Free guides from InjuryAllies Los Angeles — written by personal injury attorneys for injury victims navigating California's complex legal landscape.
Beginning January 1, 2027, children ages eight through 15 using a seat belt alone must meet a five-step fit test. Learn the actual criteria, why age or height alone may not settle the question, what remains unchanged for younger children, and what to preserve after a child passenger injury.
Read the Guide →In a published decision filed September 15, 2026, the Second District held that when a party serves more than one CCP § 998 settlement offer during litigation, it is the most recent, unexpired offer — not an earlier, superseded one — that controls cost-shifting and prejudgment interest after trial. Learn how the “last offer” rule from this severe bicycle-truck injury case affects every Los Angeles settlement negotiation, why revising a demand resets the legal benchmark, and how to avoid costly surprises after a verdict.
Read the Full Guide →In a published decision filed October 8, 2026, the Second District held that plaintiffs who filed as “Jane Doe” and “Jane Roe” — but never moved for a court order allowing pseudonyms — could not sue for doxing when the defense press release named them in full. Learn the pseudonym procedure California actually requires (conditional filing plus a motion under the NBC Subsidiary overriding interest test and Rule 2.550(d)), why the absolute fair report privilege under Civil Code § 47(d) defeated the claim, the critical “no pending motion” distinction the court drew, what the ruling did not decide about the underlying assault allegations, and the practical steps LA survivors should take before anything is filed.
Read the Full Guide →In a published decision filed August 18, 2026, the Fourth District held that the federal PREP Act was a complete defense to a wrongful death claim built on an ER doctor’s decision not to administer monoclonal antibodies during the 2021 Delta surge — and rejected the narrower federal district court test that required proof the dose went to a specific other patient. Learn the new standard for “inaction” claims (conscious allocation versus no decision-making at all), why an unpredictable supply counts as “limited,” which COVID-era claims fall outside the immunity entirely, and why California’s short medical negligence and wrongful death deadlines still control the outcome.
Read the Full Guide →In a published decision filed September 24, 2026, the Second District held that when a city provided some warning of a dangerous condition as part of an approved roadway design, design immunity under Government Code § 830.6 can bar a claim that the warning was inadequate — affirming summary judgment in a fatal Rancho Palos Verdes bicycle case. Learn the difference between “no warning at all” and “not enough warning,” the four theories that still survive (including loss of immunity under Baldwin when conditions change), why section 830.8 signage immunity and the concealed-trap exception still matter, the $75,979 cost award that followed a rejected CCP § 998 offer, and the six-month government claim deadline that decides most LA roadway cases.
Read the Full Guide →Nearly every contested slip-and-fall in Los Angeles ends with the same defense line: “Plaintiff cannot identify what caused the fall.” In a published decision filed September 29, 2026, the First District reversed summary judgment for a property owner, holding the injured plaintiff’s expert declarations were not speculation but evidence from which a jury could reasonably infer causation. Learn which experts actually move a premises case, why notice and sweep logs still decide the fight, how pure comparative fault and the “open and obvious” defense really work, and why a public-entity fall carries a six-month claim deadline instead of two years.
Read the Full Guide →Effective January 1, 2026, AB 382 lets California cities and counties lower school zone speed limits from 25 mph to 20 mph by ordinance — without first commissioning an engineering and traffic survey. That single change can flip a Los Angeles pedestrian case from “prove the driver was careless” to a presumption of negligence under Evidence Code § 669. Learn how the Basic Speed Law still applies under the posted limit, how comparative fault works differently for children, which public entities can be named for a dangerous crossing, and why the six-month government claim deadline — not the two-year statute — is the real clock.
Read the Full Guide →Effective January 1, 2026, AB 390 amended Vehicle Code § 21809 so the “Move Over, Slow Down” duty protects any stationary vehicle displaying flashing hazard lights or a warning device — cones, flares, or retroreflective triangles — not just police cars, tow trucks, and Caltrans vehicles. Stranded motorists on the 405, 101, and 10 are now inside the protected class, which means a $50 infraction can trigger negligence per se under Evidence Code § 669. Learn the two statutory exceptions defendants rely on, how pure comparative fault applies if your hazards were off, which employers and agencies can be named, and the six-month government claim deadline.
