Car accident questions, answered plainly

Attorney review in progress. The answers below that state a rule of law are general information written on November 1, 2026 and are being reviewed by Emery Brett Ledger. The law differs by state and by case. Ask about yours before relying on anything here.

What does it cost to talk to the firm?

Free case evaluation. The firm works on a contingency fee: the fee is a percentage of what is recovered. If there is no recovery, you owe no attorney fee, but you may still be responsible for court costs and case expenses.

How soon will someone call me back?

If you send the form, the firm calls back as soon as it can: during the day, usually the same day; overnight, the next morning. The first call may come from the firm’s automated intake assistant, an AI that says it is one and not a person; a person from the firm follows up. If you would rather call: our line is answered at every hour, every day, by our AI intake assistant.

The other driver’s insurer wants a recorded statement. Should I give one?

You are not required to give the other driver’s insurer a recorded statement, and it is usually wise to speak with a lawyer first. What you say to the other side’s adjuster is used to decide what they pay. Your own insurer is a different matter: your policy likely requires you to cooperate with it, and a lawyer can help you do that carefully. (Statement of law; attorney review in progress.)

How long do I have to bring a claim?

Every state sets a deadline to file a lawsuit after a crash. In California and Texas the general deadline for an injury claim is two years from the date of the crash; in Washington it is three years. Shorter deadlines and notice requirements apply when a government vehicle or a public road defect is involved, and other facts can move the date. Do not rely on these numbers for your own case: ask, early. (Statement of law; attorney review in progress.)

I was partly at fault. Can I still recover?

Often, yes. California and Washington reduce your recovery by your share of the fault but do not bar it. Texas bars recovery only when your share of the fault is more than half, and reduces it below that. The insurer’s estimate of your share is not the last word. (Statement of law; attorney review in progress.)

The other driver had no insurance, or too little. What then?

Your own policy may include uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, which stands in for the coverage the other driver should have had. There may be other policies and other responsible parties too. Part of the firm’s first work on a case is finding every source of recovery.

Will my case go to court?

Most injury claims settle without a trial, but a case is prepared as though it will be tried, because that is what makes the other side take it seriously. If the firm takes your case, you decide whether to accept any offer. The firm’s lawyers try cases when that is the right course.

What should I do in the first days after a crash?

See a doctor, even if you feel all right; some injuries show late. Keep the police report number, photographs, the other driver’s details and every bill and letter. Tell your own insurer that the crash happened. Do not sign anything from the other side, and do not post about the crash online. Then talk to a lawyer.

Is CarAccidentLawyer.si a law firm?

No. It is a service of The Ledger Law Firm, which publishes it. Everything you send here goes to the firm, and the attorneys you would be hiring are the firm’s attorneys, named on this site with the states where each is licensed.

What if my crash was not in California, Texas or Washington?

Tell the firm anyway. The firm takes every legal inquiry it receives and, where its attorneys are not licensed or the matter is not one it handles, it refers it to a lawyer who can help. Some cases the firm takes in may be referred to, or handled jointly with, another lawyer or law firm.

Ask about your own case

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