Two people were critically injured in a two-car collision in the Hancock Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. Police said the crash happened around 1:40 a.m. on May 15 at the intersection of Highland Avenue and Third Street. A black Hyundai and a gray Honda collided, sending one vehicle into a wall and the other into a light pole. Firefighters freed a trapped occupant from the Hyundai, and both injured people were taken to a hospital in critical condition. Debris from the crash was scattered across the intersection. The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating the cause of the collision.
Accident News Report
Two people were critically injured in a two-vehicle crash early Friday in the Hancock Park area of Los Angeles, authorities said.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the collision occurred around 1:40 a.m. on May 15 at the intersection of Highland Avenue and Third Street.
Investigators said a black Hyundai and a gray Honda collided for reasons that remain under investigation. One of the vehicles crashed into a wall, while the other struck a light pole.
The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the scene and freed one person who was trapped inside the Hyundai, according to officials.
Two people were transported to a hospital in critical condition. Debris from the impact was scattered throughout the intersection.
LAPD is continuing to investigate the circumstances leading up to the crash.
Important Details
Crash occurred around 1:40 a.m. on May 15
was the intersection of Highland Avenue and Third Street in the Hancock Park area of Los Angeles, California
a black Hyundai and a gray Honda
One vehicle crashed into a wall and the other struck a light pole
Los Angeles Fire Department freed one person trapped in the Hyundai
Two people were transported to a hospital in critical condition
Debris from the collision was scattered across the intersection
Los Angeles Police Department is investigating the cause of the crash
What California law says after a car accident
Reporting requirements after a California collision
California imposes reporting duties on drivers that are separate from any insurance claim.
A report must be filed with the DMV on form SR-1 within ten days of a collision that caused any injury, any death, or more than one thousand dollars in property damage to any one person. This duty applies regardless of fault, applies even when police responded and wrote their own report, and is not satisfied by notifying an insurance company. With current repair costs, most collisions that involve a body shop meet the damage threshold.
A separate rule covers collisions causing injury or death. The driver must make a written report to the California Highway Patrol, or to the city police department where the collision happened in a city, within twenty four hours. The statute states this duty for every injury or fatal collision. In practice, where officers responded and completed a report at the scene, that report generally satisfies the agency’s need, but a driver who assumes this without confirming it is relying on practice rather than on the text of the law.
Missing the DMV deadline can lead to suspension of driving privileges, an outcome unrelated to who caused the collision.
California filing deadlines for injury and death claims
In California, a lawsuit for personal injury caused by another person’s negligence generally must be filed within two years of the injury, under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. A claim for a death caused by another’s wrongful act or neglect runs under the same two-year period.
Shorter deadlines apply in specific situations. If a city, county or state agency may be responsible, a written claim must normally be presented to that public entity within six months. Claims involving minors, injuries that are not discovered right away, and certain defendants can follow different timelines.
Which deadline applies depends on the facts of each situation, and the standard two-year period does not govern every claim.
Your Rights After a Car Accident in California
A collision like this one raises questions about fault, insurance and medical costs, usually before anyone has had time to think about them. These guides explain how California handles them.
- Los Angeles car accident lawyer: fault, insurance offers, and what a claim is worth
- Brain and spinal cord injury lawyer: for collisions causing serious or lasting injury
- All practice areas
Injured in This Accident? Get Trusted Legal Guidance
After an accident, the right information can make a meaningful difference. If you or a loved one was hurt, The Law Offices of Burg and Brock, Inc. can help you understand your rights, evaluate your options, and determine whether legal action may be available.
Speak with our legal team today and get clear guidance before making important decisions.