A broadside collision was reported on Jul 8, 2026 at approximately 7:45 AM on Lassen Street near Reseda Boulevard in Northridge, California. Clear weather was noted at the time of the crash. 1 person was killed and 3 people were injured. This crash was classified as a truck accident and wrongful death case.
When a crash kills someone, the family has the right to file a wrongful death claim under California Code of Civil Procedure section 377.60. A spouse, domestic partner, children, or dependents can pursue damages including funeral costs, lost future income, and loss of companionship. The statute of limitations is two years from the date of death. If dangerous road design contributed to this crash, a government tort claim must be filed within six months. Insurance companies move fast after a fatal crash, and the offers they make early are not designed to be fair. A free consultation with our UCLA-trained attorneys can help you understand your legal options.
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UCLA-Trained Attorneys, Not a Call Center
I grew up in the San Fernando Valley, graduated from El Camino Real High School and UCLA Law School, and I've spent my career representing people who were hurt because someone else wasn't paying attention. I take these cases personally because I've watched families in this community deal with the aftermath of serious crashes. If you were injured, I want to hear what happened.
Arya Firoozmand, Esq.
Founding Partner · UCLA Law, '14
You're not a case number here. Every case I take is personal.
Dangerous intersection
Is Lassen Street & Reseda Boulevard a Dangerous Road?
When the same intersection produces crash after crash, the problem may not be the drivers. Lassen Street & Reseda Boulevard has logged 6 crashes in the last 9 months, including 1 fatal and 3 resulting in injuries. Patterns like this can point to dangerous road design: poor sight lines, bad signal timing, missing turn lanes, or inadequate signage.
This road is on the City of Los Angeles High Injury Network, officially recognized as one of the most dangerous corridors in the city
14Injury and fatal crashes reported on Reseda Boulevard in Northridge in the current reporting window
6Crashes reported at this intersection in the last 9 months
1.2x#3 most dangerous intersection in Northridge, 1.2x the average
50% of crashes here result in injuries
Broadside collisions account for 50% of crashes at this intersection
Most crashes here happen around 9 AM on Weds
74Walk Score: Very Walkable. High foot traffic increases pedestrian exposure at this intersection
This road is part of the City of Los Angeles High Injury Network, which means the city has officially documented its danger. HIN designation is direct evidence the city was on notice. In California, cities and counties can be held liable for dangerous road conditions they knew about or should have known about.
Injured at a Dangerous Intersection? The City May Owe You Compensation.
When a road or intersection is poorly designed, the government agency responsible for maintaining it can be held liable. If you were seriously hurt, talk to a UCLA-trained attorney about whether a dangerous road design claim applies to your case.
Government claims are often subject to strict filing deadlines. An attorney can help you understand what applies to your situation.
Next steps
What to Do After a Fatal Truck Accident
Take care of yourself and your family first
Give yourself time to grieve. When you're ready, the steps below protect your legal rights. None of the deadlines are immediate.
Preserve the truck's black box and FMCSA records
Trucks carry electronic logging devices capturing speed and hours of service, which companies can overwrite fast. A spoliation letter preserves it.
Identify every liable party, not just the driver
Truck crashes often involve the driver, carrier, freight broker, manufacturer, and maintenance provider, each with separate insurance.
File your government tort claim before January 8, 2027
If a government entity shares responsibility, you have a strict six-month deadline: January 8, 2027. Miss it and the right to sue is gone.
Talk to a wrongful death attorney before the insurance company
Insurers often contact family members with early settlement offers before anyone understands what the case is worth. A free consultation protects your family's rights.
Trucking accident law
Why Truck Accident Claims Are Different
Commercial trucking is federally regulated by the FMCSA (driver hours, maintenance, cargo securement). A violation becomes powerful evidence, and multiple parties, the driver, the carrier, the freight broker, may share liability.
