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

Car Accidents · By Payam Soliemanzadeh · September 22, 2026

Written and reviewed by Payam Soliemanzadeh, Founder and President — Updated September 22, 2026

The deadline to file a car accident lawsuit in Van Nuys is usually two years — but several situations shorten it. Here's what applies and why acting early matters.

After a crash on the 405 or at one of Van Nuys's busy Sepulveda Boulevard intersections, the last thing on your mind is a filing deadline. But in California a missed deadline can end an otherwise strong claim before it begins, and several situations shorten the clock more than people expect.

The general rule: two years

For most car-accident injury claims in California, you have two years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit (Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1). If you only discovered an injury later, a limited 'discovery' rule can apply, but you should never assume it will — the safe assumption is two years from the crash.

When the clock is much shorter

If a government entity is involved — a city vehicle, a Metro bus, or a dangerous road condition on a public street — you generally must file an administrative claim within six months under the Government Claims Act (Gov. Code § 911.2) before you can sue at all. Claims involving minors, wrongful death, or certain uninsured-motorist deadlines in your own policy can also change the timeline.

Why waiting quietly costs you even before the deadline

Deadlines aside, evidence fades fast: skid marks are repaved, vehicles are repaired or scrapped, surveillance footage is overwritten within days or weeks, and witnesses move. Acting early preserves the proof that decides fault long before any lawsuit is filed.

How the deadline interacts with settlement

Most claims settle without a lawsuit — but the filing deadline still governs. If negotiations drag toward the two-year mark, filing suit protects your rights and often moves a stalled insurer. A lawyer tracks these dates so a delay never becomes a denial.

Local details for Van Nuys

County: Los Angeles County
Where a case is filed: A Van Nuys crash case is generally filed in the Los Angeles County Superior Court in Van Nuys.
Key deadline: Generally 2 years (CCP § 335.1); six months for claims against a government entity (Gov. Code § 911.2).

Van Nuys sees heavy volume on the 405 and 101 and along Sepulveda, Van Nuys, and Victory Boulevards. Injured drivers are often taken to Valley Presbyterian Hospital or Sherman Oaks Hospital. Because Metro buses and city streets are common in this area, the six-month government-claim deadline comes up more often here than many people realize.

Frequently asked questions

Is the deadline always two years?

No. Two years is the general rule, but claims against a government entity require a six-month administrative claim first, and other situations can shorten the timeline.

What if I was only a passenger?

Passengers have the same general two-year window and can often claim against more than one driver's policy. The same government-claim exceptions apply.

Does starting an insurance claim stop the deadline?

No. Filing an insurance claim does not pause the lawsuit deadline — only filing suit (or a tolling exception) does.