Under California law, a hit and run is any accident where a driver fails to stop at the scene, exchange information, and (in cases involving injury) provide reasonable assistance. It is a criminal offense governed by California Vehicle Code section 20001 when someone is injured or killed, and Vehicle Code section [...]
Your car insurance rate in California can go up by over 70% after an at-fault accident. The average increase translates to an extra $800 to $1,200 in annual insurance costs, and elevated rates typically stay on your insurance record for three to five years. Many drivers see their bills spike when they lose their [...]
Most California car accident settlements fall between $15,000 and $75,000 for cases involving moderate injuries and clear liability. Minor cases with soft tissue injuries typically settle in the low five figures. Cases involving surgery, permanent injury, or wrongful death regularly reach six or seven figures. There [...]
The SR-1, officially titled Report of Traffic Accident Occurring in California, is a DMV form that California law requires most drivers to file within 10 days of an accident. It is separate from the police report and separate from your insurance claim, and neither of those satisfies the requirement. Many drivers have [...]
When dealing with a personal injury claim, it is easy to make costly mistakes. Most of them happen in the first days and weeks, before you fully understand what your claim is worth, and they are difficult or impossible to undo later. Below are the eight mistakes we see most often in California personal injury [...]
Fact-Checked: This page was written and reviewed by Michael J. Cefali, Esq. Attorney Cefali is a founding partner of Cefali & Cefali, APC, based in San Juan Capistrano, CA. Please see our Editorial Guidelines. By: MICHAEL CEFALI 6 Tips to Maximize the Value of Your Personal Injury Case Some minor injury claims can [...]
Fact-Checked: This page was written and reviewed by Michael J. Cefali, Esq. Attorney Cefali is a founding partner of Cefali & Cefali, APC, based in San Juan Capistrano, CA. Please see our Editorial Guidelines. By: MICHAEL CEFALI The First Week After a Car Accident in California: What to Do (and What Not to Do) The [...]
After a California car accident, you can request a copy of the police report from the responding agency. The California Highway Patrol uses the CHP 555 Traffic Collision Report form, which you can request through the CHP Crossroads online portal for a $10 fee. Local police departments have their own request processes [...]
If you do not report a California car accident within 24 hours when injury or death is involved, you may face misdemeanor charges under California Vehicle Code section 20008, fines up to $1,000, up to 6 months in jail, possible license suspension, insurance claim denial, and serious problems proving your case later. [...]
If you have been injured at someone else's home in California, their homeowners insurance policy may cover your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The coverage that applies depends on what happened. Most people who search for "personal injury coverage on homeowners insurance" actually mean the bodily [...]
