California Injury Laws Explained

Reviewed by David Gammill, California trial attorney · Last reviewed: September 20, 2026

This page lists every California injury law we have explained in plain English, along with our answers to the questions injured people ask most often. Each guide covers one statute or one question: what the law says, who it applies to, the deadlines that come with it, and how it plays out in a real case. Start with the section that matches your situation, or call us and we will point you to the right one.

Code of Civil Procedure: Deadlines and Who Can Sue

• CCP § 335.1: California’s Two-Year Statute of Limitations. The general deadline for injury and wrongful death lawsuits, and the exceptions that can extend it.
• CCP § 377.60: Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim. Which family members and dependents have the legal right to sue after a death.
• CCP § 377.34: Survival Action Damages. What the estate can recover for losses the person suffered before death, and what it cannot.
• When to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in California. The two-year rule, the six-month government exception, and how they fit together.

Government Code: Claims Against Cities, Counties, and the State

• Gov. Code § 911.2: The Six-Month Government Claim Deadline. Why a written claim must reach the public entity before any lawsuit, and what happens after it is denied.
• Gov. Code § 835: Dangerous Conditions of Public Property. How to hold a city, county, or Caltrans responsible for a dangerous road, sidewalk, or crossing.

Vehicle Code: Rules of the Road in a Crash Case

• Vehicle Code § 20001: Hit-and-Run Law. What the law requires of a driver who causes an injury, and how victims recover when the driver flees.
• Vehicle Code § 22350: The Basic Speed Law. Why a driver can be at fault for speed even under the posted limit.
• Vehicle Code § 21950: Pedestrian Right of Way. A driver’s duty to yield in marked and unmarked crosswalks, and what it means when a pedestrian is hit.

Civil Code: Liability, Damages, and Civil Rights

• Civil Code § 3294: Punitive Damages. When a jury can punish malice, oppression, or fraud on top of compensating the victim.
• Civil Code § 3342: California’s Dog Bite Law. Strict liability for dog owners, the narrow exceptions, and how the claim works.
• Civil Code § 52.1: The Tom Bane Civil Rights Act. Suing anyone, including police, who interferes with your rights through threats, intimidation, or coercion.

Business and Professions Code: How Injury Lawyers Get Paid

• No Win No Fee Explained: California Contingency Fees. What B&P Code § 6147 requires in a fee agreement, how the math works, and what to ask before you sign.

Evidence Code: What an Expert May Tell the Jury

• Evidence Code §§ 801 and 802: When Hearsay Is Admissible in Expert Testimony. The Sanchez rule: an expert may rely on hearsay to form an opinion but may not repeat case-specific hearsay to the jury as true unless it is independently proven or falls within an exception.

Related Guide

• Know Your Rights: Police and Illegal Detentions in California. What officers may and may not do during a stop, and what to do if your rights are violated.

Frequently Asked Questions

Short, direct answers, each one citing the California statute that controls it.

• How long do you have to file a personal injury lawsuit in California?
• Do I only have six months to sue the government in California?
• Is California a strict liability state for dog bites?
• What happens if a hit-and-run driver hit me in California?
• Can I sue the police for excessive force in California?

Not sure which law applies to your case? Call Gammill Law at 310-750-4149 or request a free consultation. There is no fee unless we win.