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Car Accident Claims: Deadlines, Problems and Lawyer Fees

Plain-English guides to making a car accident claim: each state's deadline to sue, what to do without a police report or against an uninsured driver, and how lawyer fees work.

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Settlement calculatorSee a range with the maths shown.Crash report by stateThe official route for all 50 states and DC.Deadline to sueEach state's statute, linked.Rear-end calculatorThe most common crash, priced.Fix a wrong reportHow to ask for a correction.
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Car Accident Statute of Limitations by State (2026)

Car accident statute of limitations by state for 2026: injury, property damage and government claim deadlines, with links to official statutes.

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Learn more about car accident claims

California Car Accident Statute of Limitations (2026)California gives you 2 years to sue after a car accident injury, but only 6 months to file a claim against a government agency. Here's the exact law. by Settlement Scout

Deadlines to file

Car Accident Statute of Limitations by State (2026) by Settlement ScoutCar accident statute of limitations by state for 2026: injury, property damage and government claim deadlines, with links to official statutes.Read moreCalifornia Car Accident Statute of Limitations (2026) by Settlement ScoutCalifornia gives you 2 years to sue after a car accident injury, but only 6 months to file a claim against a government agency. Here's the exact law.Read moreFlorida Car Accident Statute of Limitations (2026) by Settlement ScoutFlorida shortened its car accident injury deadline to 2 years in 2023. Here's the exact law, the cutoff date, and the government-claim exception.Read moreIllinois Car Accident Statute of Limitations (2026) by Settlement ScoutIllinois gives you 2 years to sue for a car accident injury (735 ILCS 5/13-202), but only 1 year against a city, county or other local government. Checked against the official Illinois Compiled Statutes.Read moreTexas Car Accident Statute of Limitations (2026) by Settlement ScoutTexas gives you 2 years to sue after a car accident (Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §16.003), but only 6 months to notify a government body if one was involved. Checked against the official Texas statutes.Read more

When the claim gets complicated

Can You File a Claim Without a Police Report? by Settlement ScoutYes, generally you can. Here's what proves fault instead, and when the law requires you to self-report a crash even if police never showed up.Read moreHit by an Uninsured Driver? What to Do Next by Settlement ScoutAbout 1 in 7 US drivers carried no insurance in 2022. Here's how uninsured motorist coverage works, whether it's required, and how to file a claim.Read moreHow to Get More Than Policy Limits After a Crash by Settlement ScoutThe at-fault driver's insurer only pays up to their limit. Here are the paths claimants use to seek more, and why state law controls each one.Read moreHow Long Does a Car Accident Settlement Take? by Settlement ScoutThe real stages of a car accident settlement, what sets the pace at each one, and the insurer response deadlines state law actually requires.Read moreWhy Is My Car Accident Settlement Taking So Long? by Settlement ScoutThe real reasons a car accident claim stalls after you've already filed, from unfinished treatment to litigation delays, and what actually moves it.Read more

Lawyers and fees

Do You Need a Lawyer After a Car Accident? by Settlement ScoutA practical way to decide when to handle an auto claim yourself and when to speak with a lawyer, including fees and questions to ask.Read moreHow Much Do Car Accident Lawyers Take From a Settlement? by Settlement ScoutA contingency fee is only part of the cost. See how the fee, case expenses, and the order of deductions affect what you keep.Read more

Crash reports by state

Every claim starts with the police report. Pick your state for the agency that holds it, the fee and what to bring.

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