California car accident laws: what every injured driver should know
Before you accept an insurance offer in California, know the deadline you are working against, how fault will be split, and what real California crashes have resolved for.
How fault works in California
California uses pure comparative fault: your recovery is reduced by your share of the blame, but even a driver found mostly at fault can still recover something.
Source: Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804
Insurance, and why the other driver’s limit matters
California requires every driver to carry at least $30,000 per person in injury coverage. These minimums doubled on January 1, 2025. Before then they were $15,000 / $30,000 / $5,000. When an injury costs more than the at-fault driver’s policy, your own coverage becomes the next source of recovery. Insurers must include uninsured motorist coverage in every auto policy unless the policyholder waives it in writing.
Source: Cal. Ins. Code § 11580.2
Uninsured drivers lose pain-and-suffering damages
Under Proposition 213, a driver who was uninsured at the time of the crash generally cannot recover non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, even from a driver who was entirely at fault. Medical bills and lost wages remain recoverable.
Source: Cal. Civ. Code § 3333.4
Rideshare coverage depends on what the driver was doing
While a Uber or Lyft driver is carrying a passenger or heading to a pickup, California requires at least $1,000,000 in liability coverage. When the app is on but no ride has been accepted, the required coverage drops to $50,000 / $100,000 / $30,000 plus a $200,000 excess policy.
Source: Cal. Pub. Util. Code § 5433
No cap on car accident damages
California does not cap economic or non-economic damages in an ordinary car accident claim. The damages caps people hear about apply to medical malpractice, not to crashes.
Real California car accident verdicts and settlements
These are documented results from public court records — not estimates. They show the range cases like these have resolved for.
| Case | Type | Result |
|---|---|---|
Alejandra Gonzalez v. County of Los Angeles Los Angeles County, 2026 · Car accident | Car accident | $1,500,000 settlement |
Jennifer Orta v. Matthew Bogy San Bernardino County, 2026 · Intersection crash | Intersection crash | $659,626 verdict |
Tito Flores v. CDS Equipment Los Angeles County, 2025 · Truck accident | Truck accident | $1,500,000 settlement |
Unger v. Greenberg Los Angeles County, 2023 · Car accident | Car accident | $600,000 settlement |
Cruz Luis v. Estate of Molloy Los Angeles County, 2025 · Rear-end collision | Rear-end collision | $1,425,000 settlement |
Jose Davila v. City of Long Beach Los Angeles County, 2024 · Truck accident | Truck accident | $579,500 verdict |
Juan v. County of Los Angeles Los Angeles County, 2024 · Car accident | Car accident | $1,400,000 settlement |
Chiguaque v. Calig Los Angeles County, 2023 · Car accident | Car accident | $564,300 verdict |
Real cases, shown as recorded in public court records. Verdicts are jury awards; settlements are agreed payments. They are other people’s cases and not predictions of what your case is worth. Every case is different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
California guides
Car accidents by city in California
- Los Angeles car accidents
- San Diego car accidents
- San Jose car accidents
- San Francisco car accidents
- Fresno car accidents
- Sacramento car accidents
- Long Beach car accidents
- Oakland car accidents
- Bakersfield car accidents
- Anaheim car accidents
- Riverside car accidents
- Santa Ana car accidents
- Stockton car accidents
- Irvine car accidents
- San Bernardino car accidents
- Fontana car accidents
- Modesto car accidents
- Moreno Valley car accidents
- Ontario car accidents
- Rancho Cucamonga car accidents
- Oxnard car accidents
- Glendale car accidents
- Pasadena car accidents
- Torrance car accidents
- Santa Clarita car accidents
- Lancaster car accidents
- Palmdale car accidents
- Corona car accidents
- Pomona car accidents
- Fremont car accidents
- Hayward car accidents
- Sunnyvale car accidents
- Santa Clara car accidents
- Chula Vista car accidents
- Oceanside car accidents
- Escondido car accidents
- Huntington Beach car accidents
- Elk Grove car accidents
- Roseville car accidents
- Clovis car accidents
- Visalia car accidents
- Daly City car accidents
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in California?
2 years from the crash for injuries (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1). A written claim must be presented to the public entity within six months of the crash, before any lawsuit can be filed.
Is California a no-fault state?
No. California is an at-fault state: the driver who caused the crash, through their liability insurer, pays for the injuries they caused.
What if I was partly at fault?
California uses pure comparative fault: your recovery is reduced by your share of the blame, but even a driver found mostly at fault can still recover something.
What is the minimum car insurance in California?
$30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident for injuries, and $15,000 for property damage (Cal. Ins. Code § 11580.1b; Cal. Veh. Code § 16056 (as amended by SB 1107)).
Do I have to report the accident?
Any crash causing injury, death, or more than $1,000 in property damage must be reported to the DMV on form SR-1 within 10 days, whether or not police came. (Cal. Veh. Code § 16000)
Hurt in a California crash?
See what California cases like yours resolved for before you talk to an adjuster. Free, about 60 seconds, and a licensed California attorney can review it at no cost.
This page is general information about California law, reviewed September 2026. It is not legal advice, laws change, and the right answer for your claim depends on its facts. CaseChecker.ai is not a law firm; it connects people with independent attorneys licensed in their state.