# injurylawyers.si

> Plain answers after an accident or injury: insurance claims, filing deadlines, what a case involves and whether you need a lawyer, then injury law firms near you.

injurylawyers.si is a free, independent guide for people hurt in accidents in the United States. It answers questions about injury claims, deadlines, insurance and hiring a lawyer in plain language, names the official place to confirm each answer (state bars, courts, insurance departments), and lists personal injury, workers’ comp and malpractice law offices near a ZIP code. It is not a law firm and not a lawyer referral service; it gives general information, not legal advice.

Visitors can ask their own question at https://www.injurylawyers.si/ (or link directly with https://www.injurylawyers.si/?q=your+question) and get a plain answer that ends with the official place to confirm it and local help matched to their ZIP code. Free, no account, no name required.

## Guides

- [Should I talk to the other driver's insurance after being rear-ended?](https://www.injurylawyers.si/guides/should-i-talk-to-the-other-drivers-insurance-after-being-rear-ended): You can, but keep it short. You generally have no duty to give the other driver's insurer a recorded statement, sign a broad medical release, or accept an early offer; give basic facts, then stop.
- [Do I need a personal injury lawyer and how much does one cost?](https://www.injurylawyers.si/guides/do-i-need-a-personal-injury-lawyer-and-how-much-does-one-cost): Not always. Minor claims with no lasting injury are often settled without one, but most personal injury lawyers charge nothing up front and take a percentage, commonly around one-third, only if you recover money.
- [What is the statute of limitations for personal injury in each state?](https://www.injurylawyers.si/guides/personal-injury-statute-of-limitations-by-state): It depends on the state: most allow 2 or 3 years from the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. Kentucky and Tennessee allow only 1 year, while Maine, Minnesota and North Dakota allow 6.
- [Slip and fall in a store: is the store responsible?](https://www.injurylawyers.si/guides/slip-and-fall-in-a-store-is-the-store-responsible): Sometimes. A store is usually responsible for a slip and fall only if it created the hazard, or knew or reasonably should have known about it and failed to clean it up or warn customers in time.
- [Semi truck accident: who pays?](https://www.injurylawyers.si/guides/semi-truck-accident-who-pays): Usually the trucking company's insurance pays. Interstate for-hire carriers hauling general freight must carry at least $750,000 in liability coverage, and others such as the cargo loader or a parts maker may also share responsibility.
- [Hurt in an Uber or Lyft: whose insurance covers me?](https://www.injurylawyers.si/guides/hurt-in-an-uber-or-lyft-whose-insurance-covers-me): If you were a passenger on an active trip, Uber's and Lyft's insurance provides at least $1 million in third-party liability coverage. If another driver caused the crash, that driver's insurance is usually first in line.
- [Hurt at work: can I sue or only file workers' comp?](https://www.injurylawyers.si/guides/hurt-at-work-can-i-sue-or-only-workers-comp): Usually workers' comp only, against your employer. In most states workers' compensation is the exclusive remedy against an employer, but you can often sue a third party whose negligence caused the injury.
- [Dog bite: what to do and who's liable?](https://www.injurylawyers.si/guides/dog-bite-what-to-do-and-whos-liable): Wash the wound with soap and water, see a doctor, and report the bite. The dog's owner is usually liable: many states make owners strictly liable for bites, while others require proof the owner knew the dog was dangerous or was careless.
- [Do I have a medical malpractice case?](https://www.injurylawyers.si/guides/do-i-have-a-medical-malpractice-case): You may, if a doctor or other provider fell below the accepted standard of care and that mistake directly caused you significant harm. A bad outcome by itself is not malpractice, and most cases require an expert to back them up.
- [Is a $3,000 settlement offer fair?](https://www.injurylawyers.si/guides/is-a-3000-settlement-offer-fair): It can be fair for a minor injury that has fully healed with small medical bills, but not if your medical bills, lost wages, future care and pain add up to more. Compare the offer to your actual losses before you sign.
- [Left-turn motorcycle accident: what now?](https://www.injurylawyers.si/guides/left-turn-motorcycle-accident-what-now): Get medical care and a police report first. In a left-turn crash, the car turning left is usually found at fault because drivers turning left must yield to oncoming traffic, but your speed or lane position can reduce what you recover.
- [How long does a personal injury case take?](https://www.injurylawyers.si/guides/how-long-does-a-personal-injury-case-take): It depends mostly on how long your medical treatment lasts and whether a lawsuit is needed. A simple claim may settle a few months after treatment ends, while a case that goes to lawsuit often takes a year or more, and trials can take longer.
- [How is pain and suffering calculated?](https://www.injurylawyers.si/guides/how-is-pain-and-suffering-calculated): There is no legal formula. Juries and insurers estimate pain and suffering from how serious the injury was, how long recovery took, and its lasting effect on your life; the multiplier and per-diem methods are only rules of thumb.
