Glendale sits where the 134, the 2 and the 5 come together, and the traffic those freeways feed lands on Brand Boulevard, Central Avenue, Colorado Street, Glenoaks Boulevard and San Fernando Road. Downtown Glendale adds a layer that most Valley cities do not have: two large shopping centers, the Glendale Galleria and the Americana at Brand, within walking distance of each other, with multi-level garages, valet lanes, crosswalks and people stepping between parked cars all day. A collision here is often a low-speed one that still causes real injury, and a fall in a garage stairwell can be as serious as anything that happens on the freeway.
Manoukian Law Firm is about thirty minutes west, at 9520 Topanga Canyon Boulevard in Chatsworth. Attorney Vaheh Manoukian handles each case himself, from the first call through resolution, and prepares every file as if it will be tried. He speaks Armenian, and the firm has long represented members of Glendale’s Armenian community, which matters when a client would rather explain what happened in their own language than through a relative. Consultations happen at the office, at your home, in the hospital, or by video.
What to do after an injury in Glendale
- Get examined the same day, even if you feel able to drive home. Symptoms from a low-speed collision often surface the next morning.
- Confirm which agency responded, Glendale Police or CHP, and write down the report number before leaving.
- Photograph the scene: vehicle positions, debris, lane markings, the hazard itself if you fell, and anything nearby that shows scale.
- Identify every camera you can see. Malls, garages and storefronts along Brand and Central almost always have exterior video.
- Ask in writing that same week for the video to be preserved. A phone call to a manager is rarely enough.
- Report a fall to the property or store manager and request a copy of the written incident report.
- File a DMV form SR-1 within ten days if there was an injury or more than $1,000 in property damage, as Vehicle Code 16000 requires.
- Speak with an attorney before giving a recorded statement to any insurance company.
Injury cases we handle in Glendale
Car accident claims are the core of the practice here. Crashes on the 134 and the 2 turn on lane position and closing speed, while the ones on Brand and Central usually come down to a left turn across traffic, a driver pulling out of a garage entrance, or a rear-end collision in a backup. Damage photographs, signal timing and nearby business video do most of the work, and that video is frequently overwritten within a week.
Downtown Glendale is a walking district, and pedestrian accident cases follow from that. Vehicle Code 21950 requires drivers to yield in marked and unmarked crosswalks, and the drivers most often at fault are the ones turning right on a green while looking left for a gap. Garage ramps and driveway aprons produce the same collisions at lower speed with similar injuries.
Slip and fall claims at the malls, restaurants and parking structures turn on notice: whether the owner knew or should have known about the hazard, and whether it was repaired or warned about, under the duty of care described in Rowland v. Christian. Sweep logs, maintenance records and prior incident reports are the evidence that decides those cases, and they are requested in writing early.
Older apartment buildings along Central and Glenoaks generate apartment complex injury claims involving stairs, lighting, railings and security, which usually leave a documented history of tenant complaints. Dog bite claims follow Civil Code 3342, which makes an owner strictly liable when the bitten person was lawfully in a public or private place.
The 134 and the 5 carry heavy commercial traffic, and a truck accident case opens up the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations: hours of service, maintenance history and electronic logging device data that a carrier only has to keep for a limited period. Motorcycle accident claims begin with the fact that lane splitting is lawful under Vehicle Code 21658.1, which matters on a stalled 2 Freeway approaching the interchange.
Where Glendale cases are handled
Collisions on Glendale surface streets are generally reported by the Glendale Police Department, which is the city’s own agency rather than a Los Angeles Police Department division. Crashes on the 134, the 2 and the 5 are generally investigated by the California Highway Patrol. The two reports are requested separately and become available on different timelines.
Emergency care generally means Adventist Health Glendale, Dignity Health Glendale Memorial Hospital, or USC Verdugo Hills Hospital just north in Glendale’s Verdugo area. Keep every discharge instruction, imaging order and billing statement. The medical record created in the first two weeks tends to carry more weight than any account assembled later.
If a claim cannot be resolved and a lawsuit becomes necessary, Glendale cases are filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court. Many local civil matters are generally handled at the Glendale Courthouse at 600 East Broadway, while larger civil cases may be heard at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse downtown. Assignments are set by the court and can change, so the filing location is confirmed for each case rather than assumed.
Why work with Manoukian Law Firm
Vaheh Manoukian earned his J.D. at the USC Gould School of Law, where he served in the Mediation Clinic and was published in the USC Business Law Digest, following a B.A. at UCLA. He was admitted to the State Bar of California in 2021, Bar number 333026, and is a member of the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, Consumer Attorneys of California and the San Fernando Valley Bar Association. He was named a Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2026, and the firm holds a 5.0 rating on Google.
The practical difference is that the person who returns your call is the person who knows your file. Consultations are free, the firm works on a contingency fee, and there is no fee unless we recover for you. Calls are answered 24 hours a day in English, Spanish and Armenian. More background is on the about page, past matters are described on the case results page, and nearby communities are covered on the Burbank and North Hollywood pages.
Frequently asked questions
I fell at the Galleria or the Americana. Who is responsible?
It depends on who controlled the area where you fell and what they knew. The case usually turns on how long the hazard existed and whether inspections would have caught it. Report the fall in writing and ask for the incident report and the surveillance footage.
Does the Glendale Courthouse handle my case?
Often, yes. Many Glendale civil matters are generally heard at the Glendale Courthouse on East Broadway, though larger cases may go to the Stanley Mosk Courthouse downtown. The court sets assignments, so we confirm the venue when the case is filed.
How long do I have to bring a claim?
Two years from the date of injury for most personal injury claims, under Code of Civil Procedure 335.1. If a government entity is involved, a written claim is generally due within six months under Government Code 911.2, which is a much shorter window than people expect.
Can I speak with the attorney in Armenian?
Yes. Attorney Manoukian speaks Armenian, and the firm regularly represents Armenian-speaking clients in Glendale. Calls are also answered in English and Spanish, 24 hours a day.
If you were injured in Glendale, call (818) 818-5031 for a free consultation, or use the contact page. You will speak directly with the attorney who would handle your case, and there is no fee unless we recover for you.
