{"id":6162,"date":"2026-11-04T03:10:21","date_gmt":"2026-11-04T03:10:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/resources\/wrongful-death-lawyer\/california-minimum-auto-insurance-wrongful-death-limits\/"},"modified":"2026-11-08T07:51:26","modified_gmt":"2026-11-08T07:51:26","slug":"california-minimum-auto-insurance-wrongful-death-limits","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/resources\/wrongful-death-lawyer\/california-minimum-auto-insurance-wrongful-death-limits\/","title":{"rendered":"California Minimum Auto Insurance for Wrongful Death"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover alignfull is-dark chg-hero\" style=\"min-height:460px;aspect-ratio:unset;\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-60 has-background-dim wp-block-cover__gradient-background has-background-gradient\" style=\"background:linear-gradient(90deg,rgba(32,36,46,1) 0%,rgba(32,36,46,1) 55%,rgba(32,36,46,0.7) 100%)\"><\/span><img class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-6160\" alt=\"An investigator in a high-visibility vest places a numbered marker by a guardrail on a closed two-lane road at dawn.\" src=\"https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/an-investigator-in-a-high-visibility-vest-places-a-numbered-photo-4.jpg\" width=\"1376\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/an-investigator-in-a-high-visibility-vest-places-a-numbered-photo-4-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/an-investigator-in-a-high-visibility-vest-places-a-numbered-photo-4-300x167.jpg 300w, https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/an-investigator-in-a-high-visibility-vest-places-a-numbered-photo-4-768x429.jpg 768w, https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/an-investigator-in-a-high-visibility-vest-places-a-numbered-photo-4-1024x572.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/an-investigator-in-a-high-visibility-vest-places-a-numbered-photo-4.jpg 1376w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 825px) 825px, 100vw\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\"\/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"chg-eyebrow has-base-color has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-shadow:0 1px 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.6),0 0 18px rgba(0,0,0,0.35)\">Wrongful Death | Bakersfield, California<\/p><h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-base-color has-text-color\" style=\"text-shadow:0 1px 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.6),0 0 18px rgba(0,0,0,0.35)\">California Minimum Auto Insurance and Wrongful Death: What Your Family Needs to Know<\/h1><p class=\"has-base-color has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.625), 1.25rem);text-shadow:0 1px 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.6),0 0 18px rgba(0,0,0,0.35)\">A minimum auto policy may pay far less than the losses in a fatal crash. Colvin Accident Lawyers helps families in Kern County and nearby communities understand their options.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta chg-cta-call\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"tel:+16616161177\">Request a free consultation<\/a><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta chg-cta-form\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/contact\/\">Request a free consultation<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#6b7280;margin-bottom:1.5rem\">By Donald Norman Colvin \u00b7 Published November 3, 2026<\/p>\n\n<article lang=\"en\">\n\n\n<p>If you are searching for California minimum auto insurance wrongful death information, start with the current numbers. For any policy or bond issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025, if an accident results in bodily injury or death, California requires at least $30,000 for one person&#8217;s injury or death and $60,000 for two or more people in one accident. It also requires at least $15,000 for property damage. Those are the minimums a driver must carry. They are not the amount a family will receive.<\/p>\n<h2>What Is the Minimum Auto Insurance Coverage Required in California?<\/h2>\n<p>California&#8217;s current minimum is 30\/60\/15 for policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025. The law requires bodily injury or death coverage of at least $30,000 for one person in any one accident. It requires at least $60,000 for two or more people. It also requires at least $15,000 for damage to other people&#8217;s property.<\/p>\n<p>This coverage pays other people when the driver causes a crash. It does not pay the driver&#8217;s own injuries. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insurance.ca.gov\/01-consumers\/105-type\/9-compare-prem\/auto-limits.cfm\">California Department of Insurance<\/a> lists the same figures as basic automobile liability limits.