How Long Do I Have to Sue After a Car Accident in Pacoima?
California gives you two years from the date of your car accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. That is the statute of limitations under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1, and it applies to every car accident in Pacoima, whether it happened on Van Nuys Blvd, the I-5, or in a parking lot off Foothill Blvd.
Two years sounds like plenty of time. It is not as much as you think. Here is why.
The Two-Year Deadline Is Hard
Miss the two-year deadline by one day and your case is over. The court will dismiss it. It does not matter how serious your injuries were, how clearly the other driver was at fault, or how much you are owed. The statute of limitations is an absolute bar, and judges do not have discretion to make exceptions because you were unaware of the deadline or because you were still in treatment.
The clock starts on the date of the accident, not the date you discovered your injuries, not the date you finished treatment, and not the date you decided to hire a lawyer. If your crash happened on June 23, 2026, you must file by June 23, 2028.
The Six-Month Government Claims Exception
Here is the part that catches people off guard. If a government entity contributed to your crash, the filing deadline shrinks dramatically. You have just six months to file a government tort claim before you can file a lawsuit.
In Pacoima, this comes up more often than you might think. The I-5 and 118 Freeway are maintained by Caltrans. If a road defect on either freeway caused or contributed to your accident, a pothole, missing guardrail, inadequate signage, or a malfunctioning traffic signal, Caltrans may be partially liable. City streets in Pacoima are maintained by the City of Los Angeles. If a dangerous condition on Osborne St, Laurel Canyon Blvd, or Van Nuys Blvd contributed to your crash, the City may bear responsibility.
Filing a government tort claim is a prerequisite to suing the government. If you miss the six-month window, your claim against the government entity is gone, even if you file your broader lawsuit against the other driver within the two-year window. This is why getting legal advice early matters.
Why Evidence Disappears Long Before the Deadline
Even though you have two years to file, the evidence that makes your case strong degrades in days and weeks, not years.
Traffic camera footage. Cameras on the I-5 and 118 typically overwrite footage within one to two weeks. If a camera captured your crash, that recording is likely gone already unless someone moved to preserve it immediately.
Business surveillance video. Businesses along Van Nuys Blvd, Foothill Blvd, and near Hansen Dam Recreation Area have their own camera systems. Most overwrite within 72 hours to two weeks. A preservation letter from an attorney can save this footage, but only if sent quickly.
Witness memory. People who saw your crash will remember details clearly for a few days. After a few weeks, memories blur. After a few months, they may not remember the crash at all or may misremember key details. Getting witness statements early is critical.
Physical evidence. Skid marks fade. Debris is cleaned up. Vehicles get repaired. Road conditions change. The physical evidence at the crash scene on Foothill Blvd or at the Van Nuys Blvd and Osborne intersection deteriorates with every passing day.
A Pacoima car accident lawyer moves to preserve all of this evidence immediately after being hired. Waiting months to consult an attorney means some of this evidence may already be gone.
Tolling: When the Clock Pauses
There are limited situations where the statute of limitations is paused, or "tolled."
Minors. If the injured person was under 18 at the time of the crash, the two-year clock does not start until they turn 18. A child injured in a crash on Van Nuys Blvd has until their 20th birthday to file suit. However, the six-month government claims deadline is not tolled for minors in the same way, so a parent or guardian should still act quickly if a government entity may be involved.
Mental incapacity. If the injured person was mentally incapacitated as a result of the crash, the clock may be tolled during the period of incapacity. This is fact-specific and requires medical documentation.
The defendant left the state. If the at-fault driver left California after the crash, the time they spend out of state may not count toward the two-year period.
These are narrow exceptions. Do not assume any of them apply to your situation without legal advice.
What Happens If You Wait
Even if you file within the two-year window, waiting creates practical problems:
Your medical records weaken. Gaps in treatment give insurers ammunition to argue your injuries were not serious. If you were treated at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center the day of the crash but then waited three months before follow-up care, the insurer will point to that gap.
Your credibility suffers. Insurance adjusters evaluate how quickly you acted. A claimant who waited 18 months to hire a lawyer and file a claim is viewed differently from one who acted within weeks.
Evidence becomes harder to obtain. LAPD Foothill Division and CHP reports are easier to obtain shortly after the crash. Witnesses are easier to locate. Medical records from Olive View-UCLA Medical Center are easier to organize when the treatment timeline is recent.
Act Now, Even If You Are Not Ready to Decide
You do not have to file a lawsuit tomorrow. But consulting with an attorney early, even weeks after the crash, protects your options. An attorney can begin preserving evidence, document your injuries, and ensure no deadlines are missed while you focus on recovering.
Steps to Protect Your Claim After a Pacoima Car Accident
The actions you take in the hours and days after a crash on Van Nuys Blvd, Foothill Blvd, the 118 Freeway, and I-5 directly affect the strength of your claim. First, get medical attention even if you feel fine. Adrenaline masks pain, and many car accident injuries, particularly soft-tissue damage to the neck and back, do not produce symptoms until 24 to 72 hours after impact. Go to Olive View-UCLA Medical Center or your primary care physician as soon as possible. The medical record from that visit becomes the foundation of your injury claim.
Second, do not post about the accident or your injuries on social media. Insurance adjusters routinely review Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok accounts for any content they can use to argue you are not as injured as you claim. A photo of you smiling at a family gathering can be used against you, even if you were in significant pain at the time.
Third, keep a daily journal of your symptoms, pain levels, and how your injuries affect your daily activities. Note which days you cannot drive, cannot sleep comfortably, or cannot perform your normal work duties. This contemporaneous record becomes powerful evidence when negotiating your settlement or presenting your case at Van Nuys Courthouse West.
Fourth, preserve all evidence. Do not repair your vehicle until it has been thoroughly photographed and documented. Keep all medical bills, receipts for prescriptions, and records of any out-of-pocket expenses related to your injuries. Save the police report number and request a copy from the investigating agency.
L&F Brown offers free consultations for Pacoima car accident victims. There is no obligation and no fee unless we recover for you. Visit our Pacoima personal injury page to start the conversation.
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