California Motor Vehicle Accident Settlement Calculator

California gives you 2 years from the date of the incident to file a lawsuit, which is in line with the national average of 2.8 years. This is a standard timeframe, but acting sooner preserves evidence and strengthens your position. California applies a discovery rule, meaning the clock may start when you discover (or should have discovered) the injury rather than when the incident occurred.

California requires all drivers to carry minimum liability insurance of $30K per person / $60K per accident in bodily injury coverage and $15K in property damage coverage (commonly written as 30/60/15). These minimums are above the national average, providing somewhat better baseline protection for accident victims. California also requires uninsured motorist (UM) coverage of at least $30K per person, which protects you if the at-fault driver has no insurance.

California imposes a 180-day notice requirement for tort claims against government entities. If a government-owned vehicle caused your accident or a poorly maintained government road contributed to it, you must file a formal notice of claim well before the standard statute of limitations expires. Failure to provide timely notice is one of the most common reasons government tort claims are dismissed.