get checked the same day, even if you feel fine. The CDC says some concussion symptoms may not appear for hours or days. For a brain injury claim after a Cardiff-by-the-Sea crash or fall, keep imaging, records and a dated log of symptoms and missed work. You generally have two years to sue (Code of Civil Procedure §335.1), or six months for a claim against a public entity.

¿Hay un abogado de lesiones personales en Cardiff-by-the-Sea que hable español?

AK Injury Law Firm no tiene oficina en Cardiff-by-the-Sea. Nuestra única oficina está en San Diego, a unas 13 a 14 millas. La abogada Azadeh Keshavarz habla inglés, farsi y español, y Jocelyn B., de nuestro equipo, es bilingüe en español. Llame al (877) 470-4878 para una consulta gratis, o visite nuestra página en español.

Talk to a Cardiff-by-the-Sea car accident lawyer today

Call (877) 470-4878 or request a free case review. We're available 24/7. Our San Diego office on Mesa Ridge Road is about 13 to 14 miles from Cardiff-by-the-Sea, and if you can't come to us, we can come to you, at home or in the hospital, or meet virtually. Our fee is a percentage of the settlement, and we advance all case costs. If we do not win, you owe nothing: no attorney fee and no repayment of costs.

AK Injury Law Firm. Azadeh Keshavarz, Esq., responsible attorney. 6725 Mesa Ridge Rd, Suite 150, San Diego, CA 92121. This page is general information, not legal advice. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.