Recovering damages after a motor vehicle collision, from fender-benders to catastrophic crashes.
Car accident claims are the most common category of personal injury case, but they carry their own layer of complexity: state-specific insurance requirements, police reporting rules, and — in some states — a no-fault system that changes who you can sue and when. Understanding how your state structures auto insurance liability is often the first step to knowing what your claim is realistically worth and who is responsible for paying it.
A police report creates an independent, timestamped record of the scene, statements, and often a preliminary fault assessment that insurers weigh heavily.
License plates, insurance cards, vehicle positions, skid marks, traffic signals, and visible damage all matter later.
Adrenaline commonly masks soft-tissue and whiplash-type injuries for 24-72 hours; an early exam creates the medical record tying injuries to the crash date.
Most policies require prompt notice regardless of fault, and delays can jeopardize coverage such as uninsured motorist or MedPay benefits.
Their adjuster's job is to minimize the payout, not maximize your recovery; recorded statements and quick settlement offers deserve real scrutiny.
Once you sign a settlement release, the claim is closed permanently, even if new injuries or complications surface later.
In a no-fault state, your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage generally pays your initial medical bills and lost wages regardless of who caused the crash, and lawsuits against the other driver are limited to serious injury cases. In an at-fault (tort) state, the driver who caused the crash — and their insurer — is directly responsible for all resulting damages from the first dollar.
Many low-damage, no-injury claims can be resolved directly with the insurer. Legal help becomes far more valuable once there is any injury, a fault dispute, a total-loss vehicle, or an insurer offering less than your documented losses.
Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage on your own policy, where purchased, typically steps in to cover your losses in this situation — one of the most common reasons attorneys recommend carrying UM/UIM coverage even though it isn't mandatory everywhere.
Insurers generally pay the vehicle's actual cash value (ACV) immediately before the crash, based on comparable local sales, mileage, and condition — not the amount still owed on a loan, which is why gap insurance matters for financed vehicles.
Rules vary by insurer and state, but many states restrict or prohibit surcharging a driver's premium for an accident where they were not at fault; check your state's specific consumer protection rules.
Select your state for deadlines, fault rules, court information, and a full walkthrough specific to where you live.
Compensation for physical, emotional, and financial harm caused by another party's negligence.
Ending a marriage and resolving property, support, and parenting arrangements that follow.
Establishing legal and physical custody, visitation, and parenting time arrangements.
Protecting your rights and building a defense after being charged with a crime.