Car Accidents in San Bernardino: Freeways, Arterials and Claims

San Bernardino is the county seat and the hub of the Inland Empire’s freeway system. I-10 crosses the south end of the city, I-215 runs north-south through downtown toward the Cajon Pass, and SR-210 arcs across the north side; SR-18 and SR-330 climb from the city into the San Bernardino Mountains toward Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear. Truck traffic bound for the region’s warehouses and the BNSF intermodal yard is heavy on all of them.

The city’s arterials—Waterman Avenue, E Street, Highland Avenue, Baseline Street, Mt. Vernon Avenue and Hospitality Lane—serve a population of about 222,000 with high rates of walking and transit use. Pedestrian collisions, uninsured drivers and hit-and-run incidents are recurring features of collision reports in the city.

Who writes the collision report in San Bernardino

The San Bernardino Police Department handles collisions on city streets. The California Highway Patrol (San Bernardino Area) handles I-10, I-215, SR-210, SR-18 and SR-259 within the city. Cal State San Bernardino collisions are handled by University Police.

Where San Bernardino collisions happen

I-215 through downtown and toward the Cajon Pass

Reconstructed in the 2010s, the 215 carries heavy truck and commuter traffic; rear-end and sideswipe collisions near the 10/215 and 210/215 interchanges are commonly reported.

I-10 and the Hospitality Lane corridor

The city’s commercial district along the 10 with hotels, offices and dealerships; the Waterman and Tippecanoe ramps see congestion-related collisions.

SR-18 and SR-330 mountain routes

Steep, winding routes with runaway truck ramps, snow and ice in winter and heavy weekend recreational traffic; single-vehicle and head-on collisions are frequent.

Waterman Avenue, E Street and Highland Avenue

Long north-south and east-west arterials with high speeds, bus stops and nighttime pedestrian activity.

Common collision scenarios

• Pedestrian collisions on wide arterials, often at night.
• Hit-and-run and uninsured-driver collisions.
• Truck-involved collisions on the 10, 215 and 210.
• Mountain-road collisions on SR-18 and SR-330.
• Freeway rear-end collisions in commuter congestion.

Courts, hospitals and local practicalities

The San Bernardino Justice Center downtown is the county’s main courthouse for civil matters. Loma Linda University Medical Center, the Inland Empire’s Level I trauma center, and Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton are the region’s trauma hospitals; St. Bernardine Medical Center and Community Hospital of San Bernardino serve emergency patients within the city.

Uninsured and hit-and-run collisions make your own insurance coverage especially important here. Uninsured motorist coverage, if you carry it, pays for injuries caused by uninsured and hit-and-run drivers; Proposition 213 limits an uninsured injured driver’s own recovery. See uninsured driver guide.

Accident types and injuries

San Bernardino questions

The driver who hit me on Waterman had no insurance and no assets. Is there anything I can recover?

Your own uninsured motorist coverage is usually the main source. If you do not have it, options are limited, though medical payments coverage and health insurance can cover treatment. This is why California drivers are encouraged to carry UM/UIM coverage.

I crashed on SR-18 above the city in icy conditions. Who investigates?

CHP handles state highways, including the mountain routes. Weather does not automatically excuse a driver who was traveling too fast for conditions.

How do I get an SBPD collision report?

Through the San Bernardino PD records bureau with the report number or date and location; reports are released to involved parties after approval.

Sources and official resources

• Civil Code § 3333.4 (Proposition 213 limits for uninsured drivers)
• Insurance Code § 11580.2 (uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage)
• California Highway Patrol — find an office
• California Office of Traffic Safety — crash rankings by city
• San Bernardino Police Department
• San Bernardino Superior Court

Links go to official government, court and public-health sources. Laws change; verify current text before relying on it.