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"cta-dose-mid wp-block-group has-base-color has-accent-background-color has-text-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-32197852 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--accent,#20242e);color:var(--wp--preset--color--base,#ffffff);border-radius:8px;padding-top:1.5rem;padding-bottom:1.5rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem;border-left:6px solid var(--wp--preset--color--cta,currentColor);box-shadow:0 2px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.18)\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When a crash has taken someone you love and the insurance answers are unclear, you don&#x27;t have to sort it out alone; our team is ready to talk. Talk it through with our team &#8212; the first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-call\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"tel:+16616161177\">Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-form\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/contact\/\">Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>What Do the Numbers 30\/60\/15 Mean?<\/h2>\n<p>The first number is the per-person limit. The second is the per-accident limit. The third covers property damage.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>$30,000 per person:<\/strong> the most the policy pays for the injury or death of one person.<\/li>\n<li><strong>$60,000 per accident:<\/strong> the most the policy pays in total for everyone hurt or killed in one crash.<\/li>\n<li><strong>$15,000 property damage:<\/strong> the most the policy pays for damage to vehicles, fences, or other property.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Here is how that works. Say one crash injures three people. The per-person limit is $30,000 for each of them. But the three together cannot draw more than $60,000 from that policy. The per-accident number is the ceiling for the whole crash.<\/p>\n<h2>Why the Older 15\/30\/5 and $100K\/$300K\/$100K Figures Show Up in Searches<\/h2>\n<p>The 15\/30\/5 figures are the earlier California minimum. Older policies, articles, and quotes still list them. Under the earlier version of the law, the minimums were $15,000 for one person, $30,000 for two or more people, and $5,000 for property damage. That version applies to policies not issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025, under <a href=\"https:\/\/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov\/faces\/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH&amp;sectionNum=16056.\">Vehicle Code \u00a7 16056<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The $100,000\/$300,000\/$100,000 format is different. It is a higher-limit format some drivers choose for more protection. It is not the state minimum.<\/p>\n<p>The limits that matter are the ones on the specific policy involved. The declarations page of a policy lists its limits. Old articles and online quotes cannot tell you what that policy actually carries.<\/p>\n<h2>How Minimum Limits Apply When a Crash Causes a Death<\/h2>\n<p>When a crash causes a death, a wrongful death claim is generally paid from the at-fault driver&#8217;s bodily injury liability coverage, up to the policy limits. This is the first number to understand in any California minimum auto insurance wrongful death case.<\/p>\n<p>The per-person limit caps what the policy pays for any one death. A 30\/60\/15 policy pays no more than $30,000 for one person&#8217;s death. That cap stays the same no matter how many family members make a claim.<\/p>\n<p>If one crash kills or injures more than one person, the claims may share the $60,000 per-accident limit. The more people hurt, the less may remain for each claim. That is why multi-victim crashes need careful review early.<\/p>\n<p>The law also requires a driver in a crash that causes injury or death to report it to the state within 10 days. The driver must list each injured person by name and current residence address, if available. The report is <a href=\"https:\/\/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov\/faces\/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH&amp;sectionNum=16000.\">Vehicle Code \u00a7 16000<\/a> and it can help document the crash.<\/p>\n<h2>Why a Minimum Policy May Not Cover the Full Losses in a Wrongful Death Case<\/h2>\n<p>A minimum policy may not cover every loss tied to a death. The policy limit caps only that policy. It is not a measure of what the family lost.<\/p>\n<p>California law sets the rules for a wrongful death award. Under <a href=\"https:\/\/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov\/faces\/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CCP&amp;sectionNum=377.61.\">Code of Civil Procedure \u00a7 377.61<\/a>, damages may be awarded that, under all the circumstances of the case, may be just, but may not include damages recoverable under Section 377.34. The court decides how the award is shared among the people entitled to it.<\/p>\n<p>A separate claim for the decedent&#8217;s own losses works differently. Under <a href=\"https:\/\/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov\/faces\/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CCP&amp;sectionNum=377.34.\">Code of Civil Procedure \u00a7 377.34<\/a>, that claim generally does not include damages for pain, suffering, or disfigurement. The statute has narrow exceptions tied to filing dates.<\/p>\n<p>When the available coverage is less than the total losses, the family may look at other sources. One is uninsured motorist coverage on the family&#8217;s own policy. How much a claim is worth depends on the facts of the case and the policies involved.