Legal Question in Personal Injury in California

If the facts are completely different -- i.e. a different accident -- you can petition the court to sever (or bifurcate) the cases. Usually, if your injuries are the result of the same accident, it makes sense to try the cases together so the decision will be consistent regarding who was at fault. You can present your own set of damages -- i.e. injuries and personal property damages, which the trier of fact usually is asked to determine for each person based upon their specific evidence.