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California car accident laws
California gives you two years to file a personal injury lawsuit (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1).
California is an at-fault state: the driver who caused the crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the injuries and damage.
The legal minimum liability coverage in California is $30,000 per injured person, $60,000 per crash and $15,000 for property (30/60/15).
If you were partly at fault, your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault, and you can still recover even if you were mostly (even 99%) at fault.
Quoted from California statutes and official pages, checked October 2, 2026 · not legal advice
The rules in one table
| Rule | California | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Deadline to sue for an injury | Two years from the date of injury | Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1 |
| Deadline for vehicle damage | Three years (action for injuring goods or chattels, including a vehicle) | Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 338(c)(1) |
| Deadline for a wrongful death claim | Two years; the statute covers 'the death of an individual' and courts run the period from the date of death | Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1 |
| Claims against a government body | A written claim for death, injury to person or injury to personal property must be presented to the public entity within six months after the cause of action accrues (one year for other claims). | Cal. Gov. Code § 911.2(a) |
| Insurance system | at-fault | Triple-I, Background on: No-fault auto insurance |
| If you were partly at fault | pure comparative. If you were partly at fault, your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault, and you can still recover even if you were mostly (even 99%) at fault. | Li v. Yellow Cab Co., 13 Cal.3d 804 (1975) (judge-made rule; no statute) |
| Minimum liability coverage | $30,000 per person / $60,000 per crash / $15,000 property | Cal. Veh. Code § 16056(a)(2) (SB 1107) |
| Dog bites | strict liability. A dog owner is liable for damages when the dog bites someone in a public place or lawfully on private property, regardless of the dog's past viciousness or the owner's knowledge of it. | Cal. Civ. Code § 3342(a) |
Deadlines can be shorter or longer for minors, for injuries found later, and for claims against a government. A lawyer licensed in California can tell you the date that applies to you.
Next steps after a California crash
How to get a California crash report (CHP 190 by mail or in person: $10.00 for 1-25 pages, $20.00 for 26-50 pages, $30.00 for 51-75 pages, $40.00 for 76-100 pages, with no extra charge for handling or mailing. The online portal fee is not stated on the CHP web pages.).
Check your deadline and a rough claim range
A filing date and a rough value range for California. Both take under a minute.
Questions
How long do you have to sue after a car accident in California?
Two years for an injury claim (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1) and three years for vehicle damage. Shorter notice rules can apply to claims against a government.
Is California a no-fault state?
No. California is an at-fault state: the driver who caused the crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the injuries and damage.
Can I recover if I was partly at fault in California?
California follows pure comparative. If you were partly at fault, your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault, and you can still recover even if you were mostly (even 99%) at fault.
What is the minimum car insurance in California?
The legal minimum liability coverage in California is $30,000 per injured person, $60,000 per crash and $15,000 for property (30/60/15).
Sources
- Deadline to sue for an injury (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1): leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CCP§ionN
335.1. Within two years: An action for assault, battery, or injury to, or for the death of, an individual caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another.
- Deadline for vehicle damage (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 338(c)(1)): leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CCP§ionN
338. Within three years: (a) An action upon a liability created by statute, other than a penalty or forfeiture. (b) An action for trespass upon or injury to real property. (c) (1) An action for taking, detaining, or injuring goods or chattels, including an action for the specific recovery of personal property.
- Deadline for a wrongful death claim (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1): leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CCP§ionN
335.1. Within two years: An action for assault, battery, or injury to, or for the death of, an individual caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another.
- Claims against a government body (Cal. Gov. Code § 911.2(a)): leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV§ionN
911.2. (a) A claim relating to a cause of action for death or for injury to person or to personal property or growing crops shall be presented as provided in Article 2 (commencing with Section 915) not later than six months after the accrual of the cause of action.
- Insurance system (Triple-I, Background on: No-fault auto insurance): www.iii.org/article/background-on-no-fault-auto-insurance
Twelve states and Puerto Rico have no-fault auto insurance laws. Florida, Michigan, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania have verbal thresholds. The other seven states—Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Dakota and Utah—use a monetary threshold. Three states have a "choice" no-fault law. In New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Kentucky, motorists may reject the lawsuit threshold and retain the right to sue for any auto-related injury.
- If you were partly at fault (Li v. Yellow Cab Co., 13 Cal.3d 804 (1975) (judge-made rule; no statute)): scocal.stanford.edu/opinion/li-v-yellow-cab-co-27850/
(4) the doctrine of comparative negligence should be applied in this state in its so-called "pure" form under which the assessment of liability in proportion to fault proceeds in spite of the fact that the plaintiff is equally at fault as or more at fault than the defendant
- Minimum liability coverage (Cal. Veh. Code § 16056(a)(2) (SB 1107)): leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH§ionN
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), for any policy or bond issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025, if the accident has resulted in bodily injury or death, to a limit, exclusive of interest and costs, of not less than thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) because of bodily injury to or death of one person in any one accident and, subject to that limit for one person, to a limit of not less than sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) because of bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in any one accident, and, if the accident has resulted in injury to, or destruction of property, to a limit …
- Dog bites (Cal. Civ. Code § 3342(a)): leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CIV§ionN
3342. (a) The owner of any dog is liable for the damages suffered by any person who is bitten by the dog while in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner's knowledge of such viciousness.
Read October 2, 2026. Laws and fees change; the linked page is the authority.