A spinal cord injury is one of the most serious injuries a person can suffer in an accident, and its effects depend heavily on where the cord is damaged and how completely. This guide explains the types and levels of spinal cord injury, whether they always cause paralysis, and how compensation works when someone [...]
Personal injury law lets someone who is hurt by another person's negligence or reckless conduct recover compensation for their losses, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Accidents happen every day, and when someone else's carelessness causes the harm, the injured person may have the right [...]
Most dog bite claims in California settle for somewhere between $10,000 and $100,000, and serious injuries routinely reach $100,000 to $500,000 or more. The most reliable national benchmark, the average homeowners-insurance payout, was $65,450 per claim in 2025 according to the Insurance Information Institute and [...]
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 [...]
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. [...]
Choosing the right personal injury lawyer is one of the most consequential decisions you will make after an accident. The attorney you hire directly affects the amount you recover, how quickly the case resolves, and whether you keep or waive rights you may not even know you have. In California, personal injury cases [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
After a car accident in California, you have 10 days to file the DMV SR-1 form, 24 hours to notify police if anyone was injured, 24 to 72 hours to report to your insurance company (depending on policy terms), and 2 years to file a personal injury lawsuit under California Code of Civil Procedure section [...]