Read the Full Guide →AB 250 (Stats. 2025, Ch. 682) amended Code of Civil Procedure § 340.16 effective January 1, 2026, reviving certain adult sexual assault claims that were otherwise time-barred — with a filing window that closes December 31, 2027. Learn who qualifies, why claims against an entity require alleging a cover up of a previous allegation (including NDAs and confidentiality agreements), why claims against the perpetrator are revived without that allegation, how the public entity exclusion and the six-month government claim deadline limit LA cases, and which records must be preserved before an institution purges them.
Read the Full Guide →Artificial intelligence now drives cars down Wilshire, screens images at LA hospitals, and runs warehouse robotics in Vernon — and when one of those systems hurts someone, the company behind it has an obvious temptation: the model did it, not us. AB 316 forecloses that defense: a defendant who developed, modified, or used an AI system cannot escape liability by claiming the system acted autonomously. Learn who can be named as a defendant, which negligence and strict product liability theories still do the real work, why common carrier duties under Civil Code § 2100 raise the standard for robotaxis, and why telemetry, model version history and internal safety testing must be preserved within days.
Read the Full Guide →After ABC7 reported that Six Flags Magic Mountain closed its X2 coaster amid serious-injury allegations, LA riders are asking who is actually liable. California treats roller coasters as common carriers under Gomez v. Superior Court — meaning the park owes the utmost care, not ordinary care. Learn why season-pass waivers rarely hold up, how Cal/OSHA permit and inspection records under Labor Code § 7900 become civil evidence, which manufacturers and contractors can be named alongside the park, and why ride control logs and surveillance video can be overwritten within 14–30 days.
Read the Full Guide →Two bills signed a year apart quietly rewrote what an Uber or Lyft crash is worth in California. SB 371 (Ch. 314, Stats. 2025) fixed passenger uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage at just $60,000 per person and $300,000 per incident — while the $1 million liability policy stays intact. SB 623 (Ch. 17, Stats. 2026) added Civil Code § 3333.9, capping recoverable lien-based medical bills at the 70th percentile of FAIR Health billed charges for crashes on or after January 1, 2027, voiding excess billing, and imposing new lien-disclosure and attorney referral rules. Here is what LA passengers, drivers, and pedestrians need to know.
Read the Full Guide →Los Angeles adjusters now search your Instagram before they read your medical records — and defense lawyers are subpoenaing Apple Health, Fitbit, Strava and Peloton data. Learn what public posts insurers can use without a court order, how California’s constitutional privacy balancing test limits demands for private accounts, why deleting a post is far more damaging than the post itself, the seven kinds of content that sink LA claims, and how your own wearable data can actually prove your injuries.
Read the Full Guide →The California Supreme Court rejected the “duty to innovate” theory in the Gilead TDF/TAF litigation — a major shift for thousands of California drug injury claims. Learn what the ruling actually decided, why Brown v. Superior Court still shapes prescription drug liability, which theories still work (failure to warn, negligent design, negligent surveillance, fraudulent concealment), how the two-year deadline under CCP § 335.1 and the six-month government claim deadline apply, and what evidence decides these cases in Los Angeles.
Read the Full Guide →Generative AI is now inside California law firms — and judges are striking briefs built on citations that do not exist. Learn what the State Bar’s AI guidance actually requires of your lawyer, how a hallucinated case or a miscalculated six-month government claim deadline can quietly destroy an injury claim, the warning signs of an AI-drafted demand letter, and how the one-year malpractice deadline under CCP § 340.6 limits your time to act.
