Two very different rules under one state
For an ordinary personal injury claim — a car accident, a slip-and-fall, a dog bite — California places no cap on noneconomic damages at all. The full multiplier range applies, reduced only by your own share of fault.
For medical malpractice, Cal. Civ. Code §3333.2 (MICRA) caps noneconomic damages. From 1975 to 2023 this was a flat $250,000. Assembly Bill 35 (2022) replaced that with an escalating schedule: $470,000 for non-fatal claims and $650,000 for wrongful death claims in 2026, rising $40,000 and $50,000 per year respectively until 2033, then adjusting 2% annually. Up to three separate caps can apply in one case — one each for healthcare providers, healthcare institutions, and an unaffiliated provider or institution.