Quick Answer Personal injury mediation in California is a confidential, non-binding settlement negotiation conducted with a neutral mediator — typically a retired judge or veteran trial attorney — who shuttles between the parties in private sessions to close the gap between demand and offer. Nothing said at mediation can be used in court: Evidence Code…
Continue reading ›Quick Answer To look up a Riverside County Superior Court case, create a free account on the court’s Public Access portal (reached from riverside.courts.ca.gov) — case-number searches are free and return the register of actions, while name searches carry a fee. To look up a San Bernardino County Superior Court case, use the Court Access…
Continue reading ›Quick Answer Pre-settlement funding is a non-recourse cash advance against your expected personal injury settlement — you repay only if your case is successful, and the funding company is paid out of your settlement before you are. The convenience is real, but so is the cost: funding companies typically charge 2% to 4% per month,…
Continue reading ›By Steven M. Sweat, Personal Injury Lawyers, APC Quick Answer The statute of limitations is the legal deadline to file a lawsuit. In California, you generally have two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury claim, under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. Miss that deadline and the court will almost…
Continue reading ›Quick Answer: A social media addiction lawsuit is a civil claim against platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, or YouTube alleging their algorithms were deliberately designed to create compulsive use — particularly in minors — causing depression, anxiety, eating disorders, self-harm, or wrongful death. California parents can file on behalf of minor children. Cases are handled…
Continue reading ›★ KEY TAKEAWAY — California follows pure comparative negligence under Li v. Yellow Cab Co., 13 Cal.3d 804 (1975), and California Civil Code §1714. Under this rule, a plaintiff can recover compensation even if they were 99% at fault for their own injury — their damages are simply reduced by their percentage of fault. There…
Continue reading ›★ QUICK ANSWER To file a personal injury claim in California: (1) get medical attention immediately, (2) document the scene and preserve evidence, (3) report the accident correctly — including filing a California SR-1 form within 10 days if anyone was injured, (4) do not give recorded statements or accept early settlement offers, (5) consult…
Continue reading ›★ QUICK ANSWER If an insurance company denied your personal injury claim in California, you have six immediate steps: (1) get the denial in writing, (2) identify whether it is a first-party or third-party denial, (3) send a formal written demand letter citing California’s Fair Claims Settlement Practices Regulations, (4) file a California Department of…
Continue reading ›⚡ Quick Answer: How Long Do Settlement Negotiations Take in California? For most California personal injury claims, settlement negotiations follow this timeline: The negotiation clock doesn’t start until you finish medical treatment and reach Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI). Settling before MMI — before you know your full medical costs — is one of the most…
Continue reading ›A 2026 Guide to Bad Faith Damages, Brandt Fees, and Punitive Recoveries in California By Steven M. Sweat, Esq. | Steven M. Sweat, Personal Injury Lawyers, APC | victimslawyer.com QUICK ANSWER: How Much Can You Sue an Insurance Company for Bad Faith in California? In a California bad faith lawsuit against your own insurer…
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