Legal Process8-point list
8 Signs It's Time to Switch Personal Injury Lawyers
Silence, missed deadlines, settlement pressure and surprise handoffs are reasons to switch. Learn how the change works and how the first lawyer gets paid.
7 min read
Guide library
Legal Process guides
A personal injury claim moves through steps most people have never seen: a deadline to file, a demand to the insurer, negotiation, and sometimes a lawsuit. These guides explain each step and the paperwork behind it. You will find how filing deadlines work and why claims against a city or state can have much shorter notice periods, how comparative and contributory negligence change what you can collect, and how a demand letter starts the settlement conversation.
Other guides cover the practical side of working with a lawyer: how contingency fees are calculated, what to bring to a first meeting, which questions to ask before you sign, and the signs it may be time to switch lawyers. They also answer common timing and money questions, including how long a case takes and whether a settlement is taxable. The rules are different in each state, so the guides link to the state page for the deadline and fault rule that apply to you.
9 guides on legal process
Legal Process10-point list
Suing a City or State After an Injury: Notice Deadlines in 10 Big States
Injury claims against a city or state often need written notice within 90 days to 6 months. See the deadline, statute and damage cap in 10 big states.
8 min read
Legal Process10-point list
10 Documents to Bring to Your First Meeting With an Injury Lawyer
Bring the crash report, photos, medical records and bills, insurance papers, proof of lost pay and a timeline. Here's how to get each one and why.
6 min read
Legal Process12-point list
12 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer
Ask who handles your case, the fee at each stage, who pays costs if you lose, how liens are handled and how to check a lawyer's license and discipline.
8 min read
Legal Process
Are Personal Injury Settlements Taxable? What the IRS Says
Damages for a physical injury are tax-free under IRC §104(a)(2). Punitive damages, interest and some emotional distress awards are taxable. Here's how.
6 min read
Legal Process
How Long Does a Personal Injury Case Take From Start to Finish?
A simple injury claim often settles in 6 to 12 months; a lawsuit usually takes 1 to 3 years. Timelines by stage, court data and what speeds a case up.
6 min read
Legal Process
Comparative vs. Contributory Negligence, State by State
If you were partly at fault, your state's rule decides if you get a reduced award or nothing. See the 4 systems, the states in each, and $100,000 examples.
6 min read
Legal Process
How Contingency Fees Work in Personal Injury Cases
Injury lawyers commonly take one-third of the recovery and nothing if you lose. How tiers, costs, state caps and the written agreement affect your share.
6 min read
Legal Process
How Long Do You Have to File a Personal Injury Claim?
Most states give you 2 or 3 years to sue for a personal injury, but some allow 1 and government claims can need notice in 90 days. See state examples.
6 min read
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