Personal injury law in California exists for a simple reason. When someone fails to use reasonable care and another person is hurt as a result, the law provides a way for the injured person to be made whole. That principle covers a wide range of situations, from car and truck collisions to falls on unsafe property, dog attacks, defective products, and the loss of a loved one in a preventable death.
Most personal injury cases turn on a single concept: negligence. To recover, you generally must show that the other party owed you a duty of reasonable care, that they breached that duty, that the breach caused your injury, and that you suffered actual harm as a result. Each of these elements has to be proven with evidence, and that is where careful preparation matters.
California is a pure comparative negligence state. That means if you share some responsibility for what happened, you can still recover, but your award is reduced by your percentage of fault. Even if you are largely responsible, the door to recovery is not closed. The carrier will try to push as much fault as possible onto you. Our job is to make sure that what actually happened is documented and that fault is allocated honestly.
The statute of limitations for most personal injury claims in California is two years from the date of the injury. Claims against government entities have shorter deadlines, often only six months to file an administrative claim. Missing these deadlines can end a case before it begins, so the earlier you call, the better.
California law allows recovery for both economic and noneconomic damages. Economic damages include medical bills, future medical care, lost wages, and lost earning capacity. Noneconomic damages include pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress, and the impact of your injury on your relationships. Properly valuing these categories takes time, medical evidence, and often expert support, and we do that work on every case.
At Spiering Law, every case is evaluated on its own facts and prepared with the same discipline. We are honest with our clients about what their case is worth, and we do not take on matters we cannot help with. When we do accept your case, you get the personal attention of James F. Spiering from start to finish.
Who this is for
This page is for anyone who has been injured by another person's carelessness in California. That includes injuries from car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle, and pedestrian accidents, falls on unsafe property, dog bites, swimming pool incidents, defective products, and similar situations. It also applies if you are simply unsure whether you have a case and want an honest answer.
What to do after a serious injury
- Get medical attention and follow through with the recommended treatment. Your health is the first priority, and consistent treatment also documents what you are going through.
- Document the scene, your injuries, and any property damage with photographs as soon as you safely can.
- Save everything: police reports, medical bills, incident reports, receipts, and any communication from insurance companies.
- Do not give a recorded statement to the at-fault party's insurance carrier without first speaking to an attorney.
- Call Spiering Law for a free consultation. We will explain your options and help you understand what your case may be worth.
Key California legal concepts
Negligence
The legal foundation of most personal injury cases. The other party must have owed a duty of care, breached it, and caused your injuries.
Pure comparative negligence
California allows you to recover even if you were partly at fault. Your recovery is reduced by your share of responsibility, but the case is not barred.
Statute of limitations
Two years from the date of injury for most claims, with shorter deadlines for claims against government entities. Calendars do not pause for recovery.
Economic and noneconomic damages
California law allows recovery for measurable losses like medical bills and lost wages, and also for human losses like pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Frequently Asked
Questions clients ask us most often
Free Consultation
If you were hurt, the call costs nothing. The answers may change everything.
Speak directly with our team about what happened. We will explain your options in plain language and let you decide what to do next. There is never a fee unless we recover money for you.