We handle personal injury cases from car and bike crashes to falls and elder neglect. This page lists the Petaluma facts that matter in those cases, each from the official source at the end. County-wide offices are on our page about personal injury cases in Sonoma County.

What happens after an injury in Petaluma, step by step?

  1. Call 911 for a crash with serious injuries; for other incidents, the Petaluma Police non-emergency line takes reports.
  2. Once the report is ready, request a traffic collision report through the City's online request center.
  3. If the City or another public entity may be responsible, present a written claim within six months (Government Code 911.2).
  4. Allow the City up to 45 days to act on the claim (Government Code 912.4).
  5. If the claim is rejected, or a private person or business is responsible, a lawsuit can be filed in Sonoma County Superior Court.

Who takes the report after a crash in Petaluma?

The Petaluma Police Department's station is at 969 Petaluma Boulevard North. The department tells people to call 911 for a collision where someone is not moving or shows signs of serious injury. Its non-emergency line is (707) 778-4373, and in-progress traffic hazards that are not emergencies go to (707) 778-4372. Its online reporting tool covers only incidents such as stolen property, identity theft, vandalism and harassing calls with no known suspect.

Traffic collision reports can be requested through the City's online request center, and other police reports through a request form. The department's report page says the people directly involved in a traffic collision, meaning drivers, passengers and registered owners, are entitled to a copy, and that an insurance company may request it for you. Once a request is approved and the report is available, it takes seven to ten working days, and reports on collisions with injuries or deaths can take longer because of the investigation.

If the CHP handled the crash, the report comes from the CHP Santa Rosa Area office, 6100 LaBath Avenue, Rohnert Park, (707) 806-5600. Our guide on how to get the crash report in Sonoma County explains who may get one under Vehicle Code 20012.

How does Petaluma handle an injury claim against the City?

For an injury, the state Government Claims Act governs. The written claim must be presented within six months (Government Code 911.2), and the City then has 45 days to act before the claim is treated as rejected (Government Code 912.4). State law lets a claim against a city be delivered or mailed to its clerk (Government Code 915); Petaluma's City Clerk is at 11 English Street.

Petaluma's own claims chapter, chapter 1.18 of the Municipal Code, covers a different group: claims the state act leaves out, such as certain tax refund and public employee pay claims (Government Code 905), which must be filed with the city clerk within one year. It does not give an injured person more than the six months. Each step is explained in how to file an injury claim against a city, county or the State. For a fall on a broken sidewalk, see who is responsible for a sidewalk trip and fall.

Which senior-protection offices are in Petaluma?

Two of the county's main offices for older adults are here. Adult Protective Services, part of the County's Adult and Aging Division, has its Petaluma office at 5350 Old Redwood Highway North, Suite 100; reports go to its 24-hour line, (707) 565-5940, and it takes reports about adults 60 and older and adults 18 to 59 with disabilities. The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program for Sonoma County, which advocates for residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, runs through Senior Advocacy Services at 1129 Industrial Avenue, Suite 201, Petaluma, (707) 526-4108.

If you are worried about a parent in a care facility, read what to do this week about suspected nursing home neglect. Our elder abuse and neglect page explains when a civil claim is possible.

What do state crash numbers show for Petaluma?

The California Office of Traffic Safety compares each city with others of similar size. Petaluma is in Group C, cities of 50,001 to 100,000 people, with an average population of 58,858 in 2023. Its 2023 figures and ranks among the 103 cities in that group:

Category (2023)PetalumaRank of 103
People killed or injured in all crashes18357
People killed or injured in alcohol-involved crashes2734
Motorcyclists killed or injured1521
Pedestrians killed or injured1454
Bicyclists killed or injured2216
Speed-related crashes with deaths or injuries4614
Hit-and-run crashes with deaths or injuries1064

A rank of 1 is the highest, or worst. Petaluma's overall rank is near the middle of its group, but it ranked 14th of 103 for speed-related crashes and 16th for bicyclists killed or injured. The state counts only crashes within city limits, and a CHP-reported crash on a road shared with the city does not count against the city. For riders hurt in a crash, see our pedestrian and bicycle accidents page. The passing, turning and door rules that decide fault are explained in who is at fault when a car hits a cyclist.

Where are the train stations and transit centers?

SMART has two Petaluma stations. Petaluma Downtown, 220 Lakeville Street, sits next to the Petaluma Transit Mall on Copeland Street, which is served by Golden Gate Transit, Sonoma County Transit, Petaluma Transit and the free LumaGo shuttle. Petaluma North is at 320 Corona Road. SMART is a public transit district, so an injury claim against it, like a claim against the City, starts with the six-month written claim.