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large has-custom-border\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/a-forensic-investigator-examines-evidence-on-a-city-street-a-photo-2.jpg\" alt=\"Forensic investigator examines evidence on a city street at night.\" style=\"border-radius:8px;width:100%;aspect-ratio:16\/9;object-fit:cover\"\/><\/figure>\n<h2>Who Can Bring a Wrongful Death Claim in California?<\/h2>\n<p>Close family members can bring a wrongful death claim under California law. The people allowed to sue are listed in <a href=\"https:\/\/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov\/faces\/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CCP&amp;sectionNum=377.60.\">Code of Civil Procedure \u00a7 377.60<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The list starts with the decedent&#8217;s surviving spouse, domestic partner, and children. It also includes the issue of deceased children. If none of those people survive, the claim can be brought by those who would take the decedent&#8217;s property by intestate succession.<\/p>\n<p>Other people who depended on the decedent may also sue. The statute lists a putative spouse, stepchildren, and parents. If the parents have died, legal guardians may sue. A minor who lived in the decedent&#8217;s household for the previous 180 days, and depended on the decedent for half or more of support, may also sue.<\/p>\n<p>More than one family member can have a claim. That means an insurance payment may be shared among them. Identifying everyone who qualifies early helps the family plan.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"cta-dose-mid wp-block-group has-base-color has-accent-background-color has-text-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-32197852 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--accent,#20242e);color:var(--wp--preset--color--base,#ffffff);border-radius:8px;padding-top:1.5rem;padding-bottom:1.5rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem;border-left:6px solid var(--wp--preset--color--cta,currentColor);box-shadow:0 2px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.18)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-base-color has-text-color\">Not sure what your next step is?<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Talk it through with our team &#8212; the first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-call\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"tel:+16616161177\">Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-form\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/contact\/\">Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>How Long Does a Family Have to File a Wrongful Death Claim?<\/h2>\n<p>California generally requires an action for a death caused by another&#8217;s wrongful act or neglect to be filed within two years. <a href=\"https:\/\/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov\/faces\/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CCP&amp;sectionNum=335.1.\">Code of Civil Procedure \u00a7 335.1<\/a> sets that two-year period.<\/p>\n<p>Insurance claims and lawsuits run on different timelines. An insurer&#8217;s claim process can take months. Two years can pass faster than families expect, especially while they handle funeral arrangements, medical bills, and insurance calls.<\/p>\n<p>Write down the date of death. Keep crash reports, letters from insurers, and medical and funeral bills in one place. A clear timeline makes it easier to see which deadlines apply to your family&#8217;s situation.<\/p>\n<h2>When the Driver Is Uninsured or the Coverage Is Unclear<\/h2>\n<p>If the at-fault driver has no insurance or too little, the family may have uninsured motorist coverage on its own policy. It covers, within the limits established by law, sums the heirs or legal representatives are legally entitled to recover for bodily injury, including death, from the owner or operator of an uninsured motor vehicle not owned or operated by the insured or a resident of the same household. Underinsured vehicles fall under the same section.<\/p>\n<p>The same section allows written changes. An insurer and a named insured may agree in writing to lower this coverage, but not below the financial responsibility minimums. They may also delete coverage for a named driver. It helps to find out whether any written change applies to the family&#8217;s policy.<\/p>\n<p>Insurance details usually come through the claims process. The insurer handling the claim is the source for a policy&#8217;s limits. For the claim path in this situation, see our uninsured driver wrongful death guide.<\/p>\n<h2>Crashes Involving Government Vehicles or Local Fatal Crashes<\/h2>\n<p>A claim against a public agency can have shorter deadlines than a claim against a private driver. For a death, the claim must be presented within six months after the cause of action arises, under <a href=\"https:\/\/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov\/faces\/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV&amp;sectionNum=911.2.\">Government Code \u00a7 911.2<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>A lawsuit against a public entity generally cannot be brought until the written claim has been acted on or deemed rejected. <a href=\"https:\/\/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov\/faces\/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV&amp;sectionNum=945.4.