# Accident Claim Facts > Plain-English guide to what happens after a car, truck or motorcycle accident in each US state: filing deadlines (statutes of limitations), fault rules (comparative and contributory negligence), insurance claims, what affects compensation and how to choose a lawyer. Every legal rule and number comes from an official or primary source (state statutes on legislature websites, NHTSA, BJS, FMCSA, state DOTs and bar associations) and is stored with its source and the date it was checked. General information, not legal advice. Talk to a licensed attorney in your state. - Every page has a Markdown version: add .md to the page address (example: https://accidentclaimfacts.com/about.md). - Deadlines and fault rules for all 50 states and DC as JSON: https://accidentclaimfacts.com/api/state-rules.json - All figures with sources as JSON: https://accidentclaimfacts.com/api/facts.json - Full plain-text digest: https://accidentclaimfacts.com/llms-full.txt - The site has no lawyer directory, names no law firms, promises no outcomes and gives no dollar settlement estimates. ## Start here - [What happens after a car accident, state by state](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/index.md): A plain-English guide to car, truck and motorcycle accident claims in every US state, with each state's deadlines and fault rules checked against its own laws. - [Accident types: how the kind of crash changes your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/accidents.md): The kind of crash decides who can be held responsible, which insurance policies pay and what evidence matters most. Start here, then read the guide for your… - [Car accident injuries: common types, medical records and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/injuries.md): How common crash injuries are documented and proven, why some symptoms appear later, what maximum medical improvement means and how the type of injury shapes… - [The car accident claim process, step by step](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/claim-process.md): From the police report and medical records to insurer calls, the demand letter, negotiation, a lawsuit and trial, with the deadlines that apply at each stage. - [Money and compensation after a car accident](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/money.md): What a car accident claim can pay for, which insurers pay and in what order, what liens, fees and costs take out of a settlement, how taxes work, and why no… - [Choosing a car accident lawyer: what to know before you sign](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/choosing-a-lawyer.md): When a lawyer helps after a crash, how to find and check one, what a first meeting covers, how contingency fees work, the warning signs to watch for and your… - [Car accident deadlines and fault rules in every state](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location.md): Filing deadlines for injury, vehicle damage and wrongful death claims, and the fault rule, for all 50 states and Washington, DC, each linked to the statute or… - [Free tools for car accident claims](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/tools.md): Plain-English tools that show the law, not a price: filing deadlines and their dates, fault rules, who pays medical bills first and what records to keep. - [Glossary of car accident claim terms](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary.md): Short, plain-English definitions of the legal and insurance terms that come up after a crash, each with an example, related terms and the sources behind it. - [Essays on car accident claims](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/blog.md): Longer explainers on the questions people ask after a crash, from the first 72 hours to deadlines, insurers, settlements and lawyers' fees. ## Guides: Accident types - [Car accident claims: how they work](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/accidents/car-accidents.md): A car accident claim asks the driver who caused the crash, through their insurer, to pay for your losses. Fault rules, no-fault laws, policy limits and… - [Truck accident claims: who pays and what is different](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/accidents/truck-accidents.md): Truck crash claims can involve the driver, the trucking company and others, federal safety rules and larger insurance policies. Some key records can be… - [Motorcycle accident claims: helmets, fault and insurance](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/accidents/motorcycle-accidents.md): Riders face much higher risks and some insurance gaps. Helmet laws vary by state, and whether riding without one affects a claim depends on state law and the… - [Pedestrian accident claims: whose insurance pays](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/accidents/pedestrian-accidents.md): A pedestrian hit by a car can claim against the driver's insurance and sometimes their own auto, health or uninsured motorist coverage. Right-of-way and fault… - [Bicycle accident claims: your rights and who pays](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/accidents/bicycle-accidents.md): Cyclists often have the same rights and duties on the road as drivers. After a crash, the driver's insurance usually pays, and your own auto policy may help… - [Rideshare accidents: how Uber and Lyft insurance works](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/accidents/rideshare-accidents.md): In an Uber or Lyft crash, the driver's app status decides whose insurance applies. The three stages, sample state minimums, who can claim and the trip details… - [Hit-and-run accidents: reporting, insurance and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/accidents/hit-and-run-accidents.md): After a hit-and-run, your own uninsured motorist coverage is often the main source of payment. Reporting rules, state proof requirements, evidence and what… - [Drunk driver accidents: the criminal case, your claim and who else may pay](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/accidents/drunk-driver-accidents.md): A drunk-driving crash usually leads to two cases: the state's criminal case and your own injury claim. How they differ, when punitive damages or a bar can be… - [Hit by an uninsured driver: how UM and UIM claims work](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/accidents/uninsured-driver-accidents.md): When the driver who hit you has no insurance or too little, your own policy usually becomes the main source of payment. How UM and UIM claims work, stacking… - [Company vehicle accidents: when an employer is responsible](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/accidents/company-vehicle-accidents.md): When the driver who hit you was working, the employer may be responsible too. How that rule works, contractors and gig drivers, government vehicles, and your… ## Guides: The claim process - [The police report after a car accident: what it says and how to get a copy](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/claim-process/police-report.md): What goes into a crash report, when you must file your own, how to order a copy and what it costs in Texas, Florida, New York and California, and how to… - [Medical records for a car accident claim: your rights, fees and what to ask for](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/claim-process/medical-records.md): Your HIPAA right to copies of your medical records and bills, how fast providers must answer and what they may charge, what to request for a claim, and what… - [Working with the insurance adjuster after a car accident](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/claim-process/insurance-adjuster.md): Who the adjuster works for, what they do with a claim, the deadlines many states set for insurers, what a reservation of rights letter means, and how to… - [Recorded statements after a car accident: your insurer, the other insurer and what to