Get help

Do I need a personal injury lawyer, and what will it cost?

STATEState law: each state sets its own deadline to sue, shared-fault rule and insurance minimums. This page lists all 50 states and D.C., and the federal rules for claims against the United States.Checked by the Justice legal team against official sources · Last reviewed Nov 1, 20267 free tools on this page

AI-generated image

Short answer

You can make an injury claim without a lawyer, but serious injuries usually need one. Most personal injury lawyers take a percentage of what you recover, agreed in writing. Some rules cap it: 25% in a federal tort lawsuit, one-third in Michigan. Your deadline to sue is 1 to 6 years, by state.

Date calculator · 50 states

Your deadline to sue for an injury, and the other driver's minimum insurance

Each state's deadline read from its statute or its courts; each insurance minimum from the state's law or insurance agency · checked Nov 1, 2026

Which state?

Date of the injuryThe general deadline usually counts from this day.

What caused it?

If a driver hurt you: your losses so far (optional)Medical bills and lost pay. Compared with the minimum insurance the driver must carry per person.

Pick the state where you were hurt and the date it happened.

Practice the first consultation All 50 states and D.C.

Each rule comes from the official source linked in the result. It runs on your device: nothing you type is stored or sent. General information, not legal advice.

Key points

Do you need one: Not for a small claim you can settle or take to small claims court. Talk to a lawyer soon for a serious injury, a denied claim, a fight over who was at fault, or a deadline that is close.
What it costs: Usually a contingency fee: a percentage of what you recover, nothing if nothing is recovered. Ask who pays the costs. Federal law caps the fee in claims against the United States at 20% (agency settlement) and 25% (after a lawsuit); Michigan caps it at one-third.
What a case is worth: No law sets a multiplier. The law reduces an award by your share of the fault (in some states any fault can bar it), some states cap non-economic damages, and the other driver's minimum insurance can be as low as $15,000 a person.
Deadline: From 1 year (Kentucky, Tennessee) to 6 years (Maine, Minnesota, North Dakota) after the injury, by state. A claim against a government starts with a notice, often within months.

A personal injury lawyer represents people hurt by someone else's carelessness: in a car or truck crash, a fall, a dog bite, a defective product or a medical error. The lawyer collects the evidence, deals with the insurance companies, values the claim and, if it does not settle, files the lawsuit and tries it. Most work on a contingency fee: they are paid a share of what you recover.

This page answers the questions behind a search for a personal injury attorney: whether you need one, what one costs under the rules that cap fees, what the law says your case can be worth, and your deadline to sue, with each state's rule from its own law. It does not rank or recommend lawyers, and it is not a referral service.

Your state's rules on one screen: the 50-state table. Who pays after a crash: car accident, truck accident and motorcycle accident. A doctor or hospital: medical malpractice.

Do you need a personal injury lawyer?

No law requires a lawyer for an injury claim. If the injury was minor, you have healed and the insurer's offer covers your bills and lost pay, you can often settle yourself, or go to small claims court for a small amount. A free first consultation, which most personal injury lawyers offer, costs nothing and can tell you whether an offer is low.

A serious or lasting injury. Surgery, a hospital stay, a fracture, a head or spinal injury, or treatment that will go on: the value is harder to measure and the insurer has more to lose.
The insurer denies the claim, or blames you. Your share of the fault can cut or end the claim, depending on your state (see your state's rule).
The deadline is close. Once the deadline to sue passes, the claim is usually lost. See the deadline in your state.
A government, a truck, a doctor or a product. Each has its own rules: a notice to the government within months (see below), federal trucking records (truck accident), expert proof and damage caps (medical malpractice).

Tip. Lawyer or attorney? In the US the two words mean the same thing: someone licensed by a state to practice law. Check that license before you sign anything (see how).

When the injury caused a death, who may file, the deadline state by state, damage caps and the lawyer's fee limits are on Do I need a wrongful death lawyer?.

Three cases have their own pages: a crash with an Uber or Lyft car (rideshare accident lawyer), a driver who fled (hit and run lawyer), and cancer from asbestos (mesothelioma lawyer).

Quick guide

Do you need a personal injury lawyer?

1. What happened?

Answer the question to see which part of this page applies.

Practice the first consultation

It points to the part of this page that fits, in the page's own words. Nothing you choose is saved or sent. Not legal advice.

How much does a personal injury lawyer cost? Contingency fees, and the rules that cap them

Most personal injury lawyers charge a contingency fee: a percentage of the money you receive if you win or settle, and no fee if you recover nothing. The State Bar of California says the written agreement should state that percentage and whether it is figured before or after other costs are deducted, and that the fee is negotiable between you and the lawyer. In Texas a contingent fee contract must be in writing and signed by the lawyer and the client (Gov't Code § 82.065(a)); in California a fee agreement must be in writing when fees and costs are expected to reach $1,000 or more, the State Bar says.

Fees and costs are different. The fee is the lawyer's share. Costs are the case's expenses: medical records, filing fees, depositions, experts. Ask who pays the costs if you lose, and whether the percentage is taken before or after them.State Bar of California
Before or after costs changes what you get. On a $100,000 settlement with $10,000 of costs and a one-third fee: taken before costs, the fee is $33,333.33 and you get $56,666.67; taken after costs, the fee is $30,000 and you get $60,000.
Some laws set the maximum. Federal law, a few states for every injury case, and more states for medical malpractice limit the percentage. The table below shows each one and what it allows on $100,000, $500,000 and $1,000,000.28 U.S.C. § 2678 · MCR 8.121 · Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-251c

Where	Cases	The most the lawyer may take	On $100,000 / $500,000 / $1,000,000	Law
Claims against the United States (FTCA)	Any injury claim against a federal agency or employee	20% of an agency settlement; 25% of a judgment or settlement after a lawsuit	$25,000 / $125,000 / $250,000 after a lawsuit	28 U.S.C. § 2678
Michigan	Personal injury and wrongful death	At most one-third of the amount recovered, after costs	$33,333.33 / $166,666.67 / $333,333.33	MCR 8.121(B), (C)(1)
Connecticut	Personal injury, wrongful death and property damage	33⅓% of the first $300,000; 25% of the next $300,000; 20% of the next $300,000; 15% of the next $300,000; 10% above $1,200,000	$33,333.33 / $150,000 / $250,000	Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-251c(b)
Oklahoma	Any contingent fee	At most 50% of the net amount recovered	$50,000 / $250,000 / $500,000	Okla. Stat. tit. 5, § 7
California	Medical malpractice	25% if settled before a complaint is filed; 33% after	$25,000 / $125,000 / $250,000 before filing; $33,000 / $165,000 / $330,000 after	Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 6146(a)
New York	Medical malpractice	30% of the first $250,000; 25% of the next $250,000; 20% of the next $500,000; 15% of the next $250,000; 10% above $1,250,000	$30,000 / $137,500 / $237,500	N.Y. Judiciary Law § 474-a(2)
Florida	Medical malpractice	You keep at least 70% of the first $250,000 and 90% above it, so the fee is at most 30% and 10% of those parts	$30,000 / $100,000 / $150,000	Fla. Const. art. I, § 26
Delaware	Medical malpractice	35% of the first $100,000; 25% of the next $100,000; 10% of the rest	$35,000 / $90,000 / $140,000	18 Del. C. § 6865
Maine	Medical malpractice	33⅓% of the first $100,000; 25% of the next $100,000; 20% above $200,000	$33,333.33 / $118,333.33 / $218,333.33	24 M.R.S. § 2961(1)
Tennessee	Medical malpractice (health care liability)	Set by the court, at most 33⅓% of the damages	$33,333.33 / $166,666.67 / $333,333.33	Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-26-120
Utah	Medical malpractice (Health Care Malpractice Act)	At most 33⅓% of the amount recovered	$33,333.33 / $166,666.67 / $333,333.33	Utah Code § 78B-3-411

Tip. Michigan and Oklahoma compute the fee on the net amount, after costs; New York's schedule is computed on the net sum too. The amounts in the table are the maximum fee on each sum as recovered, before costs, for comparison only. The Florida Bar's own rule on personal injury fees and New York's court rules for other injury cases were not checked for this page; most states set no percentage, and the fee is what you agree in writing.

Calculator

The most a lawyer may take, where a law sets it

1. Which rule?

2. At what stage?

3. The amount recovered

Fill in the steps to see the answer.

Practice the fee questions

Uses only the numbers on this page, each from its official source. Nothing you type leaves your device. Not legal advice.

What is my personal injury case worth? What the law counts, reduces and caps

There is no official formula. Online settlement calculators that multiply your medical bills by a number are estimates; no statute sets a multiplier. What the law does set is what counts as damages, what reduces them, and in some states a cap.

Economic damages: the losses with a receipt. Medical bills, future care, lost wages and lost earning capacity, repair or replacement of property. Keep every bill and pay stub.
Non-economic damages: pain and suffering. Physical pain, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement and inconvenience. These have no receipt; a jury or the parties put a number on them.
Reduced by your share of the fault. In most states your share lowers the award; in some, a large enough share ends the claim; in a few, any fault of yours can bar it. The rule in each state.
Capped in some states. Most caps apply to medical malpractice (see the caps by state). A few states cap non-economic damages in other injury cases too: Tennessee at $750,000 per injured person ($1,000,000 for listed catastrophic injuries, Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-39-102), and Oklahoma at $500,000 for injuries on or after September 1, 2025, with exceptions (Okla. Stat. tit. 23, § 61.3).
Limited in practice by the insurance. A driver must carry only the state minimum, as low as $15,000 a person in some states (see your state); above the policy, recovery depends on the person's own assets or your own underinsured motorist coverage.

