Understanding Your Bodily Injury Claim in a California Crash

Key Takeaways

• A bodily injury claim covers physical harm caused by another party’s negligence, including medical bills and lost wages.
• California law gives injury victims two years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit.
• Bodily injury liability and property damage are separate coverages that serve entirely different purposes.
• SB 1107 raised California’s minimum bodily injury liability limits to $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident starting January 1, 2025.
• An attorney can identify compensation sources and counter insurance tactics that reduce what victims recover.

The Cartwright Law Firm, our Personal Injury Attorneys, understand that a bodily injury claim is rarely just a legal matter. Behind every claim is a person managing pain, missed work, and an insurance process that was not designed with their recovery in mind. In California, victims may seek compensation for physical harm caused by another party’s negligence through the at-fault party’s liability insurance. To succeed, a claimant must prove four elements: duty of care, breach of that duty, causation, and damages. That process also carries a strict filing deadline, and missing it typically forfeits the right to recover anything. Our attorneys handle those timelines so clients can focus on recovery, guiding them through how these claims work and what compensation is available.

Bodily Injury vs. Property Damage: What Is the Difference?

These two coverages appear on nearly every California auto policy, but they are not interchangeable. Bodily injury liability pays for physical harm caused to others when the insured driver is at fault, covering medical treatment, lost income, and pain and suffering. Property damage coverage pays only for damage to vehicles or other physical property.

When someone files a claim for injuries, they are pursuing the at-fault driver’s bodily injury liability coverage, not their property damage policy. Settling a property damage claim does not resolve the injury claim, and accepting a property damage payment does not waive your right to pursue compensation for physical harm.

California’s New 2025 Minimum Liability Limits Explained

California law requires every driver to carry a minimum amount of auto liability insurance. Those minimums changed significantly on January 1, 2025, and the update affects every bodily injury claim filed against a California driver going forward.

How SB 1107 Increased Coverage for Victims

SB 1107 raised California’s required minimums to $30,000 for bodily injury or death of one person, $60,000 for all persons in a single accident, and $15,000 for property damage. The prior limits had been in place for decades and no longer reflected the actual cost of serious injuries. These updated figures represent the floor of what an at-fault driver’s policy must carry, not a cap on what you may recover. Knowing these limits exist is only useful if a claim is filed in time, and under California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1, victims have two years from the date of injury to do so, making it important to act before that window closes.

What Compensation Does a Bodily Injury Claim Cover?

California allows injury victims to pursue both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include past and future medical expenses, lost wages, and reduced earning capacity resulting from the injury. Non-economic damages cover physical pain, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and the lasting effect the injury has had on personal relationships and daily functioning.

There is no preset formula for valuing these categories. The amount depends on injury severity, the quality of medical documentation, and whether the at-fault party carries sufficient insurance to cover the full claim.

Why You Need an Attorney to Maximize Your Payout

Insurance adjusters are trained to limit payouts, and they often move quickly to gather statements or offer settlements before a victim understands the full extent of their injuries. Accepting an early offer can permanently close a claim. Preserving evidence early, including medical records, accident reports, and witness accounts, is one of the most consequential steps in the process.

An attorney can identify all available insurance sources, including underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage many victims overlook. They can retain specialists to document the claim’s full value and counter attempts to shift fault onto the injured party under California’s comparative fault rules. That difference, between a settlement covering immediate bills and one accounting for long-term impact, often comes down to representation.

Contact a California Personal Injury Lawyer Today

Dealing with an injury is difficult enough without also having to manage the legal and insurance process that comes with it. The Cartwright Law Firm has guided injury victims across California through every stage of a bodily injury claim, building cases that reflect what clients have actually been through. Call us at (415) 433-0444) today to speak directly with an attorney about your situation and pursue the compensation California law makes available to you.