UCLA Law Trained Attorneys in Pacoima
Pacoima has one of the highest hit and run rates of anywhere we practice. Of roughly 158 collisions on record, 68 involved a driver who did not stay. If that is your case, the claim shifts to your own uninsured motorist coverage, which most people do not realize they have and which their insurer is in no hurry to explain.
The moment you file that claim, the company you have paid premiums to becomes the party arguing your injuries are worth less than you say. They will ask for a recorded statement. They will request a medical authorization broader than your claim. Handled correctly, UM coverage produces a real recovery. Handled alone, it usually produces a fraction of one.
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.
What Makes Your Case Different From Day One
A hit and run rate above 40 percent, an injury rate above 50 percent, and public entity deadlines that can run in six months. Here is what that means for your case.
Hansen Dam brings recreational traffic, cyclists, and pedestrians into proximity with vehicle traffic on Osborne Street and Foothill Boulevard. Premises liability at the recreation area and vehicle-cyclist collisions near the dam are recurring case types.
California's dog bite statute holds owners strictly liable for injuries caused by their dog biting someone in a public place or lawfully on private property. There is no "one free bite" defense. The owner is liable even if the dog has never shown aggression before.
California CCP §335.1 gives you two years from the date of the bite to file a lawsuit. Medical care and documentation must begin immediately — delayed treatment weakens the link between the bite and your injuries and gives insurers room to dispute severity.
What We Know About Pacoima
- Ritchie Valens Park (community landmark):Ritchie Valens Park is a neighborhood gathering point with high foot traffic, sports fields, and community events. Premises liability incidents here involve City of LA maintenance obligations and require swift evidence collection.
- Hansen Dam Recreation Area:Hansen Dam brings recreational visitors, cyclists, and equestrians to the northeast Valley. Vehicle-cyclist collisions, parking lot incidents, and trail injuries near the dam involve complex liability questions about government property maintenance.
- Van Nuys Blvd corridor through Pacoima:Van Nuys Boulevard is the primary commercial spine through Pacoima. Dense foot traffic, delivery vehicles, and turning conflicts at strip mall driveways make this a consistent source of pedestrian and vehicle collision claims.
- San Fernando Rd industrial traffic:San Fernando Road carries heavy truck and industrial vehicle traffic through Pacoima. Commercial vehicle insurance policies and FMCSA compliance issues add complexity to collision claims along this corridor.
- Foothill Blvd commercial strip:Foothill Boulevard connects Pacoima to Sylmar and the northeast Valley. High speeds, limited pedestrian infrastructure, and commercial vehicle volume make this a significant crash corridor requiring experienced legal representation.
Major Accidents in the Area
Van Nuys Boulevard, Foothill Boulevard, and San Fernando Road carry heavy commuter and commercial traffic through Pacoima. Proximity to the 118 and 5 freeways funnels additional volume onto local surface streets during peak hours. These conditions create dangerous merging zones and congested areas.
City surface streets like Van Nuys Boulevard, Foothill Boulevard, San Fernando Road, Glenoaks Boulevard are hotspots for T-bone collisions, rear-end crashes, and pedestrian strikes, especially during rush hours and school drop-off/pick-up times.
We've helped victims injured in:
- Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) accidents near Hansen Dam area.
- Delivery vehicle collisions in residential zones like Arleta adjacent, Laurel Canyon corridor and Osborne St area.
- School zone crashes near Pacoima Charter School and San Fernando High nearby.
- Pedestrian accidents near Van Nuys Blvd and Foothill Blvd.
- Dog Bites in the Arleta adjacent and Sun Valley adjacent neighborhoods.
Compensation Available in Your Case
When the other driver leaves, the recovery runs through your own policy. Every category below still applies, and your insurer will not volunteer any of them.
Medical Expenses
Emergency care, imaging, surgery, physical therapy, and prescriptions, including the treatment you have not received yet.
Lost Wages
Income lost while you could not work, documented properly whether you are hourly, salaried, or paid in cash for contract work.
Lost Earning Capacity
If your injury permanently limits physical work, that loss runs for the rest of your career and has to be calculated by an expert.
Pain & Suffering
Chronic pain, sleep disruption, and the anxiety that follows being hit by someone who then drove away.
Property Damage
Vehicle repair or total loss at fair market value, rental costs, and personal property destroyed in the collision.
Uninsured Motorist Recovery
The primary recovery in most Pacoima hit and run cases. Your own carrier will treat you as a claimant, and the policy limit is rarely their opening number.
Future Medical Costs
Serious injuries require follow-up for years. We project that cost with medical experts and include it in the demand.
Punitive Damages
Available where the conduct was reckless. Leaving the scene and driving impaired both frequently support a punitive claim.
Call us Today. No fee until you win!
818-224-7940What to Do After a Dog Bite
Dog bite injuries can be serious — infected, scarred, and emotionally traumatic. These steps protect your health and your legal claim.
Free consultation, no obligation
Tell Arya what happened. He will explain what coverage actually applies, which matters most when the other driver is gone. No fee, no obligation.
We handle the insurance company
On a hit and run, that includes your own carrier. We control the recorded statement request, the medical authorization, and the timeline.
We build and investigate your case
Identifying a fleeing driver depends on speed. We canvass for business and doorbell camera footage along Van Nuys and Glenoaks in the first week and push the police investigation.
You recover full compensation
Medical costs, lost income, future care, and pain and suffering. Pacoima cases file at Van Nuys Courthouse West and we build each one to be tried.