Free tool
Your car accident claim roadmap
Answer eight quick questions. Get a step-by-step, dated plan for your state: what to do now, which deadlines apply, and where to go next.
Choose your state and the crash date to build your roadmap.
By Serdar Arslan, editor · Last reviewed · How we research
How the roadmap is built
Each step comes from rules we track for every state: crash reporting duties, whether the state is no-fault, notice requirements for claims against public entities, the fault rule, and the general deadlines for injury, property damage and wrongful death lawsuits. Your answers switch steps on or off. For example, choosing "hit-and-run" adds the uninsured motorist notice step, and choosing a commercial truck adds an evidence-preservation step.
Example
A driver hurt in a crash in Florida on March 1, 2026, with an insured at-fault driver, would see: get medical care and document the scene; report the crash; notify their insurer within about a week; file a PIP claim promptly (Florida is a no-fault state); request the crash report; track expenses; and an estimated lawsuit deadline of March 1, 2028 under Florida's two-year negligence statute. See the Florida page for sources.
Frequently asked questions
›What is the claim roadmap?
It turns your answers (state, crash date, injuries, insurance and special circumstances) into an ordered checklist with estimated dates, drawn from the rules we document for each state.
›Is the roadmap legal advice?
No. It applies general rules to the facts you enter. It cannot account for every exception, so confirm deadlines with the official statute or a licensed attorney.
›Why does it ask about government vehicles?
Claims against cities, counties or state agencies often require a formal written notice within months. That notice deadline can expire long before the general lawsuit deadline.
›What happens to my answers?
Nothing leaves your browser. The roadmap is calculated on your device, and you can print it or save it as a PDF.
›Why does it matter if my state is no-fault?
In no-fault states your own personal injury protection (PIP) coverage usually pays medical bills first, and PIP claims can have short filing windows. The roadmap adds that step when it applies.