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Injured in Palm Springs: local resources
In 2024, CHP's statewide crash database recorded 278 crashes in Palm Springs in which someone was hurt or killed, with 385 people injured and 10 killed. Crash reports on city streets come from the Palm Springs Police Department. Injury claims against the City generally must be filed within six months. This page collects the verified local details.
Injury crashes in Palm Springs
Source: CHP's statewide crash database (data.ca.gov), all reporting agencies. Palm Springs averaged 320 injury or fatal crashes a year in 2022–2024, compared with 326 a year in 2016–2018 (-2%).
| Year | Crashes with someone hurt or killed | People injured | People killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 360 | 544 | 29 |
| 2017 | 322 | 488 | 10 |
| 2018 | 297 | 419 | 14 |
| 2019 | Not shown: the State's 2019 file covers only January to April. | ||
| 2020 | 191 | 284 | 11 |
| 2021 | 254 | 355 | 14 |
| 2022 | 348 | 481 | 12 |
| 2023 | 334 | 469 | 10 |
| 2024 | 278 | 385 | 10 |
| 2025 (may rise) | 276 | 390 | 8 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 181 | 239 | 4 |
What Palm Springs's 2020–2024 crash reports show
1,405 injury or fatal crashes over five years, compared with the whole county.
| Measure | Palm Springs | Riverside County |
|---|---|---|
| Crashes with someone hurt or killed | 1,405 | 51,948 |
| Fatal crashes | 52 | 1,545 |
| A pedestrian was involved | 142 (10%) | 5% |
| A bicyclist was involved | 60 (4%) | 3% |
| Hit-and-run | 100 (7%) | 10% |
| DUI recorded as the main cause | 108 (8%) | 10% |
| After dark | 519 (37%) | 33% |
| On a freeway | 20 (1%) | 25% |
Compared with the county as a whole, the category that stands out most in Palm Springs's reports is a pedestrian was involved: 10% of the city's injury crashes, against 5% countywide.
Most common types of collision:
- Broadside (T-bone): 39%
- Rear-end: 19%
- Hit an object: 13%
Most common primary causes recorded by officers:
- Unsafe speed for conditions (Vehicle Code § 22350): 16%
- Left turn or U-turn without yielding (Vehicle Code § 21801): 14%
- Red light (Vehicle Code § 21453): 10%
Counts are raw numbers, not rates. The primary cause is the officer's entry on the report, not a finding of fault. Open Palm Springs in the crash explorer.
Palm Springs in the state's crash rankings (2023)
Rank 1 is the worst among cities of similar population [source]. Palm Springs's worst category rank among cities of its size was pedestrian: 3 of 93. All 28 cities compared.
| Category | Count and rank |
|---|---|
| Size group (population) | Group D (population 44,760) [source] |
| Killed or injured, all crashes | 455 (rank 5/93) [source] |
| Alcohol-involved | 59 (rank 5/93) [source] |
| Motorcycle | 19 (rank 33/93) [source] |
| Pedestrian | 38 (rank 3/93) [source] |
| Bicycle | 15 (rank 29/93) [source] |
| Speed-related crashes | 61 (rank 4/93) [source] |
| Hit-and-run crashes | 30 (rank 12/93) [source] |
| Composite | rank 3/93 [source] |
Local facts: Palm Springs
| Population | U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2025 population estimate for Palm Springs city, CA: 45,315 (July 1, 2025). Estimates base (April 1, 2020): 44,575. [source] |
|---|---|
| Highways | State Route 111 serves Palm Springs: a Caltrans advisory posted by the City describes a SR-111 pavement project "in and near Palm Springs" running from Interstate 10 to 0.4 miles west of Tramway Road. [source] Interstate 10 serves Palm Springs at the I-10/Indian Canyon Drive interchange; the City's Indian Canyon Drive bridge widening is meant to match the six-lane roadway Caltrans built for that interchange. [source] |
| Emergency hospitals | Desert Regional Medical Center, 1150 N Indian Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, CA 92262, is listed by the Riverside County EMS Agency as a Level I adult trauma center. [source] |
| Recent road projects | Indian Canyon Drive bridge over the Union Pacific Railroad (Garnet Avenue to Train Station Road): bridge widening to match the six-lane roadway; under construction on a 3-year schedule, estimated cost $48.5 million, estimated completion April 2027. [source] A new bridge is under construction on South Palm Canyon Drive across Tahquitz Creek, just south of E. Sunny Dunes Road, replacing a structurally deficient bridge built in 1930. [source] The City's bridge page gives the South Palm Canyon Drive bridge over Tahquitz Creek Channel an estimated cost of $14.1 million and an estimated completion date of late 2026. [source] Caltrans $3.2 million SR-111 pavement preservation project (I-10 to 0.4 miles west of Tramway Road): construction set to begin October 16, with single-lane closures weekdays 7 a.m.-4 p.m., and work expected to be completed by the end of 2026. [source] |
| Fire and paramedics | The Palm Springs Fire Department has served Palm Springs since 1931; its emergency response includes fire suppression, paramedic emergency medical response, Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF), swift water rescue and vehicle extrication. Department phone: (760) 323-8181. [source] |
