You were hit in the Valley, maybe on the 405 near the 101 interchange, maybe on Van Nuys Boulevard or Ventura Boulevard. Your car is damaged, your back hurts, and the other driver's insurer is already calling. Here is who has your report, which deadlines apply in 2026, and what to do this week.
The short answer
Get medical care, get the report number, and do not give the other driver's insurer a recorded statement. Freeway crashes on the 101, 405, 170, 118, and 5 usually go to the California Highway Patrol. Crashes on Valley city streets usually go to the Los Angeles Police Department. In 2026 you generally have two years to sue, but only six months to file a claim if a city vehicle, a Metro bus, or a dangerous road played a part.
Who writes the report: CHP or LAPD?
Where the crash happened decides which agency has your report.
- Freeways including the 101, 405, 170, 118, and 5: usually the CHP, even though the Valley is inside Los Angeles city limits.
- City streets such as Van Nuys, Sepulveda, Laurel Canyon, Ventura, and Victory: LAPD. The Valley is covered by several LAPD stations, including Van Nuys, North Hollywood, West Valley, Topanga, Devonshire, Mission, and Foothill.
- Burbank, San Fernando, and Calabasas have their own police or sheriff coverage. If you crossed a city line, ask the officer which agency is writing the report.
Before anyone leaves the scene, get the report number and the officer's name and badge number.
How do I get my accident report?
For a street crash, request the report from LAPD's records unit, online or by mail, using your report number. For a freeway crash, request it from the CHP area office that responded. Expect it to take a week or more.
If no officer came to the scene, you can still report the crash at the nearest LAPD station. Do it soon, while your memory and the other driver's information are fresh.
When the report arrives, read every line. Check names, plates, lanes, direction of travel, and what each driver said. Mistakes left in the report tend to follow you into the claim.
Where should I get treated?
If you are seriously hurt, call 911 and let paramedics decide. The Valley's trauma centers include Northridge Hospital Medical Center and Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills. For pain that shows up hours later, go to an emergency room or urgent care and describe every symptom, including headaches, numbness, and trouble sleeping. A gap between the crash and your first visit is one of the first things an adjuster looks for.
What if a Metro bus, city truck, or bad road was involved?
The Metro G Line busway runs across the Valley and crosses busy streets at street level. Metro buses, LADOT DASH buses, and city work trucks are all public vehicles. So is a broken signal or a dangerous street the city maintains.
California Government Code section 911.2 requires a written claim to the public entity within six months of the injury. Miss that deadline and you can lose the right to sue. Note the bus number and route, photograph the intersection and signals, and call a lawyer quickly.
How long do I have for everything else?
For a crash between private drivers, California generally gives you two years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit. Treatment and back-and-forth with the insurer eat that time faster than people expect. Our guide on the California personal injury statute of limitations explains how the clock works.
Your next three moves
- Get checked today. Soft tissue and head injuries often feel worse on day two or three. Your medical records are the backbone of any injury claim.
- Save the evidence. Photograph the cars, the scene, and your injuries. Get witness names and numbers. Shops and apartment buildings along Ventura and Van Nuys Boulevard often have cameras that record over old footage within days, so ask now.
- Keep your words short. Give your own insurer the basic facts. Decline a recorded statement to the other insurer. Our guide on the recorded statement to an insurance adjuster explains why.
Before you talk to any adjuster, request a free case review. No fee unless we win. For the full checklist, read what to do after a car accident in California, see how we handle car accident cases, and find help across the county on our Los Angeles page.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Deadlines and rules change; talk to a lawyer about your situation.
Keep reading
- Car Accidents: how we handle these cases
- Injury lawyers serving Los Angeles
- How Much Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Cost in California? (2026)
- Rear-End Accident Settlements in California: What Actually Decides the Number
- Partly at Fault for Your Accident? How California Comparative Negligence Works
- Start your free case review