A white Jeep Wrangler ended up inside the waiting area of a medical center in Porter Ranch on Monday morning, injuring one person and drawing a response from building safety inspectors. The crash happened just before 9:30 a.m. in the 20000 block of West Rinaldi Street, according to broadcast reports referencing the Los Angeles Fire Department. NBC Los Angeles

KTLA has a segment on the incident here: Jeep careens into medical center’s waiting room in the San Fernando Valley. Details released so far indicate minor injuries and no immediate information about what caused the Jeep to leave the roadway. Building officials were called to assess structural damage and safety. NBC Los Angeles

Why this matters legally

A vehicle that penetrates a lobby or waiting room can create overlapping liability questions. The driver and the vehicle owner are usually primary, but other parties may become relevant depending on the facts, including employers if the driver was on the job, maintenance providers if a defect or repair failure contributed, or the property owner if storefront protections were inadequate. These cases often turn on video, physical measurements, and fast evidence preservation.

If you were a patient, visitor, staff member, or neighboring tenant and suffered injuries, California law allows recovery for medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering when negligence caused the harm. Businesses affected by closure, soot, or access restrictions can sometimes recover for property damage and lost income when the event is tied to a specific incident that can be documented.

What to do if you were affected today

1. Get medical care and follow through with treatment so symptoms are documented. Even “minor” injuries like knee or shoulder contusions, glass cuts, or smoke irritation should be evaluated.
2. Create a timeline: note your exact location in the office, the time you heard the crash, and what you saw and felt.
3. Preserve evidence: save photos and video, keep the clothing and shoes you wore if they show debris or blood, and ask the office to retain security footage.
4. Collect official info: request the incident or report number from responding agencies and ask how to obtain copies when available. Coverage places the incident just before 9:30 a.m. on West Rinaldi Street, which helps anchor your documentation. NBC Los Angeles
5. For nearby businesses: photograph any broken glass, dust, or soot, keep cleaning receipts, and log staff hours lost to evacuation or closure.

Evidence that strengthens a claim

• Surveillance video from the medical center and neighboring suites, along with exterior cameras.
• Witness statements from staff and patients in the waiting room.
• First responder records: CAD logs, LAFD incident details, and scene photos that confirm time, location, and injuries. NBC Los Angeles
• Vehicle data: airbag control module or EDR downloads and inspection findings that can show speed, throttle, and braking.
• Building inspections: notes from the city’s building and safety team about structural damage or required repairs. NBC Los Angeles

Common questions

Do I have a case if I was not directly struck by the Jeep?
Possibly. Falling glass, debris impacts, and exacerbation of existing conditions like back or neck issues can be compensable when tied to the crash.

What about emotional distress if I witnessed the impact?
Bystander claims depend on proximity and relationship criteria. Speak with counsel about how California applies those rules.

Could the building be responsible?
It depends. Property owners must take reasonable steps to keep areas safe. Whether additional barriers or layout changes were required is fact specific and typically needs expert review.

Our role

We are a San Fernando Valley personal injury firm that handles vehicle-into-building crashes across Los Angeles. We move quickly to send preservation letters, collect video, coordinate medical documentation, and work with reconstruction and building-safety experts so your claim is built correctly from the start. If you were hurt in the Porter Ranch medical center crash, start a confidential consultation here: Manoukian Law Firm Contact.