expect](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/claim-process/recorded-statement.md): Why insurers ask for recorded statements, how your own insurer differs from the other driver's, how statements are used later, and what people usually do to… - [The demand letter in a car accident claim: when it is sent and what it contains](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/claim-process/demand-letter.md): When a demand letter is usually sent, what goes into it, the documents that support it, state rules on policy-limits disclosure and time-limited demands, and… - [Settlement negotiation after a car accident: offers, releases and payment](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/claim-process/settlement-negotiation.md): How offers and counteroffers work after a demand letter, what signing a release ends, and what has to happen with liens, Medicare and children's claims before… - [Filing a car accident lawsuit: when it happens and what comes next](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/claim-process/filing-a-lawsuit.md): Why some car accident claims become lawsuits, the deadline that controls everything, the stages from complaint to trial, how rarely cases reach a verdict, and… - [Depositions in car accident cases: what they are and what to expect](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/claim-process/deposition.md): A deposition is sworn testimony taken before trial, with a court reporter recording every word. Here is who attends, how long it can last, what is asked and… - [Mediation in car accident cases: how it works and what comes next](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/claim-process/mediation.md): Mediation is a negotiation led by a neutral mediator who cannot decide the case. Learn when courts order it, what stays confidential, and what happens with or… - [How long does a car accident claim take?](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/claim-process/how-long-does-a-claim-take.md): There is no official average for how long a car accident claim takes. Here are the phases, the insurer deadlines, the court timelines and the things that slow… ## Guides: Money and compensation - [Types of damages in a car accident claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/money/types-of-damages.md): Car accident damages fall into three groups: economic losses with a bill or paycheck behind them, non-economic harm such as pain, and rare punitive damages… - [Pain and suffering after a car accident: what counts and how it is proven](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/money/pain-and-suffering.md): Pain and suffering covers the physical and emotional harm of an injury. No official formula sets the amount; it is proven with records and testimony, and some… - [Lost wages after a car accident: what you can claim and how to prove it](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/money/lost-wages.md): Lost wages cover the income an injury cost you, from missed shifts to used sick days. Pay records, employer letters and tax returns prove them, and in… - [Who pays your medical bills after a car accident](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/money/who-pays-medical-bills.md): The at-fault driver's insurer usually pays once, at settlement. Until then, your own PIP or MedPay, health insurance, Medicare or Medicaid pay first, and may… - [Medical liens and subrogation: who gets repaid from your settlement](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/money/medical-liens-and-subrogation.md): Hospitals, health plans, Medicare and Medicaid can claim part of an injury settlement to get back what they spent on your care. Here is how each claim works… - [Contingency fees: how car accident lawyers get paid](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/money/contingency-fees.md): Most injury lawyers are paid a share of what they recover for you. How that share is worked out, how case costs are handled and where the law caps the fee all… - [Are car accident settlements taxable?](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/money/are-settlements-taxable.md): Under federal law, damages for physical injuries are generally not taxable income, but punitive damages, interest and some other parts of a settlement can be… - [Property damage after a car accident: repairs, total loss and diminished value](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/money/property-damage-and-diminished-value.md): How to get your car repaired or replaced after a crash, what happens when it is totaled, when a rental car or diminished value is paid, and how long you have… ## Guides: Choosing a lawyer - [When to hire a car accident lawyer, and when people handle it alone](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/choosing-a-lawyer/when-to-hire-a-lawyer.md): Injury, disputed fault, commercial or government vehicles, a death, insurer delays and a close deadline are when people usually hire a lawyer. Small… - [Questions to ask a car accident lawyer, and why each one matters](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/choosing-a-lawyer/questions-to-ask-a-lawyer.md): A practical list of questions for a first meeting with a car accident lawyer, grouped by topic, with the reason behind each one and the professional rules… - [Lawyer fee agreements: what a contingency fee contract must say](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/choosing-a-lawyer/fee-agreements.md): What a contingency fee agreement must say under the ABA model rule, how case costs work and who pays them if the case is lost, the closing statement, and… - [Red flags when hiring a car accident lawyer, and how to complain](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/choosing-a-lawyer/red-flags.md): The warning signs to watch for when a lawyer contacts you or asks you to sign, the professional rules and state laws behind them, and how to complain to a… - [How to check a lawyer's license, discipline record and credentials](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/choosing-a-lawyer/check-a-lawyers-license.md): Every state keeps public records of the lawyers it licenses. How to look a lawyer up, read the listing, and check certification, malpractice insurance and… - [Lawyer referral services: how bar-run referrals work and what they cost](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/choosing-a-lawyer/lawyer-referral-services.md): Bar-run lawyer referral services match you with a screened lawyer, often for a low-cost first consultation. How they work, what they cost and how they differ… - [Changing lawyers during a car accident claim: your rights and the steps](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/choosing-a-lawyer/changing-lawyers.md): You can end a lawyer relationship at any time. What the first lawyer must do, how fees are usually handled when a new lawyer takes over a contingency case… - [Handling a car accident claim without a lawyer: steps and risks](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/choosing-a-lawyer/handling-a-claim-without-a-lawyer.md): Many people settle property-only and minor injury claims on their own. The steps, when small claims court fits, the risks of releases, deadlines and liens… ## Guides: Injury types - [Whiplash after a car accident: symptoms, records and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/injuries/whiplash.md): Whiplash is a soft-tissue injury of the neck, most often from rear-end crashes. How it is documented, and why insurers look hard at these claims. - [Traumatic brain injury and concussion after a car accident](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/injuries/traumatic-brain-injury.md): Concussion and other traumatic brain injuries from crashes: symptoms that can appear later, the limits of scans, specialist testing and how the injury is… - [Spinal cord injury after a car accident: what a claim involves](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/injuries/spinal-cord-injury.md): National data on spinal