Free tool
Claim file builder
Put the whole claim in one place: the crash, the people, the bills, the photos and every call with the insurer. Print it as one organized file with numbered exhibits.
Your file is 0 of 10 complete
Losses so far: $0.00
- State, date and place of the crash (missing)
- Your account of what happened (missing)
- Police report number (missing)
- Other driver's name and insurer (missing)
- Claim number (missing)
- At least one witness or a note that there were none (missing)
- Medical visits with amounts (missing)
- Vehicle damage estimate (missing)
- Photos of the scene or damage (missing)
- A log of contacts with the insurer (missing)
1The crash
2People, vehicles and insurance
Witnesses
Nothing added yet.
3Injuries and treatment
Medical visits and bills
Nothing added yet.
4Vehicle damage, costs and missed work
Other out-of-pocket costs
Nothing added yet.
Missed work
Nothing added yet.
5Photos
Scene, all four sides of each vehicle, close-ups of damage, visible injuries, road signs and skid marks. Up to 24 photos.
6Contact log
Calls, letters and emails about the claim
Nothing added yet.
The printed file has a cover sheet, a loss summary, every section you filled in and your photos as numbered exhibits.
Claim file
Motor vehicle crash
Summary of losses
| Documented losses to date | $0.00 |
Documented amounts only. Pain and suffering and future costs are not included.
Prepared by the claimant with the free Claim File Builder at wheelsaccidentadvice.com. General information, not legal advice.
By Serdar Arslan, editor · Last reviewed · How we research
How to use it
- Start the day of the crash. Fill in the first two sections while details are fresh. You can leave anything blank and come back.
- Add each bill and missed day as it happens. The loss total at the top updates as you type.
- Log every contact. Date, name and one line on what was said. A dated log is what settles later arguments about who promised what.
- Add photos last, then print. Give each photo a plain caption. They print as Exhibit 1, Exhibit 2 and so on, two to a row.
What the printed file contains
| Part | What is in it | Why an adjuster looks for it |
|---|---|---|
| Cover sheet | Your name, crash date, place and claim numbers | Matches the file to the right claim at a glance |
| Loss summary | Medical bills, vehicle damage, other costs and lost pay, with one total | Shows the documented amount you are asking them to consider |
| Filing deadlines | General lawsuit deadlines for your state, counted from the crash date | Keeps the time limit in front of you while the claim drags on |
| Crash and parties | Your account, the police report number, drivers, vehicles, insurers and witnesses | Liability is decided from these facts |
| Treatment and costs | Every visit, bill and receipt as a dated table | Each amount can be checked against a record |
| Contact log | Calls, letters and emails in date order | Supports a complaint if the claim is delayed |
| Photo exhibits | Numbered, captioned photos | You can refer to "Exhibit 4" in a letter instead of describing a picture |
Tools that feed the file
Work out missed pay with the lost wages calculator, draw the collision with the crash diagram builder and add the image as a photo exhibit, and check the dates with the filing deadline calculator. When the file is complete, the demand letter template can refer to it exhibit by exhibit. For what to photograph and keep, see the evidence checklist.
Frequently asked questions
›What is a claim file and why does it help?
It is one organized set of everything that proves your claim: what happened, who was involved, what it cost you and the photos that back it up. Adjusters handle many claims at once. A file with numbered exhibits and totals that add up is quicker to review and harder to dispute than papers sent one at a time.
›Is my information sent anywhere?
No. The text you type is stored only in this browser's local storage on your device, and you can delete it with the Clear everything button. Photos are never stored at all. They stay in the open tab and disappear when you close it.
›Why do my photos disappear when I come back?
Browsers limit how much a page can store, and accident photos often contain faces, plates and injuries. To keep them private they are held only while the page is open. Add your photos last, right before you print or save the PDF.
›How do I save the file as a PDF?
Press Print or save as PDF, then choose Save as PDF as the printer in the print window. On a phone, use the share or print option and pick Save to Files or Print to PDF.
›Should I send the whole file to the other driver's insurer?
Not always. The file is yours first. It keeps your facts straight and your totals current. Before sending medical details or a written account to the other side's insurer, read our guides on recorded statements and dealing with adjusters, or ask a licensed attorney.
›Does the loss total show what my claim is worth?
No. It adds up only the amounts you entered. It leaves out pain and suffering, future treatment and anything you have not documented yet, and it does not apply your state's fault rule.