• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Megeredchian Law

A Personal Injury Law Firm

Contact Us For A Free Case Evaluation
Call Us: (818) 530-1300
Speak To An Attorney Directly
24 Hours A Day, 7 Days A Week

SE HABLA ESPAÑOL
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • google
  • yelp
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Alex Megeredchian
    • Lilie Safaryan
    • Glendale Accident Map
    • Los Angeles Accident Map
    • Car Accident Statistics
    • Motorcycle Accident Statistics
    • California Motorcycle Map
    • Break The Habit Scholarship
  • Practice Areas
    • Car Accidents
      • Rear-End Accidents
    • Motorcycle Accidents
    • Catastrophic Injury
    • Uber & Lyft Accidents
      • California Uber Accident Settlements
    • Wrongful Death
    • Personal Injury
    • Truck Accidents
    • Bicycle Accidents
    • Dog Bites
    • Pedestrian Accidents
    • Slip and Fall Accidents
    • Additional Legal Services
      • Bankruptcy
      • Divorce
      • Real Estate Law
  • Case Results
  • Reviews
  • Injuries
    • Head & Brain Injuries
    • Leg & Knee Injuries
    • Neck & Back Injuries
    • Chest Injuries
    • Emotional & Mental Injuries
    • Pelvic & Abdominal Injuries
    • Nerve Damage
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • ESPAÑOL
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Alex Megeredchian
    • Lilie Safaryan
    • Glendale Accident Map
    • Los Angeles Accident Map
    • Car Accident Statistics
    • Motorcycle Accident Statistics
    • California Motorcycle Map
    • Break The Habit Scholarship
  • Practice Areas
    • Car Accidents
      • Rear-End Accidents
    • Motorcycle Accidents
    • Catastrophic Injury
    • Uber & Lyft Accidents
      • California Uber Accident Settlements
    • Wrongful Death
    • Personal Injury
    • Truck Accidents
    • Bicycle Accidents
    • Dog Bites
    • Pedestrian Accidents
    • Slip and Fall Accidents
    • Additional Legal Services
      • Bankruptcy
      • Divorce
      • Real Estate Law
  • Case Results
  • Reviews
  • Injuries
    • Head & Brain Injuries
    • Leg & Knee Injuries
    • Neck & Back Injuries
    • Chest Injuries
    • Emotional & Mental Injuries
    • Pelvic & Abdominal Injuries
    • Nerve Damage
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • ESPAÑOL
Call
Contact
Blog
Is California a No-Fault State?

Is California a No-Fault State?

Posted by: Alex Megeredchian On October 24, 2018

Most states are fault-based insurance states, including California. Rather than being a “no-fault” state, California uses a tort liability system. This means that determining who is at fault and to what extent is important if you have been in an accident.

In this type of state, drivers are required to take financial responsibility for the damages they cause. They are expected to carry proof of liability insurance or proof of financial responsibility.

At Fault Versus No-Fault

At-Fault Versus No-Fault

In an at-fault state, the driver or his insurance company is responsible for injuries to anyone else who was hurt in an accident. In a no-fault state, a person injured in an accident doesn’t have to prove that the other driver was at fault because their own insurance company pays the claim through personal injury protection insurance.

No fault states include:

  • Utah
  • Pennsylvania
  • New York
  • New Jersey
  • North Dakota
  • Minnesota
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • Hawaii
  • Florida

In a no-fault state, the injured person doesn’t have the right to sue for additional damages once the claim is paid, although some states do have a monetary threshold which allows a victim to sue for additional damages if a certain dollar threshold of damages has been met. Lawsuits may also be filed for serious injuries in some no-fault states.

California is not a no-fault state. How does this potentially impact you as a driver or as a person who has been injured by a negligent driver?

Responsibility in a Fault State

Responsibility in a Fault State

Like other at-fault states, in California, the driver who is found to be at fault in an accident has the liability as well as the responsibility for paying for damages that occur in an accident. Victims will need to be compensated for any damages they experience.

