California · Statewide

Personal Injury Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeons in California

Treats lacerations, facial trauma, and scarring — the visible, permanent injuries that carry disfigurement damages. Reconstructive work is expensive and runs on letters of protection, so the Howell distinction between billed and accepted amounts becomes a live issue at settlement.

Join the networkCall +1 (833) 407-1005
Counties covered
58
Cities listed
274
Insurance system
At-fault (tort)

California injury law, in practice

California is an at-fault state with no mandatory first-party medical coverage. Its defining feature is pure comparative negligence: a claimant who is mostly at fault still recovers, reduced by their share. That keeps cases alive that would be barred outright in most other states.

Insurance systemAt-fault — the responsible driver’s liability coverage paysCal. Veh. Code § 16056
First-party medical coverageNo PIP mandate; MedPay is optionalCal. Ins. Code § 11580.2 (UM/UIM offer)
Comparative negligencePure — recovery is reduced by fault, never barredLi v. Yellow Cab Co., 13 Cal. 3d 804 (1975)
Deadline to file suit2 years from the date of injuryCal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1
Recoverable medical expensesLimited to amounts actually paid or accepted, not amounts billedHowell v. Hamilton Meats, 52 Cal. 4th 541 (2011)
What this means for plastic surgeons in CA

Reconstructive work is expensive and runs on letters of protection, so the Howell distinction between billed and accepted amounts becomes a live issue at settlement.

This page describes general aspects of state law for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and should not be relied on in any particular case. Statutes change — confirm current law with a licensed attorney in your state.

Largest California markets for plastic surgeons

Every county in California

All California cities we cover