Personal injury attorneys · Serving all of California
California Personal Injury Lawyer, Serving All 58 Counties
Hurt because someone else was careless? Founding attorney Steven D. Green trained surgeons in the operating room before he became a lawyer. He reads your medical records the way the defense does, deals with the insurers and offers a free case review.
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Key Takeaways
- A personal injury claim seeks money for harm caused by someone else's carelessness or wrongful act, from car crashes to falls, medical errors and workplace injuries.
- California uses pure comparative fault. If you were partly to blame, your award is reduced by your share and is not barred.
- You can recover economic losses, such as medical bills and lost wages, and non-economic losses, such as pain and emotional distress.
- Most injury lawsuits must be filed within two years. Claims against a government agency are usually due within six months.
- California does not require personal injury protection (PIP). Most recoveries come from the at-fault party's liability insurance or your own uninsured motorist coverage.
- Steven D. Green trained surgeons in the operating room before law school, so medical proof is where we start.
- We handle cases in all 58 California counties from our San Diego office.
What counts as personal injury in California
A personal injury case is a civil claim for harm caused by someone else's lack of ordinary care or a wrongful act. California law makes everyone responsible for injuries caused by their want of ordinary care Civ. Code 1714(a). Common examples are vehicle crashes, unsafe property, medical errors and defective products.
Most cases rest on negligence. To win, you show that the other person or company owed you a duty of care, failed to meet it, and caused your injuries and losses. The same basic rule covers a driver who runs a red light, a store that ignores a spill and a trucking company that pushes a tired driver.
Common types of personal injury claims
- Vehicle crashes. Cars, big rigs, motorcycles, bicycles and pedestrians.
- Unsafe property. Slip and falls, broken stairs, poor lighting and negligent security.
- Medical negligence. Injuries caused by a doctor, hospital or other provider during treatment.
- Work injuries. Workers' compensation claims, plus third-party claims when someone other than the employer caused the harm.
- Fatal injuries. When carelessness takes a life, close family members may bring a wrongful death claim CCP 377.60.
Personal injury cases are stressful. You are trying to heal while bills arrive, paychecks stop and adjusters call. Our job is to take that second part off your plate.
A lawyer who has stood in the operating room
Founding attorney Steven D. Green spent years as a manager for medical device companies before law school. He worked in operating rooms and trained surgeons on spinal and cardiac technologies. That background helps him read imaging and surgical notes, question the defense's doctors and value future care accurately.
Serious injuries often need care for years. When a claim settles, it settles for good, so the future has to be priced correctly the first time. Steven knows what a fusion or disc replacement involves, what recovery usually looks like and which records an insurer will attack. He talks with your doctors in their own language. Read his full background on Steven D. Green's attorney page, or meet the rest of our team.
Damages you can recover after an injury
California compensates for all the harm a wrongful act causes Civ. Code 3333. That includes economic damages, such as medical bills and lost earnings, and non-economic damages, such as pain, emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life. Punitive damages are rare and need clear and convincing proof.
Economic damages
These are objectively verifiable money losses Civ. Code 1431.2(b)(1):
- Past and future medical and rehabilitation costs. For past bills, recovery is limited to amounts actually paid or incurred Howell v. Hamilton Meats (2011) 52 Cal.4th 541.
- Lost wages, and lost earning capacity if your injuries limit future work.
- Property damage, household help you now need to pay for, and other out-of-pocket costs.
Non-economic damages
These are the human losses: pain, suffering, inconvenience, mental suffering, emotional distress and loss of consortium Civ. Code 1431.2(b)(2). There is no formula. They are proven through medical records, your own account and the people who see your daily life.
Punitive damages
Punitive damages require clear and convincing evidence of oppression, fraud or malice Civ. Code 3294(a). Ordinary carelessness does not qualify.
How shared fault changes the math
California uses pure comparative fault Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804. If a jury finds $100,000 in damages and puts 25 percent of the blame on you, you recover $75,000. When several defendants share fault, each pays non-economic damages only in proportion to its own share Civ. Code 1431.2(a), so finding every responsible party matters.
For a rough range based on your own facts, try our free settlement calculator.
How a California personal injury case works
Most cases follow the same path: a free consultation, an investigation, medical treatment, a demand to the insurer and negotiation. Many settle there. If the insurer will not pay a fair amount, we file a lawsuit before the deadline and keep pushing through discovery, mediation and, if needed, trial.
- Day one
Free consultation
You talk directly with an attorney. We explain the rules, the deadlines and what your claim may involve, at no cost.
- First weeks
Investigation
We gather photos, video, reports, witness accounts and insurance information, and send preservation requests before evidence disappears.
- During treatment
Medical documentation
You focus on recovery. We collect records and bills, and track how your injuries affect work and daily life.
- After treatment stabilizes
Demand and negotiation
We send a detailed demand once the full picture is clear. In California, an insurer generally must accept or deny a claim within 40 days of proof of claim 10 CCR 2695.7(b).
- If needed
Lawsuit and trial
Filing preserves your rights and opens formal discovery. Many cases still settle at mediation. Some go to a jury.
Insurance: who actually pays
In most cases the money comes from insurance: the at-fault driver's auto policy, a business's liability policy or a provider's malpractice coverage. California does not require PIP. When the at-fault driver's limits are too small, your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may pay the difference.
