Burbank Car Accident Lawyer

Burbank Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyer

Hurt in a Burbank crash? Here is what to know.

• Yaghmai Law Firm represents people injured in Burbank, Glendale, Toluca Lake, Studio City, North Hollywood, and the surrounding San Fernando Valley.
• We handle Burbank car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian, bicycle, rideshare, brain injury, burn, and wrongful death cases.
• California gives you two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury case (CCP 335.1). Claims against a government entity (City of Burbank, BUR airport, LA Metro, Caltrans) must be presented within six months under Gov Code 911.2.
• No fees unless we recover. The case review is free.
• Call or text (888) 800-6731 or submit your case online.

Burbank sits at the intersection of three of the busiest roadways in Los Angeles County: Interstate 5, State Route 134 (Ventura Freeway), and US Route 101 (Hollywood Freeway). Add Hollywood Burbank Airport traffic, Warner Bros and Walt Disney Studios production schedules, and dense surface streets on Olive, Magnolia, San Fernando, and Victory Boulevards, and Burbank generates a steady volume of vehicle crashes. The legal questions that follow a Burbank crash are governed by California state law, but how those questions are handled in the first 30 days often determines what the case is worth.

Yaghmai Law Firm represents Burbank drivers, passengers, pedestrians, cyclists, and rideshare passengers under a contingency engagement. The firm investigates liability using CHP and Burbank Police Department reports, preserves dashcam and surveillance footage before it is overwritten, coordinates medical care, values economic and non-economic damages, and either negotiates a settlement with the carrier or files suit in Los Angeles Superior Court. You pay no attorney fees unless we recover.

Recent CHP-Reported Incidents in Burbank

The list below is pulled from California Highway Patrol public incident data for Burbank and updated automatically as new reports come in. It is provided for informational context only; the firm has no involvement with the matters listed unless a client retains us.

Types of Burbank Personal Injury Cases We Handle

Burbank crash and injury cases fall into several distinct categories, each with its own statutory framework and evidentiary requirements. The firm represents Burbank clients in all of them:

• Car accident cases — rear-end, intersection, lane-change, and freeway collisions on I-5, SR-134, US-101, and Burbank surface streets. Negligence is typically framed under CVC 22350 (basic speed law), CVC 22107 (unsafe lane changes), CVC 21703 (following too closely), and CVC 23152 (driving under the influence).
• Truck and commercial vehicle cases — big-rig, delivery truck, and box-truck cases involving the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (49 CFR Parts 350-399) layered on top of California law.
• Motorcycle accidents — including lane-splitting cases under CVC 21658.1.
• Pedestrian accidents — CVC 21950 driver yield duties, CVC 21954/21955 crosswalk rules, hit-and-run claims under CVC 20001 and 20002.
• Bicycle and e-bike accidents — Three Feet for Safety Act (CVC 21760), dooring (CVC 22517), e-bike classification (CVC 312.5).
• Uber and Lyft rideshare cases — coverage layered under Public Utilities Code section 5433 (as amended by SB 371 effective January 1, 2026: $50k/$100k/$30k driver-personal-auto primary plus $200k TNC excess in Period 1, $1M third-party liability in Periods 2 and 3, $60k/$300k UM/UIM during Period 3).
• Traumatic brain injuries — concussion through severe TBI, often diagnosed late after a Burbank crash because the adrenaline of a freeway impact masks early symptoms.
• Burn and catastrophic injuries — including vehicle-fire burns from high-speed I-5 and 134 collisions.
• Wrongful death and survival actions — under CCP 377.60 (standing) and CCP 377.30 (survival), with the current post-1/1/2026 rule at CCP 377.34(a) limiting pre-death pain and suffering on newly filed survival claims.

Compensation in a Burbank Car Accident Case

California recognizes two broad categories of compensatory damages in a personal injury case: economic and non-economic. There is no statutory cap on either category in an ordinary negligence case (unlike medical malpractice, governed separately by Civil Code section 3333.2).

Economic damages are measurable financial losses: past and future medical expenses, lost wages, lost earning capacity, vehicle repair or replacement, and out-of-pocket recovery costs.

Non-economic damages are pain, suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement, and loss of consortium for a spouse. Under Proposition 213 (Civil Code section 3333.4), a driver who was uninsured at the time of the crash generally cannot recover non-economic damages, with narrow exceptions for DUI defendants and passengers.

California uses pure comparative fault under Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804. Partial fault reduces your recovery proportionally; it does not eliminate it. A Burbank driver found 25% at fault for a lane-change crash on the 134 still recovers 75% of damages.

For uninsured or hit-and-run cases, your own UM/UIM coverage under Insurance Code section 11580.2 generally applies. Most California auto policies include UM by default unless rejected in writing.

