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Truck Accident Filing Deadline in Inglewood
truck-accident · By Payam Soliemanzadeh, Founder and President ·
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If you were injured in a truck collision in Inglewood, California law sets strict time limits for filing your claim.
In California, you generally have two years from the date of a truck accident to file a personal injury claim under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. However, if a government entity is involved—such as Caltrans or a city-owned vehicle—you must file an administrative claim within six months under Government Code section 911.2. Missing these deadlines typically bars your claim permanently.
In California, you have two years from the date of the truck accident to file a personal injury lawsuit under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. If a government entity is involved—such as a Caltrans truck or city vehicle—you must file an administrative claim within six months under Government Code section 911.2. Missing these deadlines typically bars your case permanently.
Key takeaways
- Two-year deadline applies to most Inglewood truck accident claims under CCP section 335.1.
- Six-month window for government claims under Gov. Code section 911.2, including Caltrans incidents.
- Cases are filed at Inglewood Courthouse, One Regent Street, Inglewood, CA 90301.
- Severe injuries from I-405 or I-105 collisions often require Harbor-UCLA Medical Center treatment.
Commercial truck collisions on Interstate 405, Interstate 105, and State Route 90 through Inglewood create catastrophic injuries and complex liability questions. The narrow corridors where these freeways converge with Century Boulevard and Manchester Boulevard see daily traffic from big rigs serving Los Angeles International Airport and the ports. When a semi-truck strikes a passenger vehicle in this industrial corridor, victims face mounting medical bills, lost wages, and uncertainty about their rights.
California imposes strict deadlines that begin running the day of your collision. Understanding these time limits—and the exceptions that may apply—protects your ability to recover compensation. The clock starts immediately, even while you focus on treatment at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center or another facility. Delay can mean forfeiting your claim entirely, regardless of fault or the severity of your injuries.
The two-year statute of limitations for personal injury
California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1 establishes 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 do not file a complaint in Los Angeles County Superior Court before that deadline expires, the court will dismiss your case. This rule applies whether the truck driver worked for a private carrier, an owner-operator, or a logistics company.
Tolling exceptions are narrow. The statute pauses if the plaintiff is a minor or legally incapacitated, resuming when the disability ends. Discovery-rule tolling may apply if the injury was not immediately apparent, but courts apply this doctrine sparingly in vehicle collision cases. Relying on an exception is risky; the safer course is to consult counsel and preserve evidence—such as electronic logging device data and maintenance records—within weeks of the crash, not months.
The six-month deadline for government entity claims
Government Code section 911.2 requires you to file a written administrative claim within six months if a public entity or employee caused your injuries. In Inglewood, this deadline applies to collisions involving Caltrans maintenance trucks on the I-405 or I-105, city-owned vehicles, Los Angeles County equipment, or any other government-operated truck. The claim must be submitted to the correct public entity before you may file a lawsuit.
If the agency denies or fails to respond within 45 days, you may proceed to court—but only after exhausting the administrative process. Missing the six-month window almost always bars your claim permanently, with few exceptions. Because government liability often overlaps with private carrier liability in multi-vehicle collisions on La Brea Avenue or Century Boulevard, you must identify all potential defendants quickly and file every required notice on time.
Property damage and wrongful death deadlines
Property damage claims—covering your vehicle, cargo, or other tangible losses—carry a three-year statute of limitations under Code of Civil Procedure section 338. This longer window does not extend your personal injury deadline. If you were injured, the two-year limit controls your bodily injury claim even if property damage remains unresolved. Filing separate complaints or combining claims depends on the facts, but the shorter deadline always governs when injury is involved.
Wrongful death actions brought by surviving family members also follow a two-year statute under section 335.1, running from the date of death. When a truck collision on Manchester Boulevard or State Route 90 proves fatal, the decedent's heirs must file within two years. Probate proceedings, insurance negotiations, and grief do not pause the clock. Early consultation with counsel ensures that all potential claims—survival actions, wrongful death, and dependent claims—are preserved before any deadline expires.
Local details
Truck accident lawsuits arising in Inglewood are filed at the Inglewood Courthouse, located at One Regent Street, Inglewood, CA 90301, which serves the Southwest District of Los Angeles County Superior Court. You will file your complaint there after the statute of limitations begins and before it expires. The courthouse handles all civil filings, including personal injury, wrongful death, and property damage claims stemming from collisions on the I-405, I-105, State Route 90, and surface streets such as La Brea Avenue, Century Boulevard, and Manchester Boulevard.
Severe injuries from these high-speed corridors often require treatment at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, a Level I trauma center at 1000 West Carson Street in Torrance. Medical records from Harbor-UCLA and other providers form the foundation of your damages claim. Preserving collision reports from the California Highway Patrol, photographs of the scene, and witness statements from the freeway or surface streets strengthens your case and helps meet the evidentiary burden at trial.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I miss the two-year deadline?
If you file your complaint even one day after the statute of limitations expires, the court will dismiss your case with prejudice, meaning you cannot refile. The defendant will move to dismiss based on the statute, and the judge will grant the motion unless a tolling exception applies. Once dismissed, you lose all right to compensation, regardless of liability or the severity of your injuries.
Does the deadline change if the trucking company is based out of state?
No. California's two-year statute of limitations under CCP section 335.1 applies to any collision that occurs in California, regardless of where the defendant is headquartered or licensed. Interstate carriers are subject to the same filing deadlines as local operators. You file in Los Angeles County Superior Court, and California law governs the claim.
Can I file a claim after the truck driver's criminal case concludes?
Yes, but the civil statute runs independently of any criminal prosecution. A DUI or reckless-driving charge does not pause your two-year window. You may file your civil complaint before, during, or after the criminal case, but you must do so within the statute of limitations. Waiting for a criminal conviction risks missing your deadline entirely.
How do I know if a government entity was involved?
Check the collision report, vehicle registration, and any markings on the truck. Caltrans, city public-works departments, county agencies, and transit authorities all operate trucks. If you are uncertain, consult an attorney immediately. The six-month government claim deadline under Gov. Code section 911.2 leaves little margin for error, and failing to identify a public defendant can extinguish your claim before you realize it existed.
Related reading
- Truck Accident Practice Area
- Inglewood Truck Accident Claims
- 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
Sources
Talk to a Inglewood truck accident attorney
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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.