\">Government Code \u00a7 945.4<\/a> sets that rule. Those steps come before a lawsuit, so families dealing with a government vehicle should act quickly.<\/p>\n<p>Where a government vehicle is involved, insurance limits may not be the only source to consider. For that situation, see our police chase and government vehicle wrongful death page. Families dealing with a fatal crash on Highway 58 or Highway 99 near Bakersfield can read our Highway 58\/99 fatal crash guide.<\/p>\n<h2>Talk With Colvin Accident Lawyers About Your Family&#8217;s Situation<\/h2>\n<p>Insurance limits are only one part of a wrongful death claim. Families often learn these rules while grieving and making hard decisions.<\/p>\n<p>Picture one common situation. A loved one died in a crash, the other driver&#8217;s insurance is unclear, and the two-year deadline is already on the calendar (<a href=\"https:\/\/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov\/faces\/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CCP&amp;sectionNum=335.1.\">Code Civ. Proc. \u00a7 335.1<\/a>). Questions like these are easier to answer with the facts in hand.<\/p>\n<details class=\"wp-block-details chg-faq is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>What is the minimum auto insurance in California?<\/summary><p>Policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025 must carry 30\/60\/15 limits under <a href=\"https:\/\/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov\/faces\/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH&amp;sectionNum=16056.\">Vehicle Code \u00a7 16056<\/a>. Older policies may still reflect 15\/30\/5.<\/p><\/details><details class=\"wp-block-details chg-faq is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Does the policy limit cap a wrongful death claim?<\/summary><p>The per-person and per-accident limits cap what that one policy pays. Other coverage, such as uninsured motorist coverage, may apply depending on the facts.<\/p><\/details><details class=\"wp-block-details chg-faq is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>How long does a family have to file?<\/summary><p>A wrongful death lawsuit generally must be filed within two years under <a href=\"https:\/\/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov\/faces\/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CCP&amp;sectionNum=335.1.\">Code of Civil Procedure \u00a7 335.1<\/a>. A claim against a public entity must be presented within six months.<\/p><\/details>\n<p>If your family is sorting through a death in a crash and the insurance is unclear, you don&#8217;t have to work through it alone. Our team offers a free, confidential first consultation with no obligation to continue. Call Colvin Accident Lawyers or <a href=\"https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/contact\/\">contact us<\/a> here.<\/p>\n<p>Donald Norman Colvin, Colvin Accident Lawyers, Bakersfield, California &#8212; responsible for this site.<\/p>\n\n<\/article>\n<footer class=\"disclaimer\"><em>The information on this website is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Please consult a licensed attorney regarding your specific legal situation.<\/em><\/footer>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-583d630a wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:3rem;padding-bottom:3rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">How Colvin Accident Lawyers Helps<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-f56f613f wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span class=\"chg-icon chg-icon--info\"><\/span><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Review the policy<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We look at the coverage limits on every policy that may apply, including the at-fault driver&#x27;s policy and any other coverage available to the family.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span class=\"chg-icon chg-icon--document\"><\/span><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Identify every source of coverage<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Beyond the at-fault driver&#x27;s liability limits, other coverage such as uninsured or underinsured motorist insurance may come into play. We review each one.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span class=\"chg-icon chg-icon--users\"><\/span><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Focus on families<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wrongful death claims are brought by surviving family members. We explain the process in plain language and keep families informed at every stage.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span class=\"chg-icon chg-icon--chat\"><\/span><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Confidential, no-obligation start<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our free first consultation is confidential and comes with no obligation to continue.