California Leg Injury Lawyers
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- OVER $1 BILLION RECOVERED
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24-hour accident hotline: (888) 488-1391
Arash Law’s leg injury lawyers help people pursue compensation when another party’s negligence or wrongful conduct causes a serious leg injury. We represent injured clients throughout California in claims arising from motor vehicle crashes, unsafe property, defective products, pedestrian accidents, workplace incidents, and other preventable events.
Speak with our team at (888) 488-1391 for a free case evaluation. Hablamos español.
Why Clients Choose Arash Law for Serious Leg Injury Claims
- Over $1 billion recovered for injured clients across a wide range of personal injury cases.
- Statewide representation for leg injury victims throughout California.
- Free case evaluations with no upfront cost to discuss a potential claim.
- No attorney’s fees unless the clients’ case results in a recovery.
Reviewed by: Arash Khorsandi, Esq., California State Bar #249405, admitted 2007, last reviewed September 2026
Call (888) 488-1391 to speak with our team about your potential leg injury claim.
Key Facts About California Leg Injury Claims
- Negligence can make another party responsible for a leg injury. California Civil Code § 1714 generally requires people and businesses to use reasonable care. A negligent party may be responsible for damages caused by that failure.
- Shared fault does not automatically prevent recovery. Under California’s pure comparative negligence rule, an injured person may still recover damages. However, the recovery may be reduced by that person’s share of fault under Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804.
- Most personal injury lawsuits have a two-year deadline. Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1 generally allows two years to file a lawsuit for injury caused by another person’s wrongful act or neglect. Exceptions may apply.
- Public-entity claims can have much shorter deadlines. Government Code § 911.2 generally requires an injury claim to be presented to the public entity within six months of the date the injury occurred.
For a free case evaluation, call (888) 488-1391 to discuss your leg injury claim.
Leg Injury Case Results
These case results illustrate the serious orthopedic and lower-body injuries involved in cases handled by Arash Law. Every claim depends on its own injuries, evidence, liability, insurance, and other facts.
$18.7 Million — Severe Leg Injuries:
An 18-year-old worker suffered severe leg injuries when farm machinery collapsed after a tractor drove into a hole. Arash Law pursued the disputed case through arbitration and obtained an $18.7 million award.
$17.9 Million — Fractured Tibia and Knee Injury:
One client suffered a fractured tibia and a permanent mild brain injury, while another sustained a knee injury that required physical therapy. After years of litigation, Arash Law secured a unanimous $17.9 million jury verdict.
$2.2 Million — Leg and Knee Injuries:
An air compressor repairman suffered serious injuries to his legs and knees after the equipment exploded and required multiple surgeries. Arash Law pursued available liability coverage and recovered the available policy limits, resulting in a $2.2 million recovery.
Past results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome. Results depend on the unique facts and circumstances of each case.
A free case evaluation can help identify who may be responsible, what insurance may apply, and what evidence should be preserved. Call us at (888) 488-1391 today. Arash Law handles personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, so you do not owe attorney’s fees unless compensation is recovered on your behalf.
(No guarantee of outcome. Results displayed were dependent on unique facts of that case, and different facts will bring different results.)
How Comparative Fault Works in California Leg Injury Claims
California’s pure comparative fault rule divides responsibility among the people or entities whose negligence contributed to an injury. You may still get compensation even if the accident was partly your fault, but your recovery can decrease based on your percentage of responsibility.
How Contingency Fees Work in California Injury Cases
A contingency fee means the attorney’s fee depends on obtaining a recovery for the client. Arash Law handles personal injury cases on this basis, so clients do not pay upfront attorney fees to begin representation.
The written fee agreement explains what percentage an injury lawyer may take, along with other terms that apply to the representation. It should also explain how case-related costs will be handled.
