- Contingency fee
A fee arrangement where the attorney is paid a percentage of the recovery instead of upfront fees.
- Statute of limitations
The legal deadline to file a lawsuit — generally two years for California personal injury claims.
- Uninsured motorist coverageUM/UIM
Optional coverage on your own auto policy that pays when the at-fault driver has no insurance or too little.
- Comparative negligence
California's rule that shared fault reduces your recovery by your percentage — it does not eliminate it.
- Pain and suffering
Compensation for the physical pain and life disruption an injury causes, beyond bills and lost wages.
- Demand letter
The formal letter to the insurer laying out liability, injuries, and the compensation demanded — the opening move of settlement.
- Release agreement
The document you sign to receive settlement money — it permanently ends your claim, including for injuries found later.
- Policy limits
The maximum an insurance policy pays per person and per accident — the practical ceiling of most claims.
- Whiplash
A neck injury from rapid back-and-forth head motion, common in rear-end crashes — symptoms often appear days later.
- Bodily injury liabilityBI
The part of the at-fault driver's policy that pays for injuries they cause to others — the coverage most injury claims draw on.
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