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Is California a no-fault state?

Is California a no-fault state? Insurance is so confusing, and I just moved here from Utah and don’t understand the rules yet.

avatar
Liz Jenson · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
No,
California
is not a no-fault state. Rather, California is a tort state (sometimes called an at-fault state)
This means that in the event of an accident, the person assigned fault is financially responsible for the damages they caused, which typically take the form of medical bills and car repairs. 
If the at-fault driver doesn’t have adequate
California coverage
, accident victims may find themselves in the position to sue.
Keep in mind: California is a pure comparative negligence state, meaning that both parties in an accident can collect damages, file liability claims, and sue unless they hold 100% of the fault for the accident.
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