How Insurance Coverage Affects a Leg Injury Claim
Insurance coverage can determine which sources may pay for medical bills and other losses after a leg injury. Depending on the accident, coverage may come from an at-fault party’s liability policy, your own auto coverage, health insurance, or other applicable policies. Health insurance may also help pay for emergency treatment after an accident, subject to the policy’s terms, deductibles, co-pays, and reimbursement rights.
Our guide explains how health insurance covers emergency medical services after an accident.
What Evidence Helps a California Leg Injury Claim
Medical and accident records can help show how the injury occurred, its severity, and the resulting losses. Useful evidence may include emergency and orthopedic records, X-rays, MRIs, surgical reports, rehabilitation records, photographs, witness statements, incident reports, and available video footage.
The evidence you need depends on the type of accident and the issues in dispute. Our guide on what evidence you need for a personal injury claim explains the types of proof that may help support a California injury case.
Who Can File a Leg Injury Claim in California?
- The Injured Person: An adult who suffered a leg injury may seek compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other recoverable losses caused by another party.
- Injured Passengers, Pedestrians, or Bystanders: Anyone who suffered a separate leg injury in the same incident may bring a claim for their own losses.
- Injured Minors: A parent or guardian may pursue a claim on behalf of an injured child. If a lawsuit is filed, the minor generally must appear through an authorized representative, such as a guardian ad litem. California also generally requires court approval of a minor’s settlement.
- Spouses and Registered Domestic Partners: A spouse who was married to the injured person at the time of the injury may have a separate loss of consortium claim for losses such as companionship, affection, comfort, and support under CACI No. 3920.
- Workers with Third-Party Claims: An injured worker may have a separate leg injury claim against a negligent third party, such as a driver, property owner, contractor, or product manufacturer, in addition to a workers’ compensation claim.
- Wrongful Death Claimants: If the leg injury contributes to the injured person’s death, the people authorized under CCP § 377.60 may bring a wrongful death action.
- The Personal Representative or Successor in Interest: A survival action may preserve certain claims the injured person held before death. California treats a survival action separately from a wrongful death claim.
What Damages Can I Recover in a Leg Injury Claim?
A leg injury claim may include compensation for the financial and personal losses caused by the injury. The available damages depend on the severity of the injury, treatment needs, effect on work and daily life, and other facts of the case.
- Medical Expenses: Emergency care, hospital stays, surgery, medication, rehabilitation, and follow-up treatment.
- Future Medical Care: Expected costs for additional surgery, physical therapy, prosthetics, mobility aids, or other ongoing treatment.
- Lost Income: Wages or other earnings lost while the injury prevents you from working.
- Reduced Earning Capacity: Future income losses when lasting limitations affect your ability to work or earn at the same level.
- Pain and Suffering: Compensation for physical pain and the effect of the injury on daily life.
- Emotional Distress: Psychological harm associated with the injury and its consequences.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Limits on hobbies, activities, and other parts of life you previously enjoyed.
- Disfigurement or Disability: Compensation may account for permanent scarring, amputation, impaired mobility, or other lasting physical changes.
Punitive damages may also be available if the claimant proves by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant acted with oppression, fraud, or malice under Cal. Civ. Code § 3294.
If the leg injury led to death, eligible wrongful death claimants may seek damages for losses such as financial support, funeral and burial expenses, and loss of companionship, subject to California law.
If a worker suffers a job-related injury, California workers’ compensation may provide medical care and disability benefits. Temporary disability benefits may replace part of the worker’s lost wages while the injury prevents or limits regular work, subject to eligibility requirements and statutory payment limits.
How Different Leg Injuries Can Affect a Claim
- Femur and Tibia Fractures: These fractures may require surgery, fixation hardware, rehabilitation, and extended time away from work.
- Torn Knee Ligaments: ACL, MCL, and other ligament injuries can cause pain, weakness, instability, and limit work or physical activity.
- Crush Injuries: Crush trauma can damage bones, muscles, nerves, blood vessels, and other tissue and may require extensive treatment.
- Amputation: Losing part or all of a leg may require prosthetic care, rehabilitation, home or vehicle modifications, and long-term mobility changes.
