The short answer
- Health first, then evidence. Get checked by a doctor even if you feel fine, and keep photos, the police report number and the other driver's details.
- Tell your insurer, carefully. Report the crash, but think before giving a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer.
- Deadlines depend on your state. Each state sets its own clocks for reports and claims. Your state's page lists each one with its statute.
What happened?
Pick the kind of accident. Each guide starts with the short answer.
What to do now
What should I do right now? The first hour, the first days and the mistakes to avoid.
- What to Do After a Car AccidentJust had a car accident? What to do at the scene, what to photograph, when to see a doctor, what to report and when, and how to deal with insurance.
- Car Accident Checklist: What to Do at the SceneA car accident checklist for the scene: what to do in order, what to photograph, what to exchange and what not to say.
- Common Mistakes After a Car AccidentThe common mistakes people make after a car accident, from admitting fault to accepting the first offer, and what to do instead.
- Car Hit While Parked: What to DoCar damaged while parked? What to do if there is a note or none, how to find camera footage, and which of your own cover may pay.
Who was at fault
Who was responsible? Fault rules, partial fault and no-fault states.
- What to Do After a Car Accident That Wasn't Your FaultCar accident that wasn't your fault? What to do, what evidence proves it, how to handle the other insurer, and how shared fault can change things.
- Who's at Fault in a Rear-End Collision?Rear-end collision fault: why the rear driver is usually blamed, the real exceptions, chain-reaction crashes, shared fault and the evidence that matters.
- Who's at Fault in a T-Bone Collision?T-bone crash fault: who has the right-of-way at signals, stop signs and uncontrolled intersections, why side impacts are serious, and key evidence.
- Who's at Fault in a Left-Turn Accident?Left-turn accident fault: why the turning driver is usually blamed, how signals and arrows change it, when the other driver shares fault, and evidence.
- Parking Lot Accidents: Who's at Fault?Parking lot accident fault: who has priority, what happens when both cars are backing out, whether traffic laws apply, and the evidence that matters.
- No-Fault States ExplainedWhat a no-fault state means for your car accident claim: the 12 no-fault states, the three 'choice' states, and when you can still sue.
Injuries and bills
Was anyone hurt? Symptoms, treatment and who pays the medical bills.
- Car Accident Injuries: What to Watch ForCommon car accident injuries, which signs need emergency care, why some appear days later, and what to tell the doctor.
- Delayed Injury Symptoms After an AccidentWhy pain and other symptoms can appear hours or days after a car accident, which signs to watch for, when to get help, and why a dated record helps.
- Whiplash After a Car Accident: What to ExpectWhat whiplash is, how soon symptoms can start, how long recovery usually takes, which signs need urgent care, and how to document it.
- Concussion After a Car Accident: What to Watch ForYou don't need to black out or hit your head to have a concussion. Signs to watch for after a car accident, danger signs, recovery, and records to keep.
- Back and Neck Injuries After a Car AccidentBack and neck injuries range from muscle strain to nerve problems. Signs, emergency warnings, usual recovery and what to record.
- Herniated Disc After a Car AccidentA herniated disc after a crash: symptoms, why imaging matters, how insurers raise pre-existing arguments, and what treatment usually involves.
- Emotional Recovery After a Car AccidentAnxiety, flashbacks and fear of driving after a crash: what is common, how it usually eases, when to get support, and how it can be documented.
- Who Pays Your Medical Bills After a Car Accident?Who pays your medical bills after a car accident: health insurance, MedPay, PIP, liens, and what you may owe back when a claim settles.
- Med-Pay vs Health Insurance After an AccidentMedPay or health insurance after a crash: how they differ, how they work together, what to check in your policy, and what may be repaid.
- How Pain and Suffering Is Proven & DocumentedWhat pain and suffering covers after a car accident, how it is proven with records and a journal, and why some states limit non-economic damages.
Insurance and claims
What do I tell the insurer? Adjusters, repairs, settlements and how claims work.
- Dealing With Insurance After a Car AccidentHow to deal with insurance after a car accident: your insurer versus theirs, recorded statements, what insurers must do, and first offers.
