Truck Accident Filing Deadline in Glendale

By Payam Soliemanzadeh, Founder and President

Key takeaways

• California's statute of limitations gives you two years to file a truck accident lawsuit.
• Government claims must be filed within six months if Caltrans or Glendale is liable.
• Your case would be heard at Glendale Courthouse, 600 East Broadway, Glendale, CA 91206.
• Serious injuries from SR-134 or I-5 crashes may require treatment at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena.

Glendale sits at the convergence of three major freeways—State Route 134, Interstate 5, and State Route 2—making it a critical junction for freight traffic moving through Los Angeles County. Tractor-trailers navigate tight interchanges and steep grades daily, and when a collision occurs, the clock starts immediately. Understanding California's filing deadlines is essential to preserving your right to compensation.

This article explains the statutes that govern truck accident claims in Glendale, when exceptions apply, and what steps you must take before time runs out. Every day matters when evidence degrades, witnesses relocate, and insurers delay. Knowing your deadline protects your claim.

The two-year statute of limitations for personal injury

California Code of Civil Procedure §335.1 sets a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims, including those arising from truck accidents. The clock begins on the date of the collision. If you were injured on Brand Boulevard or the Ventura Freeway on March 1, 2024, you must file your lawsuit by March 1, 2026. Miss that deadline by even one day, and the defendant can move to dismiss your case, which courts routinely grant.

The two-year period applies to injuries you sustain, not to property damage—your vehicle has a separate three-year deadline under CCP §338. This means you can pursue compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and future care costs within the two-year window. Severe injuries treated at Huntington Hospital or another trauma center often require ongoing documentation, so starting early ensures nothing is overlooked when you file in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

The six-month government claim requirement

When a government entity shares liability—Caltrans for a poorly marked construction zone on Interstate 5, the City of Glendale for a malfunctioning traffic signal at Glenoaks Boulevard and San Fernando Road, or a county agency for deficient guardrails—you must file an administrative claim within six months under Government Code §911.2. This is not a lawsuit; it is a written notice to the public entity describing your injury, the date, location, and the amount you seek.

Only after the agency denies your claim, or six months pass without a response, may you file suit in court. The six-month deadline is strict and unforgiving. If Caltrans was resurfacing the Golden State Freeway and a truck struck you in a lane closure, you have just 180 days from the crash to submit your claim form. Failing to do so extinguishes your right to sue the government, even if the two-year statute for private defendants has not yet expired.

Discovery rule and other exceptions

California recognizes a "discovery rule" that delays the start of the statute of limitations if you did not immediately discover your injury. In truck accident cases, this is rare—you typically know at the scene or upon treatment that you are hurt. However, latent injuries such as internal bleeding, spinal disc herniations, or traumatic brain injuries may surface days later. If symptoms appeared after the collision, the two-year clock may begin when you knew or reasonably should have known of the injury and its cause.

Minors receive tolling: the statute does not run until they turn eighteen, giving them until age twenty to file. Defendants who flee California may also trigger tolling. These exceptions are narrow and fact-specific. Courts construe them strictly, so never rely on an exception without documentation. Settlement negotiations do not pause the statutory deadline unless both parties execute a formal tolling agreement in writing, which insurers rarely offer without leverage.

Local details

If you file suit, your case will be assigned to the North Central District of Los Angeles County Superior Court and heard at Glendale Courthouse, located at 600 East Broadway, Glendale, CA 91206. The courthouse handles all civil matters originating in Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge, and surrounding communities. You will submit a summons, complaint, and civil case cover sheet, paying the required filing fee unless you qualify for a waiver.

Glendale's freeway network—the Ventura Freeway (SR-134), the Golden State Freeway (I-5), and the Glendale Freeway (SR-2)—carries heavy commercial truck traffic between the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and distribution centers in the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys. Collisions on Brand Boulevard, Glenoaks Boulevard, and San Fernando Road often involve delivery trucks and construction vehicles. Serious injuries may require transport to Huntington Hospital, a Level II trauma center at 100 West California Boulevard in Pasadena, where emergency stabilization and surgery are available around the clock.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I miss the two-year deadline?

The defendant will file a motion to dismiss based on the statute of limitations under CCP §335.1, and the court will almost certainly grant it. You lose your right to recover damages, regardless of fault or injury severity. There is no appellate remedy for a missed deadline absent fraud or a recognized tolling event. Filing on time is mandatory.

Does the deadline change if the truck driver was working for a government contractor?

It depends on whether the entity itself is a public agency. If the truck was owned and operated by a private contractor, the two-year statute applies. If the contractor was performing work for Caltrans or the city and the government retains liability, the six-month Government Code §911.2 claim requirement applies. Determining the correct defendant early is critical to meeting the right deadline.

Can I still file if I already settled my property damage claim?

Yes, as long as your settlement release covered only property damage and did not waive bodily injury claims. Insurers sometimes present broad releases that bar all future claims. Read every document before signing. Your injury claim remains subject to the two-year statute under CCP §335.1, and settling your vehicle damage does not restart or extend that clock.

What if the truck driver left the state after the collision?

If the defendant is absent from California, tolling may apply, pausing the statute of limitations during the absence. However, you must prove the defendant left to evade service or was continuously absent. Trucking companies often have California agents for service, so tolling is harder to establish in commercial cases. Consult counsel immediately to preserve your claim while investigating the defendant's location and corporate structure.

Related reading

• Truck Accident Practice Area
• Glendale Truck Accident Page
• Common Truck Accident Injuries in Los Angeles: Symptoms, Care, and Claims
• Who Is Liable for a Woodland Hills Truck Accident Besides the Driver?
• Why Truck 'Black Box' Data Disappears in Long Beach Cases

Attorney advertising. This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.