A California personal injury claim is defined as a third-party claim. This just means:
- You file a claim against someone else’s insurance because their actions caused your injuries.
Basically, the personal injury system in California is built on third-party claims. But what it means for you specifically is that you have a path to get financial help when you’re hurt in an accident that’s caused by someone else’s negligence. That sounds intimidating, but you don’t have to face it alone. Our team at Maison Law will be there to support you. Set up a free consultation today.
What Are Some Examples of Third-Party Claims?
When you look at the definition of a third-party claim, it’s pretty easy to make the leap to real-world examples. Most of the time, this includes things like:
- Car accidents where another driver was being careless.
- You get hurt on someone else’s property because of something they should’ve fixed, but didn’t.
- You’re injured by a poorly-made or possibly hazardous product.
- You get hurt on public property because the local government failed to keep it safe.
In all of these situations, someone else’s actions (or inaction) was the cause of your accident and injuries. What this amounts to is negligence, and that’s the trigger for a personal injury claim. But from that point, you have a couple different options for taking action:
- Filing an insurance claim outside of court.
- Filing a lawsuit.
This happens outside of court, so it’s usually faster and less formal. But it’s important to understand that the insurance company is in control at this stage. They decide how much your claim is worth and what they’re willing to offer—and that first offer often falls short of what you actually need.
If the insurance company won’t be reasonable, the next step may be a lawsuit. That doesn’t mean your case automatically goes to trial. It simply means you’re asking the court to step in. Lawsuits take more time, but sometimes they’re the only way to get the support you need to move forward. When that happens, your legal team handles the heavy lifting—from filing paperwork to dealing with the court process if it goes that far.
Whether your case stays in the insurance stage or moves into a lawsuit, the goal is the same: to cover the losses you’ve been dealing with since the injury. That can include things like:
- Medical bills, both current and ongoing
- Time you missed at work and how the injury affects your ability to earn a living
- Repairs or replacement for damaged property, like a vehicle
- Physical pain and ongoing discomfort
- Emotional stress and mental strain
- Changes to your quality of life
- Losses suffered by family members in fatal cases
In California, there’s usually a two-year window from the date of the injury to file a personal injury claim. That may sound like plenty of time, but waiting can make things harder. Evidence disappears, memories fade, and insurance companies don’t wait around. Starting sooner helps protect your claim and your options. Set up a free consultation with our team today.