cord injuries from crashes, complete and incomplete injuries, long-term care needs, life care plans and why these claims take longer… - [Back and neck injuries after a car accident: discs, scans and old injuries](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/injuries/back-and-neck-injuries.md): Herniated discs, sprains and spine fractures from crashes; what X-rays and MRIs can show; how claims handle age-related wear and old injuries; and independent… - [Broken bones after a car accident: how a fracture claim works](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/injuries/broken-bones.md): A fracture can bring surgery, time off work and follow-up care. This guide explains how those losses, your medical records and any impairment rating fit into… - [Burn injuries after a car accident: what a claim involves](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/injuries/burn-injuries.md): Burns are described by how deep they go and how much of the body they cover. Here is how burn care, long recovery, scarring and disfigurement fit into a car… - [PTSD after a car accident: emotional distress and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/injuries/ptsd-after-a-car-accident.md): Emotional harm after a crash, including PTSD and anxiety, can be part of an injury claim. This guide covers what official health sources say, records, privacy… - [Wrongful death after a car accident: how a family's claim works](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/injuries/wrongful-death.md): When a crash takes a life, state law lets the family, or the estate on their behalf, bring a claim. This guide explains who may file, the deadlines, the… ## State guides - [Alabama car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/alabama.md): Alabama gives you two years to sue after a crash, and its contributory negligence rule can bar any recovery if you were even slightly at fault. - [Alaska car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/alaska.md): Alaska gives you two years to sue after a crash, lets you recover even if you were mostly at fault, and caps damages for pain and suffering. - [Arizona car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/arizona.md): Arizona gives you two years to sue after a crash and uses pure comparative fault, but a claim against a public body needs a notice of claim within 180 days. - [Arkansas car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/arkansas.md): Arkansas gives you three years to sue after a crash, bars recovery if your fault equals or exceeds the other side's, and requires insurers to offer PIP. - [California car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/california.md): California gives you two years to sue over crash injuries and three for vehicle damage, uses pure comparative fault, and needs a claim within six months… - [Colorado car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/colorado.md): Colorado gives you three years to sue over a car crash, bars recovery if you are 50% or more at fault, and needs a written notice within 182 days for claims… - [Connecticut car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/connecticut.md): Connecticut generally gives you two years to sue after a crash, with a three-year outer limit, and bars recovery only if your fault is greater than that of… - [Delaware car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/delaware.md): Delaware gives you two years to sue after a crash and bars recovery if you are more at fault than the other side. Every policy has PIP, and losses PIP can pay… - [District of Columbia car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/district-of-columbia.md): In DC you have three years to sue after most crashes, but a driver even slightly at fault can recover nothing. Pedestrians and cyclists get a softer rule… - [Florida car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/florida.md): Florida gives you two years to sue for most crash injuries and bars recovery above 50% fault. Your own PIP pays first, and pain and suffering claims need a… - [Georgia car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/georgia.md): Georgia generally gives you two years to sue for crash injuries and bars recovery at 50% fault or more. Claims against a city need written notice within six… - [Hawaii car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/hawaii.md): Hawaii gives you two years to sue after a crash and bars recovery above 50% fault. It is a no-fault state: you can sue the other driver only for a serious… - [Idaho car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/idaho.md): Idaho gives you two years to sue for crash injuries, bars recovery if your fault equals the other driver's, and requires a written claim within 180 days… - [Illinois car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/illinois.md): Illinois gives you two years to sue for crash injuries and five for vehicle damage, bars recovery above 50% fault, and allows only one year to sue a city or… - [Indiana car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/indiana.md): Indiana gives you two years to sue for crash injuries or vehicle damage, bars recovery above 50% fault, and requires notice within 180 days for claims against… - [Iowa car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/iowa.md): Iowa gives you two years to sue for crash injuries and five for vehicle damage, bars recovery above 50% fault, and lets a jury cut damages for not wearing a… - [Kansas car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/kansas.md): Kansas gives you two years to sue after a crash, pays first through no-fault PIP, and lets you sue for pain and suffering only past a $2,000 medical threshold… - [Kentucky car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/kentucky.md): Kentucky gives you two years to sue after a crash or the last PIP payment, uses choice no-fault with a $1,000 threshold, and lets you recover even if you were… - [Louisiana car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/louisiana.md): Louisiana now gives two years to sue for crashes after July 1, 2024, bars recovery at 51% fault from 2026, and limits what uninsured drivers can recover. - [Maine car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/maine.md): Maine gives you six years to sue for crash injuries, bars recovery if you are found equally at fault, and needs a written notice within 365 days for claims… - [Maryland car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/maryland.md): Maryland gives you three years to sue after a crash, but its contributory negligence rule can bar your whole claim if you were even slightly at fault. - [Massachusetts car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/massachusetts.md): Massachusetts is a no-fault state: PIP pays the first $8,000 of losses, pain-and-suffering suits need a qualifying injury, and most lawsuits must be filed… - [Michigan car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/michigan.md): Michigan is a no-fault state: your own PIP pays medical bills up to the level you chose, and you can sue for pain and suffering only after a serious injury… - [Minnesota car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/minnesota.md): Minnesota is a no-fault state with a six-year deadline for most injury lawsuits; pain-and-suffering claims need $4,000 in medical bills or a serious, lasting… - [Mississippi car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/mississippi.md): Mississippi gives you three years to sue after most crashes, lets you recover even if you were mostly at fault, and has strict notice rules for claims against… - [Missouri car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/missouri.md): Missouri allows five years to sue for most crash injuries but only three for wrongful death, uses pure comparative fault and sets formal rules for… - [Montana car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/montana.md): Montana gives you three years to sue for crash