- What Not to Say to an Insurance AdjusterWhat not to say to an insurance adjuster after a car accident: the phrases that weaken a claim, why they matter, and calm, factual replies to use.
- My Car Was Totaled: What Happens Next?A total-loss payout covers your car's value, not always your loan. How valuation works, how to dispute it, and what gap cover does.
- Diminished Value Claims ExplainedWhat diminished value is, who can claim it, how it is proved, and why your state matters.
- Should You Accept the First Settlement Offer?A first offer is usually an opening position, not a final one. How to check whether it is fair, what a release does, and what happens if you say no.
- How Car Accident Settlements WorkWhat a car accident settlement is, the steps from claim to agreement, what a release gives up, and why early offers deserve a second look.
- How Long Does a Car Accident Settlement Take?No fixed timeline: what speeds a car accident settlement up or slows it down, from how long treatment lasts to disputed fault and insurer deadlines.
- Average Car Accident Settlement: What Affects the OutcomeWhy a published average car accident settlement tells you little, and the factors that actually shape an outcome: damages, fault, policy limits, records.
- The Car Accident Claim Process, Step by StepThe car accident claim process from report to release: what to do at each stage, what to keep, and which deadlines and insurer rules matter.
Lawyers and deadlines
Do I need a lawyer, and how long do I have? When to get advice, what it costs and your state's deadlines.
- Do I Need a Lawyer After a Car Accident?Do you need a lawyer after a car accident? An honest answer: when you can handle it yourself, the signs that advice helps, and how fees work.
- When to Get a Lawyer for a Car AccidentWhen to get a lawyer after a car accident: the signs advice is worth having, the stages where timing matters, and when you can wait or skip it.
- Should I Get a Lawyer for a Minor Car Accident?Most minor car accidents don't need a lawyer. How to handle one yourself, and the warning signs that a 'minor' accident deserves a second look.
- How Much Does a Car Accident Lawyer Cost?How car accident lawyer fees work: contingency percentages, fees versus case costs, what 'no win, no fee' means, and what Florida's bar rules require.
- What Does a Car Accident Lawyer Do?What a car accident lawyer actually does: handling insurers, gathering evidence and negotiating, in plain English, plus what they can't do.
- Car Accident Statute of Limitations by StateCar accident statute of limitations for all 50 states: most allow two years, Tennessee one, and Maine, Minnesota and North Dakota six.
Common questions
What should I do first after a car accident?
Check for injuries and call for help if anyone is hurt, make the scene safe, and exchange details with the other driver. Then see a doctor, even if you feel fine, and keep a record of everything. Our step-by-step guide covers the first hour, the first week and the first month.
How long do I have to make a claim?
Each state sets its own deadline for an injury lawsuit, and some clocks are much shorter, such as the notice period for a claim against a government vehicle. Your state's page lists each deadline with its statute and the date we last checked it.
Do I have to talk to the other driver's insurance company?
You usually have to report the crash to your own insurer under your policy. Talking to the other driver's insurer is a different matter, and many people choose to say little until they understand their injuries. Our guide on what not to say to an adjuster explains why.
What if I was partly at fault?
Most states still let you recover something if you were partly to blame, but the rules differ. Some reduce what you can recover by your share of fault, and a few bar recovery altogether.
What is a no-fault state?
In a no-fault state you claim your own medical costs through your own insurance first, whoever caused the crash, and your right to sue the other driver is limited. Our guide to no-fault states lists them and explains the exceptions.
Do I need a lawyer?
Not always. Many minor crashes with no injury are settled directly with the insurer. People more often talk to a lawyer when injuries are serious, fault is disputed or an insurer denies the claim. Our guide sets out both sides honestly.
What kinds of vehicle accident do you cover?
Cars, trucks and 18-wheelers, motorcycles, rideshare (Uber and Lyft), commercial vehicles, pedestrians, bicycles, e-bikes and e-scooters, hit-and-runs and uninsured drivers. Each has a guide that starts with the short answer.
Where do I find the rules for my state?
Every state page lists the lawsuit deadline, the fault rule, the insurance system and the notice periods for claims against a government body, each with its statute. Start from the state picker or the laws-by-state guide.
General information, not legal advice. The Accident Advisory is not a law firm. Laws differ by state and change over time.