California injury claims

Thinking about an injury claim in California? The rules that matter most are set at the state level: how fault is shared, which statutes limit filing time, what notice a government agency expects, and what insurance must cover. Below is a plain-language overview for California, with local context on I-5 and US-101 and the industries that employ people in Los Angeles and beyond.

Where people get hurt in California: cities, roads and industries

The metro areas around Los Angeles, San Diego and San Jose hold much of California's population and traffic, but people in smaller communities are hurt on farm roads, county highways and job sites as well.

The main corridors, I-5, US-101, I-405, I-80 and SR-99, connect those cities and carry a heavy share of freight and commuter traffic. Work zones, merges and interchanges along these routes are where many multi-vehicle crashes happen.

Employment in technology, agriculture in the Central Valley, entertainment and ports and logistics at Los Angeles and Long Beach means many California workers spend their days around heavy equipment, vehicles or demanding physical tasks, which shapes the kinds of workplace claims filed here.

Common injury claims in California

California's fault rule in plain words

California follows pure comparative fault. In plain words, an injured person's recovery is reduced by their own share of the blame but never cut off entirely because of it. Someone found 30% responsible for a crash would see the recovery reduced by 30%, and even a person mostly at fault can still recover a reduced share. California's rule traces to the state Supreme Court's 1975 decision in Li v. Yellow Cab.

In practice, insurers handling a claim from Los Angeles or San Diego often negotiate over the percentage itself, because each point of fault moves the number.

Filing time frames in California (general information)

The general limitations statute for personal injury in California is CCP § 335.1. As listed in the sources we use, it sets a general period of two years for many personal injury claims.

These are general rules, not a deadline for any one person. Discovery rules, the age of the injured person, claims against government bodies and other exceptions can make the real time frame shorter or longer, and evidence fades long before any legal cutoff. Only a licensed attorney can say what applies to a specific claim.

Claims against a government agency in California

Getting hurt by a government vehicle, on public property or because of a road defect raises a separate set of rules in California.

For claims against the state, the sources we use summarize the California rule as: 6 months for PI (Gov. Code § 911.2). Cities, counties and other local bodies may have their own notice requirements.

Anyone hurt on a public sidewalk in San Diego, by a transit vehicle or at a public facility should treat notice rules as urgent and raise them with a licensed attorney early.

Car insurance in California: minimums

Drivers in California must carry liability coverage of at least 30/60/15, meaning $30,000 per injured person, $60,000 per crash and $15,000 for property.

California is generally an at-fault state for auto claims: the driver who caused the crash, and their insurer, are responsible for the other person's injuries. Minimum limits can run out quickly in a serious crash, which is why uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) and MedPay coverage on a person's own policy can matter.

Animal bite liability in California

Animal bite claims in California are shaped by a state statute (Civ. Code § 3342). Statutes like this generally impose strict liability on an animal's owner, meaning the injured person does not have to show the owner knew of earlier aggression, though defenses such as provocation can apply.

California's statute covers bites specifically.

Report the bite to local animal control in Los Angeles or wherever it happened, get medical care, and see our animal bite claims page for next steps.

Workers' compensation in California

Most on-the-job injuries in California start with workers' comp. The trade-off behind the system is simple: benefits without proving fault, and in return, employers are usually shielded from lawsuits by their own employees.

Comp claims can be disputed when a worker is classified as an independent contractor, when the injury happened outside the course of work, or when notice to the employer was late. For workers in technology or entertainment, reporting an injury to a supervisor promptly, in writing, is a good habit.

Workers who are hurt while driving for work, for example on US-101, may have both a comp claim and a claim against the at-fault driver.

What to do after an injury in California

1. Get medical care first, even if the injury seems minor. Hospitals in Los Angeles and San Diego document injuries in ways that matter later.
2. Ask for a report number. Police in San Jose and a property manager or employer can all create a record that helps later.
3. Photograph everything: the scene, vehicles, hazards and injuries. Write down names and phone numbers of witnesses.
4. Be careful about recorded statements to the other side's insurer before you understand your rights.
5. File a free claim or call (833) 822-7800 to have an independent attorney licensed in California review it.