What juries award, from official data. The Bureau of Justice Statistics surveyed civil trials in state courts in 2005: the median award to plaintiffs who won a tort trial was $24,000, and $15,000 in motor vehicle accident trials, where plaintiffs won 64% of the time. These are trials, not settlements, from 2005; most claims settle without a trial.

Is a personal injury settlement taxable? Damages received on account of personal physical injuries or physical sickness are excluded from income, except punitive damages (26 U.S.C. § 104(a)(2)). The IRS says emotional distress tied to a physical injury is treated the same way; interest, punitive damages and lost wages from a non-physical claim are taxable (IRS Publication 4345).

Partly at fault? Comparative negligence in every state

When both sides were careless, a court or jury gives each a percentage of the fault. There are four kinds of rule. Pure comparative fault (9 states here): your share reduces the award and never bars it. Barred above 50% (22): you recover nothing if your share is more than half; a 50/50 split still recovers half. Barred at 50% or more (10): a 50/50 split gets nothing. Any fault can bar (5): contributory negligence, in Alabama, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia and D.C. Michigan has a hybrid rule and South Dakota a slight-gross rule. Not checked for this page: New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island.

Tip. These rules decide what is left of your own claim. How the damages are split among several defendants is a separate question each state answers differently.

Calculator · 47 states

Partly at fault? What each state's rule leaves you

Each state's rule read from its statute · checked Nov 1, 2026

1. Which state?

2. Total damages3. Your share of the faultYour share of the fault, slider

Pick a state and enter the total damages.

Practice the first consultation

Each rule comes from the state statute linked in the result. It runs on your device: nothing you type is stored or sent. General information, not legal advice.

Deadline to sue, shared-fault rule and minimum car insurance in all 50 states and D.C.

The general deadline for an injury caused by negligence, the shared-fault rule, and the minimum liability insurance a driver must carry, as each state's own law states them. Claims against a government, medical malpractice, a minor's claim and an injury found later can follow other rules.

