Comparative fault is the rule that splits responsibility for an accident between the people involved. California is a pure comparative-fault state, which means if you were partly to blame, your recovery is reduced by your share, but you are not barred from recovering at all.
Here is how it plays out. Say you are hurt in a crash and the other driver was mostly at fault, but you were going a little over the speed limit. An adjuster or a jury might decide you were partly responsible. Whatever percentage of blame lands on you gets subtracted from your damages. Even if you carry a large share of the fault, you can still recover something for the rest. That is what "pure" means here. Some states cut you off once you cross a certain percentage. California does not.
This matters because insurance companies lean on comparative fault hard. Pinning some of the blame on you is one of the main ways an adjuster tries to shrink a payout. That comes up constantly in car accidents, pedestrian accidents, and slip-and-fall claims. Having someone push back on their version of events can change what your case is worth.
This is general information, not legal advice, and every case turns on its own facts.
If an insurer is trying to blame you for your own injuries, talk to a lawyer first. Call Crudo Law at (858) 622-7280 or reach us through /contact. The consultation is free and confidential.