California Law That Governs Your Burbank Case

Your Burbank case is governed by California state law with these deadlines and procedural rules. None of them are negotiable; missing a deadline almost always ends the case.

• Statute of limitations: two years from the date of the incident for most personal injury claims (CCP 335.1). One year from discovery for some medical malpractice claims (CCP 340.5).
• Government claims: six months from the incident to present a written claim against a public entity (City of Burbank, Burbank Police Department, BUR airport authority, LA Metro, Caltrans) under Government Code section 911.2 before suit can be filed.
• Driver SR-1 reporting: California Vehicle Code section 16000 requires drivers involved in any crash with injury, death, or property damage over $1,000 to file an SR-1 with the DMV within ten days.
• Hit-and-run: CVC 20001 (injury) and 20002 (property damage only) make leaving the scene a crime. Even when the driver is never identified, your own UM coverage under Insurance Code 11580.2 may apply.
• Negligence framework: CVC 22350 basic speed law, CVC 22107 unsafe lane changes, CVC 21703 following too closely, CVC 23152 DUI — violations supply negligence per se under California Evidence Code section 669.
• Comparative fault: pure comparative fault under Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804.
• Proposition 213 limitation: Civil Code 3333.4 bars non-economic damages for uninsured drivers and DUI plaintiffs.

If your Burbank case involves a City of Burbank vehicle, a Burbank Water and Power truck, a BUR airport ground service vehicle, or any other public entity, the six-month government-claim clock is the most important date in the case. Call as early as possible if a public entity may be involved.

Why Burbank Clients Choose Yaghmai Law Firm

Burbank clients work with Yaghmai Law Firm because the firm is responsive, multilingual, and run entirely on contingency for personal injury matters. The entire engagement runs by call, text, video, and the firm’s secure case portal. Houtan Yaghmai handles every Burbank case personally from intake through resolution, and the firm communicates in English, French, and Persian, with Spanish interpreters available as needed.

“Recovery from a serious injury is slow and exhausting. The legal side of it should not make things harder. I keep it simple and I keep you in the loop.”

— Houtan Yaghmai, Esq., President & Managing Attorney

You can verify Houtan’s California State Bar license at apps.calbar.ca.gov/attorney/Licensee/Detail/298487.

Burbank Car Accident FAQ

How long do I have to file a Burbank personal injury case?

California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1 gives you two years from the date of the incident for most personal injury claims. Claims against a public entity (City of Burbank, BUR airport, Burbank Police Department, LA Metro, Caltrans) must be presented in writing within six months under Government Code section 911.2.

Do I have to come to a Burbank office?

No. Yaghmai Law Firm operates remotely. The entire engagement runs by call, text, video, and a secure online portal. We represent Burbank clients without requiring an in-person visit.

How much does it cost to hire a Burbank car accident lawyer?

Nothing upfront. The firm handles personal injury cases on contingency: you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. The initial case review is free.

My crash was on the 134 or the 5 in Burbank. Does that matter?

The substantive law is the same as for surface streets, but freeway crashes tend to involve CHP rather than Burbank PD (more detailed reports), higher speeds, and worse injuries. Dashcam and traffic-cam evidence preservation is more important and more time-sensitive on freeway cases.

What if the other driver was uninsured or fled the scene?

Your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage under California Insurance Code section 11580.2 generally applies. Most California auto policies include UM by default unless the policyholder rejected it in writing.

What if I was partly at fault?

California follows pure comparative fault under Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault but never eliminated. A driver found 30% at fault still recovers 70% of damages.

I was an Uber or Lyft passenger in a Burbank crash. What insurance applies?

Public Utilities Code section 5433 (as amended by SB 371 effective January 1, 2026) requires Transportation Network Companies to maintain $1,000,000 in third-party liability coverage during Period 2 and Period 3 (driver en route or with passenger). Period 3 UM/UIM was reduced to $60,000 per person / $300,000 per incident under the 2026 amendments. The firm handles the multi-layered coverage analysis as part of the case workup.

What if my case involves a City of Burbank vehicle?

You must present a written government claim within six months under Government Code section 911.2 before filing suit. Missing the six-month deadline generally ends the case. Call as early as possible if a public entity is potentially involved.

Related Practice Areas

These pages cover the case types Burbank clients ask about most. Each links back to the firm’s personal injury hub for the full California PI overview.

• Personal Injury overview
• Areas Served by Yaghmai Law Firm
• Glendale Personal Injury Lawyer
• Los Angeles Car Accident Lawyer
• Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
• Los Angeles Pedestrian Accident Attorney
• Los Angeles Uber Accident Lawyer
• Los Angeles Wrongful Death Attorney
• Submit Your Case for Free Review

Reviewed by Houtan Yaghmai, Esq., President & Managing Attorney. Admitted to practice law in California (State Bar No. 298487). He represents personal injury and immigration clients statewide.

Last updated: May 30, 2026.