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What if the driver who hit me in Covina had no insurance?
If a driver in Covina hits you and has no insurance, your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage is usually the first place to look for compensation. This coverage protects you when the at-fault driver either lacks insurance or does not carry enough to cover your injuries and damages.
Where do Covina car accident injury cases get filed?
Most car accident cases for incidents occurring in Covina are filed in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles. Specifically, cases are generally filed at the Pomona Courthouse South, located at 400 Civic Center Plaza, Pomona, CA 91766. In Los Angeles County, a personal injury case is filed in the judicial district where the incident happened and is assigned to that district's Personal Injury Hub department, as specified by LASC Local Rule 2.3 and the General Order regarding Assignment and Transfer of Personal Injury Cases, effective May 17, 2024. If your claim is against a city, county, or other public agency involved in the crash, the process starts with a formal claim to that entity, not a court filing.
What should you do after a car accident in Covina?
After a car accident in Covina, taking certain steps helps protect your rights and health. Follow these actions:
Ensure safety and seek medical attention: Move to a safe location if possible. Call 911 immediately if anyone is injured or if there is significant property damage. Even if you feel fine, seeing a doctor promptly helps document any injuries that might not be obvious right away. Your health comes first.
Report the accident to law enforcement: California law requires you to report any accident involving injury or death, or property damage over $1,000, to the DMV within 10 days using Form SR-1. A police report can also be helpful for your insurance claim.
Exchange information: Get the other driver's name, contact information, insurance details, driver's license number, and license plate number. If there are witnesses, collect their contact information too.
Document the scene: Take photos and videos of the vehicles involved, the accident scene, road conditions, traffic signs, and any visible injuries. These visual records provide valuable evidence.
Limit communication with insurance companies: You should report the accident to your own insurer, but be cautious about giving detailed statements to the other driver's insurance company. They might try to get you to say something that minimizes their client's fault or your injuries. It is best to speak with a lawyer before providing a recorded statement.
Consult with an attorney: An attorney can explain your rights, help you gather evidence, and handle communications with insurance companies. They work to protect you from unfair settlement offers and ensure you pursue the full compensation available under California law. If you are in Covina and have questions about a car accident, you can reach us at 888-585-2529.
How long do you have to file a car accident lawsuit?
Most personal injury claims, including those arising from car accidents in Covina, must be filed within two years from the date of the injury (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1). However, if your claim is against a city, county, or another public agency—such as a public bus driver or a municipal vehicle—you must present a written claim to that entity within six months of the injury (Cal. Gov. Code § 911.2). This six-month deadline is strict and an attorney can help ensure you meet it. While the deadline is generally paused while an injured person is a minor (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 352), that pause does not apply to claims against public entities. What you can recover includes medical costs, lost earnings, and non-economic harm like pain and suffering.
What kinds of car accident cases do we handle?
Our firm helps people injured in many types of car accidents across Covina and surrounding Los Angeles County communities like Arcadia. These can include:
Rear-end collisions
Head-on crashes
T-bone accidents
Sideswipes
Multi-vehicle pile-ups
Drunk driving accidents
Distracted driving incidents
Accidents caused by uninsured or underinsured motorists
Accidents involving commercial vehicles or rideshares
Whether you were a driver, passenger, pedestrian, or bicyclist injured by a careless driver, we are here to discuss your rights. We also assist Covina residents with wrongful death cases arising from fatal car accidents.
What does working with Casa Legal Los Angeles involve?
When you work with Casa Legal Los Angeles, we focus on pursuing the full compensation available under California law for your car accident injuries. This includes investigating the accident, gathering evidence, identifying responsible parties, and negotiating with insurance companies. We handle all communications and paperwork, allowing you to focus on your recovery. Our goal is to ensure your rights are protected throughout the legal process. Our practice is limited to personal injury and employment law, including personal injury law matters that impact communities like Bell and Carson.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum car insurance required in California?
California law requires drivers to carry at least $30,000 for injury or death to one person, $60,000 for injury or death to two or more people, and $15,000 for property damage per accident. These minimums apply to policies issued or renewed from January 1, 2025. While these are the legal minimums, medical bills and other damages from a serious car accident often exceed these amounts.
Can I still get compensation if the car accident was partly my fault?
Yes, California follows a "pure comparative negligence" rule. This means that you can still recover damages even if you were partly at fault for the accident. However, the amount of compensation you receive will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found to be 20% at fault, your total damages would be reduced by 20%.
How long does a car accident case take to resolve?
The timeline for a car accident case varies widely based on its complexity, the severity of your injuries, and whether the case settles or goes to trial. Some cases resolve within months through negotiation, while others, particularly those involving serious injuries or disputes over fault, can take several years. The process starts with identifying the parties, gathering evidence, and making a demand to the insurance company.
What is the deadline for filing a car accident claim in Los Angeles County?
For most car accident personal injury claims in Los Angeles County, including those originating in Covina, you have two years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1. However, if the accident involved a public entity, like a city vehicle or a public bus, you must present a written claim to that agency within six months of the incident as per Cal. Gov. Code § 911.2. Missing these deadlines can prevent you from recovering any compensation.
After a car accident in Covina, get the help you need. Call Casa Legal Los Angeles at 888-585-2529 for a free consultation. There are no attorney's fees unless we win—and no case costs either.
Serving Covina
Our attorneys represent clients throughout Covina and the greater Los Angeles area.
Where a Covina claim is filed
A personal injury claim arising in Covina is filed in Pomona Courthouse South, East District of the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles.
In Los Angeles County a personal injury case is filed in the judicial district where the incident occurred and is assigned to that district's Personal Injury Hub department (LASC Local Rule 2.3; General Order re Assignment and Transfer of Personal Injury Cases, effective May 17, 2024).
Catchment boundaries change. Confirm the filing courthouse on the court's official locator before relying on it.
Source: Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles — Local Rules, Chapter 2 (verified August 23, 2026).
Deadlines that apply in Covina
The California filing deadlines that apply to an incident in Covina (Los Angeles County) come from state statute, not a local rule. These are the deadlines cited most often.
2 years — personal injury lawsuit
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1 — two years from the date of injury for most personal injury and wrongful death claims.
6 months — claim against a public entity
Cal. Gov. Code § 911.2 — a written claim must be presented to the public entity within six months for claims involving death or injury to person or personal property, before a lawsuit may be filed.
Injured minors
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 352 — the limitations period is generally tolled while the injured person is a minor, but the six-month government claim deadline is not tolled the same way.
This is general information about California law, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Deadlines change with the facts and with who the defendant is — a claim against a city, county, transit agency, or the state triggers a much shorter deadline, and delayed discovery, tolling, and other exceptions apply. Casa Legal Los Angeles is licensed to practice in California. Confirm any deadline with an attorney.
Sources: California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1; California Government Code § 911.2 (verified August 23, 2026).