Were you injured in a car accident in Van Nuys, CA?
At Cohen Injury Law Group, we build each car accident claim for trial and hold negligent drivers and their insurers accountable.
If another driver’s carelessness left you injured, a Van Nuys, CA car accident lawyer can establish fault and pursue the full value of your claim while you recover. Our founding attorney, Wayne Cohen, is among the more recognized personal injury trial attorneys in the country and has represented injured people since 1991. Contact us today to learn where you stand.
Car Accident Lawyer Van Nuys, CA
A car accident case arises when one driver’s negligence injures another person on the road, whether a driver, a passenger, or someone in a nearby vehicle. The strength of a claim depends on two things: establishing who was at fault and documenting the full extent of the harm the crash caused.
Insurers begin working to limit these claims almost immediately, often reaching out for a recorded statement or offering a quick settlement before the injuries are fully understood. Our Van Nuys car accident attorneys secure the evidence of fault, from the police report and scene photographs to any available video, and account for the complete cost of the injury before responding to the insurance company. That preparation is what allows a claim to reflect the real harm rather than an insurer’s early estimate. We also advise you on what to say, and what not to say, to the other driver’s insurer while the claim is pending.
Types of Car Accident Cases We Handle in Van Nuys
Collisions happen in many forms on the streets and freeways of the San Fernando Valley. In 2022, an estimated 2.38 million people were injured and 42,514 killed in police-reported traffic crashes nationwide, according to NHTSA crash data. We handle car accident claims of many kinds throughout Van Nuys, CA. Each type turns on a different question of fault, and each rewards a prompt investigation.
- Rear-end collisions. A driver following too closely or looking at a phone can strike the car ahead without warning. These crashes commonly cause neck and back injuries that surface over the following days.
- Intersection and left-turn crashes. A driver who fails to yield at a light or turns across oncoming traffic causes some of the most severe collisions. Fault often turns on the right of way.
- Head-on collisions. A driver who drifts or enters a lane in the wrong direction can cause a catastrophic crash. These cases frequently involve serious or fatal injuries.
- Truck accidents. A crash with a large truck places the occupants of the smaller vehicle at grave risk. These claims may reach the trucking company as well as the driver.
- Rideshare accidents. A collision involving an Uber or Lyft raises questions about which insurance policy applies. Coverage can depend on the driver’s status at the time.
- Pedestrian accidents. A driver who fails to watch for people on foot can cause severe injuries at a crosswalk or intersection. These cases often carry high stakes.
- Bicycle accidents. A driver who overlooks a rider sharing the road can cause a serious crash. Fault frequently comes down to the right of way.
Why Choose Cohen Injury Law Group as my Car Accident Attorney in Van Nuys, CA?
Trial Experience the Insurers Recognize
An insurer evaluates a claim differently when the firm across the table is prepared to try the case. Our founding attorney, Wayne Cohen, is among the more recognized personal injury trial attorneys in the country and has represented injured people since 1991. He graduated with distinction from the University of Michigan and earned his law degree, cum laude, at the University of Miami School of Law, and he has recovered millions of dollars for seriously injured clients. We build each case as though it will be tried, which is often what moves an insurer to offer full value. That readiness gives our clients a stronger position whether the case settles or proceeds to a jury.
Grounded in the San Fernando Valley
We know the roads where these crashes happen and how they are investigated in Los Angeles County. As a personal injury lawyer in Van Nuys, CA, we move quickly to secure traffic video, witness statements, and the evidence at the scene before it disappears. That early work often decides how fault is assigned. We also know which intersections and freeway corridors see the most crashes and how local investigators handle them.
What Is Important to Understand About a Car Accident Case?
Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Car Accident Cases
A serious crash can affect your health, your income, and your daily life at once, and each of those belongs in the claim. California law allows recovery for the full range of harm, which usually includes:
- Medical treatment, from emergency care through rehabilitation.
- Lost income and any reduction in your ability to earn.
- Pain, suffering, and the disruption the injury brings to daily life.
- Vehicle damage and other property losses tied to the crash.
The true cost of a serious crash often reaches well beyond the first medical bill, and we account for the care still to come. When the other driver argues you share the blame, California’s partial fault rule reduces recovery by your percentage rather than barring it, which makes an accurate account of the crash essential. We document how the injury affects your daily life and earning ability, so any demand reflects the full weight of the harm.
What Are Important Aspects of a Car Accident Case?
A car accident claim depends on establishing fault and documenting the injury before the evidence fades. Several factors carry the greatest weight:
- The police report and any citation issued at the scene.
- Video from traffic cameras, nearby businesses, or other vehicles.
- Prompt medical care that connects your injuries to the crash.
- The conduct of the insurer, since insurance adjusters work to limit a claim early.
Traffic video is often overwritten within days, and skid marks and debris are cleared quickly, so the window to capture this proof is short. Moving early is what keeps the strongest evidence from being lost.
What Is the Car Accident Case Timeline?
Every claim is different, but most follow a recognizable order. The usual path proceeds as follows:
- We investigate the crash and preserve the evidence of fault.
- We gather your medical records as your treatment continues.
- We present a demand built on proof of both fault and harm.
- We negotiate, and file suit if the offer does not reflect the injury.
- The case resolves through a settlement or at trial.
California places firm filing deadlines on injury claims, and a shorter window applies when a government vehicle or public road contributed to the crash.
What Should You Bring to Your Car Accident Consultation?
The first meeting proceeds more efficiently with a few documents on hand:
- Any police report or the responding officer’s information.
- Photographs of the vehicles, the scene, and your injuries.
- The insurance information exchanged at the scene.
- Medical records and bills connected to the crash.
Do not worry if you cannot locate everything; we can request records and reports on your behalf. The consultation is a straightforward discussion of the crash, your injuries, and the options available to you. It costs nothing, commits you to nothing, and can set the investigation in motion the same day.
What Are Important California Legal Resources for Car Accident Cases?
California law sets the time you have to file, defines the duty every driver owes, and describes what an injured person can recover. The references below are a place to begin, though how each applies depends on the facts:
- California’s statute of limitations allows most injury claims two years from the date of the crash.
- California’s duty of care law makes a driver who neglects ordinary care accountable for the harm.
- The state’s measure of damages law governs compensation for harm that does not arise from a contract.
- The California Courts self-help guide explains these deadlines, including the shorter windows for claims against a government agency.
None of the above stands in for counsel on your individual claim.
Reach Out to Cohen Injury Law Group to Schedule a Consultation
A serious car accident can disrupt every part of your life, and you should not have to face the insurance company alone. Our attorneys will establish who was at fault, pursue every source of recovery, and manage the insurer from the first call onward. Because we work on contingency, a fee applies only if we recover for you. Contact us to arrange a consultation, and we will review your case promptly.
Calling us is
always free.
FREE Case Evaluation - 1 Free Evaluation
- 2 We Build Your Case
- 3 Financial & Emotional Recovery
Office Locations
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Santa Monica
2636 Lincoln Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90405 -
Santa Monica – Broadway
520 Broadway, 2nd Floor
Santa Monica, CA 90401 -
Los Angeles
633 W 5th St, Unit 2876A
Los Angeles, CA 90071 -
Ventura
394 E Main St, Suite 302
Ventura, CA 93001
Schedule your no-cost consultation.