Hollywood Car Accident Attorney

Hollywood Car Accident FAQ

Two years from the date of the crash for personal injury, under CCP §335.1. Three years for property damage. If a government vehicle was involved — say, a Metro bus or LAPD cruiser — the deadline shrinks to six months under the Government Claims Act.

It depends on the app's status at the moment of the crash. If the driver was logged off, their personal policy applies. If logged in but waiting for a ride, Uber and Lyft provide $50,000/$100,000 contingent coverage. If actively transporting a passenger or on the way to pick one up, the rideshare company's $1 million liability policy applies.

Passengers almost always have the cleanest liability picture in a multi-vehicle case — you cannot be at fault. You can pursue claims against any driver involved, including the driver of the car you were in. Your relationship to that driver does not bar the claim.

Your own uninsured-motorist (UM) coverage steps in. Most California auto policies include UM coverage equal to your liability limit unless you signed a waiver in writing. Hit-and-run cases also trigger UM coverage, but only if the police report was filed within 24 hours of the crash.

Almost never. First offers anchor at 10–30% of case value and are designed to settle the case before you understand the extent of your injuries. Once accepted, the release closes the case permanently — including for medical conditions that develop later.

The honest answer is eight to twenty-four months. Pre-litigation settlements of clean liability cases with completed treatment can resolve in eight to twelve months. Cases that require filing a lawsuit move on the court's timeline — usually eighteen to twenty-four months from filing to trial in Los Angeles County.