# What losses can an injury claim cover? Canonical: https://californiapersonalinjurylaws.com/guides/what-can-claim-cover/ Reviewed by Andrew (Andy) R. Gillin; publisher reported approval on 2026-11-04. Original review date was not supplied. ## Short answer A claim may cover bills, lost pay, and other harm caused by an injury. It may also cover pain and changes to daily life. You need proof of those losses. ## Hypothetical example A broken leg leads to care bills and missed work. It also causes pain and makes daily tasks hard. ## How the rule works The legal word for money sought for harm is damages. Economic damages are financial losses. Noneconomic damages concern harm such as pain. Each loss needs a link to the injury. ## What can change the answer A claim is not a promise of payment. Fault, proof, legal limits, and funds to pay all matter. ## A useful next step Keep bills, work records, and care notes. Record how the injury affects daily life. ## Court decisions behind this answer ### Capelouto v. Kaiser Foundation Hospitals (1972) 7 Cal.3d 889, pp. 892–895. Pain may be shown by more than a medical bill. The court allowed lay proof and, in some cases, inferences from the injury. Limit: This does not set a price for pain. You still need proof, and some claims have special limits. Source: https://law.justia.com/cases/california/supreme-court/3d/7/889.html ### Howell v. Hamilton Meats & Provisions, Inc. (2011) 52 Cal.4th 541, slip op., pp. 1–2. For the insured care at issue, a bill’s unpaid negotiated writeoff was not a loss the patient could recover. Limit: This does not decide every bill or lien. Future care and other kinds of loss need separate proof. Source: https://law.justia.com/cases/california/supreme-court/2011/s179115/ ## Sources - [Civil Code § 3333 — Compensation for harm](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CIV§ionNum=3333.) - [CACI No. 3900 — Tort damages (2026 edition)](https://courts.ca.gov/system/files/file/judicial_council_of_california_civil_jury_instructions_2026.pdf) - [Capelouto v. Kaiser Foundation Hospitals (1972) 7 Cal.3d 889](https://law.justia.com/cases/california/supreme-court/3d/7/889.html) - [Howell v. Hamilton Meats & Provisions, Inc. (2011) 52 Cal.4th 541](https://law.justia.com/cases/california/supreme-court/2011/s179115/) General information, not legal advice.