According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an estimated 17,140 people lost their lives in motor vehicle crashes in the US from January through June 2025. This is actually an 8.2% decrease rate from the same period in the previous year.

Victims of car accidents in California can claim compensation for the damages they suffered. If you are involved in a car accident in the state, you might wonder what your case might actually be worth. But the California car accident settlement amounts can vary widely.

There are factors that need to be put into consideration when it comes to calculating settlements. How bad are your injuries, who was at fault, and what is the effect of the accident on your daily life? 

Let’s look at the key factors that can impact car accident settlement amounts to prepare you for the road ahead.

Severity of Injuries

When you got in a road accident, the degree of severity of your injuries would determine your settlement amount. If those injuries sustained in the accident were severe, such as broken bones or traumatic brain injuries, certainly the value of a claim increases. 

Your medical bills would be very high. Besides, you will lose income for that period and will have to pay for rehabilitation over a long period of time. Minor injuries may attract some compensation, and the amount may be little. 

According to car accident lawyer Frank Santini, if your injuries are severe, you may also face the need for ongoing medical treatment and rehabilitation. Ensuring your medical costs are covered helps to relieve an immense amount of stress.

This information might empower you in standing up for yourself. You want to be paid fairly for what you had to go through, and other people who had once been in your shoes may be able to offer some kind of help. 

Your story matters. And you don’t have to be alone to face this ordeal. You are entitle to receive the right settlement that could help you toward reconstruction and stabilization in your life.

Property Damage Assessment

After dealing with your injuries and how they’ve affected you physically and emotionally, the next part of your claim is to look at the damage to your property. You should keep good records of everything, so get pictures, estimates for repairs, and all related receipts. 

This evidence serves to prove the extent of damage, which greatly influences the settlement value. You have to consider the value of your car before the accident to establish some basic ground for your entitlement. If the court declares your vehicle a total loss, you should ascertain its actual cash value. 

Figuring out how much damage was done to the property correctly helps you in negotiations and makes sure you get a fair payment. 

Liability and Fault Determination

Determining liability and fault is important in a car accident claim because it directly influences the amount in the settlement. When an accident occurs, determining fault is vital to the claim. 

Comparative fault is how California law works. This means that even if you were partly to blame for the accident, you may still be able to get compensation. Police records, witness statements, and photos of the scene can all be used as evidence. 

Such preparations will definitely help your lawyer protect his client’s right to recover. Clearly establishing liability will increase your opportunity for a fair settlement that truly reflects the extent of your damages-and remember, you don’t have to weather this alone!

Insurance Coverage Limits

Understanding insurance coverage limits is important when assessing the potential settlement in a car accident case. In an accident, a victim’s compensation can greatly depend on the policy limits of the driver at fault. 

If it is a low-coverage policy, then the compensation cannot meet the full amount for all expenses. It is important for a person to know what his own insurance policy covers so that it can provide him some protection in this respect. 

California law says that drivers must have at least the bare minimum of liability insurance. In many cases, though, drivers choose to carry more insurance to be safer. Knowing these limits will help you make smart choices. 

You need to feel secure about the coverage during this trying time.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages play a crucial role in settling a car accident. They cover the intangible losses you suffered in an accident. These include things such as pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life. 

Non-economic damages account for changes in the claimant’s lifestyle and relationships occasioned by the accident. Upon purchasing these things, you need to cite them at the negotiations, especially if you can no longer participate in activities you enjoyed prior to the accident. 

You deserve to have the emotional damage acknowledged after the accident. Keep in mind that while going through your settlement, non-economic damages are just as important as any physical injuries. 

You’re not the only one going through this; a lot of other people have been through the same things and understand what you’re going through.