injuries but only two for vehicle damage, and bars recovery if your share of fault is greater than that of the… - [Nebraska car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/nebraska.md): Nebraska gives you four years to sue for crash injuries but two for wrongful death, and bars recovery if your share of fault equals or exceeds that of the… - [Nevada car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/nevada.md): Nevada gives you two years to sue for crash injuries and three years for vehicle damage, and bars recovery if your fault was greater than the other side's. - [New Hampshire car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/new-hampshire.md): New Hampshire gives you three years to sue after most crashes, bars recovery if you were more at fault than the other side, and does not require most drivers… - [New Jersey car accident law: deadlines, no-fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/new-jersey.md): New Jersey is a choice no-fault state: your own PIP pays medical bills first, and your policy's lawsuit option decides whether you can sue for pain and… - [New Mexico car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/new-mexico.md): New Mexico gives you three years to sue for crash injuries and uses pure comparative fault, so you can recover even if you were mostly to blame, reduced by… - [New York car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/new-york.md): New York is a no-fault state: your own coverage pays medical bills first, pain-and-suffering suits need a serious injury, and most injury suits must be filed… - [North Carolina car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/north-carolina.md): North Carolina gives you three years to sue after most crashes, but its contributory negligence rule can bar your whole claim if you were even slightly at… - [North Dakota car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/north-dakota.md): North Dakota is a no-fault state with a long six-year deadline for injury suits, but you can sue for pain and suffering only after a serious injury, and… - [Ohio car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/ohio.md): Ohio gives you two years to sue after a crash, bars recovery if you were more than 50% at fault, and caps pain-and-suffering damages in most injury cases… - [Oklahoma car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/oklahoma.md): Oklahoma gives you two years to sue after a crash, bars recovery if you were more than 50% at fault, and limits what a driver who had no insurance can recover. - [Oregon car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/oregon.md): Oregon gives you two years to sue for crash injuries and bars recovery above 50% fault. Every policy includes PIP, and claims against public bodies need… - [Pennsylvania car accident law: deadlines, tort options and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/pennsylvania.md): Pennsylvania gives you two years to sue after a crash and bars recovery above 50% fault. Your limited or full tort choice decides whether you can sue for pain… - [Rhode Island car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/rhode-island.md): Rhode Island gives you three years to sue for crash injuries and lets you recover even if you were mostly at fault, reduced by your share. Claims against the… - [South Carolina car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/south-carolina.md): South Carolina gives you three years to sue after most crashes, lets you recover if you were no more at fault than the other side, and gives a shorter… - [South Dakota car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/south-dakota.md): South Dakota gives you three years to sue for crash injuries and six for vehicle damage, but you recover only if your own negligence was slight compared with… - [Tennessee car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/tennessee.md): Tennessee gives you only one year to sue for crash injuries, the shortest general deadline of any state, and bars recovery if you were 50% or more at fault. - [Texas car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/texas.md): Texas gives you two years to sue after a crash, bars recovery if you are more than 50% at fault, and needs a written notice within six months for claims… - [Utah car accident law: no-fault, deadlines and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/utah.md): Utah is a no-fault state: your own PIP pays first, and you can sue for pain and suffering only after a serious injury or medical bills above the state's… - [Vermont car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/vermont.md): Vermont gives you three years to sue for crash injuries or vehicle damage, bars recovery if your fault is greater than the defendants' combined, and requires… - [Virginia car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/virginia.md): Virginia gives you two years to sue for crash injuries, and its contributory negligence rule can bar any recovery if your own carelessness helped cause the… - [Washington car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/washington.md): Washington gives you three years to sue after a crash and lets you recover even if you were mostly at fault, reduced by your share. Government claims need a… - [West Virginia car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/west-virginia.md): West Virginia gives you two years to sue after a crash, bars recovery if your fault is greater than everyone else's combined, and limits claims against cities… - [Wisconsin car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/wisconsin.md): Wisconsin gives you three years to sue for crash injuries, lets you recover only if your fault is not greater than the other party's, and requires uninsured… - [Wyoming car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/wyoming.md): Wyoming gives you four years to sue for crash injuries or vehicle damage, bars recovery if you are more than 50% at fault, and makes each defendant pay only… ## City guides - [Atlanta car accidents: deadlines, crash reports and city claims](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/atlanta.md): After a crash in Atlanta, Georgia law generally gives you two years to sue and bars recovery at 50% fault, but a claim against the City of Atlanta needs… - [Car accidents in Charlotte: deadlines, fault and crash reports](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/charlotte.md): North Carolina gives you three years to sue for crash injuries, but its contributory negligence rule can bar your claim if you were even slightly at fault. - [Car accidents in Chicago: deadlines, crash reports and city claims](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/chicago.md): Chicago crashes follow Illinois law: two years to sue and no recovery above 50% fault. Suing the City has a one-year limit, and expressway crashes go to the… - [Dallas car accidents: deadlines, crash reports and claims](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/dallas.md): Dallas crashes follow Texas law: two years to sue and a 51% fault bar. Claims against the City of Dallas need written notice within six months, and police… - [Denver car accidents: deadlines, crash reports and claims](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/denver.md): Denver crashes follow Colorado law: three years to sue over most car crashes and a 50% fault bar. Claims against the City and County of Denver need a written… - [Houston car accidents: deadlines, crash reports and claims](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/houston.md): Houston crashes follow Texas law: two years to sue and a 51% fault bar. Claims against the City need a sworn notice within 90 days, and HPD sells crash… - [Car accidents in Las Vegas: deadlines, reports and local rules](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/las-vegas.md): Nevada gives you two years to sue for crash injuries and bars recovery if you were more at fault than the other side. Las Vegas adds