How New 2025 California Laws May Impact Personal Injury Claims

If you’ve been injured in an accident in Pasadena, Alhambra, Monrovia, or anywhere else in the San Gabriel Valley, the laws that govern your rights and compensation are constantly evolving. As of 2025, several important California law changes could directly impact how personal injury claims are handled—whether you’re dealing with a car accident, slip and fall, or a wrongful death case.

Let’s break down what’s changed, how it could affect your case, and what steps you can take to maximize your compensation in light of the new legal landscape.

Here are the most significant legal updates affecting personal injury cases this year:

1. New Cap on Non-Economic Damages in Medical Malpractice Cases

In 2023, California passed Assembly Bill 35, which phased out the old $250,000 cap on non-economic damages (like pain and suffering) in medical malpractice lawsuits. As of January 1, 2025:

• The cap is now $500,000 for non-death cases.
• It’s $1 million for wrongful death claims.
• These limits will increase by $50,000 annually for the next 10 years.

This is great news for victims of medical negligence in Southern California, including those treated at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena or Kaiser Permanente in Baldwin Park. You may now receive a fairer amount of compensation for pain, emotional distress, or loss of enjoyment of life.

2. Longer Timeframe to File Certain Injury Claims

Previously, the statute of limitations for most personal injury cases in California was two years. However, in some cases involving government entities (e.g., being hit by a city bus), you had to file a claim within just 6 months.

In 2025, Senate Bill 447 expanded the timeframe for certain claims involving government negligence, giving victims up to one year to submit a government claim. This is especially relevant in the San Gabriel Valley, where public transit incidents (e.g., Foothill Transit or Metro accidents) are not uncommon.

3. Increased Penalties for Distracted Driving

Distracted driving has been one of the leading causes of car accidents in Southern California. In 2025, California increased fines and legal liability for drivers caught using a phone without hands-free technology.

Under the revised California Vehicle Code Section 23123.5, if a distracted driver causes an accident while texting or using a handheld device, their liability increases, and they may be presumed negligent in a civil claim.

This means your personal injury attorney can use this presumption to strengthen your case if the driver who hit you was texting behind the wheel on Huntington Drive in Alhambra or Garvey Avenue in Monterey Park.

Imagine you’re rear-ended on Foothill Blvd in Monrovia by a driver who was texting. You suffer a back injury and can’t return to work for several weeks.

Here’s how 2025’s changes could benefit you:

• Stronger case: The updated distracted driving laws may help prove the other driver’s negligence.
• More compensation: If your injury required surgery and prolonged rehab, the changes to non-economic damage caps—if malpractice was involved—could allow for a higher settlement.
• More time: If a city-owned vehicle was involved, you now have up to a year to file the government claim, not just six months.

Southern California continues to see some of the highest injury rates in the state:

• In Los Angeles County alone, over 90,000 traffic injuries occurred in the most recent year tracked by the California Office of Traffic Safety.
• The San Gabriel Valley is densely populated and home to major thoroughfares, making it a frequent location for serious accidents.
• Many residents seek care at busy hospitals like USC Arcadia or Garfield Medical Center, where medical malpractice claims may arise if errors occur.

These realities make legal protections even more essential for local residents.

If you’ve been hurt in an accident, here’s what to do under the new legal environment:

• Seek Immediate Medical Attention.
  Even minor injuries can worsen over time—and your medical records are crucial for proving your case.
• Document the Scene.
  Take photos, gather witness statements, and preserve any evidence.
• Call a Personal Injury Attorney ASAP.
  Laws and deadlines are constantly changing. A knowledgeable local attorney can ensure you don’t miss critical filing deadlines or get shortchanged by insurance companies.

At Doyle Accident & Injury Attorneys, we’re staying on top of the legal changes in 2025 so that you don’t have to. We’ve helped clients throughout Pasadena, Alhambra, West Covina, and Baldwin Park navigate complex claims and get the compensation they deserve.

Whether your case involves:

• A car accident with a distracted driver
• Medical negligence at a local hospital
• A government vehicle collision

We’re here to protect your rights and handle the insurance companies, so you can focus on healing.

Call us at (626) 737-0036 for a free consultation today. There’s no fee unless we win your case.

• California Courts – Personal Injury Laws
• Assembly Bill 35 – Medical Malpractice Damages Update
• Office of Traffic Safety – California Collision Rankings