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-base-color has-accent-background-color has-text-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-32197852 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--accent,#20242e);color:var(--wp--preset--color--base,#ffffff);border-radius:8px;padding-top:1.5rem;padding-bottom:1.5rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem;border-left:6px solid var(--wp--preset--color--cta,currentColor);box-shadow:0 2px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.18)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-base-color has-text-color\">Minimum limits may not be enough<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Minimum coverage was set as a baseline, not as a measure of what a family loses when someone dies. Whether a policy&#x27;s limits are enough depends on the facts of the crash, the insurance in place, and the losses the family suffered. Do not assume the at-fault driver&#x27;s minimum policy is the full amount available.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-call\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"tel:+16616161177\">Talk with us about the policies involved<\/a><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-form\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/contact\/\">Talk with us about the policies involved<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-surface-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-583d630a wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:3rem;padding-bottom:3rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Three Limits Every Policy Shows<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-f56f613f wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-group has-base-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-radius:8px;box-shadow:0 4px 14px rgba(0,0,0,0.08);padding-top:1.5rem;padding-bottom:1.5rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem\"><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Per-person bodily injury limit<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The most the policy pays for bodily injury or death of one person. Under <a href=\"https:\/\/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov\/faces\/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH&amp;sectionNum=16056.\">Vehicle Code \u00a7 16056<\/a>, policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025 carry at least $30,000 per person.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-group has-base-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-radius:8px;box-shadow:0 4px 14px rgba(0,0,0,0.08);padding-top:1.5rem;padding-bottom:1.5rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem\"><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Per-accident bodily injury limit<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The most the policy pays for all injuries and deaths in one accident, regardless of how many people are harmed.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-group has-base-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-radius:8px;box-shadow:0 4px 14px rgba(0,0,0,0.08);padding-top:1.5rem;padding-bottom:1.5rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem\"><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Property damage limit<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The most the policy pays for damage to property, such as vehicles.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-base-color has-primary-background-color has-text-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-4d466591 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--primary,#20242e);color:var(--wp--preset--color--base,#ffffff);padding-top:3rem;padding-bottom:3rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-base-color has-text-color\">Speak with Colvin Accident Lawyers about your family&#x27;s situation<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-0aa01211 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta chg-cta-call\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"tel:+16616161177\">Get a free, confidential consultation<\/a><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta chg-cta-form\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/contact\/\">Get a free, confidential consultation<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related practice areas<\/h2><ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"\/resources\/wrongful-death-lawyer\/\">Wrongful Death Lawyer<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<!-- chg:section-siblings -->\n<nav aria-label=\"More in this section\">\n<h2>More in this section<\/h2>\n<ul><li><a href=\"\/resources\/wrongful-death-lawyer\/can-family-sue-after-fatal-hit-and-run-california\/\">Can My Family Sue After a Fatal Hit-and-Run in California?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/resources\/wrongful-death-lawyer\/can-you-sue-on-behalf-of-a-dead-person\/\">Can you sue on behalf of a dead person?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/resources\/wrongful-death-lawyer\/child-wrongful-death-lawyer-california\/\">Wrongful Death Lawyer for a Child Killed in a Crash<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/resources\/wrongful-death-lawyer\/chp-fatal-crash-report-california\/\">How to Get a Fatal Crash Report From CHP in California<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/resources\/wrongful-death-lawyer\/coroner-report-fatal-crash-kern-county\/\">How to Get the Coroner&#x27;s Report After a Fatal Crash in Kern County<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<\/nav>\n<!