How Long Do You Have to Sue After a Van Nuys Car Accident?

A Van Nuys collision injury generally has a two-year lawsuit limitation under Code of Civil Procedure §335.1. An injury claim against a California public entity generally requires claim presentation within six months under Government Code §911.2. An insurance claim is not a substitute for either step.

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Interstate 405, U.S. 101, Sepulveda Boulevard, Van Nuys Boulevard and Victory Boulevard help locate a Van Nuys collision. The place name does not automatically identify the correct court, public entity or deadline.

An insurance file is not a filed lawsuit

A claim number identifies an insurer’s file, not a court action or government claim. Save insurer submissions, government correspondence and filed court documents separately. Negotiations, ongoing treatment or waiting for records do not ordinarily extend filing requirements. Injury lawsuits generally must be filed within two years under Code of Civil Procedure §335.1. Claims against California public entities generally require presenting a government claim within six months under Government Code §911.2. Presentation is not filing a lawsuit. Exceptions and additional deadlines may apply; insurance negotiations do not ordinarily protect the legal calendar.

Record the chronology and obtain early review

Keep the collision date, initial symptoms, treatment history and original records. Do not assume a later diagnosis automatically restarts time. Accrual, delayed discovery and other exceptions require individualized analysis. Injury lawsuits generally must be filed within two years under Code of Civil Procedure §335.1. Claims against California public entities generally require presenting a government claim within six months under Government Code §911.2. Presentation is not filing a lawsuit. Exceptions and additional deadlines may apply; insurance negotiations do not ordinarily protect the legal calendar.

Property damage is a separate category

An injury action and a claim for damaged personal property may have different limitation rules. Code of Civil Procedure §338 includes a general three-year period for certain property claims, subject to its terms. Do not use that period to calculate injury timing. Injury lawsuits generally must be filed within two years under Code of Civil Procedure §335.1. Claims against California public entities generally require presenting a government claim within six months under Government Code §911.2. Presentation is not filing a lawsuit. Exceptions and additional deadlines may apply; insurance negotiations do not ordinarily protect the legal calendar.

Investigate possible public-entity involvement

A public vehicle or alleged dangerous public-road condition warrants investigation, not automatic liability. Preserve markings, photographs and report information. Identify the entity actually involved instead of assuming the city owns every vehicle or road. Government claims have statutory requirements and possible immunities. Injury lawsuits generally must be filed within two years under Code of Civil Procedure §335.1. Claims against California public entities generally require presenting a government claim within six months under Government Code §911.2. Presentation is not filing a lawsuit. Exceptions and additional deadlines may apply; insurance negotiations do not ordinarily protect the legal calendar.

A government claim does not finish the analysis

Keep the submitted claim, proof of delivery, responses and envelopes. Government Code §945.6 distinguishes qualifying written rejection notice from no written notice when governing suit timing. Do not assume agency silence has the same effect as mailed rejection. Have the actual notice, delivery and chronology reviewed promptly. Injury lawsuits generally must be filed within two years under Code of Civil Procedure §335.1. Claims against California public entities generally require presenting a government claim within six months under Government Code §911.2. Presentation is not filing a lawsuit. Exceptions and additional deadlines may apply; insurance negotiations do not ordinarily protect the legal calendar.

Exceptions are not a calendar shortcut

Minority, incapacity, discovery and other circumstances can raise special questions, but do not automatically preserve every claim. Public-entity procedures require their own analysis. Obtain review if you think time passed instead of deciding alone that the case is permanently lost or safe. Injury lawsuits generally must be filed within two years under Code of Civil Procedure §335.1. Claims against California public entities generally require presenting a government claim within six months under Government Code §911.2. Presentation is not filing a lawsuit. Exceptions and additional deadlines may apply; insurance negotiations do not ordinarily protect the legal calendar.

Preserve evidence while dates are checked

Keep original footage, photographs, witness contacts, treatment records and wage documentation. Repairs, data loss and fading recollection can make evidence harder to obtain. Preserve offers, releases and earlier legal correspondence too. Clarify whether an attorney actually agreed to represent you and whether any action was filed. Injury lawsuits generally must be filed within two years under Code of Civil Procedure §335.1. Claims against California public entities generally require presenting a government claim within six months under Government Code §911.2. Presentation is not filing a lawsuit. Exceptions and additional deadlines may apply; insurance negotiations do not ordinarily protect the legal calendar.

Practical record checklist

Protect legal timing

Injury lawsuits generally must be filed within two years under Code of Civil Procedure §335.1. Claims against California public entities generally require presenting a government claim within six months under Government Code §911.2. Presentation is not filing a lawsuit. Exceptions and additional deadlines may apply; insurance negotiations do not ordinarily protect the legal calendar.

Official sources

Code of Civil Procedure §338; Government Code §945.4; Government Code §945.6; Code of Civil Procedure §335.1; Government Code §911.2

Attorney advertising. General information, not legal advice. Reading this article or contacting the firm does not by itself create an attorney-client relationship. Outcomes depend on the facts and law.

Updated October 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is an insurance claim a lawsuit? A: No. Keep insurer files separate from government-claim records and court filings.

Q: Does a repair payment resolve injury rights? A: Review the payment and any release rather than assume what was settled.

Q: What do I do with a rejection notice? A: Preserve the notice, envelope and receipt details and obtain prompt review. Injury lawsuits generally must be filed within two years under Code of Civil Procedure §335.1. Claims against California public entities generally require presenting a government claim within six months under Government Code §911.2. Presentation is not filing a lawsuit. Exceptions and additional deadlines may apply; insurance negotiations do not ordinarily protect the legal calendar.

Q: Does a public vehicle automatically establish liability? A: No. Ownership, driver role, facts and applicable statutes require investigation.

Q: What if I am still in treatment? A: Continue appropriate care, but do not assume treatment protects filing dates. Injury lawsuits generally must be filed within two years under Code of Civil Procedure §335.1. Claims against California public entities generally require presenting a government claim within six months under Government Code §911.2. Presentation is not filing a lawsuit. Exceptions and additional deadlines may apply; insurance negotiations do not ordinarily protect the legal calendar.

Q: What documents should I bring? A: Bring collision, medical and insurance records, government notices, releases and any court filings.

Q: What if I think I waited too long? A: Seek individual review of chronology and potential procedures without further delay. Injury lawsuits generally must be filed within two years under Code of Civil Procedure §335.1. Claims against California public entities generally require presenting a government claim within six months under Government Code §911.2. Presentation is not filing a lawsuit. Exceptions and additional deadlines may apply; insurance negotiations do not ordinarily protect the legal calendar.

Q: Which injury deadlines should I check? A: Injury lawsuits generally must be filed within two years under Code of Civil Procedure §335.1. Claims against California public entities generally require presenting a government claim within six months under Government Code §911.2. Presentation is not filing a lawsuit. Exceptions and additional deadlines may apply; insurance negotiations do not ordinarily protect the legal calendar.