its own wrinkles: the… - [Car accidents in Los Angeles: deadlines, reports and city claims](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/los-angeles.md): Los Angeles follows California's two-year injury deadline and pure comparative fault, but a claim against the city or county must be filed within six months… - [Miami car accidents: deadlines, PIP and crash reports](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/miami.md): Miami crashes follow Florida law: two years to sue, no recovery above 50% fault, and PIP that pays only if you get care within 14 days. Miami-Dade had more… - [Car accidents in New York City: no-fault, deadlines and city claims](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/new-york-city.md): In New York City your own no-fault coverage pays first, you generally have three years to sue, and a claim against the City needs a notice of claim within 90… - [Orlando car accidents: deadlines, PIP and claims in Orange County](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/orlando.md): Orlando crashes follow Florida law: two years to sue, no recovery above 50% fault and PIP first. Orange County had the third most crash injuries of any… - [Car accidents in Philadelphia: deadlines, limited tort and city claims](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/philadelphia.md): Philadelphia crashes follow Pennsylvania law: two years to sue, no recovery above 50% fault, and a tort choice on your policy. Claims against the City need… - [Car accidents in Phoenix: deadlines, reports and city claims](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/phoenix.md): Arizona gives you two years to sue after a crash and uses pure comparative fault. A claim against the City of Phoenix or another public body needs a notice… - [San Antonio car accidents: deadlines, crash reports and claims](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/san-antonio.md): San Antonio crashes follow Texas law: two years to sue and a 51% fault bar. Claims against the City need written notice within 90 days, and SAPD crash reports… - [Tampa car accidents: deadlines, PIP and claims in Hillsborough County](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/tampa.md): Tampa crashes follow Florida law: two years to sue, no recovery above 50% fault and PIP first. Suits can be filed in Hillsborough County, and the local bar's… ## Tools - [Fault-rule explainer: how your share of blame changes a claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/tools/fault-rule-explainer.md): Slide your share of the blame and choose a state to see whether its fault rule lets you recover, and what share of your proven damages you could still claim. - [Deadline date calculator: when your filing deadline falls](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/tools/deadline-calculator.md): Choose your state, the type of claim and the date of the crash to see when the general deadline to file a lawsuit would fall, and how many days are left. - [Who pays my medical bills? The usual order in your state](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/tools/who-pays-my-medical-bills.md): Answer four questions to see the usual order in which PIP, MedPay, health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid and the at-fault driver's insurer pay crash medical… - [Claim file checklist: the records to keep after a car accident](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/tools/claim-file-checklist.md): Tick what happened in your crash to get a printable list of the documents and records worth keeping, from scene photos to medical bills and deadlines, with… ## Glossary - [Actual cash value](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/actual-cash-value.md): What a car was worth just before the crash: the cost to replace it minus depreciation for age and wear. It is the usual measure of a total-loss payment. - [Adjusted basis](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/adjusted-basis.md): For tax purposes, generally what you paid for property, plus improvements, minus certain deductions such as depreciation. It is used to work out whether money… - [Arbitration](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/arbitration.md): A private process in which a neutral arbitrator hears both sides and decides the dispute. Whether the decision is binding depends on the agreement or the… - [Blood alcohol concentration (BAC)](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/blood-alcohol-concentration.md): The amount of alcohol in a person's blood, measured in grams per deciliter. A breath or blood test after a crash records it. - [Bodily injury liability](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/bodily-injury-liability.md): The part of a driver's auto policy that pays for injuries they cause to other people. - [Case costs](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/case-costs.md): Out-of-pocket expenses of pursuing a claim, such as filing fees, medical records, expert witnesses and court reporters. They are separate from the lawyer's fee. - [Causation](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/causation.md): The link between someone's careless act and your injury. You must show the crash caused the harm you are claiming. - [Client trust account](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/client-trust-account.md): A bank account a lawyer must keep separate from the firm's own money. Settlement checks and other client funds go into it until they are paid out. - [Closing statement](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/closing-statement.md): A written breakdown given at the end of a contingency fee case. It shows the amount recovered, the lawyer's fee, each cost and lien paid, and what the client… - [Collateral source rule](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/collateral-source-rule.md): The rule on whether money you received from other sources, such as health insurance, reduces what the person at fault must pay. States handle it very… - [Common-fund doctrine](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/common-fund-doctrine.md): A rule that someone who shares in a recovery, such as a health plan being repaid from your settlement, should pay its fair share of the lawyer's fees and… - [Comparative negligence](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/comparative-negligence.md): A rule that splits blame between the people involved and cuts your recovery by your own share of fault. - [Contingency fee](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/contingency-fee.md): A lawyer's fee paid as a share of what you recover. If there is no recovery, there is usually no fee. - [Contributory negligence](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/contributory-negligence.md): An older rule, still used in a few places, under which any fault of your own can bar you from recovering anything. - [Cooperation clause](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/cooperation-clause.md): The part of an insurance policy that requires you to help your own insurer investigate, settle or defend a claim, for example by giving statements and… - [Crash report](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/crash-report.md): The official report an officer writes after investigating a crash, with the drivers, vehicles, witnesses and the officer's notes. - [Damages](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/damages.md): The money a court can award, or a settlement pays, to make up for losses caused by someone else's wrong. - [Deposition](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/deposition.md): Sworn testimony given out of court, in front of a court reporter, during discovery. - [Designated record set](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/designated-record-set.md): The records a health care provider or health plan keeps about you and uses to make decisions, including medical and billing records. Your HIPAA right