CHAPTER 1. Civil Liability of Owners and Operators of Vehicles [17000. - 17463.]

Chapter 1 enacted by Stats. 1959, Ch. 3.

§§ 17000–17463 · 38 sections

1. ARTICLE 1. Public Agencies §§ 17000–17004.7 · 6 sections

   • § 17000 As used in this chapter: (a) “Employee” includes an officer, employee, or servant, whether or not compensated, but does not include an independent contractor.…
   • § 17001 A public entity is liable for death or injury to person or property proximately caused by a negligent or wrongful act or omission in the operation of any motor…
   • § 17002 Subject to Article 4 (commencing with Section 825) of Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 3.6 of Title 1 of the Government Code, a public entity is liable for…
   • § 17004 A public employee is not liable for civil damages on account of personal injury to or death of any person or damage to property resulting from the operation,…
   • § 17004.5 Any private firm or corporation, or employee thereof, which maintains a fire department and has entered into a mutual aid agreement pursuant to Section 13855,…
   • § 17004.7 (a) The immunity provided by this section is in addition to any other immunity provided by law. The adoption of a vehicle pursuit policy by a public agency…
2. ARTICLE 2. Private Owners §§ 17150–17159 · 11 sections

   • § 17150 Every owner of a motor vehicle is liable and responsible for death or injury to person or property resulting from a negligent or wrongful act or omission in…
   • § 17150.5 The presumptions created by Section 803 of the Family Code as to the acquisition of property by a married woman by an instrument in writing shall not apply in…
   • § 17151 (a) The liability of an owner, bailee of an owner, or personal representative of a decedent imposed by this chapter and not arising through the relationship of…
   • § 17152 In any action against an owner, bailee of an owner, or personal representative of a decedent on account of liability imposed by Sections 17150, 17154, or 17159…
   • § 17153 If there is recovery under this chapter against an owner, bailee of an owner, or personal representative of a decedent, the owner, bailee of an owner, or…
   • § 17154 If the bailee of an owner with the permission, express or implied, of the owner permits another to operate the motor vehicle of the owner, then the bailee and…
   • § 17155 If two or more persons are injured or killed in one accident, the owner, bailee of an owner, or personal representative of a decedent may settle and pay any…
   • § 17156 If a motor vehicle is sold under a contract of conditional sale whereby the title to such motor vehicle remains in the vendor, such vendor or his assignee…
   • § 17157 If a motor vehicle is gratuitously loaned to a school district, the bailee and not the bailor shall be deemed to be the owner within the provisions of this…
   • § 17158 No person riding in or occupying a vehicle owned by him and driven by another person with his permission has any right of action for civil damages against the…
   • § 17159 Every person who is a personal representative of a decedent who has control or possession of a motor vehicle subject to administration for the purpose of…
3. ARTICLE 2.5. Uninsured Owners §§ 17200–17202 · 3 sections

   • § 17200 Where an uninsured owner or operator has obtained a judgment against or agreed to a settlement with the owner or operator of an insured motor vehicle based on…
   • § 17201 The payment of any settlement with an uninsured owner or operator or the payment of any final judgment for damages obtained by an uninsured owner or operator…
   • § 17202 This article is not intended to affect the rights granted pursuant to subdivision (g) of Section 11580.2 of the Insurance Code.
4. ARTICLE 3. Liability for Damage to Highway §§ 17300–17303 · 4 sections

   • § 17300 (a) A person who willfully or negligently damages a street or highway, or its appurtenances, including, but not limited to, guardrails, signs, traffic signals,…
   • § 17301 (a) Any person driving any vehicle, object, or contrivance over a highway or bridge is liable for all damages which the highway or bridge may sustain as a…
   • § 17302 The driver, or the owner and driver, jointly, as the case may be, are also liable for all damages that any highway or bridge sustains as the result of any…
   • § 17303 Damages under Sections 17301 and 17302 may be recovered in a civil action brought by the authorities in control of the highway or bridge.
5. ARTICLE 4. Service of Process §§ 17450–17463 · 14 sections

   • § 17450 As used in this chapter, “nonresident” means a person who is not a resident of this State at the time the accident or collision occurs.
   • § 17451 The acceptance by a nonresident of the rights and privileges conferred upon him by this code or any operation by himself or agent of a motor vehicle anywhere…
   • § 17452 Where the nonresident has died prior to the commencement of an action brought pursuant to this article, service of process shall be made on the executor or…
   • § 17453 The acceptance of rights and privileges under this code or any operation of a motor vehicle anywhere within this state as specified in Section 17451 shall be a…
   • § 17454 Service of process shall be made by leaving one copy of the summons and complaint in the hands of the director or in his office at Sacramento or by mailing…
   • § 17455 A notice of service and a copy of the summons and complaint shall be forthwith sent by registered mail by the plaintiff or his attorney to the defendant.…
   • § 17456 Proof of compliance with Section 17455 shall be made in the event of service by mail by affidavit of the plaintiff or his attorney showing said mailing,…
   • § 17457 The court in which the action is pending may order such continuances as may be necessary to afford the defendant reasonable opportunity to defend the action.
   • § 17458 The director shall keep a record of all process served upon him under this article which record shall show the day and hour of service.
   • § 17459 The acceptance by a resident of this state of a certificate of ownership or a certificate of registration of any motor vehicle or any renewal thereof, issued…
   • § 17460 The acceptance or retention by a resident of this state of a driver’s license issued pursuant to the provisions of this code, shall constitute the consent of…
   • § 17461 In the event summons is served outside of this state, pursuant to Sections 17459 and 17460, it may be served and proof of service shall be made, in the manner…
   • § 17462 In the event of service outside the State, the person so served shall have 60 days in which to appear in the action in which the summons is issued.
   • § 17463 Notwithstanding any provisions of Section 351 of the Code of Civil Procedure to the contrary, when summons may be personally served upon a person as provided…