Granada Hills is where two freeway systems come together at the north end of the Valley. The 118 runs east and west across the community, the 405 climbs north toward the pass, and the 5 is close enough to add its own traffic to the mix. What that means on the ground is that Balboa Boulevard, Zelzah Avenue, Chatsworth Street, Devonshire Street and San Fernando Mission Boulevard carry a lot of drivers who are either about to get on a freeway or have just come off one, still moving at freeway speed on a street lined with homes and schools.
North and west of that, the community goes quiet quickly. The Knollwood area, the streets near Bee Canyon Park and the trailheads at O’Melveny Park draw walkers, runners, cyclists and dogs, and the injuries there look nothing like a freeway ramp collision. Manoukian Law Firm is about fifteen minutes west on Topanga Canyon Boulevard in Chatsworth, and every file is prepared as though it will be tried.
What to do after an injury in Granada Hills
- Get medical attention the same day. On a high speed impact, the injuries that matter most are frequently not the ones you notice at the scene.
- Determine whether the LAPD or the CHP responded, since a freeway or ramp collision goes to a different agency than a street collision, and record the report number.
- Photograph the scene widely: lane markings, ramp signage, the merge, sun position, debris and final vehicle positions.
- Do not repair or dispose of the vehicle until it has been inspected and photographed.
- Ask any nearby business, school or homeowner in writing that week to preserve camera footage.
- File a DMV form SR-1 within ten days if there was an injury or over $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 Granada Hills
Car accident claims are the largest part of the work, and the ramp and arterial collisions here often involve a speed differential rather than a simple failure to yield. Damage patterns, ramp geometry and the timing of the signal at the end of the ramp all get examined, and the vehicle should not be repaired or sold before it is documented.
The freeways bring commercial traffic through the community all day, so truck accident cases come up regularly. Those claims run on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, including hours of service limits, maintenance records and electronic logging device data, which carriers keep only for a limited time. A written preservation demand goes out early, before that data is gone.
Around the parks and the residential grid, the cases change character. Pedestrian accident claims rely on Vehicle Code 21950, requiring drivers to yield in marked and unmarked crosswalks, and unmarked corners near schools and parks are where that duty is most often ignored. Bicycle accident claims apply Vehicle Code 21200, giving cyclists the rights and duties of drivers, along with the three foot passing rule in Vehicle Code 21760, which matters on the climbs toward the northern edge of the community. Dog bite cases come from the trails and neighborhood sidewalks, where Civil Code 3342 imposes strict liability on the owner when the injured person was lawfully in a public or private place, with a report to the local health officer and a quarantine that generally runs ten days.
Off the road, slip and fall claims at markets, medical offices and shopping centers are decided on notice: whether the owner knew or should have known about the hazard, and whether it was cleaned, repaired or warned about, under the duty of care described in Rowland v. Christian. When a freeway or ramp collision proves fatal, Code of Civil Procedure 377.60 sets out who may bring a wrongful death claim, with a separate survival action under section 377.30.
Where Granada Hills cases are handled
Collisions and incidents on Granada Hills surface streets are generally reported by the LAPD Devonshire Division. Crashes on the 118, the 405 and the connectors between them are usually investigated by the California Highway Patrol.
Emergency care generally means Northridge Hospital Medical Center, with Providence Holy Cross in nearby Mission Hills also handling serious trauma. Keep every piece of discharge paperwork and follow the referrals given. Steady, documented treatment is what supports a claim for future care when an injury does not resolve.
If a lawsuit becomes necessary, Granada Hills cases go to the Los Angeles Superior Court and North Valley civil matters are generally handled at the Chatsworth Courthouse on Penfield Avenue. 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
Manoukian Law Firm was founded by Vaheh Manoukian, a graduate of the USC Gould School of Law and UCLA who handled depositions and trials at a larger firm before opening his own. The firm belongs to the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles and Consumer Attorneys of California, its founding attorney was selected to the Super Lawyers Rising Stars list for 2027.
The value of direct attorney access shows up in the ordinary parts of a case: calls returned by the attorney who knows the file, and evidence preserved in the first week rather than the first month. Meetings can be held at the Chatsworth office, in the hospital, or by phone and video. Consultations are free, the firm works on a contingency fee, and there is no fee unless we win. The firm helps clients in English, Spanish and Armenian. More background is on the about page, and past matters are described on the case results page. Neighboring communities are covered on the Porter Ranch and Northridge pages.
Case results
Our client suffered catastrophic injuries after being struck by a commercial delivery driver who was on the job.
Our client developed ongoing neck pain after a multi-vehicle rear-end collision on the highway, requiring pain-management treatment. The case resolved for $400,000.
The other side valued our client's injuries at $5,000 to $10,000 and called it a “soft impact.” Our client was the third car struck in a chain-reaction collision. We filed suit and recovered $275,000.
Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Frequently asked questions
How much time do I have to bring a claim?
Generally two years from the date of injury under Code of Civil Procedure 335.1. If the claim is against a public entity, such as a city street condition or a public agency vehicle, a written claim is generally due within six months under Government Code 911.2, and a lawsuit deadline follows the rejection of that claim.
The crash happened on a 118 ramp. Which report do I need?
Freeway and ramp collisions are generally investigated by the California Highway Patrol rather than the LAPD Devonshire Division. If part of the incident continued onto a surface street, there may be two reports, and both are worth requesting.
The insurance company offered me a settlement in the first week. Should I take it?
An early offer is made before anyone knows what treatment you will need. Medical damages are the amounts actually paid or owed under Howell v. Hamilton Meats, and future care, lost income and permanent limitations cannot be measured in the first week. It costs nothing to have the offer reviewed before you sign a release.
I was walking my dog on a trail when a cyclist hit me. Is that covered?
Possibly. A cyclist has the same duty of reasonable care that any other user of a path or roadway owes, and a homeowner’s or renter’s policy sometimes responds. The facts matter, so bring what you have to a free consultation through the contact page.
If you were injured in Granada Hills, call (818) 818-5031 for a free consultation. The consultation is free, and there is no fee unless the firm recovers for you.
