Posted in Car Accidents on February 27, 2026
You can file a lawsuit for a car accident in Long Beach if you weren’t injured, however, you would rarely need to. In your lawsuit, you can ask for compensation for your auto repair costs, the loss of use of your car, the diminished value of your vehicle, and property damage.
How Can I File a Lawsuit for a Car Accident If I Was Not Injured?
File your lawsuit for a car accident in which you weren’t injured in alignment with California’s statute of limitations. California’s deadline to sue someone for property damage from an auto accident is generally three years. Beyond this window, you may be responsible for all of your losses from your car accident.
Partner with a Long Beach injury lawyer if you want to file a lawsuit. Your attorney can determine the party liable for your accident. Depending on the circumstances of the incident, you could sue a motorist, automaker, mechanic, government entity, or other parties for compensatory damages.
Your Long Beach personal injury lawyer can determine the value of your auto accident case. They can submit the legal paperwork for your lawsuit and prepare your case for trial. If a liable party offers to settle, you can review any settlement proposals with your attorney. Or, if your case reaches trial, your lawyer can present their argument to a judge or jury.
What to Expect If I File a Lawsuit for an Auto Accident When I Was Not Injured
Negligence can determine if your car accident lawsuit is successful. This is defined by California Civil Code § 1714. To get compensation from the defendant in your lawsuit, you may have to prove the following:
- The defendant has a duty of care. A duty of care is a legal obligation to comply with federal and state laws and avoid any acts that endanger others.
- The defendant breached their duty to you. You will have to show that the defendant committed a careless or reckless act, which represents a violation of their duty.
- The defendant caused the car accident. Since the defendant breached their duty, their actions led to your accident.
- You face losses due to the defendant’s actions. Your accident has left you with property damage and other losses.
Your Long Beach motorcycle accident attorney can use photos of your property damage, traffic camera footage of your auto collision, police and accident reports, witness statements, and other evidence to strengthen their argument. This may help you prove that you are in no way to blame for your auto accident.
Can I File a Lawsuit for a Car Accident If I Wasn’t Injured But Was Partially at Fault?
You can file an auto accident lawsuit if you weren’t injured and still recover damages, even if you’re partially at fault. This is due to California’s pure comparative negligence system, which is based on Civil Code § 1714.
With pure comparative negligence, if you are in any way liable for your car accident, the court can reduce your damages based on your percentage of liability. For example, a judge or jury rules that you’re 20% liable for your auto accident. This means that the defendant may have to cover 80% of your car accident losses.
Under pure comparative negligence, you may get damages if you are 99% at fault for your auto collision. Regardless, your auto accident attorney can build an argument that shows a judge or jury that the party liable for your car crash should have to cover all of your losses from the incident.