State	Deadline to sue for an injury	Your own share of the fault	Minimum car insurance	Law
Alabama	2 years from the date of injury	Any fault can bar: any negligence of yours can bar the claim	$25,000 per person, $50,000 per crash, $25,000 property damage	Ala. Code § 6-2-38(l) · Alabama common law; Serio v. Merrell, Inc., 941 So. 2d 960, 964 (Ala. 2006) · Ala. Code § 32-7-6 (named on the page)
Alaska	2 years after the claim accrues	Pure: your share reduces the award; it never bars it	$50,000 per person, $100,000 per crash, $25,000 property damage	AS 09.10.070(a) · AS 09.17.060 · AS 28.22.101 (named on the page)
Arizona	2 years after the injury	Pure: your share reduces the award; it never bars it	$25,000 per person, $50,000 per crash, $15,000 property damage	A.R.S. § 12-542(1) · A.R.S. § 12-2505(A) · A.R.S. § 28-4009(A)(2)(b)
Arkansas	3 years after the injury	Barred at 50% or more: your share reduces the award; you recover nothing at 50% or more	$25,000 per person, $50,000 per crash, $25,000 property damage	Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-105 · Ark. Code Ann. § 16-64-122(b) · Ark. Code Ann. § 27-22-104(b)
California	2 years after the injury	Pure: your share reduces the award; it never bars it	$30,000 per person, $60,000 per crash, $15,000 property damage	Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1 · CACI No. 405 · California DMV Driver Handbook
Colorado	2 years; 3 years for an injury from a motor-vehicle crash (§ 13-80-101(1)(n)(I))	Barred at 50% or more: your share reduces the award; you recover nothing at 50% or more	$25,000 per person, $50,000 per crash, $15,000 property damage	C.R.S. § 13-80-102(1)(a); § 13-80-101(1)(n)(I) · C.R.S. § 13-21-111(1); Mountain Mobile Mix, Inc. v. Gifford, 660 P.2d 883 (Colo. 1983) · Colorado Division of Insurance
Connecticut	2 years from the injury or its discovery, and no more than 3 years after the act	Barred above 50%: your share reduces the award; you recover nothing if it is more than 50%	$25,000 per person, $50,000 per crash, $25,000 property damage	Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584 · Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-572h(b) · Conn. Gen. Stat. § 38a-335(a); § 14-112(a)
Delaware	2 years from the date the injuries were sustained	Barred above 50%: your share reduces the award; you recover nothing if it is more than 50%	$25,000 per person, $50,000 per crash, $10,000 property damage	10 Del. C. § 8119 · 10 Del. C. § 8132 · 21 Del. C. § 2902; § 2118(a)(1)
District of Columbia	3 years from the time the right to maintain the action accrues	Any fault can bar: any negligence of yours can bar the claim. A court rule, with an exception for pedestrians and cyclists hit by a motor vehicle.	$25,000 per person, $50,000 per crash, $10,000 property damage	D.C. Code § 12-301(a)(8) · D.C. common law (Washington Metro. Area Transit Auth. v. Young, 731 A.2d 389, 394 (D.C. 1999)); D.C. Code § 50-2204.52 · D.C. Code § 31-2406(b), (c)
Florida	2 years, for negligence after March 24, 2023 (4 years before)	Barred above 50%: your share reduces the award; you recover nothing if it is more than 50%	No bodily-injury liability coverage required; $10,000 property damage and $10,000 of personal injury protection (PIP)	Fla. Stat. § 95.11(5)(a) · Fla. Stat. § 768.81(6) · Fla. Stat. § 324.022(1); § 627.736(1)
Georgia	2 years after the injury	Barred at 50% or more: your share reduces the award; you recover nothing at 50% or more	$25,000 per person, $50,000 per crash, $25,000 property damage	O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33 · O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33(a), (g) · Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner
Hawaii	2 years after the cause of action accrued	Barred above 50%: your share reduces the award; you recover nothing if it is more than 50%	$40,000 per person, $80,000 per crash, $20,000 property damage (for policies from January 1, 2026)	HRS § 657-7 · HRS § 663-31(a) · HRS § 431:10C-301 (not named on the FAQ; statute site answered 403)
Idaho	2 years after the injury	Barred at 50% or more: your share reduces the award; you recover nothing at 50% or more (as described by the Supreme Court of Maryland in 2013; the statute itself was not read)	$25,000 per person, $50,000 per crash, $15,000 property damage	Idaho Code § 5-219(4) · Idaho Code § 6-801 · Idaho Transportation Department
Illinois	2 years after the cause of action accrued	Barred above 50%: your share reduces the award; you recover nothing if it is more than 50%	$25,000 per person, $50,000 per crash, $20,000 property damage	735 ILCS 5/13-202 · 735 ILCS 5/2-1116 · 625 ILCS 5/7-203 (named on the page)
Indiana	2 years from the injury	Barred above 50%: your share reduces the award; you recover nothing if it is more than 50%	$25,000 per person, $50,000 per crash, $25,000 property damage	Ind. Code § 34-11-2-4 · Ind. Code §§ 34-51-2-5, 34-51-2-6 · IC 9-25-4-5 (per secondary listing; iga.in.gov is script-only)
Iowa	2 years after the claim accrues	Barred above 50%: your share reduces the award; you recover nothing if it is more than 50%	$20,000 per person, $40,000 per crash, $15,000 property damage	Iowa Code § 614.1(2) · Iowa Code § 668.3(1)(a) · Iowa Code § 321A.21(2)(b)
Kansas	2 years from when the act first causes substantial injury, or when the injury becomes reasonably ascertainable	Barred at 50% or more: your share reduces the award; you recover nothing at 50% or more	$25,000 per person, $50,000 per crash, $25,000 property damage	K.S.A. 60-513(a)(4), (b) · K.S.A. 60-258a(a) · K.S.A. § 40-3107(e)
Kentucky	1 year; 2 years after a motor-vehicle crash (KRS 304.39-230(6))	Pure: your share reduces the award; it never bars it	$25,000 per person, $50,000 per crash, $25,000 property damage	KRS 413.140(1)(a); KRS 304.39-230(6) · KRS 411.182(1)(b), (3) · KRS 304.39-110(1)(a)
Louisiana	2 years, for injuries from July 1, 2024 (1 year before; Acts 2024, No. 423)	Barred above 50%: your share reduces the award; you recover nothing if it is more than 50%. Since January 1, 2026 (Acts 2025, No. 15); before that, pure comparative fault.	$15,000 per person, $30,000 per crash, $25,000 property damage	La. Civ. Code art. 3493.1 (Acts 2024, No. 423) · La. Civ. Code art. 2323(A)(2) (Acts 2025, No. 15) · La. R.S. 32:900(B)(2)
Maine	6 years after the cause of action accrues	Barred at 50% or more: your share reduces the award; you recover nothing at 50% or more	$50,000 per person, $100,000 per crash, $25,000 property damage	14 M.R.S. § 752 · 14 M.R.S. § 156 · 29-A M.R.S. § 1605(1)(C)
Maryland	3 years after the injury	Any fault can bar: any negligence of yours can bar the claim	$30,000 per person, $60,000 per crash, $15,000 property damage	Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101 · Maryland common law; Coleman v. Soccer Ass'n of Columbia, 432 Md. 679 (2013); Harrison v. Montgomery County Bd. of Educ., 295 Md. 442 (1983) · Md. Code, Transp. § 17-103(b)
Massachusetts	3 years after the injury	Barred above 50%: your share reduces the award; you recover nothing if it is more than 50%	Not checked for this page	Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A · Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 231, § 85
Michigan	3 years after the time of the death or injury; the claim accrues when the wrong was done	Hybrid: economic damages are reduced by your share; above 50% you lose the non-economic damages. After a crash, pain and suffering also needs a serious impairment, and an uninsured driver of their own car gets nothing.	$50,000 per person, $100,000 per crash (the lowest limits a buyer may choose in writing; otherwise $250,000 and $500,000)	MCL 600.5805(2) · Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.2959 · MCL 500.3009(1)(a)-(b), (5)
Minnesota	6 years after the injury	Barred above 50%: your share reduces the award; you recover nothing if it is more than 50%	$30,000 per person, $60,000 per crash, $10,000 property damage	Minn. Stat. § 541.05, subd. 1(5) · Minn. Stat. § 604.01, subd. 1 · Minn. Stat. § 65B.49, subd. 3(1)
Mississippi	3 years after the cause of action accrued; latent injuries accrue on discovery	Pure: your share reduces the award; it never bars it	$25,000 per person, $50,000 per crash, $25,000 property damage	Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-49(1) · Miss. Code Ann. § 11-7-15 · Mississippi Insurance Department
Missouri	5 years after the injury	Pure: your share reduces the award; it never bars it	$25,000 per person, $50,000 per crash, $25,000 property damage	RSMo § 516.120(4) · Gustafson v. Benda, 661 S.W.2d 11 (Mo. banc 1983) (court-made rule) · RSMo § 303.190(2)(2)
Montana	3 years after the injury	Barred above 50%: your share reduces the award; you recover nothing if it is more than 50%	$25,000 per person, $50,000 per crash, $20,000 property damage	Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-204(1) · Mont. Code Ann. § 27-1-702 · Mont. Code Ann. § 61-6-103
Nebraska	4 years after the claim accrues	Barred at 50% or more: your share reduces the award; you recover nothing at 50% or more	$25,000 per person, $50,000 per crash, $25,000 property damage	Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-207 · Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-21,185.09 · Nebraska Department of Insurance
Nevada	2 years from the injury	Barred above 50%: your share reduces the award; you recover nothing if it is more than 50%	$25,000 per person, $50,000 per crash, $20,000 property damage	NRS 11.190(4)(e) · NRS 41.141(1) · NRS 485.185 (named on the form)
New Hampshire	3 years from the act or omission, or from when the injury and its cause were (or should have been) discovered	Not checked for this page	Not checked for this page	RSA 508:4(I)
New Jersey	2 years after the injury	Barred above 50%: your share reduces the award; you recover nothing if it is more than 50%	$35,000 per person, $70,000 per crash, $25,000 property damage (for policies from January 1, 2026)	N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2(a) · N.J.S.A. 2A:15-5.1 · P.L.2022, c.87; N.J.S.A. 39:6B-1 (DOBI Bulletin No. 25-06)
New Mexico	3 years after the injury	Pure: your share reduces the award; it never bars it	$25,000 per person, $50,000 per crash, $10,000 property damage	NMSA 1978, § 37-1-8 · Scott v. Rizzo, 1981-NMSC-021, 96 N.M. 682, 634 P.2d 1234 (court-made rule) · New Mexico Office of Superintendent of Insurance
New York	3 years after the injury	Pure: your share reduces the award; it never bars it. In a crash injury case under the no-fault law started on or after May 26, 2026, you recover nothing if your fault is greater than the other side's (CPLR 1411(b)).	$25,000 per person, $50,000 per crash, $10,000 property damage ($50,000 and $100,000 for a death)	N.Y. CPLR 214(5) · CPLR 1411(a), (b) · N.Y. Veh. & Traf. Law § 311(4)(a)
North Carolina	3 years after the injury	Any fault can bar: any negligence of yours can bar the claim	$50,000 per person, $100,000 per crash, $50,000 property damage (for policies from July 1, 2025)	N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52(16) · N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-139 · North Carolina Department of Insurance
North Dakota	6 years after the claim for relief has accrued	Barred at 50% or more: your share reduces the award; you recover nothing at 50% or more	$25,000 per person, $50,000 per crash, $25,000 property damage	N.D.C.C. § 28-01-16(5) · N.D.C.C. § 32-03.2-02 · N.D.C.C. § 39-16.1-11(2)(b)
Ohio	2 years after the injury	Barred above 50%: your share reduces the award; you recover nothing if it is more than 50%	$25,000 per person, $50,000 per crash, $25,000 property damage	Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.10(A) · Ohio Rev. Code § 2315.33 · Ohio Department of Public Safety
Oklahoma	2 years after the cause of action shall have accrued	Barred above 50%: your share reduces the award; you recover nothing if it is more than 50%	$25,000 per person, $50,000 per crash, $25,000 property damage	12 O.S. § 95(A)(3) · 23 O.S. §§ 13, 14 · Oklahoma Insurance Department
Oregon	2 years from the date of injury	Not checked for this page	$25,000 per person, $50,000 per crash, $20,000 property damage	ORS 12.110(1) · ORS 806.010 (named on the page)
Pennsylvania	2 years after the injury	Barred above 50%: your share reduces the award; you recover nothing if it is more than 50%	$15,000 per person, $30,000 per crash, $5,000 property damage	42 Pa.C.S. § 5524(2) · 42 Pa.C.S. § 7102(a) · Pennsylvania Insurance Department
Rhode Island	3 years from the date of the injury	Not checked for this page	$25,000 per person, $50,000 per crash, $25,000 property damage	R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(b) · 230-RICR-20-05-3, § 3.10
South Carolina	3 years after the injury	Barred above 50%: your share reduces the award; you recover nothing if it is more than 50%	$25,000 per person, $50,000 per crash, $25,000 property damage	S.C. Code § 15-3-530(5) · Nelson v. Concrete Supply Co., 303 S.C. 243, 399 S.E.2d 783 (1991) (court-made rule) · S.C. Code § 38-77-140(A)
South Dakota	3 years after the cause of action shall have accrued	Slight-gross rule: you recover, reduced, only if your negligence was slight compared with the other side's	$25,000 per person, $50,000 per crash, $25,000 property damage	SDCL § 15-2-14(3) · SDCL § 20-9-2 · SDCL § 32-35-70
Tennessee	1 year after the cause of action accrued	Barred at 50% or more: your share reduces the award; you recover nothing at 50% or more	$25,000 per person, $50,000 per crash, $25,000 property damage	Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104(a)(1)(A) · McIntyre v. Balentine, 833 S.W.2d 52, 57 (Tenn. 1992) (court-made rule) · Tennessee Department of Revenue
Texas	2 years after the injury	Barred above 50%: your share reduces the award; you recover nothing if it is more than 50%	$30,000 per person, $60,000 per crash, $25,000 property damage	Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003 · Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §§ 33.001, 33.012(a) · Tex. Transp. Code § 601.072(a-1)
Utah	4 years after the injury	Barred at 50% or more: your share reduces the award; you recover nothing at 50% or more	$30,000 per person, $65,000 per crash, $25,000 property damage (for policies from January 1, 2025)	Utah Code § 78B-2-307(4) (numbered (3) before the 2023 amendment) · Utah Code § 78B-5-818(2) · Utah Code § 31A-22-304(2)(a)
Vermont	3 years after the cause of action accrues, which for injuries is the date the injury is discovered	Barred above 50%: your share reduces the award; you recover nothing if it is more than 50%	$25,000 per person, $50,000 per crash, $10,000 property damage	12 V.S.A. § 512(4) · 12 V.S.A. § 1036(a) · 23 V.S.A. § 800(a)
Virginia	2 years after the injury	Any fault can bar: any negligence of yours can bar the claim	$50,000 per person, $100,000 per crash, $25,000 property damage (for policies from January 1, 2025)	Va. Code § 8.01-243(A) · Virginia common law; Ponirakis v. Choi, 262 Va. 119, 546 S.E.2d 707 (2001) · Va. Code § 46.2-472(B)(3)
Washington	3 years after the injury	Pure: your share reduces the award; it never bars it	$25,000 per person, $50,000 per crash, $10,000 property damage	RCW 4.16.080(2) · RCW 4.22.005 · Washington Department of Licensing
West Virginia	2 years after the right to bring the action accrued	Barred above 50%: your share reduces the award; you recover nothing if it is more than 50%	$25,000 per person, $50,000 per crash, $25,000 property damage	W. Va. Code § 55-2-12(b) · W. Va. Code § 55-7-13c(c) (enacted by 2015 H.B. 2002) · West Virginia DMV
Wisconsin	Not checked for this page	Barred above 50%: your share reduces the award; you recover nothing if it is more than 50% (as described by the Supreme Court of Maryland in 2013; the statute itself was not read)	$25,000 per person, $50,000 per crash, $10,000 property damage	Wis. Stat. § 895.045(1) · Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance
Wyoming	4 years after the cause of action accrues	Barred above 50%: your share reduces the award; you recover nothing if it is more than 50%	$25,000 per person, $50,000 per crash, $20,000 property damage	Wyo. Stat. § 1-3-105(a)(iv)(C) · Wyo. Stat. § 1-1-109(b) · Wyo. Stat. § 31-9-405(b)(ii)

Tip. Each state's row was read from its statute, its courts or its insurance or motor vehicle agency on November 1, 2026. Not checked for this page: deadline, Wisconsin; shared fault, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island; insurance, Massachusetts, New Hampshire.

