California Personal Injury Practice Areas
What Akhavan Law Firm Handles
We represent injured people and grieving families across California in thirteen kinds of personal injury matters. Each one has its own deadline, its own insurance structure and its own evidence that disappears on its own schedule — which is why the right page matters more than a general overview.
Every case is handled on a contingency fee: no cost to start, and no fee unless we recover money for you. The consultation is free, we answer 24/7, and our team works in English and Spanish.
Four California Rules That Apply to Almost Every Claim
Thirteen Practice Areas, Explained
Pick the matter closest to what happened. Each page covers the California rules that apply, what the claim can include, the steps that protect it, and the questions we are asked most.
Car Accidents
Rear-end, intersection and lane-change crashes. Two years to file, pure comparative fault, and an SR-1 due to the DMV within 10 days when anyone is hurt.
See how these claims work →Truck Accidents
Commercial carriers must carry at least $750,000 in coverage. Electronic logging and engine data decide these cases, and it starts disappearing within days.
See how these claims work →Motorcycle Accidents
Lane splitting is legal in California, and riders are blamed first anyway. The physical evidence usually contradicts the insurer’s version.
See how these claims work →Uber & Lyft Accidents
Coverage steps from a minimum personal policy to $1,000,000 depending on what the driver’s app was doing. Trip screenshots prove which tier applies.
See how these claims work →Pedestrian Accidents
Drivers must yield in marked and unmarked crosswalks, and since 2023 crossing outside one is not automatically a violation or negligence.
See how these claims work →Bicycle Accidents
Cyclists have the rights of a driver. Since 2023 drivers must change lanes to pass whenever it is feasible, not merely leave three feet.
See how these claims work →Hit and Run
Your own uninsured motorist coverage can pay. But the clock is 24 hours to report, 30 days for a sworn statement, and two years to demand arbitration.
See how these claims work →Freeway Accidents
Multi-vehicle crashes turn on the order of impacts. If a road defect or work zone contributed, a claim against Caltrans is due in about six months.
See how these claims work →Wrongful Death
Two separate claims arise: the family’s loss and the estate’s. Survival actions filed from January 2026 can no longer recover the decedent’s pain and suffering.
See how these claims work →Slip and Fall
The case turns on notice, not the fall. Surveillance video and sweep logs decide it, and most systems overwrite within days.
See how these claims work →Premises Liability
Covers unsafe conditions and negligent security. Responsibility follows whoever controlled the area, which is often more than one company.
See how these claims work →Dog Bites
California has no one-bite rule. Owners are strictly liable under Civil Code 3342, and a homeowner or renter policy usually pays.
See how these claims work →Public Transportation
Buses and trains owe passengers the utmost care. But a claim against a public transit agency is generally due within six months, not two years.
See how these claims work →If Your Situation Fits More Than One Page
Most cases do. A crash can be a car accident, a hit and run and a wrongful death claim at the same time, and the right page is simply the one closest to how it happened — the rest is our work, not yours.
A few common overlaps
- Hit by a rideshare driver — start with Uber & Lyft, because the app status decides which policy pays.
- Struck by a commercial truck on the freeway — start with truck accidents, where federal rules and the carrier’s records apply.
- Injured by a driver who fled — start with hit and run, because the reporting deadlines are measured in hours and days.
- Fell at a business — start with slip and fall; premises liability covers the broader range of unsafe conditions and security failures.
- A family member died — start with wrongful death, whatever the cause, because who may file and what is recoverable are set by statute.
If none of it is clear, call us at (310) 694-8999. A first conversation costs nothing and does not commit you to anything.
Questions People Ask Before They Call
How much does it cost to hire a personal injury lawyer in California?
Nothing upfront at our firm. We work on a contingency fee, so we are paid only out of a recovery and there is no fee if we do not win. There is no hourly billing and the consultation is free. Case costs are advanced and explained in writing before anything is filed.
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in California?
Generally two years from the date of injury under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, and three years for property damage under section 338. If a public entity or employee is responsible, a written government claim is generally due within six months under Government Code section 911.2, which is far shorter and ends many otherwise valid cases.
What if I was partly at fault for what happened?
You can still recover. California follows pure comparative fault, so your compensation is reduced by your percentage of responsibility rather than eliminated. Someone found 30 percent at fault recovers 70 percent of their damages. Insurers routinely argue for a larger share of blame than the evidence supports.
Should I talk to the insurance company before calling a lawyer?
You should report the incident to your own insurer, but you are not required to give the other side a recorded statement. Those questions are designed to establish fault and to minimize the injuries, and statements given early, often on pain medication, are difficult to undo later.
What is my case worth?
It depends on the injuries and treatment, whether surgery or future care is needed, lost income and earning capacity, how clearly fault can be shown, and how much insurance is available. Anyone who quotes a number before the treatment and the policies are known is guessing.
How long does a personal injury case take?
Cases with clear fault and a single insurer can resolve in a few months once treatment is complete. Those requiring reconstruction, expert analysis, multiple policies or litigation take longer. We give a realistic range once the investigation is underway rather than at the first call.
Do I have to go to court?
Most cases settle without a trial. Filing a lawsuit is sometimes necessary to move an insurer or to preserve a deadline, and that is not the same as going to trial. We tell you before any step that changes the shape of the case.
Do you handle cases in Spanish?
Yes. Se habla español. Consultations, documents and case updates are handled in Spanish, and every page on this site is available in Spanish.
Twelve Offices Across California
Our main office is in Beverly Hills, and we take cases from offices around the state. Pick the location closest to you for addresses, phone numbers and local information.
Reviewed by Edwin Akhavan, Founding Attorney, California State Bar #270338 · Last updated: