San Francisco Personal Injury Lawyers

California Personal Injury Law: What Your Claim Is Based On

Personal injury claims in California are built on negligence. To recover compensation, you must establish that another party owed you a duty of care, breached that duty, caused the injury, and that the injury produced measurable damages. That four-element framework applies whether the case involves a car accident, a slip and fall, or a dog bite.

California follows a pure comparative negligence rule, which means you can recover compensation even if you were partially at fault for the accident. Your recovery is reduced by your share of fault, but it isn’t eliminated. A person found 30% responsible for a collision can still recover 70% of their damages. This rule matters in disputed-fault cases, where insurers often try to assign fault to the injured party to reduce what they owe.

Damages You Can Recover

California allows recovery for both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover quantifiable losses: medical bills, future treatment costs, lost wages, and reduced earning capacity. Non-economic damages cover what can’t be put on a receipt: pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. In cases involving malicious, oppressive, or fraudulent misconduct, California courts may also award punitive damages on top of compensatory amounts.

Filing Deadlines in California

The statute of limitations for most personal injury claims in California is two years from the date of the injury. Missing that deadline typically bars recovery entirely. Claims against a government entity carry a shorter window: an administrative claim must be filed within six months of the incident before a lawsuit can proceed. If you were injured in San Francisco and aren’t sure which deadline applies to your situation, the right time to find out is now, not later.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Does It Cost to Hire an Injury Attorney at Kuvara Law Firm?

Nothing upfront. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means we advance all costs associated with building and litigating your case. Our fee comes out of the recovery, and only if we obtain one. If we don’t recover, you don’t owe us anything.

How Long Will My Personal Injury Case Take?

Most of our cases resolve in six to nine months through our automated case workflow. Complex cases involving catastrophic injuries, disputed liability, or uncooperative insurers can take longer. We can give you an honest assessment of your case’s likely timeline during your initial evaluation.

Can I Still Recover Compensation If I Was Partly at Fault?

Yes. California’s pure comparative negligence rule allows you to recover damages even if you share some responsibility for the accident. Your recovery is reduced proportionally by your percentage of fault, but you’re not barred from compensation. How fault is allocated is often a point of negotiation, and insurers frequently overstate a claimant’s share to reduce payouts.

Should I Talk to the Other Driver’s Insurance Company?

Not before speaking with an attorney. Insurance adjusters are trained to gather information that limits the value of your claim. A recorded statement made before you understand the full extent of your injuries or the applicable law can be used against you. Let counsel handle that communication from the start.

Does Kuvara Law Firm Offer a Free Case Evaluation?

Yes. We provide a free, no-obligation consultation for injury victims in San Francisco and throughout the Bay Area. There’s no pressure to retain us. We can review the facts, explain your options, and give you a straight answer about what we think we can do for your case. Call (415) 922-5522 to get started.