State map · 50 of 51 with a value

Your state's deadline, shared-fault rule and insurance minimum

Show

Under 2 years2
2 years25
3 years16
4 years to 5 years4
6 years or more3
Not checked1

Deadline to sue for an injury

Tap a state to see its rule and the law behind it.

See the table 51 rows

State	Deadline to sue for an injury	Your own share of the fault	Minimum car insurance per person	Law
Alabama	2 years	Any fault can bar	$25,000	Ala. Code § 6-2-38(l); Alabama common law; Serio v. Merrell, Inc., 941 So. 2d 960, 964 (Ala. 2006); Ala. Code § 32-7-6 (named on the page)
Alaska	2 years	Pure	$50,000	AS 09.10.070(a); AS 09.17.060; AS 28.22.101 (named on the page)
Arizona	2 years	Pure	$25,000	A.R.S. § 12-542(1); A.R.S. § 12-2505(A); A.R.S. § 28-4009(A)(2)(b)
Arkansas	3 years	Barred at 50% or more	$25,000	Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-105; Ark. Code Ann. § 16-64-122(b); Ark. Code Ann. § 27-22-104(b)
California	2 years	Pure	$30,000	Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1; CACI No. 405; California DMV Driver Handbook
Colorado	2 years	Barred at 50% or more	$25,000	C.R.S. § 13-80-102(1)(a); § 13-80-101(1)(n)(I); C.R.S. § 13-21-111(1); Mountain Mobile Mix, Inc. v. Gifford, 660 P.2d 883 (Colo. 1983); Colorado Division of Insurance
Connecticut	2 years	Barred above 50%	$25,000	Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584; Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-572h(b); Conn. Gen. Stat. § 38a-335(a); § 14-112(a)
Delaware	2 years	Barred above 50%	$25,000	10 Del. C. § 8119; 10 Del. C. § 8132; 21 Del. C. § 2902; § 2118(a)(1)
District of Columbia	3 years	Any fault can bar	$25,000	D.C. Code § 12-301(a)(8); D.C. common law (Washington Metro. Area Transit Auth. v. Young, 731 A.2d 389, 394 (D.C. 1999)); D.C. Code § 50-2204.52; D.C. Code § 31-2406(b), (c)
Florida	2 years	Barred above 50%	No bodily-injury minimum	Fla. Stat. § 95.11(5)(a); Fla. Stat. § 768.81(6); Fla. Stat. § 324.022(1); § 627.736(1)
Georgia	2 years	Barred at 50% or more	$25,000	O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33; O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33(a), (g); Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner
Hawaii	2 years	Barred above 50%	$40,000	HRS § 657-7; HRS § 663-31(a); HRS § 431:10C-301 (not named on the FAQ; statute site answered 403)
Idaho	2 years	Barred at 50% or more	$25,000	Idaho Code § 5-219(4); Idaho Code § 6-801; Idaho Transportation Department
Illinois	2 years	Barred above 50%	$25,000	735 ILCS 5/13-202; 735 ILCS 5/2-1116; 625 ILCS 5/7-203 (named on the page)
Indiana	2 years	Barred above 50%	$25,000	Ind. Code § 34-11-2-4; Ind. Code §§ 34-51-2-5, 34-51-2-6; IC 9-25-4-5 (per secondary listing; iga.in.gov is script-only)
Iowa	2 years	Barred above 50%	$20,000	Iowa Code § 614.1(2); Iowa Code § 668.3(1)(a); Iowa Code § 321A.21(2)(b)
Kansas	2 years	Barred at 50% or more	$25,000	K.S.A. 60-513(a)(4), (b); K.S.A. 60-258a(a); K.S.A. § 40-3107(e)
Kentucky	1 year	Pure	$25,000	KRS 413.140(1)(a); KRS 304.39-230(6); KRS 411.182(1)(b), (3); KRS 304.39-110(1)(a)
Louisiana	2 years	Barred above 50%	$15,000	La. Civ. Code art. 3493.1 (Acts 2024, No. 423); La. Civ. Code art. 2323(A)(2) (Acts 2025, No. 15); La. R.S. 32:900(B)(2)
Maine	6 years	Barred at 50% or more	$50,000	14 M.R.S. § 752; 14 M.R.S. § 156; 29-A M.R.S. § 1605(1)(C)
Maryland	3 years	Any fault can bar	$30,000	Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101; Maryland common law; Coleman v. Soccer Ass'n of Columbia, 432 Md. 679 (2013); Harrison v. Montgomery County Bd. of Educ., 295 Md. 442 (1983); Md. Code, Transp. § 17-103(b)
Massachusetts	3 years	Barred above 50%	Not checked	Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A; Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 231, § 85
Michigan	3 years	Other rule	$50,000	MCL 600.5805(2); Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.2959; MCL 500.3009(1)(a)-(b), (5)
Minnesota	6 years	Barred above 50%	$30,000	Minn. Stat. § 541.05, subd. 1(5); Minn. Stat. § 604.01, subd. 1; Minn. Stat. § 65B.49, subd. 3(1)
Mississippi	3 years	Pure	$25,000	Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-49(1); Miss. Code Ann. § 11-7-15; Mississippi Insurance Department
Missouri	5 years	Pure	$25,000	RSMo § 516.120(4); Gustafson v. Benda, 661 S.W.2d 11 (Mo. banc 1983) (court-made rule); RSMo § 303.190(2)(2)
Montana	3 years	Barred above 50%	$25,000	Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-204(1); Mont. Code Ann. § 27-1-702; Mont. Code Ann. § 61-6-103
Nebraska	4 years	Barred at 50% or more	$25,000	Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-207; Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-21,185.09; Nebraska Department of Insurance
Nevada	2 years	Barred above 50%	$25,000	NRS 11.190(4)(e); NRS 41.141(1); NRS 485.185 (named on the form)
New Hampshire	3 years	Not checked	Not checked	RSA 508:4(I)
New Jersey	2 years	Barred above 50%	$35,000	N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2(a); N.J.S.A. 2A:15-5.1; P.L.2022, c.87; N.J.S.A. 39:6B-1 (DOBI Bulletin No. 25-06)
New Mexico	3 years	Pure	$25,000	NMSA 1978, § 37-1-8; Scott v. Rizzo, 1981-NMSC-021, 96 N.M. 682, 634 P.2d 1234 (court-made rule); New Mexico Office of Superintendent of Insurance
New York	3 years	Pure	$25,000	N.Y. CPLR 214(5); CPLR 1411(a), (b); N.Y. Veh. & Traf. Law § 311(4)(a)
North Carolina	3 years	Any fault can bar	$50,000	N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52(16); N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-139; North Carolina Department of Insurance
North Dakota	6 years	Barred at 50% or more	$25,000	N.D.C.C. § 28-01-16(5); N.D.C.C. § 32-03.2-02; N.D.C.C. § 39-16.1-11(2)(b)
Ohio	2 years	Barred above 50%	$25,000	Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.10(A); Ohio Rev. Code § 2315.33; Ohio Department of Public Safety
Oklahoma	2 years	Barred above 50%	$25,000	12 O.S. § 95(A)(3); 23 O.S. §§ 13, 14; Oklahoma Insurance Department
Oregon	2 years	Not checked	$25,000	ORS 12.110(1); ORS 806.010 (named on the page)
Pennsylvania	2 years	Barred above 50%	$15,000	42 Pa.C.S. § 5524(2); 42 Pa.C.S. § 7102(a); Pennsylvania Insurance Department
Rhode Island	3 years	Not checked	$25,000	R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(b); 230-RICR-20-05-3, § 3.10
South Carolina	3 years	Barred above 50%	$25,000	S.C. Code § 15-3-530(5); Nelson v. Concrete Supply Co., 303 S.C. 243, 399 S.E.2d 783 (1991) (court-made rule); S.C. Code § 38-77-140(A)
South Dakota	3 years	Other rule	$25,000	SDCL § 15-2-14(3); SDCL § 20-9-2; SDCL § 32-35-70
Tennessee	1 year	Barred at 50% or more	$25,000	Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104(a)(1)(A); McIntyre v. Balentine, 833 S.W.2d 52, 57 (Tenn. 1992) (court-made rule); Tennessee Department of Revenue
Texas	2 years	Barred above 50%	$30,000	Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003; Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §§ 33.001, 33.012(a); Tex. Transp. Code § 601.072(a-1)
Utah	4 years	Barred at 50% or more	$30,000	Utah Code § 78B-2-307(4) (numbered (3) before the 2023 amendment); Utah Code § 78B-5-818(2); Utah Code § 31A-22-304(2)(a)
Vermont	3 years	Barred above 50%	$25,000	12 V.S.A. § 512(4); 12 V.S.A. § 1036(a); 23 V.S.A. § 800(a)
Virginia	2 years	Any fault can bar	$50,000	Va. Code § 8.01-243(A); Virginia common law; Ponirakis v. Choi, 262 Va. 119, 546 S.E.2d 707 (2001); Va. Code § 46.2-472(B)(3)
Washington	3 years	Pure	$25,000	RCW 4.16.080(2); RCW 4.22.005; Washington Department of Licensing
West Virginia	2 years	Barred above 50%	$25,000	W. Va. Code § 55-2-12(b); W. Va. Code § 55-7-13c(c) (enacted by 2015 H.B. 2002); West Virginia DMV
Wisconsin	Not checked	Barred above 50%	$25,000	Wis. Stat. § 895.045(1); Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance
Wyoming	4 years	Barred above 50%	$25,000	Wyo. Stat. § 1-3-105(a)(iv)(C); Wyo. Stat. § 1-1-109(b); Wyo. Stat. § 31-9-405(b)(ii)

Practice the first consultation

Each state's value is the one its row of this page's table states, with the law it cites. Nothing you tap is saved or sent. Not legal advice.