Read the Full Guide →Whiplash is the most common injury in Los Angeles rear-end collisions — and the one insurers fight hardest. Learn how California actually values soft-tissue claims, why a treatment gap of even 72 hours can gut your recovery, what the two-year deadline under CCP §335.1 (and the six-month government claim deadline) really require, how SB 1107’s new 30/60/15 limits change the math, and the five adjuster tactics used to talk these claims down.
Read the Full Guide →Federal law shields much of the gun industry — but not all of it, and not in California. Learn how the Firearm Industry Responsibility Act (Civ. Code § 3273.51) creates a private right of action against negligent dealers, which five exceptions punch through the federal PLCAA, how straw-purchase red flags become provable statutory violations, why negligent-storage claims can reach homeowner’s insurance, and why store surveillance video must be preserved within weeks.
Read the Full Guide →An 80,000-pound big rig is not just a bigger car — and neither is the claim. Learn why federal FMCSA rules on hours of service, brake maintenance, and cargo securement often decide these cases, which eight parties beyond the driver can be held liable, why black-box and ELD data can legally be destroyed in as little as six months, and how the I-710 port corridor became the most truck-dangerous stretch in Southern California.
Read the Full Guide →The Palisades and Eaton fires destroyed more than 16,000 structures across LA County. Learn who can be held liable (Southern California Edison, LADWP, property owners), why California’s inverse condemnation doctrine means you may not have to prove negligence, how smoke and toxic ash claims work even if your home never burned, and the filing deadlines that are closing now.
Read the Full Guide →Driverless vehicles now share LA streets — and when one causes a crash, there is no driver to sue. Learn who actually bears liability (the fleet operator, the manufacturer, or a public entity), why California requires AV companies to carry $5 million in coverage, how to preserve the vehicle’s lidar and camera data before it is erased, and the deadlines that can end your claim.
Read the Full Guide →For the first time since 1967, California raised its minimum auto liability limits — from 15/30/5 to 30/60/15 under SB 1107. Learn which limits apply to your crash, why the change quietly shrank the value of underinsured motorist coverage, how it reshapes settlement negotiations in Los Angeles, and what happens when 30/60/15 still isn’t enough.
Read the Full Guide →California lane splitting law under CVC §21658.1, the universal helmet requirement under CVC §27803, pure comparative negligence, and the six-month government claim deadline. Plus LA crash hotspots, insurance adjuster tactics used against riders, and the damages available after a serious motorcycle injury.
Read the Full Guide →California Vehicle Code §22500.5 now requires drivers to leave 20 feet of clearance near crosswalks and intersections. Learn why the law was passed, how violations can support negligence per se, and what injured pedestrians and cyclists in Los Angeles should do after a crash.
Read the Full Guide →The step-by-step guide every LA driver needs — from calling LAPD and getting emergency treatment to preserving evidence, navigating California's insurance requirements, and knowing when to call a lawyer. Covers LAPD report process, local hospitals, CA insurance minimums, and the 2-year statute of limitations.
Read the Full Guide →The 2-year rule under CCP §335.1, the 6-month government tort claim deadline, exceptions for minors, and the discovery rule. Missing a deadline can permanently end your case — know yours.
Read the Full Guide →Rideshare accidents involve three insurance phases, potentially $1 million in coverage, and complex liability questions. Understand who is responsible, how California AB 5 and Prop 22 affect your case, and what LA rideshare accident victims can recover.
Read the Full Guide →LA pedestrian fatality stats, LADOT Vision Zero data, California right-of-way laws, hit-and-run recovery options, crosswalk liability, and how to hold the City of Los Angeles responsible for dangerous intersections.
Read the Full Guide →Medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, punitive damages — and how each is calculated in California. With illustrative examples and clear disclaimers. Understand what goes into settlement value before you accept anything.
Read the Full Guide →California's pure comparative negligence rule means you can recover damages even if you were 90% at fault. Understand how fault percentages work, how insurance adjusters inflate your fault share, and what this means for your recovery.
Read the Full Guide →Realistic stage-by-stage timeline from accident to settlement or trial in LA Superior Court. What Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) means, why LA court backlogs matter, and what speeds up or slows down your case.