Because this crash resulted in a fatality, surviving family members may have a wrongful death claim under CCP 377.60 in addition to any personal injury claims by surviving victims. The statute of limitations for wrongful death is two years from the date of death.
When a crash results in death, the legal landscape changes significantly. Surviving family members may bring a wrongful death action under CCP 377.60, which covers loss of financial support, companionship, and guidance. A separate survival action can address the deceased person's pain and suffering before death. The statute of limitations is two years from the date of death.
Our founding partners trained at UCLA Law and built Westwood Law on a simple idea: take fewer cases, fight harder on each one. You work directly with a UCLA-trained attorney from your first call through settlement. No hand-offs, no assembly line.
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Dangerous road design
Why Broadside Collisions Happen Here
Broadside, or T-bone, collisions at intersections are often caused by inadequate sight lines, poorly timed signals, or missing protected left-turn phases. When a driver can't see oncoming traffic in time, the intersection design shares responsibility.
This intersection has recorded 6 crashes in the last nine months. The most common crash type at this intersection is Broadside, accounting for 50% of incidents.
This crash occurred during the morning commute window (6-9 AM), when traffic volumes regularly exceed the designed capacity of many intersections. Sun glare on eastbound approaches is another recurring factor during morning hours that signal timing and intersection design should account for.
Did you lose a loved one in a Northridge car accident?
If someone in your family was killed in a car accident in Northridge, our wrongful death attorneys can help you understand your legal rights. We handle cases on contingency, so you pay nothing unless we recover for you.
Multiple parties can be liable: the truck driver, the trucking company (the carrier), the freight broker who hired the carrier, the company that loaded the cargo, and the maintenance provider. Each may carry separate insurance policies. Identifying all liable parties is essential to maximizing your recovery.
What is a spoliation letter and why does it matter?
A spoliation letter is a legal notice sent to the trucking company requiring them to preserve all evidence related to the crash: black box data, driver logs, maintenance records, dashcam footage, and drug test results. Without this letter, trucking companies can legally overwrite electronic data on regular maintenance cycles. Time is critical.
What FMCSA regulations apply to truck accident cases?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration sets rules on driver hours of service (max 11 hours driving in a 14-hour window), mandatory rest breaks, vehicle maintenance schedules, cargo securement, and drug and alcohol testing. Violations of any of these regulations can be used as evidence of negligence in your case.
What should I do if a family member died in this crash?
First, take care of your family. When you're ready, consult a wrongful death attorney. Under California law, surviving spouses, children, and certain other family members can file a wrongful death claim. There are strict deadlines, especially if a government entity is involved (six months for a tort claim). A free consultation can help you understand your options without any obligation.
What is the government tort claim deadline of January 8, 2027?
January 8, 2027, six months from the date of this crash, not the usual two-year statute of limitations. It applies whenever a government entity shares responsibility, and missing it bars your claim against that entity permanently.
Can I sue the city if the road design caused this crash?
Yes. In California, cities, counties, and Caltrans can be held liable for dangerous road conditions they knew about or should have known about. Lassen Street & Reseda Boulevard has logged 6 crashes in the last 9 months. A pattern like that can be evidence the government was on notice and failed to act. Common road design problems include poor sight lines, missing turn lanes, bad signal timing, and inadequate signage. If a government entity is responsible, you must file a claim within 6 months of the accident, not the usual 2-year statute of limitations.
What is the High Injury Network and does it help my case?
The High Injury Network (HIN) is a list of streets the City of Los Angeles has officially identified as the most dangerous for traffic injuries and fatalities. If your crash happened on an HIN road, it means the city was already on notice that the road was dangerous. That is direct evidence in a government liability claim. It makes it much harder for the city to argue they did not know about the problem.
News coverage
News Reports About This Crash
Local news outlets covered this crash. Press reports can provide additional details about what happened.
Reseda Boulevard is part of the City of Los Angeles High Injury Network. These are other recent injury crashes reported on the same road in Northridge.
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