Where would a Petaluma injury case be filed?

For an injury, the superior court of the county where it happened, or where a defendant lives, is a proper court (Code of Civil Procedure 395). For an injury in Petaluma, that includes Sonoma County Superior Court, whose civil cases are handled at 3055 Cleveland Avenue in Santa Rosa. Our guide on what to expect at Sonoma County Superior Court walks through the steps.

What changes the answer in Petaluma?

Whether the claim is against the City. An injury claim against the City follows the state's six-month rule. The Municipal Code's one-year period is only for claims the Government Claims Act leaves out (Government Code 905).

Whether someone was hurt in a care facility. Staff reports of abuse in a long-term care facility go to the ombudsman, local law enforcement and the licensing agency, while abuse elsewhere is reported to Adult Protective Services (Welfare and Institutions Code 15630). Our guide on what California's Elder Abuse Act adds to a claim explains the civil side.

Whether the driver fled. After a hit-and-run, your own uninsured motorist claim depends on a report within 24 hours (Insurance Code 11580.2). See what to do after a hit-and-run in Sonoma or Marin County.

Whether the driver was convicted of a felony. A civil action based on a felony for which the defendant was convicted may be filed within one year after judgment, unless a longer period applies (Code of Civil Procedure 340.3).

What could this look like? An example

For example, imagine a cyclist hit by a car on a Petaluma street. The driver stops, and an officer takes a report.

Because the cyclist was injured, Vehicle Code 20012 entitles the cyclist to the report, which can be requested through the City's online request center once it is available. The claim against the driver follows the usual two-year limit (Code of Civil Procedure 335.1). If a damaged road surface also played a part, a separate written claim to the City would be due within six months. Keeping the bike and helmet unrepaired, and asking each provider for medical records, builds the proof. This is a made-up example to show the Petaluma steps, not a forecast for any case.

What mistakes do people make after a Petaluma injury?

  • Trying to use the online police report tool for an injury crash, when it covers only incidents such as thefts and vandalism with no known suspect.
  • Reading the Municipal Code's one-year claim period as the deadline for an injury claim against the City.
  • Expecting a collision report right away; reports on crashes with injuries can take longer.
  • Raising concerns about a parent's care only with the facility, instead of also contacting the ombudsman.
  • Repairing or throwing away a damaged bike, helmet or car before it is photographed.

What should I do this week?

  1. Note the place, the time, and the officer's name or report number.
  2. Request the traffic collision report online as soon as it is available.
  3. Keep the bike, helmet and clothing as they are, and photograph them.
  4. Ask your doctors for your records in writing; copies are due within 15 days (Health and Safety Code 123110).
  5. If a city street or sidewalk caused the crash or fall, start the claim against the City now.
  6. For a parent in a care facility, call the Long-Term Care Ombudsman at (707) 526-4108.

Frequently asked questions about Petaluma injury cases

Can a cyclist or pedestrian get the collision report?

Yes. Vehicle Code 20012 entitles the people injured in a crash to the report, along with the drivers and owners.

What if I missed the six months for a claim against the City?

You can ask to present a late claim, but the application must be made within a reasonable time and no later than one year after the injury (Government Code 911.4). It is not automatic.

Where is the City Clerk's office?

The City Clerk is at 11 English Street, Petaluma. State law lets a claim be delivered or mailed to a city's clerk (Government Code 915).

Where else does Adult Protective Services have an office?

Besides Petaluma, it has an office on Westwind Boulevard, listed on our Santa Rosa page. Reports go to the County's 24-hour line, (707) 565-5940.

Is SMART a public entity?

Yes. SMART is a public transit district, so an injury claim against it starts with the six-month written claim (Government Code 911.2).

What if the driver who hit me was arrested for DUI?

The criminal case and your civil claim run separately. If the driver is convicted of a felony for the crash, the time to sue may extend to one year after judgment, unless a longer period applies (Code of Civil Procedure 340.3).

What should I read next?

After a crash, start with what happens in the first 30 days after a car accident in Sonoma County. Our office is in Cotati. Neighboring Rohnert Park has its own page. So does the City of Sonoma, where the CHP's Napa office serves part of the valley. Across the county line to the south, our page on personal injury cases in Novato covers the nearest Marin city.

If you or a loved one has been injured in Petaluma, contact Young Law Group today at (707) 343-0556 or through our contact page to schedule your free consultation and learn how we can help.

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