Statute of Limitations
California has a 2-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims from car accidents (CCP § 335.1). The clock starts on the date of the accident. California requires minimum liability insurance of only 15/30/5 ($15K per person, $30K per accident bodily injury, $5K property damage) — among the lowest in the nation.
2 years from date of accident
Where to File in California
California is a pure comparative fault state — injured parties may recover damages even if partially at fault, with damages reduced proportionally. Direct tort claims against at-fault drivers are available from the outset without any threshold requirement. The state does not operate a no-fault PIP system, though Medical Payments (MedPay) coverage is optional.
The statute of limitations for personal injury claims arising from motor vehicle accidents in California is two years from the date of the collision (Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1). Claims against a government entity (e.g., Caltrans for road-design defects) require a government tort claim filed within six months of injury.
Venue is proper in the county where the accident occurred, where the defendant resides, or where any defendant resides at the time the action is commenced (Code Civ. Proc. § 395). Los Angeles, San Diego, and Orange County courts handle the highest volume of MVA litigation and maintain dedicated personal injury departments.
California minimum liability limits are 15/30/5 (raised to 30/60/15 in 2025). Uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage must be offered in writing; written rejection required to waive. California's uninsured driver rate is approximately 17%, making UM/UIM claims common.
Exposure in California
Source: California OTS 2024
Source: Insurance industry data
Source: NHTSA FARS 2024
Clinics & Specialists in California
UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center — Level I Trauma Center
Your Legal Team
David Chen
Senior Partner
Los Angeles, CA
David Chen has spent 22 years fighting for car accident victims in Southern California, where the volume of freeway traffic and distracted driving creates one of the highest MVA litigation environments in the country. He has recovered over $150 million for his clients in auto accident, truck accident, and motorcycle accident cases. David is known for his meticulous case preparation and his willingness to take cases to trial — a reputation that consistently results in higher settlement offers from insurance companies. He is a frequent speaker on personal injury litigation strategy at the California State Bar Annual Meeting.
Education
- J.D., UCLA School of Law (2004)
- B.A., Political Science, UC Berkeley (2001)