Encino is a neighborhood of the City of Los Angeles in the south San Fernando Valley, which matters after an accident: the Los Angeles Police Department handles crash reports, and claims for dangerous streets go to the City of Los Angeles. Here is how that works for an Encino injury, and how our Los Angeles personal injury attorneys can help.
Looking for an Encino personal injury lawyer? B&D Law Group, APLC handles Encino car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian and premises injury cases, and the first consultation is free.
Encino at a glance
The City Planning Department places Encino within the Encino-Tarzana Community Plan area. According to a City Planning hillside flyer, most of the plan area’s hillside is south of Ventura Boulevard. The Encino Neighborhood Council’s boundaries run roughly from Victory Boulevard on the north to Mulholland Drive on the south, with the 405 Freeway on the east.
Getting your collision report
Encino is served by LAPD’s West Valley Community Police Station (19020 Vanowen St., Reseda). Traffic collisions across the Valley Bureau are investigated by LAPD’s Valley Traffic Division in Panorama City.
- LAPD reports can be requested online through LexisNexis, starting at least 45 days after the collision.
- By mail, LAPD’s request page lists a $19 fee by check or money order to LAPD Records and Identification Division, P.O. Box 30158, Los Angeles, CA 90030.
- Reports involving an arrest, a fatality or a juvenile are not released online (LAPD traffic reports).
Crashes on the 405 and other freeways are generally investigated by the California Highway Patrol, which has primary jurisdiction over freeways inside incorporated cities. CHP reports are requested with form CHP 190.
Encino and the city’s High Injury Network
The City of Los Angeles maps the streets where people are most often killed or seriously hurt in traffic as its High Injury Network. The network was updated in 2024, so check the city’s current map for the segments in and around Encino. According to LADOT’s 2024 Vision Zero safety study, the original network accounted for 65 percent of deaths and severe injuries on 6 percent of the street network, and the updated network covers 549 miles, 7.5 percent of the citywide roadway network, and accounts for 61.8 percent of collisions in which someone was killed or seriously injured.
Filing a claim against the City of Los Angeles
If a city street, sidewalk or signal defect contributed to your injury, the claim goes to the City of Los Angeles, not to a separate Encino government. Claims can be filed online at claims.lacity.org or by mail or in person with the Office of the City Clerk, 200 N. Spring St., Room 395, Los Angeles, CA 90012. The city does not accept claims by email or fax.
Courts serving Encino
The nearest civil courthouse is Van Nuys Courthouse East (Northwest District), 6230 Sylmar Ave., Van Nuys. Los Angeles Superior Court rules decide which courthouse hears a personal injury case, and those rules have changed in recent years. If your case goes to court, we handle the filing.
What an Encino injury claim can cover
California law sorts personal injury damages into a few categories:
- Economic damages: objectively verifiable money losses, such as medical expenses, lost earnings and the cost of repairing or replacing property (Civil Code section 1431.2).
- Non-economic damages: subjective losses such as pain, suffering, emotional distress and loss of companionship (same section).
- Punitive damages: available only in limited cases, when it is proven by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant acted with oppression, fraud or malice (Civil Code section 3294).
What a particular claim is worth depends on the injuries, the evidence and the insurance available, so we review each case individually and never promise a result.
How an Encino personal injury case usually moves
- Free consultation. You tell us what happened and we explain your options. There is no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you.
- Investigation. We gather the collision or incident report described above, photos, witness information and your medical records.
- Claim and negotiation. We present the claim to the insurance company and negotiate for a fair settlement.
- Government claim if needed. If the City of Los Angeles or another public agency may share responsibility, we prepare the written claim before the six-month deadline.
- Lawsuit if needed. If the case does not settle, we file a lawsuit in the proper California Superior Court and keep pushing toward trial.
Deadlines and fault rules that apply to every California injury claim
- Two years to file a lawsuit. Most personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the injury under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1.
- Six months for claims against a public agency. If a city, county or state agency may be responsible, for example because of a dangerous road condition or a government vehicle, a written claim generally must be presented within six months after the claim accrues under Government Code section 911.2. Missing that deadline can end the claim.
- Partly at fault does not mean no recovery. California uses pure comparative fault (Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804). If you share some of the blame, your compensation is reduced by your share rather than barred.
Cases we handle for people hurt in Encino
Our personal injury attorneys represent people injured in Encino in cases including:
You can also read about our past case results and what clients say about working with us.
Encino personal injury FAQ
How much does a personal injury lawyer cost in Encino?
B&D Law Group, APLC handles personal injury cases on a contingency fee, which means no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you. The consultation is free.
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in Encino?
Most California personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the injury (Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1). If a city, county or state agency may be responsible, a written claim generally must be presented within six months (Government Code section 911.2).
What if I was partly at fault for the Encino accident?
California follows pure comparative fault (Li v. Yellow Cab Co.). If you share some of the blame, your compensation is reduced by your share rather than barred.
Can I make a claim against the City of Los Angeles for an Encino accident?
Yes, but California requires a written claim to the public agency before a lawsuit can be filed (Government Code section 945.4), and the claim generally must be presented within six months. The section above on public agency claims explains where City of Los Angeles claims go.
Where do I get my Encino accident report?
The “Getting your collision report” section above lists the agency that handles crashes in Encino and how to request a copy. Freeway crashes are generally handled by the California Highway Patrol.
Nearby cities we serve
We also represent injured people in communities near Encino:
- Sherman Oaks personal injury attorneys
- Van Nuys personal injury attorneys
- Woodland Hills personal injury attorneys
- North Hollywood personal injury attorneys
- Brentwood personal injury attorneys
- Santa Monica personal injury attorneys
- Our Los Angeles office
- All areas we serve
Talk to a B&D Law Group attorney
B&D Law Group, APLC represents people hurt in Encino and across the San Fernando Valley from our Los Angeles office at 10700 Santa Monica Blvd, Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90025. The consultation is free, and we handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee, which means no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you. Call (888) 977-2238 or send us your case details.
Attorney advertising. This page is provided for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Reading this page or contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Agency procedures, fees and data on this page were checked against official sources in October 2026 and can change. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.