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Truck Accident Filing Deadline in Pasadena
truck-accident · By Sean Bina, Co-Founder and Partner ·
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California law provides two years to file a truck accident personal injury claim under CCP §335.1, but claims against government entities must be submitted.
In Pasadena, California, you have two years from the date of your truck accident to file a personal injury claim under CCP §335.1. If a government entity is involved—such as a city-owned vehicle—you must file an administrative claim within six months under Gov. Code §911.2. Property damage claims have a three-year deadline under CCP §338.
In Pasadena, California, you have two years from the date of your truck accident to file a personal injury claim under CCP §335.1. If a government entity is involved, you must file an administrative claim within six months under Gov. Code §911.2. Missing either deadline typically bars your right to recover damages.
Key takeaways
- Personal injury claims must be filed within two years under CCP §335.1.
- Government claims require administrative filing within six months under Gov. Code §911.2.
- Pasadena Courthouse at 300 East Walnut Street hears Los Angeles County truck cases.
- Interstate 210 and State Route 134 see frequent commercial truck traffic through Pasadena.
Commercial trucks traveling Interstate 210 through Pasadena to connect the San Gabriel Valley with the Inland Empire create collision risks at high-traffic interchanges. When a collision involves a tractor-trailer, box truck, or delivery vehicle, understanding California's filing deadlines protects your right to compensation. Acting promptly preserves evidence, witness accounts, and your legal options.
State law imposes strict time limits on truck accident claims in Pasadena. The nature of the defendant—a private carrier, a government agency, or both—determines which deadline applies. Pasadena sits in Los Angeles County, where cases are heard at the Pasadena Courthouse, and where victims often receive initial treatment at Huntington Hospital, a Level II trauma center.
California's two-year statute of limitations for personal injury
CCP §335.1 requires personal injury claims to be filed within two years of the accident date. This deadline applies to collisions with private trucking companies, independent owner-operators, and any non-government defendant. The clock begins on the day the crash occurs, not when you discover the injury or complete medical treatment. Filing even one day late typically results in dismissal.
The two-year window covers injuries such as fractures, traumatic brain injury, spinal damage, and soft-tissue harm documented at facilities like Huntington Hospital at 100 West California Boulevard. California courts rarely grant extensions unless tolling exceptions apply, such as the plaintiff being a minor or legally incapacitated. For adult plaintiffs injured on State Route 134 or Colorado Boulevard, the deadline is firm and must be calendared immediately.
The six-month government claim requirement
If your collision involved a government-owned truck—a city sanitation vehicle, county maintenance truck, or transit-agency bus—Gov. Code §911.2 requires you to file an administrative claim with the responsible public entity within six months. This claim is not a lawsuit; it is a formal notice submitted to the agency before any court action. The agency then has 45 days to accept or reject the claim.
Only after the claim is denied or deemed denied may you file suit, and you must do so within six months of the rejection or two years from the accident, whichever is earlier. This compressed timeline applies to collisions on Lake Avenue, Fair Oaks Avenue, or the Arroyo Seco Parkway involving Los Angeles County or City of Pasadena vehicles. Missing the six-month administrative deadline bars your case entirely, regardless of the severity of your injuries.
Special considerations and tolling exceptions
California law pauses the statute of limitations in limited circumstances. If the victim is under 18, the two-year clock does not begin until their eighteenth birthday. Legal incapacity due to coma or cognitive impairment may also toll deadlines. Defendants who leave California to evade service may trigger tolling, and fraudulent concealment of liability can extend the window if proven.
Discovery-rule tolling does not typically apply to truck accident claims, because the date of injury is clear. Property damage claims follow a separate three-year deadline under CCP §338, allowing recovery for vehicle loss even when bodily injury is minimal. Courts strictly construe these exceptions, so reliance on tolling requires documented proof and often legal briefing before the Pasadena Courthouse will hear the argument.
Local details
Pasadena truck accident cases are filed at the Pasadena Courthouse, located at 300 East Walnut Street, Pasadena, CA 91101, part of Los Angeles Superior Court's Northeast District. The courthouse handles personal injury filings, case management conferences, and trials for claims arising in Pasadena and surrounding communities. Most collision victims receive emergency care at Huntington Hospital, a Level II trauma center at 100 West California Boulevard, which provides stabilization and surgical intervention for life-threatening injuries.
Interstate 210, the Foothill Freeway, carries heavy east-west truck traffic connecting the Inland Empire to Los Angeles County. State Route 134, the Ventura Freeway, runs through central Pasadena and merges with the 210, creating high-speed interchange hazards. Colorado Boulevard, Lake Avenue, and Fair Oaks Avenue experience congestion and frequent truck deliveries, increasing the risk of rear-end and turning collisions. Each of these corridors requires thorough investigation to establish liability and preserve electronic logging device data before it is overwritten.
Frequently asked questions
Does the deadline change if I was not at fault?
No. CCP §335.1 imposes the same two-year deadline regardless of fault. California's pure comparative negligence rule allows recovery even if you are partially responsible, but the filing window does not extend. If a government vehicle was involved, the six-month claim requirement under Gov. Code §911.2 applies equally, whether you bear zero or partial fault.
What if I did not realize I was injured until weeks after the crash?
The two-year statute begins on the accident date, not the date you discover symptoms. Delayed-onset injuries such as herniated discs or post-concussion syndrome must still be claimed within two years of the collision. Prompt medical evaluation at Huntington Hospital or another facility documents the causal link and supports your timeline, but it does not extend the statutory deadline.
Can I file a claim if the truck driver was cited by police?
Yes. A citation issued by the California Highway Patrol or Pasadena Police after a collision on the 210 or Colorado Boulevard may support liability, but it does not replace a civil claim. You must still file within the applicable deadline—two years for private carriers, or six months for government entities—to recover compensation for medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.
What happens if I miss the deadline?
The defendant will move to dismiss your case, and the court will almost certainly grant that motion. Once dismissed on statute-of-limitations grounds, your claim is permanently barred. You lose the right to compensation regardless of the severity of your injuries or the clarity of the trucker's fault. Immediate consultation after an accident prevents this outcome.
Related reading
- Truck Accident Practice Area
- Pasadena 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
Sources
Talk to a Pasadena truck accident attorney
Our California personal injury attorneys offer a free, confidential case review. Call (800) 800-8910 any time, day or night, or request a free case review.
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.