-- \/chg:section-siblings -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>California minimum auto insurance for wrongful death: what 30\/60\/15 limits mean per person and per accident, and why they may not cover every loss.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":997,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"chg_review":"","chg_sendback":"","chg_canonical":"","chg_lang":"","chg_hreflang":"[{\"hreflang\": \"en\", \"href\": \"https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/resources\/wrongful-death-lawyer\/california-minimum-auto-insurance-wrongful-death-limits\/\"}, {\"hreflang\": \"pa\", \"href\": \"https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/resources\/pa\/galat-maut-vakil\/kailifornia-auto-bima-galat-maut-hadd\/\"}, {\"hreflang\": \"x-default\", \"href\": \"https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/resources\/wrongful-death-lawyer\/california-minimum-auto-insurance-wrongful-death-limits\/\"}]","chg_jsonld":"[{\"about\": [{\"@type\": \"Thing\", \"name\": \"Damages\", \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Damages\"}, {\"@type\": \"Thing\", \"name\": \"Wrongful death\", \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wrongful_death\"}], \"author\": {\"@type\": \"Person\", \"name\": \"Donald Norman Colvin\", \"url\": \"https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/donald-colvin-esq-bakersfield-personal-injury-attorney\", \"jobTitle\": \"Bakersfield Personal Injury Attorney\", \"sameAs\": [\"https:\/\/bakersfield.kernhigh.org\", \"https:\/\/www.calstate.edu\", \"https:\/\/www.wsulaw.edu\", \"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/nZfBxYtQQifX3osw5\"], \"worksFor\": {\"@type\": \"Organization\", \"@id\": \"https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/resources\/#organization\", \"name\": \"Colvin Accident Lawyers\", \"url\": \"https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/\"}}, \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\", \"audience\": {\"@type\": \"Audience\", \"audienceType\": \"Family members and survivors of people killed in motor vehicle crashes\"}, \"headline\": \"California Minimum Auto Insurance and Wrongful Death: What Your Family Needs to Know\", \"keywords\": [\"california minimum auto insurance wrongful death\", \"30\/60\/15 california auto 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minimum policy may not cover the full losses in a wrongful death claim.\", \"articleSection\": \"Wrongful Death\", \"mentions\": [{\"@type\": \"Thing\", \"name\": \"Uninsured motorist clause\", \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Uninsured_motorist_clause\"}], \"reviewedBy\": {\"@type\": \"Person\", \"name\": \"Regina Absher\", \"jobTitle\": \"Personal Injury Paralegal\", \"worksFor\": {\"@type\": \"Organization\", \"@id\": \"https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/resources\/#organization\", \"name\": \"Colvin Accident Lawyers\", \"url\": \"https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/\"}}, \"mainEntity\": [{\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"What is the minimum auto insurance in California?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025 must carry 30\/60\/15 limits under Vehicle Code \u00a7 16056. 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A claim against a public entity must be presented within six months.\"}}], \"image\": \"https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/an-investigator-in-a-high-visibility-vest-places-a-numbered-photo-4.jpg\", \"mainEntityOfPage\": \"https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/resources\/wrongful-death-lawyer\/california-minimum-auto-insurance-wrongful-death-limits\/\", \"@type\": [\"Article\", \"FAQPage\"]}, {\"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\", \"@type\": \"BreadcrumbList\", \"itemListElement\": [{\"@type\": \"ListItem\", \"position\": 1, \"name\": \"Home\", \"item\": \"https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/\"}, {\"@type\": \"ListItem\", \"position\": 2, \"name\": \"Wrongful Death Lawyer\", \"item\": \"https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/resources\/wrongful-death-lawyer\/\"}, {\"@type\": \"ListItem\", \"position\": 3, \"name\": \"California Minimum Auto Insurance Wrongful Death Limits\", \"item\": \"https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/resources\/wrongful-death-lawyer\/california-minimum-auto-insurance-wrongful-death-limits\/\"}]}]","chg_meta_description":"California minimum auto insurance for wrongful death: what 30\/60\/15 limits mean per person and per accident, and why they may not cover every loss.","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-6162","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6162","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6162"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6162\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6933,"href":"https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6162\/revisions\/6933"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/997"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6162"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}