Posted in Car Accidents on February 27, 2026
When a car accident causes a permanent disability, the victim of this incident may have to proceed with a Long Beach collision claim or lawsuit to get money for their losses from this incident. They may request compensatory damages for their medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses from any parties liable for the accident.
What Happens When a Car Accident Results in a Permanent Disability and Someone Else Is Liable?
You can file a Long Beach personal injury claim or lawsuit if you suffer a permanent disability in a car accident and a motorist, automaker, government entity, or other parties are liable. In California, you may be subject to a two-year statute of limitations. File your claim or lawsuit in conjunction with the state’s deadlines to sue someone, as this is an opportunity to get money for your accident losses.
California has insurance requirements for drivers. If a motorist is responsible for your auto accident, their insurer may cover your losses. You can submit a car insurance claim and could receive a settlement offer. By accepting this proposal, you could receive compensation to use to treat your permanent disability and other expenses you incur due to your accident.
Have a Long Beach drunk driving accident lawyer help you evaluate an insurance settlement offer. Otherwise, if you accept the initial insurance settlement proposal you receive, you could wind up approving a lowball proposal. With this, you may have to cover most of your permanent disability costs out of pocket.
Your Long Beach personal injury lawyer may advise you to file a lawsuit if an at-fault party’s insurance coverage is insufficient. In a lawsuit, your attorney can highlight your permanent disability and the costs associated with it. This may help your lawyer prove to a judge or jury that compensatory damages are warranted.
What Happens When a Car Accident Causes a Permanent Disability and I Am Partly at Fault?
Per California Civil Code § 1714, you may be subject to pure comparative negligence. Because of this, if you are partially at fault for a car accident that causes permanent disabilities, you may be responsible for some of your losses.
California’s pure comparative negligence system allows a judge or jury to award partial damages to auto accident victims depending on their percentage of fault. If you’re 1-99% at fault for your car accident, the court may reduce your damages accordingly.
For example, a motorist runs a red light and slams their car into yours. Meanwhile, you were engaged in distracted driving. You file a Long Beach speeding accident lawsuit against the other motorist in the hopes of getting compensation for the costs of your permanent disability and other losses.
The court rules that you are 40% at fault for your auto accident. As such, the defendant may have to cover 60% of the damages that you initially requested.
Compensation Available for Those Who Suffer a Permanent Disability in a Car Accident
If you’ve suffered a permanent disability in an auto accident, you could receive compensation for your in-home assistance and care, loss of enjoyment of life, rehabilitation, therapy, and pain management expenses, and other losses. To get these and other damages, you will have to prove negligence.
Your car accident attorney can prepare an argument centered on negligence. They can utilize evidence such as crash scene photos, police reports, and other proof to show that someone else is at fault for your accident and should have to compensate you for your losses.