of… - [Diminished value](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/diminished-value.md): The drop in a car's market value after it has been damaged and repaired, because buyers often pay less for a car with a crash history. - [Discovery](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/discovery.md): The stage of a lawsuit in which each side must share documents and answer questions under oath. - [Disfigurement](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/disfigurement.md): A lasting change to how a person looks, such as scarring from burns, wounds or surgery. Some state laws name it as a type of non-economic damages or as a… - [Dram shop law](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/dram-shop-law.md): A law that can make a bar or store liable for serving alcohol to someone who then causes a crash. - [Duty of care](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/duty-of-care.md): The legal obligation to act with reasonable care toward others. Every driver owes it to everyone else on the road. - [Economic damages](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/economic-damages.md): Losses with a receipt or a paycheck behind them: medical bills, lost wages, repairs and other out-of-pocket costs. - [Eggshell plaintiff rule](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/eggshell-plaintiff.md): The rule that a person who causes an injury is responsible for all the harm it does, even if the injured person was unusually fragile, for example because of… - [Examination under oath](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/examination-under-oath.md): Formal questioning of a policyholder by their own insurer, under oath and usually recorded by a court reporter. Many policies allow the insurer to require one… - [Exemplary damages](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/exemplary-damages.md): Texas's term for punitive damages, awarded only for fraud, malice or gross negligence, and capped by statute. - [Financial responsibility](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/financial-responsibility.md): A state rule that drivers must be able to pay for crash damage they cause, usually shown with an insurance policy or other approved proof. - [First-party claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/first-party-claim.md): A claim you make to your own insurance company under your own policy, such as a PIP or collision claim. - [Gross negligence](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/gross-negligence.md): Conduct done with conscious or reckless disregard for the rights and safety of others. It is more serious than ordinary carelessness. - [Guardian ad litem](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/guardian-ad-litem.md): A person, often a lawyer, whom a court appoints to look after the interests of a child or another person who cannot act for themselves in one particular case. - [HIPAA authorization](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/hipaa-authorization.md): A signed form that lets a doctor, hospital or other provider release your health information to someone else, such as an insurer. It must say what is… - [Hit-and-run](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/hit-and-run.md): A crash in which a driver leaves without stopping, giving information or helping the injured, as the law requires. - [Impairment rating](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/impairment-rating.md): A doctor's measure, usually a percentage, of the lasting loss of function an injury left once recovery has leveled off. It describes the body, not the value… - [Independent contractor](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/independent-contractor.md): A worker who runs their own business and controls how the work is done. The respondeat superior rule that applies to employees does not apply to independent… - [Independent medical exam (IME)](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/independent-medical-exam.md): An exam by a doctor chosen by the insurer or the defense. Despite the name, that doctor is not your doctor. - [Bad faith](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/bad-faith.md): An insurer's unreasonable refusal or delay in paying a valid claim. Many states allow extra penalties for it. - [Interrogatories](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/interrogatories.md): Written questions that one side in a lawsuit sends to the other side, which must be answered in writing and under oath. - [Justice court](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/justice-court.md): A Texas court led by a justice of the peace. It hears small civil cases, including small claims, up to a dollar limit set by state law, with simpler… - [Last clear chance](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/last-clear-chance.md): An exception to contributory negligence. An injured person who was partly at fault may still recover if the other party saw, or should have seen, the danger… - [Board certification](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/board-certification.md): An optional credential showing that a lawyer met extra experience, testing and education standards in one field of law. A lawyer does not need it to practice. - [Fee agreement](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/fee-agreement.md): The written contract that hires a lawyer. It says what work the lawyer will do, how the fee is worked out and who pays the costs of the case. - [Lawyer referral service](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/lawyer-referral-service.md): A service, often run by a state or local bar association, that listens to a caller's problem and refers them to a lawyer on its panel who handles that kind of… - [Legal malpractice](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/legal-malpractice.md): A lawyer's failure to use the skill and care a reasonable lawyer would use, causing the client a loss, such as missing a filing deadline. - [Liability](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/liability.md): Legal responsibility for harm. The driver who is liable, usually through their insurer, pays the damages. - [Liberative prescription](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/liberative-prescription.md): Louisiana's name for a statute of limitations: the period after which a claim can no longer be brought because it was not pursued in time. - [Life care plan](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/life-care-plan.md): A report, usually prepared by a medical or rehabilitation expert, listing the care, equipment and services a seriously injured person is expected to need over… - [Loss of consortium](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/loss-of-consortium.md): A claim by the spouse (in some states, other close family members) of an injured person for the loss of companionship, care and relationship caused by the… - [Loss of earning capacity](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/loss-of-earning-capacity.md): A lasting reduction in your ability to earn money because of an injury. It looks at what you could have earned, not only at the paychecks you have already… - [Loss of use](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/loss-of-use.md): Your loss from being without your car while it is repaired or replaced, often measured by the cost of a comparable rental car for a reasonable time. - [Made-whole doctrine](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/made-whole-doctrine.md): A rule used in many states that an insurer or health plan should not be repaid from your recovery until you have been fully compensated. Policy or plan… - [Maximum medical improvement (MMI)](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/maximum-medical-improvement.md): The point at which doctors expect no further recovery. Claims are often valued once you reach it. - [Mediation](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/mediation.md): A