What should you know about car accidents in California?
Southern California's I-405, I-5 and I-10 carry some of the heaviest traffic in the country, and stop-and-go conditions produce many rear-end collisions. In the Bay Area, I-80, I-880 and US-101 are frequent crash corridors, while CA-99 and I-5 through the Central Valley see high-speed crashes and dense tule fog in winter.
California tip: If your crash caused injury, you may also need to report it to the California DMV — ask about the SR-1 form.
Who may be responsible for a car accident in California?
The driver who caused the crash is usually responsible, but other people or companies may share liability. In California, that can include the other driver, the vehicle owner, an employer — depending on who caused the crash.
Under California's pure comparative fault rule, a share of blame for the car accident lowers what you can recover but never bars the claim outright. Read California car accident laws for the full rule.
How long do you have to file a car accident claim in California?
Generally two years for a lawsuit, counted from the date of the car accident. Claims involving California cities, counties or transit agencies can require written notice much sooner.