Hurt by a government vehicle or on public property? A claim comes first

Before you can sue a government, you must first file a claim or notice with it, often within months, not years.

The United States (a federal vehicle, building or employee). Present a written claim to the federal agency, usually on Standard Form 95, within 2 years. If the agency denies it, or does not decide within 6 months, you can sue; after a denial, within 6 months. A lawyer's fee is capped at 20% of an agency settlement and 25% after a lawsuit.28 U.S.C. §§ 2401(b), 2675(a), 2678 · SF-95
California. A claim to the agency within 6 months for an injury; sue within 6 months after a mailed rejection.California Courts: government claims
Texas. Notice to the government within 6 months (a city charter may set its own period).Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.101
Florida. A written claim to the agency within 3 years.Fla. Stat. § 768.28(6)(a)
New York. A notice of claim within 90 days.Gen. Mun. Law § 50-e(1)(a)

After a fall on public property, the notice deadlines read for each state are calculated on Do I need a slip and fall lawyer?.

How a personal injury claim works, step by step

Get care, and keep every record. Medical records are the core of the claim. Follow the treatment plan; gaps in care are what insurers point to.
Report it and notify the insurers. A police or crash report where required (car accident), and notice to your own insurer and the other side's.
Preserve the evidence. Photos, witnesses, damaged items, and a written request that the other side keep its records and video.
Know your deadline. Put the last day to sue on your calendar now (the tool at the top adds it to yours).
The demand. When treatment ends or the outlook is clear, the claim is sent with the bills and records; see demand letter.
Negotiation, then a lawsuit if needed. Most claims settle. If not, the lawsuit is filed before the deadline; then comes discovery: written questions, records and depositions (what a deposition is).
Mediation, trial or settlement. Many courts send injury cases to mediation before a trial date.
The closing statement. A settlement pays the fee, the costs, and any health plan or Medicare lien first; ask for the itemized statement before you sign the release.

How to check a personal injury lawyer's license, in every state

Every lawyer must be licensed by the state where they practice. In some states the state supreme court or its board keeps the list; in others the state bar does, under the court. Search the lawyer's name there: it shows whether the license is active and, in most states, any public discipline. The links below are the ones on an official government site; elsewhere the list is on the bar's own site, named in the table.

State	Who keeps the list of licensed lawyers	The search
Alabama	State bar: Alabama State Bar	Member Search (on the bar's own site)
Alaska	State bar: Alaska Bar Association	Alaska Lawyer Directory; Attorney Public Discipline Search (on the bar's own site)
Arizona	State bar: State Bar of Arizona	Member Directory (on the bar's own site)
Arkansas	Supreme court: Arkansas Supreme Court, Clerk of the Courts (official record)	Attorney Licensee Directory Search (Attorney Search)
California	State bar: State Bar of California	Attorney Search (Licensee Search)
Colorado	Supreme court: Colorado Supreme Court, Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel	Attorney / LLP Search & Disciplinary History (on the court's own site)
Connecticut	Supreme court: Connecticut Judicial Branch	Attorney / Firm Look-up
Delaware	Supreme court: Delaware Supreme Court (Office of Disciplinary Counsel assists it)	no public attorney search found on courts.delaware.gov; "Digest of Lawyer Discipline"
District of Columbia	State bar: D.C. Bar	Find a Member (Member Directory) (on the bar's own site)
Florida	Not checked for this page	Not checked for this page
Georgia	State bar: State Bar of Georgia	Member Directory (on the bar's own site)
Hawaii	State bar: Hawaii State Bar Association (directory); the Supreme Court of Hawai`i governs licensing	online membership directory
Idaho	Not checked for this page	Not checked for this page
Illinois	Supreme court: Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission of the Supreme Court of Illinois (ARDC)	Lawyer Search (on the court's own site)
Indiana	Supreme court: Indiana Supreme Court (Roll of Attorneys)	Roll of Attorneys
Iowa	Supreme court: Supreme Court of Iowa (Office of Professional Regulation)	Search Lawyers Licensed in Iowa
Kansas	Not checked for this page	Not checked for this page
Kentucky	State bar: Kentucky Bar Association	Directory of Kentucky Attorneys (on the bar's own site)
Louisiana	State bar: Louisiana State Bar Association	LSBA Membership Directory (on the bar's own site)
Maine	Supreme court: Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar	Attorney Directory (Attorney Information Search)
Maryland	Supreme court: Supreme Court of Maryland (Clerk's Office; Attorney Information System)	Maryland Attorney Listing (Attorney Search)
Massachusetts	Not checked for this page	Not checked for this page
Michigan	State bar: State Bar of Michigan	Member Directory (Classic Directory) (on the bar's own site)
Minnesota	Not checked for this page	Not checked for this page
Mississippi	State bar: The Mississippi Bar	Find a Lawyer / Member Directory (on the bar's own site)
Missouri	State bar: The Missouri Bar	LawyerSearch (on the bar's own site)
Montana	State bar: State Bar of Montana	Attorney Directory (on the bar's own site)
Nebraska	Supreme court: Nebraska Supreme Court, Attorney Services Division	member search (public attorney search)
Nevada	State bar: State Bar of Nevada	Find a Lawyer (on the bar's own site)
New Hampshire	State bar: New Hampshire Bar Association	Member Directory (on the bar's own site)
New Jersey	Not checked for this page	Not checked for this page
New Mexico	State bar: State Bar of New Mexico	Online Bar Directory (on the bar's own site)
New York	Not checked for this page	Not checked for this page
North Carolina	State bar: North Carolina State Bar	Membership Directory (Search for a North Carolina Lawyer)
North Dakota	Not checked for this page	Not checked for this page
Ohio	Not checked for this page	Not checked for this page
Oklahoma	State bar: Oklahoma Bar Association	Find a Lawyer (opt-in directory) (on the bar's own site)
Oregon	State bar: Oregon State Bar	OSB Licensee Directory (on the bar's own site)
Pennsylvania	Not checked for this page	Not checked for this page
Rhode Island	Supreme court: Rhode Island Supreme Court (Rhode Island Judiciary)	Attorney Search
South Carolina	Supreme court: South Carolina Judicial Branch (Supreme Court of South Carolina)	Attorney Search (on the court's own site)
South Dakota	Not checked for this page	Not checked for this page
Tennessee	Not checked for this page	Not checked for this page
Texas	State bar: State Bar of Texas	Find a Lawyer (Online Membership Directory)
Utah	State bar: Utah State Bar	Licensed Lawyer (Search ALL attorneys by Name)
Vermont	Not checked for this page	Not checked for this page
Virginia	State bar: Virginia State Bar	Virginia Lawyer Search (Lawyer Look Up) (on the bar's own site)
Washington	State bar: Washington State Bar Association	Lawyer Directory (Legal Directory)
West Virginia	Not checked for this page	Not checked for this page
Wisconsin	State bar: State Bar of Wisconsin	Lawyer Search (Basic Lawyer Search) (on the bar's own site)
Wyoming	State bar: Wyoming State Bar	Lawyer Search and Referral (Lawyer Directory Search) (on the bar's own site)

Red flag: someone contacts you right after a crash. In Florida, no one may solicit a person involved in a motor vehicle accident, other than by general advertising, within 60 days. In Texas, a lawyer may not send unsolicited communications about an accident before the 31st day, and a contract procured by barratry is voidable.Fla. Stat. § 817.234(8) · Tex. Penal Code § 38.12(d) · Tex. Gov't Code § 82.065(b)
Red flag: no written agreement, or a promised result. Ask for the fee agreement in writing before the lawyer starts. No lawyer can promise what a case will bring.

State map · 37 of 51 with a value

Who keeps the list of licensed lawyers in your state

Supreme court12
State bar25
Not checked14

Who keeps the list of licensed lawyers

Tap a state to see who keeps the list and where to search it.

