A California injury claim starts with the facts of the incident, the type of claim and the deadlines that apply. A general discussion of legal trends cannot tell you whether a particular claim is timely or what it may recover.
Updated October 16, 2026.
Check the filing deadline for your circumstances
The California Courts’ deadline guide identifies a usual two-year period for personal injury lawsuits. It does not establish a general three-year deadline for all injury claims. Different causes of action and exceptions can change the analysis.
Claims involving a public entity can require an earlier administrative claim. The California Courts’ government-claim guide explains the preliminary process. Have an attorney check applicable deadlines promptly instead of assuming an insurance negotiation preserves the right to sue.
Identify the accident and the parties involved
Tell the reviewing attorney whether the incident involved a passenger vehicle, commercial truck, rideshare trip, pedestrian, bicycle or property condition. Note whether a public vehicle, employer, delivery service or possible vehicle defect was involved. Those details identify questions to investigate; they do not establish liability on their own.
Our practice guides explain car accidents, truck accidents, rideshare accidents and pedestrian injuries.
Separate evidence, insurance and losses
These subjects overlap, but they answer different questions. Evidence helps explain what happened. Policy information helps identify potential coverage. Medical, employment and expense records help document the effects of the incident.
- Incident file: date, location, photographs, witness details and report number.
- Coverage file: policies, claim numbers, insurer letters and proposed releases.
- Loss records: medical documents, bills, missed-work records and related receipts.
Keep original files and a short timeline. Label an estimate as an estimate and distinguish what you personally observed from what someone later told you.
Check whether a legal update applies to your accident
When an article discusses a new law, identify its effective date and scope. A rule about rideshare insurance does not necessarily govern a private vehicle. A medical-billing provision may not apply to every treatment arrangement. Our 2026 injury-law overview explains questions to raise about recent developments.
Prepare for a useful case evaluation
Ask which evidence is missing, which parties or policies need investigation, what deadlines need attention and how the firm would communicate with you. Also ask how attorney fees and case expenses would be addressed in a written agreement. You can make an initial inquiry while records are still incomplete.
Request a free case review
Contact Fairmont Law Firm at (800) 324-7666 or request a free case evaluation. Intake assistance is available 24/7 in English and Spanish.
General information only, not legal advice. Deadlines, coverage and outcomes depend on individual facts. An inquiry does not by itself establish an attorney-client relationship.