Drivers will be expected to cover the damages based on their percentage of responsibility for causing the accident, which can have an impact if you are partially responsible for an accident. In many cases, more than one driver is found to be partly at fault.

Determining Fault

Determining Fault

It can be tricky to determine who is at fault when an accident happens. Insurance companies will rely largely on the police report to get an idea of how the accident occurred and if one party was clearly at fault. A police report usually includes an officer’s objective analysis of what happened.

If you’ve been in an accident, it’s a good idea to gather as much evidence about what happened as you can. This includes photos, witness statements and clear notes about what happened written down as soon as you can after the accident. If you think you were at fault, don’t state that you believe this to the other driver or to the police. Other extenuating factors may have contributed to the accident.

Proof of Financial Responsibility Other Than Insurance

Proof of Financial Responsibility

In California, drivers are required to purchase insurance that meets the state’s minimum liability limits. If you don’t have adequate coverage for damages you cause in an accident, you may be required to pay out of pocket.

An alternative to liability insurance is making a deposit in the amount of $35,000 to the DMV. You can also obtain a self-insurance certificate from them or a surety bond in the same amount. This serves as proof of financial responsivity and has to be carried with you whenever you drive.

Injured in a California Accident

Injured in a California Accident

If you have been injured in a California accident caused by another driver, it’s a good idea to talk to an experienced personal injury lawyer. At Megeredchian Law, we can help you clearly understand your rights and responsibilities and help you to obtain the compensation you deserve.

Contact us using the form on this page and a member of our legal team will get back to you very soon.

Related Reading:

  • 11 Tactics California Insurance Companies Use to Reduce Or Deny Claims
  • The Average Costs of Car Accident Repairs
  • How to Get A Rental Car After A California Accident

Filed Under: Personal Injury

Contact Us
  • * Required

Recent Posts

  • Accident Aggravated an Existing Injury

    Accident Aggravated an Existing Injury
  • Coronavirus and Car Accidents

    Coronavirus and Car Accidents
  • How Do I Find the Best California Personal Injury Lawyer for My Case?

    How Do I Find the Best California Personal Injury Lawyer for My Case?

Archives

  • June 2020 (1)
  • May 2020 (1)
  • March 2020 (3)
  • February 2020 (3)
  • December 2019 (5)
  • September 2019 (2)
  • August 2019 (2)
  • July 2019 (2)
  • June 2019 (2)
  • May 2019 (1)
  • April 2019 (4)
  • March 2019 (2)
  • January 2019 (4)
  • November 2018 (2)
  • October 2018 (3)
  • September 2018 (2)
  • August 2018 (2)
  • July 2018 (4)
  • June 2018 (2)
  • May 2018 (2)
  • April 2018 (1)
  • March 2018 (1)
  • February 2018 (1)
  • December 2017 (3)
  • Complete Archives

[custom-facebook-feed]

Avvo Superb Rating

Superlawyers Award

Pasadena Top Lawyer of 2015 & 2016

Top 100 Magazine

Top 10 Best Personal Injury Lawyers Megeredchian Law
Top 25 Best Trial Lawyers Megeredchian Law
National Trial Lawyers Megeredchian Law

Contact Us

  • Megeredchian Law
    550 N. Brand Blvd. Ste 1670
    Glendale, CA 91203
  • Phone: (818) 530-1300
  • Fax: (818) 617-9117
  • EMAIL US

Recent Posts

Accident Aggravated an Existing Injury

Coronavirus and Car Accidents

How Do I Find the Best California Personal Injury Lawyer for My Case?

Locations

  • Glendale
  • Anaheim
  • Ontario
  • San Bernardino
  • Los Angeles
  • San Francisco
  • Riverside
  • Sacramento
  • Bakersfield
  • Stockton
  • San Diego

Copyright © 2021 · Aspire Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in