North Hollywood is where the 170 meets the 101 and where the Valley’s transit network converges. The Metro B Line subway ends at North Hollywood Station, the G Line busway begins there, and the blocks around it fill with people walking between platforms, bike racks, rideshare pickups and the restaurants and theaters of the NoHo Arts District. Lankershim Boulevard, Magnolia Boulevard, Vineland Avenue, Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Burbank Boulevard carry the rest of the load. Drivers, buses, cyclists and pedestrians share the same intersections at the same hours, and a moment of inattention turns into an injury claim.
Manoukian Law Firm is about twenty-five minutes northwest, at 9520 Topanga Canyon Boulevard in Chatsworth. Manoukian Law Firm takes each case from the first call through resolution and prepares every file as though it will be tried. He speaks Armenian, and the firm serves the Armenian community in North Hollywood and the neighboring cities. Meetings happen at the office, in the hospital, or by phone and video when travel is difficult.
What to do after an injury in North Hollywood
- Get examined the same day. Symptoms from a moderate impact routinely appear the next morning.
- Note the responding agency, LAPD North Hollywood Division or CHP, and write down the report number before leaving.
- If a Metro bus, train or station was involved, record the vehicle or run number and the time. That detail makes video retrievable.
- Photograph vehicle positions, debris, lane markings, crosswalks, signal heads and any hazard you tripped on.
- Identify cameras nearby. Theaters, restaurants, garages and transit platforms almost all record exterior video.
- Ask in writing that week for the footage to be preserved, and act sooner if a government entity is involved.
- 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 North Hollywood
Car accident claims are the bulk of the work. Collisions on the 170 and at the 101 interchange turn on lane position, closing speed and chain reactions, so damage patterns, dashcam footage and the CHP report do most of the analysis. On Lankershim and Laurel Canyon the cases are different: a left turn across traffic, a driver running the end of a yellow, or a car pulling out of an angled lot entrance. Business video from the surrounding block often settles the question, but only if it is requested before the system overwrites it.
Transit is central here, and bus accident claims frequently involve a public agency. That changes the calendar completely. Metro is a government entity, so a written claim is generally due within six months under Government Code 911.2 rather than the usual two years, and the lawsuit deadline follows the rejection of that claim. Metro vehicles and stations also record video, which is worth demanding in writing immediately.
Rideshare claims cluster around the station and the arts district. Coverage depends on the driver’s status under Public Utilities Code 5433: 50/100/30 with the app on and no ride accepted, and a one million dollar liability policy while en route to a rider or carrying one. Since January 1, 2026, uninsured and underinsured coverage during a trip is $60,000 per person and $300,000 per incident.
Pedestrian accident cases rest on Vehicle Code 21950, which requires drivers to yield in marked and unmarked crosswalks, and the crossings around the station are exactly where that rule gets tested. Bicycle accident claims start from Vehicle Code 21200 and the three-foot passing rule in Vehicle Code 21760. Scooter injury claims arise where shared devices are ridden between the station and the theaters, governed by Vehicle Code 21221 and following sections.
Away from the road, slip and fall claims in the theaters, restaurants and garages turn on notice: whether the owner knew or should have known about the hazard, and whether it was fixed or warned about, under the duty of care described in Rowland v. Christian. Apartment complex injury claims in the blocks off Magnolia follow the same analysis, usually with a record of earlier complaints about stairs, lighting or gates.
Where North Hollywood cases are handled
Collisions on surface streets are generally reported by the LAPD North Hollywood Division. Crashes on the 170, the 101 and the 134 are generally investigated by the California Highway Patrol. The reports become available on different timelines and are requested separately, so noting the responding agency at the scene saves weeks later.
Emergency care generally means Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank or Valley Presbyterian Hospital to the west, depending on how transport is routed. Keep every discharge instruction, imaging order and billing statement. The medical record built in the first two weeks tends to matter more than anything reconstructed months afterward.
If a claim cannot be resolved and a lawsuit becomes necessary, North Hollywood cases are filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court, and Valley civil matters are generally handled at the Van Nuys Courthouse. Assignments are set by the court and can change, so the filing location is confirmed for each case rather than assumed.
Why North Hollywood families call a Chatsworth office
Most of the firm’s North Hollywood clients did not find it through an advertisement. They were referred by a relative, a friend or someone from the community who had been through a case with the firm, whose founding attorney grew up in Glendale’s Armenian community and speaks Armenian. That is the way the firm has grown in the East Valley, one family at a time, and it is why the first call is with the attorney rather than an intake desk. Meetings happen at the Chatsworth office, by phone or video, or at the hospital.
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 practical difference is that the person returning your call is the person who knows your file, and preparation does not depend on who happens to be available that week. 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, past matters are described on the case results page, and nearby communities are covered on the Studio City and Burbank 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
I was hurt on a Metro bus or at the station. What is my deadline?
Metro is a government entity, so a written claim is generally due within six months under Government Code 911.2, and the lawsuit deadline runs from the rejection of that claim. That is far shorter than the two-year rule that applies to most claims, which is why transit cases should be reviewed right away.
Can Metro video be obtained?
Buses, trains and stations generally record, but recordings are retained for a limited period and then reused. A written preservation request that identifies the date, time, location and vehicle or run number gives the footage a real chance of still existing when it is needed.
Where would my lawsuit be filed?
North Hollywood cases go to the Los Angeles Superior Court, and Valley civil matters are generally handled at the Van Nuys Courthouse. The court controls assignments, so the venue is confirmed for each case.
Does the firm handle cases in Armenian?
Yes. Attorney Manoukian speaks Armenian and regularly works with Armenian-speaking clients in the area. The firm helps clients in English, Spanish and Armenian.
If you were injured in North Hollywood, call (818) 818-5031 for a free consultation, or reach the firm through the contact page. The consultation is free, and there is no fee unless the firm recovers for you.