- [What to do after a hit and run?](https://www.injurylawyers.si/guides/what-to-do-after-a-hit-and-run): Call 911, get medical help, and write down everything you remember about the other car right away. If the driver is never found, your own uninsured motorist coverage, MedPay or PIP, and collision coverage are usually what pay.
- [Pedestrian hit by a car: what should I do?](https://www.injurylawyers.si/guides/pedestrian-hit-by-a-car-what-to-do): Get medical care and call police first. The driver's liability insurance usually pays if the driver was at fault, and your own auto policy's PIP, MedPay or uninsured motorist coverage often covers you even though you were on foot.
- [How do bicycle accident claims work?](https://www.injurylawyers.si/guides/bicycle-accident-claim-who-pays): A bicycle accident claim usually goes against the at-fault driver's auto insurance, the same as a car crash claim. Your own auto policy's uninsured motorist, PIP or MedPay coverage may also cover you while riding.
- [Who can file a wrongful death claim?](https://www.injurylawyers.si/guides/who-can-file-a-wrongful-death-claim): It depends on state law. In many states the personal representative of the person's estate files on behalf of the family, while other states let close relatives, usually a spouse, children, or parents, file directly.
- [What is comparative negligence, and which rule does my state use?](https://www.injurylawyers.si/guides/what-is-comparative-negligence-by-state): Comparative negligence means your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. Most states use a modified rule that bars recovery at 50% or 51% fault, about ten use a pure rule, and four states plus DC still bar recovery for any fault.
- [What questions should I ask before hiring a personal injury lawyer?](https://www.injurylawyers.si/guides/questions-to-ask-before-hiring-a-personal-injury-lawyer): Ask what percentage they charge and how case costs are handled, who will actually work on your case, how many similar cases they've handled and tried, and how and how often they'll update you. Get the fee agreement in writing.
- [How do I check a lawyer's license with the state bar?](https://www.injurylawyers.si/guides/how-to-check-a-lawyers-license-with-the-state-bar): Search the lawyer's name on the website of the state agency that licenses lawyers, usually the state bar or state supreme court. The listing shows whether they are licensed and eligible to practice, and in most states any public discipline.
- [Do I have to pay taxes on a personal injury settlement?](https://www.injurylawyers.si/guides/do-i-have-to-pay-taxes-on-a-personal-injury-settlement): Usually no. Under federal tax law (Internal Revenue Code section 104(a)(2)), damages received for a personal physical injury or physical sickness are not taxable income, but punitive damages, interest, and some other parts can be.
- [What happens if the at-fault driver has no insurance?](https://www.injurylawyers.si/guides/what-happens-if-the-at-fault-driver-has-no-insurance): Your own insurance usually steps in. Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage pays for your injuries as if it were the other driver's insurance, and collision, MedPay or PIP may cover your car and medical bills; you can also sue the driver personally.
- [How much is my car accident injury case worth?](https://www.injurylawyers.si/guides/how-much-is-my-car-accident-injury-case-worth): There's no standard price for a car accident injury. Your case is usually valued by adding up your money losses, like medical bills and lost pay, plus your pain and how the injury changed your life. That number is then shaped by how much insurance is available, whether you share any fault, and what you owe for liens and legal fees. Laws differ by state, so a local lawyer can give you a realistic range once your treatment is complete.
- [Will Medicare, Medicaid or my health plan take part of my injury settlement?](https://www.injurylawyers.si/guides/medical-liens-on-a-personal-injury-settlement): Often, yes. If Medicare, Medicaid or a health plan paid for care related to your injury, it may have the right to be paid back from your settlement. Medicare's recovery is set by federal rules, while Medicaid, employer plans and hospital liens follow a mix of federal law, state law and plan terms. These amounts can often be reviewed, disputed or negotiated before you get your final check.
- [What is a demand letter in a personal injury claim?](https://www.injurylawyers.si/guides/what-is-a-demand-letter-in-a-personal-injury-claim): A demand letter is a written request asking the at-fault person's insurance company to pay a set amount to settle your injury claim. It explains what happened, why their driver or customer is responsible, your injuries and treatment, and your losses, with records attached. It's usually sent once your medical treatment is finished or your doctor says you've improved as much as you're expected to. Sending one does not stop your state's deadline to file a lawsuit.

## Cities
Local listings pages for the 150 largest cities: https://www.injurylawyers.si/cities (pattern https://www.injurylawyers.si/cities/<city>-<state>, e.g. https://www.injurylawyers.si/cities/new-york-ny).

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