Because Hollywood is inside the City of Los Angeles, a crash involving a Metro or LADOT DASH bus, a city vehicle, or a dangerous condition of a city street or sidewalk is a claim against a public entity. Two rules change everything. The entity is liable for a dangerous condition only if it created it or had notice of it in time to fix it (Government Code 835), and a written claim must be presented within six months of the injury (Government Code 911.2) before any lawsuit can be filed.
Claims against the City of Los Angeles are filed with the Office of the City Clerk, which accepts claims for damages online and in person at City Hall, 200 N Spring St. Claims involving LA Metro go to Metro, not the city, and a Caltrans road condition on the 101 goes to the State. Identifying the right entity and the right office is part of what we do in the first week. Our six-month government claims guide covers the full process, including late claims.
Hollywood’s pedestrian crashes concentrate on Hollywood Blvd around the Walk of Fame between La Brea and Vine, on Sunset through the nightlife blocks, and at the Highland and Cahuenga crossings near the 101 ramps. If you were on foot or on a bike, your own auto policy’s uninsured motorist coverage applies to you as a pedestrian (Insurance Code 11580.2), which matters when the driver was a tourist in a rental car, a rideshare driver between rides, or someone who fled. Our pedestrian and bicycle page and Los Angeles Uber and Lyft page explain how those claims work.