California's minimum auto liability limits are $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident on policies issued or renewed since January 1, 2025 Veh. Code 16056. Serious injuries can exceed that quickly. Every auto policy must include uninsured motorist coverage unless the policyholder deleted it in writing Ins. Code 11580.2(a), so we check your own policy on every vehicle case.
Insurers make money by collecting more in premiums than they pay in claims. Expect requests for a recorded statement, broad medical authorizations and an early offer. You do not have to accept it. Once you sign a release, the claim is usually over.
How long you have to file in California
Most California personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years CCP 335.1. Claims against a public entity are usually due within six months Gov. Code 911.2(a). Medical malpractice runs three years from injury or one year from discovery, whichever comes first CCP 340.5.
For a child, the two-year deadline usually doesn't start until age 18. A claim against a government agency is still due within six months CCP 352(b). After a public entity rejects a claim in writing, you generally have six months to sue Gov. Code 945.6(a). Enter your date below to see your own deadlines, or use the California Claim Clock on our home page.
Report a vehicle crash to the DMV (SR-1)
If anyone was hurt or damage tops $1,000
—Claim against a government entity
City, county, state, public transit
—Personal injury lawsuit
Most crashes, falls and other injuries
—Property damage lawsuit
Vehicle repair or replacement
—
General information, not legal advice. Medical malpractice and other claims can have shorter deadlines. Sample date shown until you enter yours.
Personal injury cases we handle
We represent injured people across California in vehicle crashes, premises injuries, medical malpractice, workplace injuries and wrongful death. Each type of case has its own rules on fault, evidence and insurance. Choose the page that fits what happened to you, or call and we will explain it.
- Car accidentsFault, insurance limits and Prop 213
- Truck accidentsFederal trucking rules and company liability
- Motorcycle accidentsLane splitting, helmets and shared fault
- Bicycle accidentsThe three-foot law and dooring
- Back injuriesHerniated discs, fractures and surgery
- Neck injuriesWhiplash and cervical disc injuries
- Spinal cord injuriesParalysis and lifetime care
- Medical malpracticeErrors by doctors and hospitals
- Premises liabilitySlip and falls and unsafe property
- Wrongful deathClaims for families after a fatal injury
- Workplace injuriesWorkers' comp and third-party claims
Statewide, from our San Diego office
Green Law Group handles personal injury cases in all 58 California counties. Our office is at 4275 Executive Square, Suite 200, in San Diego. Clients across the state work with us by phone and video, and we travel when a case calls for it. Phones are answered 24 hours a day.
State law is the same in every county. What changes is local: the court where a case is filed, the agencies involved and the jury pool. Find your county to see how we cover it, or visit our San Diego personal injury lawyer page for local details.
Reviewed by Steven D. Green, Esq. · Updated October 12, 2026
Client reviews
What injured clients say
“Steven has extensive knowledge in his field which made the process easier for me and less stressful.”
“Steve and his team were always available, handled all insurance details and my questions always with complete professionalism.”
“I would recommend this firm to anyone that is involved with a personal injury matter.”
Testimonials and reviews do not guarantee, warrant or predict the outcome of any legal matter.
Questions
California personal injury questions, answered
Is personal injury protection required in California?
No. California is a fault-based state and does not require personal injury protection (PIP). Drivers must carry liability coverage of at least $30,000 per person, $60,000 per accident and $15,000 for property damage on policies issued or renewed since January 1, 2025 (Vehicle Code section 16056). Your own policy may also include medical payments or uninsured motorist coverage, so check it after any crash.
What are the odds of winning a personal injury lawsuit?
There is no reliable official win rate for California injury cases, and figures quoted online are usually estimates. Most claims settle before trial. Your own odds depend on the evidence of fault, the medical proof linking your injuries to the incident, your share of fault, the insurance available and whether you filed on time. A free consultation is the honest way to judge your case.
How much of a 50k settlement will I get?
It depends on three deductions: the attorney fee in your written agreement, case costs such as records and filing fees, and medical bills or liens that must be repaid. In a hypothetical example, if the fee were $16,000, costs $1,000 and negotiated liens $8,000, the client would receive $25,000. These figures are invented for illustration and are not Green Law Group's fee. The same math applies to a $200,000 settlement, and liens can often be negotiated down.
Do injections increase your settlement?
Treatment should never be chosen to raise a settlement. Injections such as epidural steroid injections are medical expenses, and they can show that pain continued after conservative care failed. Insurers often challenge whether they were necessary, so clear records from your doctor matter. Get the care your doctors recommend, and let your attorney explain how that care is valued.
How much does a personal injury lawyer cost in California?
Ask any injury lawyer how fees and case costs work before you sign. California requires a contingency fee agreement to be in writing and to state that the fee is negotiable (Business and Professions Code section 6147). Green Law Group explains its written fee agreement, including costs, during your free case review.
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in California?
Most personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the injury (Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1). A claim against a city, county, state agency or other public entity is usually due within six months (Government Code section 911.2). Medical malpractice has its own deadline of three years from the injury or one year from discovery, whichever comes first (Code of Civil Procedure section 340.5).
Do you take cases outside San Diego?
Yes. Green Law Group handles personal injury cases in all 58 California counties from its San Diego office. Clients elsewhere in the state work with us by phone and video, and we travel when a case calls for it. Phones are answered 24 hours a day at (888) 264-3780.
Hurt anywhere in California? Talk to an attorney today.
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