Read the Full Guide →What not to say to adjusters, why recorded statements are dangerous, how to recognize a lowball offer, California bad faith insurance law, and when retaining an attorney changes everything about how insurers treat your claim.
Read the Full Guide →Why hire a personal injury attorney in LA, what InjuryAllies handles, how contingency fees work, and the LA-specific legal context that affects every personal injury case — from uninsured motorist exposure to LA Superior Court backlogs and government entity claims.
Read the Full Guide →California Civil Code 3342 strict liability — no "one bite" rule. LA County leash laws, insurance claims through homeowners policies, and the full range of recoverable damages including pain and suffering and disfigurement.
Read the Full Guide →Cal/OSHA violations, Labor Code 3706, and third-party claims beyond workers’ comp — injured construction workers in LA’s booming construction industry often have multiple avenues for recovery that dramatically exceed workers’ comp alone.
Read the Full Guide →TBI is often invisible but devastating. TBI signs and symptoms, what expert witnesses are required, and why traumatic brain injury cases rank among the highest-value personal injury claims in Los Angeles.
Read the Full Guide →LA’s bike lane expansion put more cyclists at risk. Dooring accidents, CVC right-of-way laws, helmet impact on claims, and how to hold negligent drivers and the City accountable for injuries to LA cyclists.
Read the Full Guide →When third-party personal injury claims are possible alongside workers’ comp, how the Labor Code exclusivity rule works, and how combining both claims can dramatically increase an injured worker’s total recovery.
Read the Full Guide →From demand letter to negotiation to settlement check — a realistic stage-by-stage timeline, what Maximum Medical Improvement means, why LA court backlogs matter, and what speeds up or slows down your case.
Read the Full Guide →Economic vs. non-economic damages, pain and suffering, punitive damages, and MICRA caps on medical malpractice — the complete California damages guide for injured victims who want to understand their full rights before settling.
Read the Full Guide →Standard of care, MICRA’s current $350,000 non-economic cap, expert witness requirements, and LA hospital liability — everything you need to know about medical malpractice claims in Los Angeles.
Read the Full Guide →CCP 377.60 — who can file, economic and non-economic damages, the 2-year statute of limitations, and how wrongful death claims differ from survival actions. Essential reading for families who lost a loved one to negligence.
Read the Full Guide →The I-405 is the most congested freeway in the US. Crash hotspots from the Sepulveda Pass to the I-10 interchange, who is liable (Caltrans, carriers, drivers), and what to do immediately after a 405 accident.
Read the Full Guide →LADOT Vision Zero High Injury Network data, specific hotspot intersections (Vermont/Slauson, Figueroa/Florence, Hollywood/Highland), and how to hold the City of Los Angeles liable when dangerous intersection design causes crashes.
Read the Full Guide →LA's hit-and-run epidemic — roughly 20,000 crashes per year. Uninsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, LAPD report process, CA Vehicle Code 20001/20002, and your recovery options when the at-fault driver flees.
Read the Full Guide →California premises liability, the notice requirement, wet floors, and what to do after a slip and fall at an LA restaurant, grocery store, or retail location. How to preserve surveillance footage before it's deleted.
Read the Full Guide →The DSP contractor vs. Amazon employee distinction, Amazon's insurance program, California court rulings on platform liability, and how to pursue compensation after an Amazon Prime van accident.
Read the Full Guide →Bird, Lime, and Spin liability waivers, LA Municipal Code sidewalk prohibitions, California helmet law, and who is responsible when an electric scooter injures you — whether you're the rider or a pedestrian.
Read the Full Guide →Filing to verdict at Stanley Mosk Courthouse — complaint, service, answer, discovery, motions, Mandatory Settlement Conference, and trial. Realistic timeframes and what speeds up or slows down your LA personal injury case.
Read the Full Guide →Los Angeles personal injury attorneys available 24/7. No fee unless we win.