California Auto Collision Knowledge Base
Clear, authoritative answers to complex California collision and catastrophic-injury questions
High-value auto collision cases — commercial trucks, rideshare vehicles, and catastrophic or fatal injuries — turn on details most general guides skip: insurance towers, federal safety rules, and how California apportions fault among multiple defendants. This knowledge base answers those questions directly, in plain language, so injured Californians and the attorneys who refer cases to us can find reliable information fast.
Commercial & High-Value Liability
FMCSA Truck Insurance Minimums in California
How much liability insurance commercial trucks must carry ($750,000 to $5 million), how that compares to ordinary drivers, and why it drives the value of catastrophic-injury claims.
Read ›Suing Uber & Lyft Directly for Catastrophic Injuries
How California's three rideshare insurance periods work, when the $1 million policy applies, and whether Proposition 22 lets you pursue the company itself.
Read ›Joint & Several Liability in California Multi-Car Pileups
How Proposition 51 splits economic and non-economic damages among multiple at-fault drivers, and what it means for your recovery.
Read ›Suing a Government Entity After a Crash (6-Month Deadline)
Hit by a city vehicle, a Muni bus, or injured by a dangerous road? The Government Claims Act requires a written claim within six months.
Read ›After a Serious Collision
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim? (Deadlines)
California's statute of limitations for auto claims — 2 years for injury, 3 for property damage, but only 6 months against a government entity — plus the exceptions.
Read ›Should I Talk to the Insurance Company?
What to say and not say to an adjuster, whether to give a recorded statement, and how to avoid a lowball settlement.
Read ›Do I Have a Case if I Was Partly at Fault?
California's pure comparative negligence rule — why partial fault rarely means no recovery.
Read ›How Medical Bills Get Paid From a Settlement
Who pays your bills now, how medical liens (hospital, Medi-Cal, Medicare, ERISA) work, and how they come out of your recovery.
Read ›Diminished Value Claims in California
Even after repairs, your car is worth less with an accident history. How to recover that loss from the at-fault driver.
Read ›What To Do After an Auto Accident in California
A step-by-step guide to protecting your health, your evidence, and your legal rights in the hours and days after a crash.
Read ›Auto Collision FAQ
Statute of limitations, comparative negligence, types of compensation, and how California insurance claims work.
Read ›For Referring Attorneys
We accept co-counsel and referral arrangements on catastrophic and complex auto cases from attorneys throughout California, including Russian- and Spanish-speaking solo practitioners. Refer a case or learn about co-counsel — referral fees are honored consistent with Rule 1.5.1.
Have a Complex Auto Collision Question?
Attorney Martinovsky offers free, no-obligation consultations in English, Spanish, and Russian.