- Nerve Damage: Nerve injuries can cause pain, numbness, weakness, reduced sensation, and problems with balance or movement.
Who May Be Liable for a Leg Injury?
- Drivers: A driver may be liable when negligent driving causes or contributes to a crash and resulting leg injury.
- Vehicle Owners: A vehicle owner may sometimes share liability when another person causes a crash while using the vehicle with permission, subject to California law and applicable liability limits.
- Employers: An employer may be liable for certain negligent acts committed by an employee within the scope of employment under the doctrine of respondeat superior.
- Property Owners or Businesses: A property owner, landlord, tenant, or business may be liable when a dangerous property condition causes injury, and the premises liability requirements are met.
- Contractors or Maintenance Companies: A contractor, cleaning company, repair provider, or other service company may be liable when its work creates or fails to correct a dangerous condition.
- Manufacturers, Distributors, or Sellers: A product liability claim may arise when a defective product causes or contributes to an injury.
- Public Entities: A city, county, state agency, or other public entity may be liable under Gov. Code § 835 when a dangerous condition of public property causes injury, and the statutory requirements are met.
- Property Managers: A property management company may be liable when its own negligence in inspection, maintenance, or repair contributes to the injury.
- Construction Companies or Site Operators: A general contractor, subcontractor, site operator, or other entity may be liable when unsafe worksite conditions or negligent conduct cause a leg injury.
- Other Third Parties at a Workplace: An injured worker may have a separate personal injury claim against a negligent third party, such as a driver, contractor, property owner, or product manufacturer, in addition to a workers’ compensation claim.
How to Establish Liability for a Leg Injury
Negligence is the most common basis for liability in California personal injury cases. To prove negligence, an injured person generally must show that the defendant owed a duty of care, breached that duty, caused the injury, and caused legally recognized damages.
A negligence claim generally requires these four elements:
- Duty: The defendant had a legal obligation to act with reasonable care under the circumstances.
- Breach: The defendant failed to meet that duty through an act or omission.
- Causation: The defendant’s breach was a substantial factor in causing the leg injury.
- Damages: The injury caused compensable losses, such as medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Other legal principles may also establish liability depending on how the leg injury occurred:
- Negligence Per Se: A defendant’s violation of a qualifying statute, ordinance, or regulation may create a presumption of negligence when the other statutory requirements are met under Evidence Code § 669.
- Strict Product Liability: A manufacturer, distributor, or seller may be liable for injuries caused by a defective product without the need to prove negligence. California recognizes manufacturing defects, design defects, and inadequate warnings.
- Vicarious Liability: An employer may be responsible for certain wrongful acts committed by an employee within the scope of employment.
- Intentional Torts: A person who intentionally causes harm may face liability for claims such as battery or other applicable intentional torts.
- Dangerous Public Property: A public entity may be liable under Government Code § 835 when a dangerous condition of public property causes an injury, and the statutory requirements are met.
More than one legal theory or responsible party may apply to the same leg injury case. The facts of the incident determine which liability rules apply.
How Does a California Leg Injury Claim Usually Proceed?
A leg injury claim usually begins with an investigation of the accident, documentation of the injury, and identification of available insurance coverage. The claim may then proceed to settlement negotiations and, if necessary, litigation.
A typical claim may involve:
- Case Review: The attorney reviews the accident, injuries, potential defendants, deadlines, and available insurance.
- Evidence Preservation: The legal team gathers and preserves records, photographs, video, witness information, and other evidence.
- Medical Documentation: Medical records help document the diagnosis, treatment, restrictions, prognosis, and possible future care.
- Damage Evaluation: The claim may include medical expenses, lost income, future costs, and non-economic losses.
- Insurance Claim and Demand: The attorney may submit supporting evidence and a demand to the responsible insurer or insurers.
- Negotiation: The parties may negotiate based on the evidence, claimed losses, and available coverage.
