These guides provide general legal information about personal injury law in each state for educational purposes. They are not legal advice and do not create an attorney-client relationship. State laws change — confirm current statutes with a licensed attorney in your state before relying on any information here.
California
Pure comparative fault, 2-year SOL under CCP § 335.1, 2025 insurance minimums under SB 1107, MICRA malpractice framework, and no cap on non-economic damages in most personal injury cases.
- SOL
- 2 Years
- Fault System
- Pure Comparative
- Min. Insurance
- $30K/$60K/$15K
Each city guide covers the local courthouse, filing procedures, accident data, high-risk areas, and city-specific situation guides.
Los Angeles
Stanley Mosk Courthouse, LA Superior Court filing procedures, freeway accident patterns, and 6 situation-specific city guides.
Los Angeles Guide →San Diego
Hall of Justice courthouse, 5,754 reported crashes in 2023 per SWITRS, motorcycle and pedestrian accident patterns, and city-specific situation guides.
San Diego Guide →San Jose
Downtown Superior Court, 3,500 reported crashes in 2023 per SWITRS, tech corridor commuter accident patterns, and city-specific situation guides.
San Jose Guide →Why State Law Matters
Personal injury law is primarily governed by state statute and case law. Four variables differ most significantly between states and have the largest practical effect on a claim's value and viability:
- Statute of Limitations
- Ranges from 1 year (Kentucky, Louisiana) to 6 years depending on state. Missing this deadline permanently bars the claim regardless of its merits.
- Comparative Fault System
- Pure comparative (California) allows recovery even if 99% at fault. Modified comparative bars recovery above 50% or 51% fault. Contributory negligence (4 states + DC) bars all recovery if any fault exists.
- Damage Caps
- Many states cap non-economic damages (pain and suffering). California has no general cap but applies MICRA's limits in medical malpractice cases.
- Insurance Minimums
- Minimum liability coverage varies by state. California's 2025 minimums are $30K per person / $60K per accident / $15K property damage under SB 1107.
Use the SOL Reference Tool to look up the statute of limitations for any of the 50 states.