See the table 51 rows

State	Who keeps the list of licensed lawyers	The rule
Alabama	State bar	Alabama State Bar: Member Search
Alaska	State bar	Alaska Bar Association: Alaska Lawyer Directory; Attorney Public Discipline Search
Arizona	State bar	State Bar of Arizona: Member Directory
Arkansas	Supreme court	Arkansas Supreme Court, Clerk of the Courts (official record): Attorney Licensee Directory Search (Attorney Search)
California	State bar	State Bar of California: Attorney Search (Licensee Search)
Colorado	Supreme court	Colorado Supreme Court, Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel: Attorney / LLP Search & Disciplinary History
Connecticut	Supreme court	Connecticut Judicial Branch: Attorney / Firm Look-up
Delaware	Supreme court	Delaware Supreme Court (Office of Disciplinary Counsel assists it): no public attorney search found on courts.delaware.gov; "Digest of Lawyer Discipline"
District of Columbia	State bar	D.C. Bar: Find a Member (Member Directory)
Florida	Not checked
Georgia	State bar	State Bar of Georgia: Member Directory
Hawaii	State bar	Hawaii State Bar Association (directory); the Supreme Court of Hawai`i governs licensing: online membership directory
Idaho	Not checked
Illinois	Supreme court	Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission of the Supreme Court of Illinois (ARDC): Lawyer Search
Indiana	Supreme court	Indiana Supreme Court (Roll of Attorneys): Roll of Attorneys
Iowa	Supreme court	Supreme Court of Iowa (Office of Professional Regulation): Search Lawyers Licensed in Iowa
Kansas	Not checked
Kentucky	State bar	Kentucky Bar Association: Directory of Kentucky Attorneys
Louisiana	State bar	Louisiana State Bar Association: LSBA Membership Directory
Maine	Supreme court	Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar: Attorney Directory (Attorney Information Search)
Maryland	Supreme court	Supreme Court of Maryland (Clerk's Office; Attorney Information System): Maryland Attorney Listing (Attorney Search)
Massachusetts	Not checked
Michigan	State bar	State Bar of Michigan: Member Directory (Classic Directory)
Minnesota	Not checked
Mississippi	State bar	The Mississippi Bar: Find a Lawyer / Member Directory
Missouri	State bar	The Missouri Bar: LawyerSearch
Montana	State bar	State Bar of Montana: Attorney Directory
Nebraska	Supreme court	Nebraska Supreme Court, Attorney Services Division: member search (public attorney search)
Nevada	State bar	State Bar of Nevada: Find a Lawyer
New Hampshire	State bar	New Hampshire Bar Association: Member Directory
New Jersey	Not checked
New Mexico	State bar	State Bar of New Mexico: Online Bar Directory
New York	Not checked
North Carolina	State bar	North Carolina State Bar: Membership Directory (Search for a North Carolina Lawyer)
North Dakota	Not checked
Ohio	Not checked
Oklahoma	State bar	Oklahoma Bar Association: Find a Lawyer (opt-in directory)
Oregon	State bar	Oregon State Bar: OSB Licensee Directory
Pennsylvania	Not checked
Rhode Island	Supreme court	Rhode Island Supreme Court (Rhode Island Judiciary): Attorney Search
South Carolina	Supreme court	South Carolina Judicial Branch (Supreme Court of South Carolina): Attorney Search
South Dakota	Not checked
Tennessee	Not checked
Texas	State bar	State Bar of Texas: Find a Lawyer (Online Membership Directory)
Utah	State bar	Utah State Bar: Licensed Lawyer (Search ALL attorneys by Name)
Vermont	Not checked
Virginia	State bar	Virginia State Bar: Virginia Lawyer Search (Lawyer Look Up)
Washington	State bar	Washington State Bar Association: Lawyer Directory (Legal Directory)
West Virginia	Not checked
Wisconsin	State bar	State Bar of Wisconsin: Lawyer Search (Basic Lawyer Search)
Wyoming	State bar	Wyoming State Bar: Lawyer Search and Referral (Lawyer Directory Search)

Practice the first consultation

Each state's value is the one its row of this page's table states, with the law it cites. Nothing you tap is saved or sent. Not legal advice.

What to bring to the first consultation, and what to ask

The date, place and what happened, in order, with names of witnesses.
The police or crash report number, and photos of the scene, the vehicles and your injuries.
Your medical records and bills so far, and the names of every doctor and clinic.
Pay stubs or tax returns showing the work you missed.
Every letter, email or offer from an insurance company, and your own policy.

Ask: the percentage and whether it is figured before or after costs; who pays the costs if there is no recovery; who will handle the case day to day; how often you will hear from them; and what the lawyer thinks the main risks are.

Checklist

Ready for the first consultation?

Tick what you have ready.

What happened, in order, with dates and witnesses
The police or crash report number and your photos
Medical records and bills, and every provider's name
Proof of the work and pay you missed
Every letter or offer from an insurer, and your own policy
Your deadline to sue, on the calendar
The lawyer's license checked
Fee questions: the percentage, costs, before or after

Tick each point as you get it ready.

Practice the first consultation

Every point comes from this page and its official sources. Your ticks are not saved or sent anywhere. Not legal advice.

Free and low-cost help

A bar lawyer referral service connects you with a lawyer for a first consultation at a low, published price. Legal aid, funded by the Legal Services Corporation, is for civil cases of people with low income; injury cases are usually handled by private lawyers on contingency. More: find legal help.

Your state

State Bar of Texas Lawyer Referral & Information ServiceReferral service. County services may differ.

Up to $20for up to 30 minutes

Texas

The Florida Bar Lawyer Referral ServiceStatewide panel. Local services can set other prices.

Up to $25for 30 minutes

Florida

New York State Bar Association Lawyer Referral ServiceThe referral is free. Participating counties only.

Normally $35first half hour; exceptions such as personal injury

New York

State Bar of California certified lawyer referral servicesDirectory. Search by county, legal topic and language.

Free or reduced feedepends on the service you choose

California

Legal Services Corporation: find legal aidCivil legal aid for people with low income. Not criminal defense.

Free if eligiblethe local provider decides eligibility

All states

American Bar Association Lawyer Referral DirectoryDirectory of referral services by city and state.

Set by each serviceno national price

All states

Checked Sep 28, 2026. We have no partnership with these services and receive no referral fee. Prices and availability can change; confirm with the service.

Common questions about personal injury lawyers

How much do most personal injury lawyers charge?

Most charge a contingency fee: a percentage of what you recover, agreed in writing, and nothing if there is no recovery. Few laws set the percentage: federal law allows at most 20% of an agency settlement and 25% after a lawsuit against the United States, Michigan one-third, Connecticut a sliding scale from 33⅓% down to 10%, Oklahoma 50%. Elsewhere it is negotiable.

What percentage do personal injury lawyers take?

Whatever the written agreement says, within any limit your state sets. The table above lists every limit checked for this page and what each allows on $100,000, $500,000 and $1,000,000.

Is it worth getting a personal injury lawyer?

For a minor injury with a fair offer, often not. For a serious injury, a denial, a dispute over fault, or a claim against a government, a truck company or a doctor, a consultation is free and the rules are harder. Ask the lawyer what they expect to add after their fee.

How much is my personal injury case worth?

No law sets a formula or multiplier. The value starts with your economic losses and your pain and suffering, then the law reduces it by your share of the fault and, in some states, caps non-economic damages. The insurance available often sets the practical limit.

What is considered pain and suffering?

Non-economic damages: physical pain, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement and inconvenience. They have no receipt; a jury or the parties put a number on them. Some states cap them in malpractice cases, and Tennessee and Oklahoma in other injury cases.

How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit?

From 1 year (Kentucky, Tennessee) to 6 years (Maine, Minnesota, North Dakota) after the injury in most cases; 2 or 3 years in most states. A claim against a government needs a notice first, often within months. Your state.

Is a personal injury settlement taxable?

Not the part for a physical injury or physical sickness, including emotional distress that comes from it (26 U.S.C. § 104(a)(2); IRS Publication 4345). Punitive damages and interest are taxable.

What are red flags when hiring a lawyer?

No written fee agreement; a promise of a result; pressure to sign at once; and contact right after a crash, which Florida bars for 60 days and Texas until the 31st day. Check the license and discipline record first (how).

What should I not tell my personal injury lawyer?

Nothing you would hide: what you tell your own lawyer to get advice is confidential, and facts like an earlier injury or your own fault usually come out anyway in discovery. Tell them early so they can plan for it. What not to do is post about the accident online or give the other insurer a recorded statement before you talk to your lawyer.

Can I sue my personal injury lawyer?

If a lawyer's mistake cost you the claim, such as a missed deadline, you may have a legal malpractice claim. For misconduct, complain to the state body that keeps the lawyer's license (table); a fee dispute often goes to the bar's fee arbitration program.

Is it better to have an attorney or a lawyer?

They are the same in the US: a person licensed by a state to practice law. What matters is the license, experience with your kind of case, and the written fee agreement.

