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Is California an at-fault state?

I know that most states assign fault if you cause an accident. Is California one of those states?

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Sean Boehme · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Yes, California is indeed an at-fault state, which is also referred to as a tort state. If you are in an accident in California, your car insurance company will go through the process of assigning fault before compensating anyone.
California is considered a pure comparative negligence state, which means that compensation is directly proportional to your fault. If you are 0% at fault for an accident you’ll be compensated for 100% of the damages. If you are 40% at fault, you’ll be compensated for 60% of the damages.
Like the other tort states,
personal injury protection (PIP) coverage
is optional in California. However, you are required to have:
If you are pulled over in California and can’t prove you have car insurance, you’ll end up with a hefty fine. If you are in an accident in California and you don’t have the required coverage, you might face a lawsuit.
Car insurance in California
is quite expensive and it isn’t always easy to find discounts.
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