| Report a road hazard | Palm Springs residents can report maintenance and service issues through the free myPalmSprings App by taking a photo, filling out a short form and submitting it; the City routes the request to the right department. [source] For state highways in Palm Springs, the City's road closures page points to Caltrans' online customer service request portal for non-emergency issues and maintenance requests. [source] |
| City traffic safety | Palm Springs has a Local Road Safety Plan (LRSP); based on it, the City contracted for a new traffic signal at Indian Canyon Drive and Via Escuela, with construction under way and expected to be complete by September 2026. [source] The City is reconfiguring South Palm Canyon Drive and Racquet Club Road to accommodate vehicles, buses, bicycles and pedestrians; as of September 2026, South Palm Canyon Drive has one lane in each direction from E Palm Canyon Dr to Acanto Dr. [source] |
| Public transit | Every Thursday from 4:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., Palm Canyon Drive is closed between Amado and Baristo for VillageFest, and SunLine Routes 1, 2 and 4 detour. [source] |
| Also note | Palm Springs roads can close for flooding, high winds and blowing sand; the City directs residents to sign up for Everbridge text alerts on road closures and reopenings. [source] Palm Springs Police Department non-emergency line: (760) 327-1441; the department also offers online reporting. [source] |
Police and crash reports in Palm Springs
| Law enforcement | Palm Springs has its own city police department. [source] |
|---|---|
| Address | Physical: 200 S. Civic Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262; mailing: P.O. Box 1830, Palm Springs, CA 92263. [source] |
| Phone | (760) 323-8116 ext. 8159. [source] |
How to request a report from the Palm Springs Police Department →
Freeway and state highway crashes: CHP, CHP (630) Indio Area ((760) 772-5300).
Injury claims against the City of Palm Springs
Generally due within six months (Gov. Code § 911.2).
| Filing office | The claims pages sit under the City Clerk. For help: cityclerk@palmspringsca.gov or (760) 323-8204 (ADA Coordinator). [source] |
|---|---|
| Online or email | Complete the claim form online. PDF attachments up to 10 MB are allowed. [source] |
| Form link | City Claim Form (online). URL: official link [source] |
| Address | City Hall: 3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262 (site footer). [source] |
| Deadline | Death, personal injury or personal property claims: no later than 6 months after the occurrence. [source] Real property damage claims: no later than one year. [source] |
| Also note | Make sure the claim is against Palm Springs, not another public entity. [source] City staff cannot give legal advice. [source] |
Hurt in Palm Springs?
Tell us what happened in Palm Springs. Our Riverside office handles injury cases across the county, and consultations are free, in English or Spanish.
Courts
Courthouses whose published case lists include Palm Springs: Palm Springs Courthouse (limited civil and small claims, unlimited civil) [source]. Addresses, fees and filing rules →
Nearest trauma centers
By straight-line distance from the center of Palm Springs's reported crashes: Desert Regional Medical Center (Level I (adult), Palm Springs) and Eisenhower Health (Eisenhower Medical Center) (Level IV (adult), Rancho Mirage). In an emergency, call 911.
Dog bites and animal control
Report a dog bite or a dangerous animal in Palm Springs to: What to do after a dog bite →
| Who handles it | The Palm Springs Police Department provides animal control for incidents in the City of Palm Springs. [source] |
|---|---|
| Phone | Routine service or questions: (760) 323-8151. In-progress or emergency incidents: (760) 327-1441 or 9-1-1. [source] |
| Reporting a bite | If bitten: call Animal Control, (760) 323-8151, or the Palm Springs Police Department, (760) 323-8116, as soon as possible. [source] |
School injury claims
School injury claims go to the district, not the city. Confirm which district serves the school. All 23 districts.
Palm Springs Unified School District
| Phone | Benefits and Risk Management: 760-883-2715, Option 3 (Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). [source] |
|---|---|
| Benefits and Risk Management email: riskmanagement@psusd.us [source] | |
| District main phone | (760) 416-6000 (district office) [source] |
| Also note | The Benefits and Risk Management Department's work includes property and liability matters. [source] |
Guides that mention Palm Springs
Every fact on this page links to the official source it came from. We checked each one in September 2026. Agencies change fees and procedures, so confirm with the agency before you go. How we research.
Related pages
Hurt in Riverside County?
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