Official sources

Alabama: Ala. Code § 6-2-38(l), deadline to sue for a personal injury govinfo.gov
Alabama: Alabama common law; Serio v. Merrell, Inc., 941 So. 2d 960, 964 (Ala. 2006), shared fault govinfo.gov
Alabama: minimum auto liability insurance (Ala. Code § 32-7-6 (named on the page)) revenue.alabama.gov
Alaska: AS 09.10.070(a), deadline to sue for a personal injury akleg.gov
Alaska: AS 09.17.060, shared fault akleg.gov
Alaska: minimum auto liability insurance (AS 28.22.101 (named on the page)) dmv.alaska.gov
Arizona: A.R.S. § 12-542(1), deadline to sue for a personal injury azleg.gov
Arizona: A.R.S. § 12-2505(A), shared fault azleg.gov
Arizona: minimum auto liability insurance (A.R.S. § 28-4009(A)(2)(b)) azleg.gov
Arkansas: Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-105, deadline to sue for a personal injury govinfo.gov
Arkansas: Ark. Code Ann. § 16-64-122(b), shared fault govinfo.gov
Arkansas: minimum auto liability insurance (Ark. Code Ann. § 27-22-104(b)) ardot.gov
California: Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1, deadline to sue for a personal injury selfhelp.courts.ca.gov
California: CACI No. 405, shared fault courts.ca.gov
California: minimum auto liability insurance (California DMV Driver Handbook) dmv.ca.gov
Colorado: C.R.S. § 13-80-102(1)(a); § 13-80-101(1)(n)(I), deadline to sue for a personal injury coloradojudicial.gov
Colorado: C.R.S. § 13-21-111(1); Mountain Mobile Mix, Inc. v. Gifford, 660 P.2d 883 (Colo. 1983), shared fault coloradojudicial.gov
Colorado: minimum auto liability insurance (Colorado Division of Insurance) doi.colorado.gov
Connecticut: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584, deadline to sue for a personal injury cga.ct.gov
Connecticut: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-572h(b), shared fault cga.ct.gov
Connecticut: minimum auto liability insurance (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 38a-335(a); § 14-112(a)) cga.ct.gov
Delaware: 10 Del. C. § 8119, deadline to sue for a personal injury delcode.delaware.gov
Delaware: minimum auto liability insurance (21 Del. C. § 2902; § 2118(a)(1)) delcode.delaware.gov
District of Columbia: D.C. Code § 12-301(a)(8), deadline to sue for a personal injury code.dccouncil.gov
District of Columbia: D.C. common law (Washington Metro. Area Transit Auth. v. Young, 731 A.2d 389, 394 (D.C. 1999)); D.C. Code § 50-2204.52, shared fault dccourts.gov
District of Columbia: minimum auto liability insurance (D.C. Code § 31-2406(b), (c)) dmv.dc.gov
Florida: Fla. Stat. § 95.11(5)(a), deadline to sue for a personal injury flsenate.gov
Florida: Fla. Stat. § 768.81(6), shared fault flsenate.gov
Florida: minimum auto liability insurance (Fla. Stat. § 324.022(1); § 627.736(1)) flsenate.gov
Georgia: O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33, deadline to sue for a personal injury govinfo.gov
Georgia: O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33(a), (g), shared fault legis.ga.gov
Georgia: minimum auto liability insurance (Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner) oci.georgia.gov
Hawaii: HRS § 657-7, deadline to sue for a personal injury courts.state.hi.us
Hawaii: HRS § 663-31(a), shared fault courts.state.hi.us
Hawaii: minimum auto liability insurance (HRS § 431:10C-301 (not named on the FAQ; statute site answered 403)) cca.hawaii.gov
Idaho: Idaho Code § 5-219(4), deadline to sue for a personal injury govinfo.gov
Idaho: Idaho Code § 6-801, shared fault mdcourts.gov
Idaho: minimum auto liability insurance (Idaho Transportation Department) itd.idaho.gov
Illinois: 735 ILCS 5/13-202, deadline to sue for a personal injury govinfo.gov
Illinois: 735 ILCS 5/2-1116, shared fault ilga.gov
Illinois: minimum auto liability insurance (625 ILCS 5/7-203 (named on the page)) idoi.illinois.gov
Indiana: Ind. Code § 34-11-2-4, deadline to sue for a personal injury in.gov
Indiana: Ind. Code §§ 34-51-2-5, 34-51-2-6, shared fault govinfo.gov
Indiana: minimum auto liability insurance (IC 9-25-4-5 (per secondary listing; iga.in.gov is script-only)) secure.in.gov
Iowa: Iowa Code § 614.1(2), deadline to sue for a personal injury legis.iowa.gov
Iowa: Iowa Code § 668.3(1)(a), shared fault legis.iowa.gov
Iowa: minimum auto liability insurance (Iowa Code § 321A.21(2)(b)) legis.iowa.gov
Kansas: K.S.A. 60-513(a)(4), (b), deadline to sue for a personal injury ksrevisor.gov
Kansas: K.S.A. 60-258a(a), shared fault ksrevisor.gov
Kansas: minimum auto liability insurance (K.S.A. § 40-3107(e)) ksrevisor.gov
Kentucky: KRS 413.140(1)(a); KRS 304.39-230(6), deadline to sue for a personal injury apps.legislature.ky.gov
Kentucky: KRS 411.182(1)(b), (3), shared fault apps.legislature.ky.gov
Kentucky: minimum auto liability insurance (KRS 304.39-110(1)(a)) apps.legislature.ky.gov
Louisiana: La. Civ. Code art. 3493.1 (Acts 2024, No. 423), deadline to sue for a personal injury legis.la.gov
Louisiana: La. Civ. Code art. 2323(A)(2) (Acts 2025, No. 15), shared fault legis.la.gov
Louisiana: minimum auto liability insurance (La. R.S. 32:900(B)(2)) legis.la.gov
Maine: 14 M.R.S. § 752, deadline to sue for a personal injury legislature.maine.gov
Maine: 14 M.R.S. § 156, shared fault legislature.maine.gov
Maine: minimum auto liability insurance (29-A M.R.S. § 1605(1)(C)) legislature.maine.gov
Maryland: Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101, deadline to sue for a personal injury mgaleg.maryland.gov
Maryland: minimum auto liability insurance (Md. Code, Transp. § 17-103(b)) mgaleg.maryland.gov
Massachusetts: Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A, deadline to sue for a personal injury govinfo.gov
Massachusetts: Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 231, § 85, shared fault govinfo.gov
Michigan: MCL 600.5805(2), deadline to sue for a personal injury govinfo.gov
Michigan: Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.2959, shared fault legislature.mi.gov
Michigan: minimum auto liability insurance (MCL 500.3009(1)(a)-(b), (5)) courts.michigan.gov
Minnesota: Minn. Stat. § 541.05, subd. 1(5), deadline to sue for a personal injury revisor.mn.gov
Minnesota: Minn. Stat. § 604.01, subd. 1, shared fault revisor.mn.gov
Minnesota: minimum auto liability insurance (Minn. Stat. § 65B.49, subd. 3(1)) revisor.mn.gov
Mississippi: Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-49(1), deadline to sue for a personal injury courts.ms.gov
Mississippi: Miss. Code Ann. § 11-7-15, shared fault courts.ms.gov
Mississippi: minimum auto liability insurance (Mississippi Insurance Department) mid.ms.gov
Missouri: RSMo § 516.120(4), deadline to sue for a personal injury revisor.mo.gov
Missouri: Gustafson v. Benda, 661 S.W.2d 11 (Mo. banc 1983) (court-made rule), shared fault govinfo.gov
Missouri: minimum auto liability insurance (RSMo § 303.190(2)(2)) revisor.mo.gov
Montana: Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-204(1), deadline to sue for a personal injury mca.legmt.gov
Montana: Mont. Code Ann. § 27-1-702, shared fault mca.legmt.gov
Montana: minimum auto liability insurance (Mont. Code Ann. § 61-6-103) leg.mt.gov
Nebraska: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-207, deadline to sue for a personal injury nebraska.gov
Nebraska: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-21,185.09, shared fault nebraska.gov
Nebraska: minimum auto liability insurance (Nebraska Department of Insurance) doi.nebraska.gov
Nevada: NRS 11.190(4)(e), deadline to sue for a personal injury nvcourts.gov
Nevada: NRS 41.141(1), shared fault govinfo.gov
Nevada: minimum auto liability insurance (NRS 485.185 (named on the form)) dmv.nv.gov
New Hampshire: RSA 508:4(I), deadline to sue for a personal injury nhb.uscourts.gov
New Jersey: N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2(a), deadline to sue for a personal injury govinfo.gov
New Jersey: N.J.S.A. 2A:15-5.1, shared fault govinfo.gov
New Jersey: minimum auto liability insurance (P.L.2022, c.87; N.J.S.A. 39:6B-1 (DOBI Bulletin No. 25-06)) nj.gov
New Mexico: NMSA 1978, § 37-1-8, deadline to sue for a personal injury nmonesource.com
New Mexico: Scott v. Rizzo, 1981-NMSC-021, 96 N.M. 682, 634 P.2d 1234 (court-made rule), shared fault coa.nmcourts.gov
New Mexico: minimum auto liability insurance (New Mexico Office of Superintendent of Insurance) osi.state.nm.us
New York: N.Y. CPLR 214(5), deadline to sue for a personal injury nysenate.gov
New York: CPLR 1411(a), (b), shared fault nysenate.gov
New York: minimum auto liability insurance (N.Y. Veh. & Traf. Law § 311(4)(a)) nysenate.gov
North Carolina: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52(16), deadline to sue for a personal injury govinfo.gov
North Carolina: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-139, shared fault ncleg.gov
North Carolina: minimum auto liability insurance (North Carolina Department of Insurance) ncdoi.gov
North Dakota: N.D.C.C. § 28-01-16(5), deadline to sue for a personal injury ndlegis.gov
North Dakota: N.D.C.C. § 32-03.2-02, shared fault ndlegis.gov
North Dakota: minimum auto liability insurance (N.D.C.C. § 39-16.1-11(2)(b)) ndlegis.gov
Ohio: Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.10(A), deadline to sue for a personal injury govinfo.gov
Ohio: Ohio Rev. Code § 2315.33, shared fault codes.ohio.gov
Ohio: minimum auto liability insurance (Ohio Department of Public Safety) publicsafety.ohio.gov
Oklahoma: 12 O.S. § 95(A)(3), deadline to sue for a personal injury oklegislature.gov
Oklahoma: 23 O.S. §§ 13, 14, shared fault oklegislature.gov
Oklahoma: minimum auto liability insurance (Oklahoma Insurance Department) oid.ok.gov
Oregon: ORS 12.110(1), deadline to sue for a personal injury govinfo.gov
Oregon: minimum auto liability insurance (ORS 806.010 (named on the page)) oregon.gov
Pennsylvania: 42 Pa.C.S. § 5524(2), deadline to sue for a personal injury palegis.us
Pennsylvania: 42 Pa.C.S. § 7102(a), shared fault palegis.us
