Two-Vehicle Crash in L.A.’s Palms Injures 2 | CA Accident Law
- Tom Feher, Esq.
Two people were hospitalized after a violent two-vehicle crash in the Palms neighborhood on the Westside of Los Angeles on Sunday night, June 14, 2026, according to KTLA. The collision was reported around 8:34 p.m. near the 3000 block of South Tilden Avenue, and one victim was trapped in a mangled vehicle until firefighters could free them. Both patients were treated at the scene before being rushed to local hospitals, and the cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Attorney's Take: Tom Feher
We see crashes like this one across Los Angeles every week, and the pattern is almost always the same. The first 48 hours generate a police report and a flurry of insurance phone calls, and the people who were actually hurt are the last to understand how the process really works. When one driver has to be cut out of the wreckage, the forces involved were severe, and severe forces tend to cause injuries that do not fully show up for days.
In our practice we treat a two-vehicle collision as a question of physics and evidence, not insurance company storytelling. Skid marks, vehicle resting positions, the points of impact, and independent witnesses usually tell a clearer story than a rushed roadside account. That matters because California is a fault state, and the driver who caused the crash, and that driver’s insurer, are responsible for the harm. Under California Civil Code section 3333, an injured person can recover both the hard costs like medical bills and lost income and the human costs like pain and the disruption to daily life.
One caution we give every client: do not let an early settlement offer set the value of your case before you know the full extent of your injuries. Once you sign a release, that chapter is closed, even if you need surgery a month later.
What California Law Says
A few rules shape almost every California car accident claim:
- Deadline to sue. California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1 gives you two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. Claims that involve a public entity can require a written government claim within six months.
- Comparative fault. California uses pure comparative negligence under Civil Code section 1431.2. If you are found partly responsible, your recovery is reduced by your share of fault, but you are not shut out entirely.
- Insurance coverage. Insurance Code section 11580.2 requires insurers to offer uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. That coverage can be the difference maker when an at-fault driver has little or no insurance.
- Damages. Civil Code section 3333 allows recovery of economic and non-economic damages for the full measure of harm caused by another party’s negligence.
Learn more on our California car accident lawyer page and our overview of California personal injury claims.
If This Happened to You or a Loved One
If you were hurt in a crash like the one in Palms, a few early steps protect both your health and your claim:
- Get medical attention right away, even if you feel fine. The medical record becomes the backbone of your case.
- Preserve evidence: photos of the vehicles and the scene, the position of the cars before they are towed, and any debris.
- Get the report number from the responding agency, whether it is the Los Angeles Police Department or the California Highway Patrol.
- Identify witnesses and collect their contact information while everyone is still on scene.
- Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer before you speak with your own attorney.
- Contact a California car accident attorney within days, not weeks, so evidence can be preserved.
You pay nothing unless we win. Call Feher Law at (310) 340-1112 for a free, confidential consultation.
Talk to a California Car Accident Attorney
Feher Law has recovered over $100 million for clients across Southern California. Call (310) 340-1112 or schedule a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
In most cases you have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit, under California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. If a government vehicle or public road condition contributed to the crash, a written claim can be due in as little as six months, so it is smart to talk to an attorney early.
California requires insurers to offer uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage under Insurance Code section 11580.2. If you carry it, that coverage can pay for your injuries when the at-fault driver has no insurance or cannot be identified. Report the crash to police and your insurer promptly to protect that option.
Yes. California follows pure comparative negligence under Civil Code section 1431.2 and long-standing case law. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault, but you are not barred from recovering even if you were mostly at fault.
You are not required to, and it is usually a mistake to do so before speaking with your own attorney. Adjusters are trained to find ways to minimize or deny your claim, and an early recorded statement can be used against you later.
Every case is different. California Civil Code section 3333 allows recovery of both economic damages, such as medical bills and lost wages, and non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering. The value depends on the severity of the injuries, the medical treatment, and the available insurance coverage.
Feher Law handles car accident cases on a contingency fee. You pay nothing up front, and there is no fee unless we recover for you. You pay nothing unless we win.
Last reviewed by Thomas Feher, Esq., June 2026
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. This article is for general information and is not legal advice for any specific matter.
