Best Car Accident Lawyers in Canoga Park

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Canoga Park, California?

  You may call the Los Angeles Police Department non-emergency line at 1-877-275-5273 (1-877-ASK-LAPD). The Topanga Community Police Station Division of the LAPD also serves the Canoga Park neighborhood. You may reach the Topanga Police at 818-756-4800 or 818-756-5899.

• Where can I get a copy of police reports for incidents related to my case in Canoga Park, California?

  You can get a copy of the police accident report in two ways:

  • You can do it online by going to: https://policereports.lexisnexis.com/ui/report/search?state=CA&jurisdiction=Los%20Angeles%20Police%20Department%20-%20LAPD. Enter the report number to pull up the collision report.
  • You can request a copy through the United States Mail. Go to the LAPD website and download a Traffic Collision Report Request Form. Mail the completed form along with a money order or check of $16 payable to LAPD to the address below. Los Angeles Police Department Records and Identification Division Document Processing Unit P.O. Box 30158 Los Angeles, CA 90030 For more information or to get an update on your requested report, you may call (213) 486-8130.

• What is the deadline to file a car accident lawsuit in Canoga Park?

  The California Code of Civil Procedure Section 340 states that accident victims in Canoga Park must file their personal injury lawsuit against the party at fault within two years from the date of the accident. An exception to this statute of limitations may be given to victims who were still minors during the accident. For filing a property damage claim for your crashed vehicle, you have three years from the date of the crash.

• Can you file a claim if you were partly at fault for a car accident in Canoga Park?

  Yes, you can claim compensation for your damages even if you are at fault. Canoga Park follows the pure comparative negligence rule. If you are found to be partly at fault for an accident, your liability to pay for the damages suffered by others and your compensation award will be in proportion to your percentage of fault. If you are 30% at fault, you will pay for 30% of the damages, while your compensation will be reduced by 30%.

• How do you get compensated if you are a victim of a hit-and-run accident in Canoga Park and the driver is unidentified?

  You can claim compensation from your insurance policy’s uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. Car insurance policies in Canoga Park and across California are required to include UM coverage unless the insured specifically waives the coverage. There are important initial steps to making a UM claim: ensure that you have proof of physical contact with the other vehicle, make a police report of the hit-and-run accident, and report the incident to your insurer.

• Can you recover compensation if it is proven that you were not wearing a seatbelt during a car accident in Canoga Park?

  Yes, you can file a claim and get compensation for your damages even if you were not wearing a seatbelt during a car accident in Canoga Park. However, your compensation may be reduced. In California, the “seatbelt defense” is allowed. The defendant or driver at fault may use this defense and argue that you contributed to your injury by not wearing a seatbelt. Hence, making the defendant less liable and your compensation award smaller.

• What type of damages can be included in a car accident claim in Canoga Park?

  You may claim economic, non-economic, and punitive damages. Economic damages are financial costs from the car accident, such as medical bills, lost income, rehabilitation, alternative transportation, property damages, and reduced earning capacity. Non-economic damages are personal costs, including chronic pain, anxiety, disfigurement, and reduced quality of life. Punitive damages may be awarded in cases of severe recklessness like drunk driving, according to the California Civil Code Section 3294.