Submit Damage Claim
The Government Claims process must be followed to preserve the right to sue the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for many types of claims. The information on this website and/or on the claim form is intended to assist the public in the claim filing process. This information does not constitute, nor is it intended as, legal advice.
The claims process is not a reimbursement or insurance program, it is an early resolution process for potential lawsuits. Drivers in California must exercise caution on all roads and carry adequate automobile insurance to cover liability and property damage.
The fact that this brief statement of the initial procedure to be followed in submitting a claim against the State of California, or against any of the State of California's subdivisions, departments, divisions, agencies, officers, employees, agents, or directors, has been furnished to you or that an investigation of any claim is undertaken is not to be taken as an admission of liability in any respect on the part of the State of California, or by any of the State of California's subdivisions, departments, divisions, agencies, officers, employees, agents, or directors, nor is the fact that this informational statement has been furnished to you to be construed as a waiver of any requirements imposed by the law or of any defense which may be available to the State of California or to any of the State of California's subdivisions, departments, divisions, agencies, officers, employees, agents, or directors, in connection with any claim that may be filed or any legal action.
Claims for $12,500 or less
If your claim is for death or personal injury, or for injury to personal property or growing crops, which you believe was caused by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), and the amount of your claim is $12,500 or less, you may file your claim directly with Caltrans. No filing fee is required for claims filed with Caltrans seeking $12,500 or less from Caltrans.
To present a claim for $12,500 or less, for death or personal injury, or for injury to personal property or growing crops, please fill out form DOTLD-0274, Claim Against Department of Transportation for Amounts $12,500 or Less (PDF) to make a claim against Caltrans. File the claim by sending the completed and signed original form with your supporting documents to the appropriate Caltrans District Claims Office. To determine the proper place to file your form, you must know the county in which your incident occurred. Each county is covered by a specific District Claims Office. The list below shows the address and telephone number of each District Claims Office, and the counties served by that District Claims Office. To see an interactive map showing the Caltrans Districts and the main District Offices, please use the following link: Caltrans Near Me.
NOTE: If your claim is related to the provision of goods and/or services to Caltrans, with or without a contract, and seeks $12,500 or less, visit the claims website for the Division of Procurements and Contracts here. For these types of claims, you would use form ADM-3016 Equity Claims of $12,500 or Less (Other Than Employee Claims) to file a claim against Caltrans.
District Claims Office Addresses and Phone Numbers
To see an interactive map showing the Caltrans Districts and the main District Offices, please use the following link: Caltrans Near Me.
District 1 - Counties of Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino
District 1 Claim Office
P.O. Box 3700
Eureka, CA 95502
Telephone Number: 707-445-6594
District 2 - Counties of Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama, Trinity
District 2 Claim Office
1657 Riverside Drive
Redding, CA 96001
Telephone Number: 530-225-3223
District 3 - Counties of Butte, Colusa, El Dorado, Glenn, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Sierra, Sutter, Yolo, Yuba
District 3 Claim Office
703 B Street
Marysville, CA 95901
Telephone Number: 530-741-4262
District 4 - Counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, Sonoma
District 4 Claim Office
P.O. Box 23660
Oakland, CA 94623-0660
Telephone Number: 510-286-5806
District 5 - Counties of Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz
District 5 Claim Office
50 Higuera Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Telephone Number: 805-549-3451
District 6 - Counties of Fresno, Kern [western and central areas], Kings, Madera, Tulare
District 6 Claim Office
P.O. Box 12616
Fresno, CA 93778
Telephone Number: 559-445-6996
District 7 - Counties of Los Angeles, Ventura
District 7 Claim Office
100 South Main Street, 13th floor
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Telephone Number: 213-897-0816
District 8 - Counties of Riverside, San Bernardino
District 8 Claim Office
464 West 4th Street MS 1244
San Bernardino, CA 92401
Telephone Number: 909-383-4351
District 9 - Counties of Inyo, Kern [eastern area], Mono
District 9 Claim Office
500 South Main Street
Bishop, CA 93514
Telephone Number: 760-872-0648
District 10 - Counties of Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Mariposa, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tuolumne
District 10 Claim Office
P.O. Box 2048
Stockton, CA 95201
Telephone Number: 209-948-7864
District 11 - Counties of Imperial, San Diego
District 11 Claim Office
4050 Taylor Street, MS 130
San Diego, CA 92110
Telephone Number: 619-688-2531
District 12 - Orange County
District 12 Claim Office
1750 East 4th Street, Suite 100
Santa Ana, CA 92705
Telephone Number: 657-328-6400
Claims for over $12,500
If your claim is for over $12,500 or concerns a different department or agency of the State of California, you must file a claim with the Government Claims Program. This program gives you the opportunity to formally demand compensation for your loss, and may lead to a settlement of your claim without the need to file a lawsuit. For more information about the Government Claims Program or to request a claim form, you can contact:
Government Claims Program for Claims over $12,500
Mailing Address:
Office of Risk and Insurance Management
Government Claims Program
P.O. Box 989052, MS 414
West Sacramento, CA 95798-9052
Physical Address:
Office of Risk and Insurance Management
Government Claims Program
707 3rd Street, 1st Floor
West Sacramento, CA 95605
General Information:
Phone (toll-free): 1-800-955-0045
Email: gcinfo@dgs.ca.gov
Website: https://www.dgs.ca.gov/ORIM/Services/Page-Content/Office-of-Risk-and-Insurance-Management-Services-List-Folder/File-Government-Claim-for-eligible-compensation