meeting led by a neutral mediator who helps both sides try to reach a settlement. Nothing is decided unless both agree. - [Conditional payment](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/conditional-payment.md): A payment Medicare makes for care that another payer, such as a liability insurer, may owe. It must be repaid when a settlement, judgment or award is paid. - [Mitigation of damages](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/mitigation-of-damages.md): Your duty to take reasonable steps to limit your losses after an injury, such as following medical advice. Losses you could reasonably have avoided may not be… - [Modified comparative fault](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/modified-comparative-fault.md): Comparative negligence with a cut-off: once your share of blame reaches the state's bar (50% or 51%), you recover nothing. - [Negligence per se](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/negligence-per-se.md): Breaking a safety law, such as a traffic or trucking rule, that was meant to prevent the kind of harm that happened. In many states it proves negligence or… - [Negligence](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/negligence.md): Failing to use the care a reasonable person would use in the same situation, such as running a red light or texting while driving. - [Non-economic damages](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/noneconomic-damages.md): Losses without a price tag, such as pain, suffering, emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life. - [Notice of claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/notice-of-claim.md): A written notice that must be sent to a city, county or state agency before you can sue it, often within a few months. - [Personal injury protection (PIP)](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/personal-injury-protection.md): Coverage under your own policy that pays medical bills and some lost income after a crash, whoever caused it. - [Personal representative](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/personal-representative.md): The executor named in a will, or an administrator a court appoints, who manages a deceased person's estate. In some states this person files the wrongful… - [Phantom vehicle](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/phantom-vehicle.md): A vehicle that causes a crash without touching you and then leaves, such as a car that forces you off the road. Some states cover it under uninsured motorist… - [Policy limits](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/policy-limits.md): The most an insurance policy will pay for one claim or one accident, no matter how large the losses are. - [Pre-existing condition](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/pre-existing-condition.md): A health problem you had before the crash. You generally cannot claim for the condition itself, but you can claim for the extent to which the crash made it… - [Preservation letter](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/preservation-letter.md): A letter asking a person or company to keep specific evidence, such as driving logs, video or vehicle data, because a claim is likely. - [Pro hac vice](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/pro-hac-vice.md): Latin for "for this occasion." Permission from a court for a lawyer licensed in another state to take part in one specific case. Courts commonly require a… - [Proportionate responsibility](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/proportionate-responsibility.md): Texas's name for its comparative-fault system: the jury assigns each party a percentage of responsibility. - [Psychotherapist-patient privilege](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/psychotherapist-patient-privilege.md): A rule that keeps what a patient tells a mental-health professional out of court, with exceptions, such as when the patient makes their own mental condition… - [Punitive damages](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/punitive-damages.md): Extra damages meant to punish very bad conduct, not to repay a loss. Many states cap them; Texas calls them exemplary damages. - [Pure comparative fault](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/pure-comparative-fault.md): The version of comparative negligence that lets you recover something even if you were mostly at fault, reduced by your share. - [Quantum meruit](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/quantum-meruit.md): Payment for the reasonable value of work already done when there is no completed contract to pay under, such as a lawyer discharged before a case ends. - [Recorded statement](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/recorded-statement.md): An interview, often by phone, that an adjuster records about how the crash happened and how you were hurt. - [Release (settlement release)](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/release.md): The document you sign when you settle. It usually ends your right to claim more for the same crash, so read it carefully. - [Reservation of rights](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/reservation-of-rights.md): A letter in which an insurer says it will keep handling or defending a claim while keeping the right to deny coverage later, for example because of a possible… - [Respondeat superior](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/respondeat-superior.md): The rule that makes an employer legally responsible for harm an employee causes while doing the job, that is, within the scope of employment. - [Restitution](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/restitution.md): Money a criminal court orders an offender to pay a victim for losses caused by the crime, such as medical bills or lost pay. It is separate from a civil claim. - [Right-of-way](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/right-of-way.md): The legal right to go first at a crossing, intersection or lane. Traffic laws say who has it; breaking the rule can be evidence of fault. - [Runner (capper)](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/runner.md): Someone paid to find accident victims and steer them to a particular lawyer, clinic or repair shop. Using runners is illegal in some states, including… - [Self-funded health plan](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/self-funded-plan.md): An employer health plan that pays claims from the employer's own funds instead of buying an insurance policy. It is governed mainly by federal ERISA law, not… - [Serious injury threshold](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/serious-injury-threshold.md): A rule in some no-fault states that lets you sue the at-fault driver for pain and suffering only if your injury meets a legal definition of serious, or a… - [Service of process](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/service-of-process.md): Formally delivering the summons and complaint to the person being sued, in a way the court's rules allow, so they know about the lawsuit and can respond. - [Small claims court](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/small-claims-court.md): A simpler court, or part of a court, for money disputes below a set dollar limit. Its procedures are informal, and people usually represent themselves. - [Social host liability](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/social-host-liability.md): Legal responsibility of a private person who serves alcohol, for example at a party, for harm a drunk guest later causes. The rules vary a lot by state. - [Soft-tissue injury](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/soft-tissue-injury.md): An injury to muscles, ligaments or tendons rather than to bones, such as whiplash, which is a sprain or strain of the neck. - [Sovereign immunity](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/sovereign-immunity.md): The rule that governments