After a vehicle accident in the US
Know your deadlines, your state's fault rules, and your next step.
Free calculators and plain-English guides built from each state's statutes and official sources, so you can talk to insurers, and decide whether you need a lawyer, with the facts in hand.
Edited by Serdar Arslan · Updated · Methodology · What changed
Start with your state
Start from what happened
Pick the line closest to where you are now. Each one points to the guide, tool or letter that fits it best.
The other driver's insurer called me
You can give basic facts. You generally don't owe them a recorded statement.
My car was totaled
Check the offer, the comparables and what you still owe on the loan.
The insurer says I was at fault
A fault decision can be disputed, and in most states shared fault still lets you recover.
I'm hurt and the bills are coming
Who pays first depends on your state and your coverage. Keep every bill.
My claim is stuck and no one answers
Many states set time limits for insurers to respond. Put your requests in writing.
I need my police report
Ask the agency that responded. Have the report number and date ready.
I got sued or got a demand letter
Don't ignore court papers. Tell your own insurer right away, since your policy may require it to defend you.
I need a rental car
Count the days without your car and what the insurer has paid so far.
Start with a plan
Tell the claim roadmap where and when the crash happened and a few facts about it. It lays out what to do this week, which deadlines apply in your state, and when they run out. You can add the dates to your phone's calendar.
Build my roadmapKeep the whole claim in one file
The claim file builder collects the crash facts, bills, lost pay, your contact log and photos, then prints them as one organized file with numbered exhibits.
Start my claim fileNothing you type into our tools is sent to us. They run in your browser.
Other tools people use after a crash
All 23 tools, grouped →- Insurance Claim Delay CheckerSee how long your claim has waited, whether your state's claims-handling time limits look overdue, and get an escalation plan and follow-up letter.
- Rental Car & Loss-of-Use CalculatorCount the days you were without your car, compare what you paid with what the insurer covered, and get a demand letter. Also checks your own rental limits and rental-company damage bills.
- Total Loss Offer CheckerCheck the insurer's comparables, mileage adjustments and condition deductions, get a fair-value range from your own listings, and draft a counter-offer letter.
- Diminished Value CalculatorSee how insurers' common formula values the loss in your car's resale value after repairs, and what evidence can move the number.
- Tow & Storage Fee CalculatorTrack daily storage charges since the crash, see what you may owe, and get a letter asking the insurer to move the car or pay.
- Car Loan Total Loss & Gap CalculatorSee what insurance and gap pay against your loan payoff, estimate refunds from canceling add-ons, and find out what you may still owe.
- Crash Scene ChecklistOpen it on your phone right after a crash: safety steps, a time and GPS stamp, the other driver's details and the photos to take.
- Who Pays My Medical Bills?See who usually pays first in your state (PIP, MedPay, health plan, Medicare) and who may ask to be repaid from a settlement.
- Settlement Offer CheckCompare an offer with the losses you can document, apply your state's fault rule and see what reaches you after fees and liens.
- Symptom and Pain JournalLog pain, symptoms, treatment and missed work each day, watch the trend on a chart, then print or export the record.
- Crash Diagram BuilderDrag vehicles, arrows and signs onto a road layout, mark the impact and download a clean diagram for your claim.
- Adjuster Call SimulatorRehearse six questions the other driver's insurer commonly asks, with instant feedback on every answer.
- Filing Deadline CalculatorEnter your state, claim type and accident date to see the general deadline to file, with the statute it comes from.
- Fault & Compensation EstimatorSee how your state's fault rule (pure, modified 50%/51% or contributory) can change what you recover.
- Contingency Fee CalculatorEstimate the lawyer's fee, case costs and medical liens to see what may actually reach you.
- Accident Expense TrackerLog bills, mileage and lost wages, see totals by category, then export or print. Saved only in your browser.
- Lost Wages CalculatorTurn missed days, appointments and used sick time into a lost-earnings figure for your claim.
- Insurance Coverage CheckerCompare your liability and UM limits with your state's minimum and see what a serious crash would leave uncovered.
- Do I Need a Lawyer? Self-CheckTen yes/no questions that show whether your claim is simple enough to handle yourself or worth a consultation.
- Glovebox Accident CardPrint a wallet-size card with crash steps, your insurance details and your state's key rules.
- Compare Two StatesSide-by-side deadlines, fault rules, insurance minimums and more. Handy after an out-of-state crash.
- State Law Comparison TableDeadlines, fault rules, no-fault status and minimum insurance for all 50 states, with an interactive map.
- Traffic Deaths by StateMap, rankings and 30-year trends from NHTSA data: deaths per mile and per resident, drunk driving, pedestrians and motorcyclists.
How dangerous were US roads in 2024?
39,254 people died in crashes on US roads in 2024. That is 4% fewer than the year before, but still 20% more than in 2014. About 30 in every 100 died in a crash with a driver at or over the .08 limit, and 18 in every 100 were on foot.
Per mile driven, Mississippi had the highest death rate and Massachusetts the lowest.
See the map and every state's numbers →Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System.
Verify a lawyer before you hire one
We don't sell rankings or referrals. Instead we link you to every state bar's official license search and lawyer referral service, and explain what to check: license status, discipline history, and a written fee agreement.
Find your state bar's tools →Letters and forms you can fill in
Request your police report or medical records, notify an insurer, or decline a recorded statement. Fill in the blanks in your browser, then copy or print. Nothing you type is sent to us.
Popular guides
All guides →What to Do After a Car Accident: A Step-by-Step Checklist
A plain-language checklist for the scene of a car crash, the first 24 hours, and the first few weeks, so you protect your health, your claim, and your records.
Dealing With Insurance Adjusters After a Car Accident
How insurance adjusters work, what to share and what to hold back, how to keep records, push back on low offers, and file a complaint with your state.
How Car Accident Settlements Work, Step by Step
From demand letter to check: how injury settlements are valued, negotiated, and paid, what a release means, how liens work, and when money is taxable.
Comparative Fault Explained: What Happens When You Were Partly to Blame
How pure comparative, modified comparative, and contributory negligence rules affect a car accident claim when more than one driver shares the blame.
Do I Need a Lawyer After a Car Accident? An Honest Guide
When handling a car accident claim on your own may work, when talking to a licensed attorney may make sense, and what to ask before you decide.
How to Choose and Verify a Car Accident Lawyer
How to check a lawyer's license and discipline record, spot illegal solicitation, compare fee agreements, and ask the right questions before you hire.
Car accident laws by state
Switch the map between fault rules, filing deadlines and insurance systems, then click your state.
Hover or tap a state
- Pure comparative (9)
- Modified (51% bar) (26)
- Modified (50% bar) (10)
- Slight/gross (1)
- Contributory negligence (4)
Click a state for its rules and sources. Some states have exceptions (for example, New York's 2026 rule applies only to no-fault injury lawsuits).