A rear-end collision was reported on May 28, 2026 at approximately 9:10 AM on Kester Avenue near Calvert Street in Van Nuys, California. Clear weather was noted at the time of the crash. 1 person was killed. This crash was classified as a truck accident and wrongful death case.
When a crash kills someone, the family has the right to file a wrongful death claim under California Code of Civil Procedure section 377.60. A spouse, domestic partner, children, or dependents can pursue damages including funeral costs, lost future income, and loss of companionship. The statute of limitations is two years from the date of death. If dangerous road design contributed to this crash, a government tort claim must be filed within six months. Insurance companies move fast after a fatal crash, and the offers they make early are not designed to be fair. A free consultation with our senior attorneys can help you understand your legal options.
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I grew up in the San Fernando Valley, graduated from El Camino Real High School and UCLA Law School, and I've spent my career representing people who were hurt because someone else wasn't paying attention. I take these cases personally because I've watched families in this community deal with the aftermath of serious crashes. If you were injured, I want to hear what happened.
Arya Firoozmand, Esq.
Founding Partner · UCLA Law
You're not a case number here. Every case I take is personal.
Could the road be at fault?
Not Every Crash Is the Driver's Fault
Some crashes are caused by dangerous road conditions: poor sight lines, missing signage, bad signal timing, or roads that weren't designed for the traffic they carry. In California, cities, counties, and Caltrans can be held liable when they knew or should have known about a dangerous condition and failed to fix it. If the road played a role in this crash, you may have a claim against the government agency responsible for maintaining it.
Injured at a Dangerous Intersection? The City May Owe You Compensation.
When a road or intersection is poorly designed, the government agency responsible for maintaining it can be held liable. If you were seriously hurt, talk to a senior attorney about whether a dangerous road design claim applies to your case.
Government claims are often subject to strict filing deadlines. An attorney can help you understand what applies to your situation.
Next steps
What to Do After a Fatal Truck Accident
Take care of yourself and your family first
Nothing about this process needs to happen today. Give yourself time to grieve and be with your family. When you are ready, the steps below will help you protect your legal rights. There are deadlines that matter, but none of them are immediate.
Preserve the truck's black box and FMCSA records
Commercial trucks carry electronic logging devices and event data recorders that capture speed, braking, and hours of service. Trucking companies can overwrite or "lose" this data fast. An attorney can send a spoliation letter to preserve it before it disappears.
Identify every liable party, not just the driver
Truck crashes often involve the driver, the trucking company, the freight broker, the vehicle manufacturer, and the maintenance provider. Each one may carry separate insurance policies. Knowing who to pursue is the difference between a partial recovery and full compensation.
File your government tort claim before November 28, 2026
If a government entity is responsible for this crash, whether because of road design, missing signals, or a government vehicle, you have a strict six-month deadline to file a tort claim. That deadline is November 28, 2026. Miss it and you lose your right to sue entirely, no matter how strong your case is.
Talk to a wrongful death attorney before the insurance company
Insurance companies move fast after fatal crashes. They will contact family members with early settlement offers before anyone has had time to understand what the case is worth. A free consultation with a wrongful death attorney costs you nothing and protects your family's right to full compensation.
Trucking accident law
Why Truck Accident Claims Are Different
Commercial trucking is one of the most regulated industries in the country. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets rules on driver hours of service, vehicle maintenance, cargo securement, and drug testing. When a truck driver or trucking company violates these regulations and someone gets hurt, those violations become powerful evidence.
Here's the part most people don't know: trucking companies send their own investigators to the crash scene within hours. They're already building a defense before you've even left the hospital. A spoliation letter, sent by your attorney to the trucking company, legally requires them to preserve the black box data, driver logs, maintenance records, and any dashcam footage. Without that letter, evidence disappears.
Truck crashes also involve multiple defendants. The driver, the carrier, the freight broker who hired them, and the company that last serviced the truck may all share liability. Each one carries separate insurance, sometimes in the millions. Identifying all responsible parties is how you maximize recovery.
Because this crash resulted in a fatality, surviving family members may have a wrongful death claim under CCP 377.60 in addition to any personal injury claims by surviving victims. The statute of limitations for wrongful death is two years from the date of death.
When a crash results in death, the legal landscape changes significantly. Surviving family members may bring a wrongful death action under CCP 377.60, which covers loss of financial support, companionship, and guidance. A separate survival action can address the deceased person's pain and suffering before death. The statute of limitations is two years from the date of death.
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Dangerous road design
What Causes Rear-End Crashes at This Location
Rear-end collisions are the most common type of crash on California roads, and they're not always the trailing driver's fault. Short yellow intervals at traffic signals, sudden grade changes that hide stopped traffic, and inadequate advance warning signs all contribute to rear-end crashes. When the road design creates conditions where stopping distances are insufficient, the entity responsible for the road may share liability.
High-speed arterials are particularly prone to these crashes when signal timing doesn't account for approach speeds. California's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) sets standards for yellow-light duration based on speed limits, but many intersections haven't been updated as traffic patterns changed.
This crash occurred during midday hours, when traffic volumes are moderate but speeds tend to be higher due to less congestion. Higher travel speeds reduce reaction time and increase crash severity, especially at intersections with short yellow intervals.
Did You Lose a Loved One in This Crash?
If someone in your family was killed in this crash, our wrongful death attorneys can help you understand your legal rights. We handle cases on contingency, so you pay nothing unless we recover for you.
Frequently asked questions
Common Questions About This Type of Crash
Who is liable in a truck accident?
Multiple parties can be liable: the truck driver, the trucking company (the carrier), the freight broker who hired the carrier, the company that loaded the cargo, and the maintenance provider. Each may carry separate insurance policies. Identifying all liable parties is essential to maximizing your recovery.
What is a spoliation letter and why does it matter?
A spoliation letter is a legal notice sent to the trucking company requiring them to preserve all evidence related to the crash: black box data, driver logs, maintenance records, dashcam footage, and drug test results. Without this letter, trucking companies can legally overwrite electronic data on regular maintenance cycles. Time is critical.
What FMCSA regulations apply to truck accident cases?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration sets rules on driver hours of service (max 11 hours driving in a 14-hour window), mandatory rest breaks, vehicle maintenance schedules, cargo securement, and drug and alcohol testing. Violations of any of these regulations can be used as evidence of negligence in your case.
What should I do if a family member died in this crash?
First, take care of your family. When you're ready, consult a wrongful death attorney. Under California law, surviving spouses, children, and certain other family members can file a wrongful death claim. There are strict deadlines, especially if a government entity is involved (six months for a tort claim). A free consultation can help you understand your options without any obligation.
What is the government tort claim deadline of November 28, 2026?
If a government entity shares responsibility for this crash, whether through road design, a government vehicle, or maintenance failures, you must file a government tort claim within six months of the incident. For this crash, that deadline is November 28, 2026. This is separate from the two-year statute of limitations. Miss it and your claim against the government is gone permanently, even if the road design was clearly at fault.
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