cannot be sued unless a law allows it. Tort claims acts allow some claims, with limits. - [Spoliation of evidence](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/spoliation.md): Destroying, losing or altering evidence that should have been kept for a likely claim. Courts can penalize it, for example by telling the jury it may assume… - [Stacking (UM and UIM coverage)](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/stacking.md): Adding together the uninsured or underinsured motorist limits for more than one vehicle or policy, where state law and the policy allow it. - [Statute of limitations](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/statute-of-limitations.md): The law that sets the last day to file a lawsuit. After it passes, a court will usually dismiss the case, however strong it is. - [Structured settlement](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/structured-settlement.md): A settlement paid as a series of future payments, often funded by an annuity, instead of one lump sum. The amounts and dates are fixed when the settlement is… - [Substitution of counsel](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/substitution-of-counsel.md): A filing, sometimes needing a judge's approval, that replaces one lawyer with another as the lawyer of record in a pending lawsuit. - [Summary judgment](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/summary-judgment.md): A ruling that decides a case, or part of it, without a trial because the important facts are not genuinely disputed and one side is entitled to win under the… - [Survival action](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/survival-action.md): A claim the person who died could have brought if they had lived, such as for their medical bills and lost pay before death. It is usually brought for the… - [Third-party claim](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/third-party-claim.md): A claim you make against the other driver's insurance because their driver caused your losses. - [Time-limited demand](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/time-limited-demand.md): A settlement offer to an insurer that must be accepted within a stated period. Some states set rules for what such a demand must contain and how long it must… - [Tolling](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/tolling.md): Pausing the limitations clock, for example while the injured person is a child. - [Total loss](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/total-loss.md): When an insurer decides a damaged car is not worth repairing, usually because repairs would cost about as much as the car is worth or more. The insurer pays… - [Transportation network company (TNC)](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/transportation-network-company.md): The legal name for a rideshare company, such as Uber or Lyft, that uses an app to connect riders with drivers who use their own cars. - [Uninsured motorist coverage](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/uninsured-motorist-coverage.md): Coverage under your own policy that pays when the at-fault driver has no insurance, or too little. - [Venue](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/venue.md): The county or court location where a lawsuit is filed and heard. State rules decide the proper venue, often the place where the events happened or where the… - [What is barratry?](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/barratry.md): Stirring up lawsuits or soliciting clients illegally, for example by paying people to sign up crash victims for a lawyer. Some states, including Texas, make… - [Dooring](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/dooring.md): A crash in which someone opens a parked car's door into the path of a cyclist or other road user. State laws, such as those in Texas and Florida, forbid… - [Medical payments coverage (MedPay)](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/medical-payments-coverage.md): Coverage on your own auto policy that pays medical bills after a crash, up to a set limit, whoever caused it. Unlike PIP, it usually does not pay lost income. - [What is subrogation?](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/subrogation.md): An insurer's right to be repaid from your settlement for what it already paid on your behalf. - [Complaint](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/complaint.md): The document that starts a civil lawsuit. It names the parties, describes what happened and says what the person suing asks the court to award. - [Demand letter](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/demand-letter.md): A letter that lays out the facts, injuries and losses in a claim and asks the insurer to pay a stated amount. - [Lien](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/lien.md): A legal claim on part of your settlement by someone who paid for your care, such as a hospital, health plan or Medicare. - [What is a settlement?](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/settlement.md): An agreement to resolve a claim for an agreed payment, usually in exchange for giving up the right to sue. - [What is a subpoena?](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/subpoena.md): A court order that requires a person to appear and testify, or to hand over documents. Witnesses who are not parties are usually brought to a deposition with… - [What is a tort?](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/tort.md): A wrong that causes harm to someone and lets them sue for compensation. A car-crash injury claim is a tort claim. - [Insurance adjuster](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/adjuster.md): The insurance company employee who investigates a claim, decides what the policy covers and negotiates payment. - [Workers' compensation](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/workers-compensation.md): State insurance systems that pay medical care and part of lost wages to workers hurt on the job, usually whoever was at fault. - [Wrongful death](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/wrongful-death.md): A claim brought by family members or the estate when someone dies because of another person's wrongful act. ## Essays - [What to do in the first 72 hours after a car accident](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/blog/first-72-hours-after-a-car-accident.md): An hour-by-hour guide to the first three days after a crash: staying safe, getting checked, reporting, starting a claim file and handling insurers before you… ## About this site - [About Accident Claim Facts](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/about.md): An independent, plain-English guide to what happens after a car, truck or motorcycle accident in each US state. - [Editorial policy](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/editorial-policy.md): How we research, source, review and update every guide, and the rules we follow so the site stays accurate and independent. - [Contact us](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/contact.md): Send corrections, questions about a page, privacy requests or advertising enquiries to the editorial team. - [Privacy policy](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/privacy.md): What we collect, why, how long we keep it and the choices you have. - [Cookie policy](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/cookies.md): Which cookies and browser storage the site uses, and how to change your choice. - [Terms of use](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/terms.md): The rules for using this site and its content. - [Disclaimer](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/disclaimer.md): Why the site is general information, not legal advice, and what that means for you. - [Advertising disclosure](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/advertising-disclosure.md): How advertising works on the site and how we keep it separate from our guides.