Whenever you’re hurt in an accident in California, and it was caused by someone’s carelessness, that means they’re “at-fault.” But what does that mean exactly? Well, under California law, it means that:
- They’re responsible for covering your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages.
That naturally leads to the next question: how do we figure out who’s actually at-fault?
What Makes Someone At-Fault for My Damages in a California Personal Injury Case?
In California, just like in other states, fault comes down to negligence. That’s just a legal way of saying someone didn’t act as carefully as they should have, and because of that, you ended up hurt. To officially establish fault, though, it’s about looking at four key questions:
- Did they owe you a duty of care? Drivers owe everyone on the road a duty to follow traffic laws and stay alert. Property owners have to keep their spaces reasonably safe. Businesses need to fix hazards they know about. The exact duty changes depending on the situation, but the idea is the same: people are expected to act with reasonable care.
- Did they breach that duty? A breach happens when someone fails to act safely—speeding, running a red light, ignoring a broken handrail, leaving a spill on the floor, things like that.
- Did that breach cause your injuries? There has to be a clear link between their actions and what happened to you. If their carelessness set everything in motion, that’s usually enough to show causation.
- Did you suffer actual harm? Medical bills, missed work, pain, ongoing physical issues, and damage to your property all count. As long as you suffered real losses, this element is met.
If the answer to all four questions is yes, California law generally considers that person or group at-fault—and once fault is established, they (or more often, their insurance company) are responsible for the losses you’ve had to deal with.
How Maison Law’s California Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You
Most people don’t plan for the moment when everything suddenly shifts—a wreck on the 405, a fall in a parking lot, a driver who blows through a stop sign near your neighborhood. But once it happens, the practical problems hit quickly. The hospital wants paperwork. Your job wants updates. The insurance company wants a statement. And you’re still trying to get through the day without making your injury worse. That’s where our team at Maison Law help by:
- Walking you through what California’s fault rules actually mean for your situation. Just a straightforward explanation of what matters right now and what doesn’t.
- Getting the pieces of evidence that tell the full story—medical records, pictures, witness details, anything that shows how the accident unfolded and what it’s cost you so far.
- Dealing with the insurance company directly. We handle the calls, the emails, and the back-and-forth so you’re not pushed into an early settlement or blamed for something that wasn’t your doing.
Nobody plans on getting hurt in an accident, but once you’re in that situation, you shouldn’t have to handle confusing rules and liability questions alone. We’re here to guide you through what comes next and help you understand who’s responsible. If you’re ready to talk through your options, set up a free consultation today.