- Litigation: The attorney may file a lawsuit if the claim does not resolve or if filing is needed to protect the statute of limitations.
Time Limits for Filing a California Leg Injury Lawsuit
California applies different deadlines depending on the type of claim:
| Claim Type | Statute | General Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Personal injury lawsuit | CCP § 335.1 | 2 years |
| Property damage lawsuit | CCP § 338(c)(1) | 3 years |
| Government injury claim | Gov. Code § 911.2 | 6 months |
Note: Missing the applicable deadline can prevent recovery, so identifying the correct time limit early is important.
For Claims Against Government Agencies: Claims against public entities follow special procedures and often have shorter deadlines than ordinary personal injury claims. A public entity generally has 45 days to act on a properly presented claim.
- If the claim is properly rejected in writing, the claimant generally has 6 months from the date of the rejection notice to file a lawsuit.
- If there is no qualifying written rejection, the claimant generally has two years from the date of injury to sue under Government Code § 945.6.
- If the initial six-month claim deadline is missed, the claimant may be able to apply for permission to present a late claim under Government Code § 911.4.
Special rules may affect these deadlines in some cases involving minors, delayed discovery, or other circumstances, so the applicable deadline should be identified as early as possible.
Parties can lose valuable evidence long before the legal filing deadline expires. Businesses may overwrite surveillance footage, witnesses may become harder to locate, and accident-scene conditions may change over time.
Insurance negotiations do not automatically pause the statute of limitations. Claimants should track the legal deadline separately from settlement discussions.
Frequently Asked Questions About California Leg Injury Claims
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Leg Injury Lawyer?
What If I Am Partly Responsible for My Leg Injury?
What If the Opposing Party Has No Insurance or Not Enough Insurance?
How Long Do I Have to File a Leg Injury Lawsuit?
In California, you generally have two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit under CCP § 335.1. Different deadlines may apply in cases involving public entities, minors, delayed discovery, or other special circumstances.
Does My Leg Injury Have to Be Severe to Bring a Claim?
No specific injury-severity threshold applies to a personal injury claim. You generally need to establish legal responsibility, causation, and compensable losses, although a more serious injury may increase the available damages.
Should I Speak to the Insurance Adjuster Before Calling a Lawyer?
You may speak with an insurance adjuster before hiring a lawyer, but you should be careful before giving a recorded statement, signing a release, or accepting a settlement. A signed release may prevent you from seeking additional compensation for covered losses later.
How Much Is My Leg Injury Claim Worth?
Can I Have a Personal Injury Claim If I Was Hurt at Work?
Yes, you may have a separate third-party personal injury claim if someone other than your employer or another protected workplace party caused or contributed to your injury. A workplace accident may involve both workers’ compensation and a third-party claim.
California Cities We Serve
Arash Law represents leg injury clients throughout California. Our personal injury service areas include:
- Los Angeles
- Bakersfield
- Riverside
- Fresno
- Escondido
- Moreno Valley
- San Diego
- Santa Ana
- Stockton
- San Jose
- Sacramento
- Anaheim
If a leg injury results in death, eligible family members may also have rights under California’s wrongful death law. Our wrongful death page explains who may bring a claim and what compensation may be available.
Speak With Our California Leg Injury Lawyers
A serious leg injury can affect your mobility, work, finances, and independence long after the accident itself. Arash Law can investigate what happened, identify potentially responsible parties and insurance coverage, preserve evidence, and pursue compensation for medical costs, lost income, future care, pain and suffering, and other recoverable losses.
Call (888) 488-1391 for a free case evaluation. Our team is available 24/7 to discuss what happened, answer your questions, and explain the next steps that may apply to your claim. Hablamos español.
Make ‘Em Pay, Call AK.
Disclaimer: This page is for general educational purposes only and does not provide legal advice. Past case results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome because every case depends on its own facts and circumstances. Reading this page or contacting Arash Law does not create an attorney-client relationship. Consult a licensed California leg injury attorney. Arash Law: (888) 488-1391.
