How this works
Three steps, no phone number required
Most people arrive here after an insurance adjuster has already named a figure. The point of this page is simple: give you an independent second number, and the reasoning behind it, before you answer.
Gather what you can document
Medical bills and expected future care, wages you actually lost, repair or total-loss figures, and the out-of-pocket costs people usually forget — travel to appointments, braces and devices, paid help at home.
Run the estimator
It applies the multiplier method adjusters commonly use to non-economic damages, then adjusts for your state’s comparative-fault rule and the policy limit that actually caps most claims.
Take the range to a licensed attorney
The output is a discussion range, never a valuation. Bring it to a lawyer licensed in your state — most personal-injury consultations are free and fees are contingent — and let them price the parts a calculator cannot see.
By situation
Guides for your situation
Fault rules, insurance layers and typical evidence differ sharply between these. Start with the one that matches your facts.
Vehicle Accident Claim Process
Filing claims involving commercial or fleet vehicles.
Vehicle Accident Settlement Timeline
Why these cases take longer and what drives the pace.
What to Do After a Vehicle Accident
Evidence steps unique to commercial crash scenes.
Vehicle Accident Insurance Tactics
Corporate insurer strategies and how to counter them.
By state
State rules that change what a claim is worth
Comparative fault, filing deadlines, damage caps, minimum liability limits and no-fault requirements are all set state by state. Pick yours.
Fault rules in all 50 states + DC
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
VehicleAccidentAttorney.us is an informational website, not a law firm. It is operated by Mustafa Bilgic, an individual who is not a licensed attorney. Nothing here is legal advice, nothing creates an attorney–client relationship, and no calculator output is a valuation or an offer.
We do not take cases, review documents, contact insurers or refer you to a particular lawyer. Deadlines and fault rules vary by state and a missed deadline can end a valid claim permanently — consult a licensed attorney in your state before you accept, reject or file anything. Your state bar’s referral service and the American Bar Association’s Find Legal Help directory are independent starting points.
Questions
Questions people ask before they answer the adjuster
Can I sue the trucking company and not just the driver?
In most cases, yes. If the driver was acting as an employee at the time of the crash, the employer shares liability under respondeat superior. The company may also face direct claims for negligent hiring, training, or vehicle maintenance.
Do commercial vehicle accidents have higher settlements?
They can, because commercial policies typically carry higher coverage limits and because injuries tend to be more severe when a large vehicle is involved. Higher stakes also mean insurers fight harder, so the process may take longer.
What is a spoliation letter?
A spoliation letter is a written demand telling the other party to preserve all evidence related to the crash. It covers driver logs, maintenance records, dashcam footage, and electronic data. Sending one quickly reduces the risk that key evidence gets overwritten or discarded.
Are rental car accidents handled differently?
They can be. Liability may rest with the renter, the renter's employer if the trip was work-related, or the rental company under certain circumstances depending on state law. The rental agreement terms often affect how insurance coverage applies.
How long do I have to file a claim after a commercial vehicle crash?
Filing deadlines are set by state law and commonly fall between two and three years, but your state's specific deadline controls. Claims involving government vehicles often have much shorter notice requirements. Do not wait to verify the deadline that applies to your case.
- Sources used across this site: state comparative-fault statutes · Insurance Information Institute · Bureau of Labor Statistics · IRS Pub. 4345 · NHTSA
- Last reviewed 2026-08-25.