Single-Vehicle Accident Claims in California
When only one vehicle is involved, people often assume no one can be held responsible. That is not always true. Passengers, road defects, tire and part failures, and other drivers who forced the crash can all point to a claim.
Passengers usually have a claim
If you were a passenger hurt in a single-vehicle crash, you generally did nothing wrong, and you may have a claim against the driver's insurance — even if that driver is a friend or family member. The claim is against the insurance, not the person, which is what it is there for.
The road or the vehicle may be at fault
Sometimes a single-vehicle crash traces back to a dangerous road condition or a vehicle failure — a defect, a bad tire, or failed brakes. In those cases a government agency, a manufacturer, or a repair shop may share responsibility, which is easy to overlook.
Another driver may have forced it
A 'single-vehicle' crash is not always a solo mistake. A driver who ran you off the road, cut you off, or forced an evasive maneuver can be responsible even if their car never touched yours. Identifying that driver is worth pursuing.
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Frequently asked questions
I was a passenger in a single-car crash — can I recover?
Often, yes. As a passenger you generally were not at fault, and you may have a claim against the driver's insurance, even if the driver is someone you know. The claim is against the insurance.
No other car was involved. Can anyone be responsible?
Sometimes. A dangerous road condition, a vehicle or tire defect, or another driver who forced the crash can all mean someone else shares responsibility. Investigating the cause is the key.
A dangerous road caused my crash. What now?
A government agency responsible for the road may be liable, but these claims carry very short deadlines. Act quickly and get advice right away.
California law — what people ask
How long do I have to file an injury claim in California?
Generally two years from the date you were hurt. If a government entity is involved — a city vehicle, a public road, a public hospital — you usually have to present a formal claim to that agency within roughly six months before you can sue at all, which catches people out far more often than the two-year date.
Can I still recover if I was partly at fault in California?
Yes. California uses pure comparative negligence, so your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault rather than barred — even if your share turns out to be the larger one. There is no cutoff percentage that ends a claim here.
Does California cap what I can recover?
Not in an ordinary injury case. Medical-malpractice claims are the main exception, where non-economic damages are limited by a cap that steps up over time. For most claims — car crashes, falls, defective products — there is no statutory ceiling.
What if more than one person was responsible?
California splits the analysis: defendants can be jointly responsible for your economic losses such as medical bills and lost income, while non-economic damages like pain and suffering are apportioned to each defendant by its own share of fault.
The driver who hit me had no insurance. What now?
Your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage is usually the answer, and it commonly applies to hit-and-run collisions as well. Check every policy in the household, not only the one covering the car you were in.
Will the jury hear that my health insurance paid my bills?
Generally not. California follows the collateral source rule, so a wrongdoer does not get credit for insurance you paid for. How your medical damages are measured is a separate and often contested question.
Injury law in California
California injury law shapes your case in a few specific ways worth knowing early.
- Filing deadline: You generally have two years from the date of the injury to file — and only about six months to put a government entity on notice before you can sue.
- Fault: California follows pure comparative negligence, so you can still recover even if you were partly — or mostly — at fault, with your recovery reduced by your share of the blame.
- Damage caps: An ordinary California injury case has no cap on damages; medical-malpractice claims are the main exception.
- Uninsured drivers: California sets minimum auto-insurance limits and uninsured/underinsured-motorist rules that affect what coverage is available.
Related car accident types
California injury law
This is general information about California injury law, not legal advice. Every case is different.
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