Frequently Asked Questions

True Crash Law is a national information and legal referral resource — not a law firm. We help people who have been injured in auto accidents understand their rights, organize the details of their claim, and connect with qualified accident attorneys in their state. We provide clear, honest information and make targeted referrals based on your specific situation. All of our services are provided at no cost to you, and there is never any obligation to hire the attorneys we introduce.

No. Submitting a request, receiving a case review, and being connected with an attorney through our platform are all completely free. The attorneys in our network represent accident victims on a contingency fee basis, which means they are paid a percentage of any financial recovery you receive — and nothing at all if your case does not result in a settlement or verdict in your favor. There are no upfront costs at any stage.

No. Submitting your information through our website does not create an attorney-client relationship. It simply initiates a review process. We will contact you with guidance and, if appropriate, introduce you to an attorney. You remain completely free to decide how to proceed. Any attorney-client relationship is only formed through a separate, explicit agreement directly between you and the attorney of your choice.

We maintain legal connections and referral capabilities across all 50 states. Auto accident law varies significantly from state to state — in fault rules, filing deadlines, insurance requirements, and damage caps. Our attorney matches are always state-specific, so you receive a professional who is licensed in your jurisdiction and knowledgeable about the laws that govern your claim.

First, ensure your immediate safety and call 911. Request that police respond and generate an official accident report, even if the collision seems minor — you will need this document. If you are physically able, photograph all vehicles involved, the surrounding roadway, traffic signs, and any visible injuries before anything is moved or cleaned up. Collect the name, contact information, license plate number, and insurance details from every other driver. Seek medical evaluation promptly, even if you feel fine. Many serious injuries — including concussions, internal injuries, and soft tissue damage — do not produce immediate symptoms. Do not provide any recorded statements to insurance companies before speaking with legal counsel.

Every state imposes a statute of limitations on personal injury claims — a strict legal deadline after which you can no longer file suit. This period typically ranges from one to three years from the date of the accident, but several states have shorter windows, and claims against government entities often carry much tighter deadlines. The statute of limitations is absolute in most circumstances — once it expires, your right to pursue compensation is permanently extinguished. This is one of the most important reasons to seek legal guidance as soon as possible after a crash.

You should seek medical evaluation as soon as possible after any accident, even if you do not believe you are seriously injured. Adrenaline and shock frequently mask pain and injury in the immediate aftermath of a collision. Symptoms from whiplash, traumatic brain injury, internal injuries, and spinal damage can take hours or days to emerge. Beyond the health implications, gaps in medical treatment are one of the most common arguments insurance companies use to minimize or deny injury claims. A prompt medical record establishes both the nature of your injuries and a clear timeline connecting them to the accident.

Being partially responsible for an accident does not necessarily eliminate your right to compensation. Most states use some form of comparative negligence, which means your recovery is reduced proportionally to your degree of fault. Under pure comparative negligence, you can recover even if you were 99% at fault. Under modified comparative negligence — used in most states — you can typically recover if you were less than 50% or 51% at fault, depending on the state. A small number of states still apply contributory negligence rules that can bar recovery if you bore any fault at all. Fault determination is often disputed, and insurance adjusters routinely overstate the claimant's responsibility to reduce payouts. An experienced accident attorney can effectively challenge those assessments.

Proceed with extreme caution. Insurance adjusters are experienced negotiators whose professional goal is to close your claim at the lowest possible cost to their company. You are not legally required to give the other driver's insurance company a recorded statement, and doing so before you understand your rights is almost always detrimental to your claim. Anything you say — including offhand comments about your health, the circumstances of the crash, or your daily activities — can be captured, interpreted, and used against you later. We strongly recommend contacting True Crash Law before providing any statement to any insurance company after an accident.

You should be very cautious about accepting any settlement offer before the full extent of your injuries is known. Insurance companies frequently offer quick settlements precisely because they know your total damages — including future medical costs, lost earning capacity, and long-term pain and suffering — have not yet been established. Once you sign a release and accept a settlement, you typically cannot go back for more money even if your condition worsens. Before accepting any offer, consult with a personal injury attorney who can evaluate whether the offer reflects the true value of your claim.

Being struck by an uninsured driver does not mean you have no recourse. Your own auto insurance policy may include uninsured motorist coverage, which is specifically designed for this scenario. Depending on your state and policy, you may also have underinsured motorist coverage if the at-fault driver's policy limits are insufficient to cover your damages. Additionally, depending on the circumstances, there may be other potentially liable parties — employers, vehicle owners, or entities responsible for road conditions. An accident attorney can evaluate all available coverage sources and pursue every possible avenue of recovery on your behalf.

We evaluate your case based on accident type, injury severity, state jurisdiction, insurance coverage issues, and other relevant factors, then identify the attorney in our network whose documented experience best matches your specific situation. We do not use a rotation or random assignment system. If your case involves a commercial truck accident, you are connected with an attorney who handles trucking cases specifically — not just any personal injury lawyer. The quality of the match directly affects the quality of your outcome, so we take it seriously.

A contingency fee arrangement means your attorney receives a percentage of the money recovered on your behalf — and receives nothing if no recovery is made. The specific percentage is agreed upon in writing before your attorney begins working on your case, and is typically between 25% and 40% depending on the complexity of the case and whether it goes to trial. This arrangement means you can obtain high-quality legal representation with no financial risk and no money down. It also means your attorney is personally motivated to pursue the maximum possible recovery, since their compensation is directly tied to yours.

Our network covers car and auto accidents, commercial truck and 18-wheeler crashes, rideshare accidents involving Uber, Lyft, and delivery platforms, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian and bicycle accidents, hit-and-run cases, uninsured and underinsured motorist claims, and wrongful death cases arising from fatal auto accidents. We maintain coverage across all case types in all 50 states. If you are unsure whether your type of accident qualifies, submitting a request is the fastest way to find out.

The categories of recoverable damages in an auto accident claim typically include medical expenses — both current and anticipated future costs; lost wages and diminished earning capacity; vehicle repair or replacement costs; physical pain and suffering; emotional distress and psychological impact; loss of enjoyment of life; and in some cases, punitive damages when the at-fault party's conduct was especially reckless or egregious. The specific damages available depend on your state's laws and the circumstances of your case. An attorney can help you identify and document every category that applies to your situation.

Settlement timelines vary widely based on the complexity of the case, the severity of injuries, the number of parties involved, and how aggressively the insurance companies choose to contest the claim. Minor cases with clear liability and contained injuries may resolve in a matter of months. Complex cases involving serious injuries, disputed fault, or multiple defendants can take one to three years or longer, particularly if litigation becomes necessary. Your attorney can give you a more specific estimate once they have reviewed the complete facts of your case.

The majority of auto accident claims — roughly 90 to 95 percent — resolve through settlement negotiation before a case ever reaches trial. However, going to trial may become necessary if the responsible party's insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement, disputes liability entirely, or significantly undervalues your damages. Having an attorney who is genuinely trial-ready — rather than one who always settles to avoid court — often results in better settlement outcomes, because insurance companies know they cannot simply wait you out. Your attorney will advise you at every stage on whether a settlement offer is reasonable or whether litigation is in your best interest.