Pennsylvania: minimum auto liability insurance (Pennsylvania Insurance Department) pa.gov
Rhode Island: R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(b), deadline to sue for a personal injury govinfo.gov
Rhode Island: minimum auto liability insurance (230-RICR-20-05-3, § 3.10) rules.sos.ri.gov
South Carolina: S.C. Code § 15-3-530(5), deadline to sue for a personal injury scstatehouse.gov
South Carolina: Nelson v. Concrete Supply Co., 303 S.C. 243, 399 S.E.2d 783 (1991) (court-made rule), shared fault ca4.uscourts.gov
South Carolina: minimum auto liability insurance (S.C. Code § 38-77-140(A)) scstatehouse.gov
South Dakota: SDCL § 15-2-14(3), deadline to sue for a personal injury sdlegislature.gov
South Dakota: SDCL § 20-9-2, shared fault sdlegislature.gov
South Dakota: minimum auto liability insurance (SDCL § 32-35-70) sdlegislature.gov
Tennessee: Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104(a)(1)(A), deadline to sue for a personal injury govinfo.gov
Tennessee: McIntyre v. Balentine, 833 S.W.2d 52, 57 (Tenn. 1992) (court-made rule), shared fault govinfo.gov
Tennessee: minimum auto liability insurance (Tennessee Department of Revenue) tn.gov
Texas: Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003, deadline to sue for a personal injury tcss.legis.texas.gov
Texas: Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §§ 33.001, 33.012(a), shared fault tcss.legis.texas.gov
Texas: minimum auto liability insurance (Tex. Transp. Code § 601.072(a-1)) tcss.legis.texas.gov
Utah: Utah Code § 78B-2-307(4) (numbered (3) before the 2023 amendment), deadline to sue for a personal injury le.utah.gov
Utah: Utah Code § 78B-5-818(2), shared fault le.utah.gov
Utah: minimum auto liability insurance (Utah Code § 31A-22-304(2)(a)) le.utah.gov
Vermont: 12 V.S.A. § 512(4), deadline to sue for a personal injury legislature.vermont.gov
Vermont: 12 V.S.A. § 1036(a), shared fault legislature.vermont.gov
Vermont: minimum auto liability insurance (23 V.S.A. § 800(a)) legislature.vermont.gov
Virginia: Va. Code § 8.01-243(A), deadline to sue for a personal injury law.lis.virginia.gov
Virginia: Virginia common law; Ponirakis v. Choi, 262 Va. 119, 546 S.E.2d 707 (2001), shared fault vawd.uscourts.gov
Virginia: minimum auto liability insurance (Va. Code § 46.2-472(B)(3)) law.lis.virginia.gov
Washington: RCW 4.16.080(2), deadline to sue for a personal injury courts.wa.gov
Washington: RCW 4.22.005, shared fault courts.wa.gov
Washington: minimum auto liability insurance (Washington Department of Licensing) dol.wa.gov
West Virginia: W. Va. Code § 55-2-12(b), deadline to sue for a personal injury ca4.uscourts.gov
West Virginia: W. Va. Code § 55-7-13c(c) (enacted by 2015 H.B. 2002), shared fault wvlegislature.gov
West Virginia: minimum auto liability insurance (West Virginia DMV) dmv.wv.gov
Wisconsin: minimum auto liability insurance (Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance) oci.wi.gov
Wyoming: Wyo. Stat. § 1-3-105(a)(iv)(C), deadline to sue for a personal injury wyoleg.gov
Wyoming: minimum auto liability insurance (Wyo. Stat. § 31-9-405(b)(ii)) wyoleg.gov
Arkansas: Arkansas Supreme Court, Clerk of the Courts (official record), Attorney Licensee Directory Search (Attorney Search) portal.arkansas.gov
California: State Bar of California, Attorney Search (Licensee Search) apps.calbar.ca.gov
Connecticut: Connecticut Judicial Branch, Attorney / Firm Look-up jud.ct.gov
Delaware: Delaware Supreme Court (Office of Disciplinary Counsel assists it), no public attorney search found on courts.delaware.gov; "Digest of Lawyer Discipline" courts.delaware.gov
Hawaii: Hawaii State Bar Association (directory); the Supreme Court of Hawai`i governs licensing, online membership directory courts.state.hi.us
Indiana: Indiana Supreme Court (Roll of Attorneys), Roll of Attorneys in.gov
Iowa: Supreme Court of Iowa (Office of Professional Regulation), Search Lawyers Licensed in Iowa iowacourts.gov
Maine: Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar, Attorney Directory (Attorney Information Search) apps.web.maine.gov
Maryland: Supreme Court of Maryland (Clerk's Office; Attorney Information System), Maryland Attorney Listing (Attorney Search) mdcourts.gov
Nebraska: Nebraska Supreme Court, Attorney Services Division, member search (public attorney search) supremecourt.nebraska.gov
North Carolina: North Carolina State Bar, Membership Directory (Search for a North Carolina Lawyer) portal.ncbar.gov
Rhode Island: Rhode Island Supreme Court (Rhode Island Judiciary), Attorney Search courts.ri.gov
Texas: State Bar of Texas, Find a Lawyer (Online Membership Directory) texasbar.com
Utah: Utah State Bar, Licensed Lawyer (Search ALL attorneys by Name) utcourts.gov
Washington: Washington State Bar Association, Lawyer Directory (Legal Directory) info.courts.wa.gov
California: Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 6146(a)(1)-(3) (as amended by AB 35, effective January 1, 2023), limit on contingency fees leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
Connecticut: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-251c(b), (c), (e), (f), limit on contingency fees cga.ct.gov
Delaware: 18 Del. C. § 6865, limit on contingency fees delcode.delaware.gov
Florida: Fla. Const. art. I, § 26, limit on contingency fees flsenate.gov
Maine: 24 M.R.S. § 2961(1), (3), limit on contingency fees legislature.maine.gov
New York: N.Y. Judiciary Law § 474-a(2), limit on contingency fees nysenate.gov
Oklahoma: Okla. Stat. tit. 5, § 7, limit on contingency fees oklegislature.gov
Tennessee: Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-26-120, limit on contingency fees govinfo.gov
Utah: Utah Code § 78B-3-411, limit on contingency fees le.utah.gov
Michigan Court Rules, MCR 8.121: contingent fees in personal injury cases (one-third) courts.michigan.gov
28 U.S.C. § 2678: attorney fees in claims against the United States (20% and 25%) govinfo.gov
State Bar of California: What to expect regarding fees and billing calbar.ca.gov
Texas Government Code ch. 82: § 82.065, contingent fee contracts in writing tcss.legis.texas.gov
Texas Penal Code § 38.12: barratry and solicitation after an accident tcss.legis.texas.gov
Florida Statutes § 817.234(8): solicitation after a motor vehicle accident flsenate.gov
28 U.S.C. § 2401(b): 2 years to present a tort claim to the federal agency govinfo.gov
28 U.S.C. § 2675(a): the claim to the agency comes first; 6 months govinfo.gov
GSA: Standard Form 95, Claim for Damage, Injury, or Death gsa.gov
California Courts Self-Help Guide: Ask a government agency to pay you selfhelp.courts.ca.gov
Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code ch. 101: § 101.101, notice within 6 months tcss.legis.texas.gov
Florida Statutes § 768.28(6)(a): written claim within 3 years leg.state.fl.us
New York General Municipal Law § 50-e: notice of claim within 90 days nysenate.gov
26 U.S.C. § 104(a)(2): damages for personal physical injuries are not income govinfo.gov
IRS Publication 4345: Settlements, taxability irs.gov
Tennessee: Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-39-102, cap on non-economic damages (quoted by the U.S. District Court, E.D. Tenn.) govinfo.gov
Bureau of Justice Statistics: Civil Bench and Jury Trials in State Courts, 2005 (NCJ 223851) bjs.ojp.gov
American Bar Association: Lawyer Referral Directory americanbar.org
Legal Services Corporation: find civil legal aid lsc.gov
California: Certified Lawyer Referral Services (certified by the State Bar of California) calbar.ca.gov
Connecticut: Local bar association lawyer referral programs (listed by the Connecticut Judicial Branch) jud.ct.gov
Illinois: ISBA Lawyer Finder (Illinois State Bar Association) illinoiscourts.gov
Indiana: Find a Lawyer (hosted by the Indiana State Bar Association) in.gov
Iowa: Iowa Find-A-Lawyer referral service (Iowa State Bar Association) iowacourts.gov
Maine: MSBA Lawyer Referral Service (Maine State Bar Association) courts.maine.gov
Maryland: Local Bar Association Referral Services (Maryland Judiciary link to the Maryland State Bar Association list) mdcourts.gov
Nebraska: Nebraska Find-A-Lawyer (Nebraska State Bar Association); Omaha Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service nebraskajudicial.gov
New York: New York State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service nysba.org
Oregon: Oregon State Bar Referral Service courts.oregon.gov
South Dakota: State Bar of South Dakota Lawyer Referral Service ujs.sd.gov
Texas: State Bar of Texas Lawyer Referral & Information Service (LRIS) texasbar.com
Virginia: Virginia Lawyer Referral Service (Virginia State Bar) selfhelp.vacourts.gov

This page explains the law in general terms. It is not legal advice about your situation. Justice is not a law firm and is not affiliated with any court or government agency.

Your deadline to sue for an injury, and the other driver's minimum insurance

Do you need a personal injury lawyer?

Do you need a personal injury lawyer?

How much does a personal injury lawyer cost? Contingency fees, and the rules that cap them

The most a lawyer may take, where a law sets it

What is my personal injury case worth? What the law counts, reduces and caps

Partly at fault? Comparative negligence in every state

Partly at fault? What each state's rule leaves you

Deadline to sue, shared-fault rule and minimum car insurance in all 50 states and D.C.

Your state's deadline, shared-fault rule and insurance minimum

Hurt by a government vehicle or on public property? A claim comes first

How a personal injury claim works, step by step

How to check a personal injury lawyer's license, in every state

Who keeps the list of licensed lawyers in your state

What to bring to the first consultation, and what to ask

Ready for the first consultation?

Free and low-cost help

Common questions about personal injury lawyers

Official sources

Related