What can a claim cover?
Separate the kinds of loss before thinking about a total. Bills, missed pay, pain, and harm to family life can raise different rules. Proof of a loss does not by itself establish who must pay.
Follow your question.
Prove the loss
Keep records for care, work, and lasting effects.
Understand the net amount
Compare claim value with fees, costs, and possible repayment claims.
Understand family losses
The person's own injury claim and family members' claims are different.
What losses can an injury claim cover?
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.
Read the explanation CALIFORNIA LAW EXPLAINEDCan a claim include medical costs?
A claim may cover care needed because of the injury. The care must be reasonable and needed. The amount you can claim may differ from the price on the bill.
Read the explanation CALIFORNIA LAW EXPLAINEDWhat if I will need medical care later?
You may be able to claim the cost of care you will need later. There must be proof that the injury is likely to cause that need.
Read the explanation CALIFORNIA LAW EXPLAINEDCan a claim cover pay I missed?
A claim may include pay lost because you could not work due to the injury. You need proof of the missed time and lost income.
Read the explanation CALIFORNIA LAW EXPLAINEDWhat if I cannot do the same job anymore?
A claim may cover harm to your ability to earn money later. This is different from pay you already lost.
Read the explanation CALIFORNIA LAW EXPLAINEDWhat does “pain and suffering” mean?
Pain and suffering means harm that is not just a bill or lost pay. It can include pain, distress, and loss of enjoyment of life caused by an injury.
Read the explanation CALIFORNIA LAW EXPLAINEDCan I include other costs caused by an injury?
A claim may cover some costs you paid because of the injury. The costs must fit the legal rules. Keep proof of what you paid and why.
Read the explanation CALIFORNIA LAW EXPLAINEDAre extra damages available to punish bad conduct?
Some cases allow extra money to punish very bad acts. These are called punitive damages. A careless mistake is usually not enough.
Read the explanation CALIFORNIA LAW EXPLAINEDWhy is my settlement different from what I take home?
The total settlement may be more than the amount you keep. Fees, case costs, unpaid bills, and valid repayment claims may come out of it.
Read the explanation CALIFORNIA LAW EXPLAINEDHow much is my injury claim worth?
There is no set price for an injury. The facts about fault, care, lost pay, and lasting harm all matter. The funds or insurance that can pay also matter.
Read the explanation CALIFORNIA LAW EXPLAINEDWhat if only my car was damaged?
You may have a property-damage claim even if you have no bodily injury. The type of loss matters. You still need proof of fault and the damage.
Read the explanation CALIFORNIA LAW EXPLAINEDWhat if an injury harms my married life?
If a third party injures your spouse, your married life may change. You may have a claim for that loss. It is called loss of consortium. It is separate from the injured person’s own claim.
Read the explanation CALIFORNIA LAW EXPLAINEDWhat losses can a wrongful-death claim cover?
Some survivors may claim money for lost support and loss of a loved one’s care and company. These are called wrongful-death damages. The law limits which losses the claim can cover. Proof still matters.
Read the explanation