What to Do After a Car Accident in Van Nuys

By Payam Soliemanzadeh, Founder and President

Key takeaways

• Serious injuries require transport to Dignity Health Northridge Hospital Medical Center, a Level II trauma center.
• Exchange information at the scene as mandated by Vehicle Code §16025, including license and insurance details.
• File an SR-1 report with the DMV within 10 days under Vehicle Code §16000 if damages exceed $1,000.
• You have two years (CCP §335.1) to file injury claims, but only six months (Gov. Code §911.2) for government claims.

Van Nuys experiences heavy traffic daily along the Ventura Freeway (U.S. 101), the San Diego Freeway (Interstate 405), and the Hollywood Freeway (State Route 170). Collisions at these interchanges and on Van Nuys Boulevard often involve multiple vehicles and complex liability disputes. How you respond in the first hour shapes your ability to recover damages.

Whether the crash occurred at the 405/101 interchange or on Sepulveda Boulevard during rush hour, immediate action protects your health and your legal claim. The steps you take at the scene create the foundation for any car accident case that may follow in Los Angeles County.

Ensure safety and call for help

Stop your vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so. Turn on hazard lights and, if possible, move to the shoulder to avoid blocking traffic on the 405 or 101. Check yourself and all passengers for injuries. Even if you feel fine, adrenaline may mask pain; symptoms of concussion, whiplash, or internal bleeding can emerge hours later.

Call 911 to request police and medical assistance. Under Vehicle Code §20008, you must file a written report with law enforcement within 24 hours if anyone is injured or killed. If serious injuries exist, paramedics will transport victims to Dignity Health Northridge Hospital Medical Center at 18300 Roscoe Boulevard in Northridge, the nearest designated Level II trauma center. Accept medical evaluation; refusal can later undermine your claim.

Exchange information and document the scene

Vehicle Code §16025 requires you to exchange your name, address, driver license number, vehicle registration, and insurance information with the other driver. Do not admit fault or apologize; stick to factual exchanges. If the other party refuses to cooperate or lacks insurance, note that detail and inform the responding officer immediately.

Take photographs of all vehicles from multiple angles, capturing license plates, damage, debris, skid marks, traffic signals, and street signs. Photograph the intersection—whether it is Victory Boulevard and Van Nuys Boulevard or the 170 onramp—to establish visibility and lane configuration. Collect names and phone numbers from witnesses; their statements may prove decisive when liability is contested or when the other driver's account changes.

File required reports and notify your insurer

If the collision involves injury, death, or property damage exceeding $1,000, Vehicle Code §16000 requires you to file an SR-1 (Traffic Accident Report) with the California DMV within 10 days. Failure to file can result in suspension of your license. Download the form at dmv.ca.gov or request a copy from the responding officer.

Notify your insurance carrier promptly, but limit your statement to basic facts: date, time, location, and vehicles involved. Do not speculate about injury severity or provide a recorded statement without consulting an attorney. California is an at-fault state; even if you share some responsibility, pure comparative negligence allows you to recover damages reduced by your percentage of fault. Premature statements can jeopardize that recovery.

Local details

Van Nuys sits in the northwest portion of Los Angeles County. Any personal injury lawsuit arising from a collision here will be filed in the Northwest District of the Los Angeles Superior Court, with proceedings at Van Nuys Courthouse East, located at 6230 Sylmar Avenue, Van Nuys, CA 91401. The courthouse handles all civil filings for the area, including disputes over liability on the 101, 405, and 170.

The city's major corridors—Van Nuys Boulevard, Sepulveda Boulevard, and Victory Boulevard—see frequent rear-end and intersection collisions. If your crash involved a Los Angeles County Metro bus, a city-owned vehicle, or defective road conditions maintained by Caltrans, you must file a government claim under Government Code §911.2 within six months, well before the standard two-year personal injury deadline under CCP §335.1. Missing the six-month window bars your claim entirely.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if the other driver has no insurance?

California requires minimum liability coverage of 30/60/15 as of January 1, 2025, under Vehicle Code §16056, but many drivers remain uninsured. If you carried uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, your own policy may cover your injuries and lost wages. UM coverage must be offered by every insurer and may only be declined in writing, so review your policy declarations page or contact your agent.

How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in Van Nuys?

Code of Civil Procedure §335.1 grants you two years from the collision date to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, if a government entity is at fault—such as Los Angeles County, the city, or Caltrans—Government Code §911.2 requires a written claim within six months. The six-month deadline is strict and must be met before any lawsuit can proceed.

Should I accept the insurance company's first settlement offer?

No. Initial offers typically appear within days and rarely account for future medical treatment, physical therapy, lost earning capacity, or pain and suffering. Insurance adjusters aim to close files quickly and cheaply. Consult an attorney before signing any release; once you accept, you waive the right to seek additional compensation, even if complications develop later.

Can I still recover damages if I was partially at fault?

Yes. California follows pure comparative negligence, meaning you may recover even if you were 99 percent at fault; your award is simply reduced by your fault percentage. For example, if you are found 30 percent responsible for a collision on Sepulveda Boulevard, you receive 70 percent of your proven damages. Establishing the other party's liability requires thorough evidence gathering at the scene.

Related reading

• Car Accident Practice Area
• Van Nuys Car Accident Lawyers
• What Should I Do Immediately After a Car Accident in Pasadena, CA?
• What Should I Do Immediately After a Car Accident in Culver City, CA? - Essential Steps

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.