Can I sue if I was partially at fault for my car accident?

Yes, you can still recover compensation even if you were partially at fault. California follows a 'pure comparative negligence' rule, which means your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault, but you can still recover. If you're found 20% at fault and your damages are $50,000, you could still recover $40,000. The insurance company's initial assessment isn't final—an experienced attorney can often negotiate this percentage down.

The key question is whether your speeding actually contributed to the accident. If the other driver ran a red light, they had a duty to yield regardless of your speed. An accident reconstruction expert might be able to show that the collision would have occurred even if you were going the speed limit. I'd recommend consulting with an attorney before accepting any settlement.

Don't accept the insurance company's fault determination without question. They have a financial incentive to assign you as much fault as possible. Request a copy of the police report and any witness statements. If there's traffic camera footage, that could be crucial evidence. Many attorneys offer free consultations and work on contingency, so there's no upfront cost to explore your options.