State guides with local expansion

Car Accidents by State

Start with the statewide rule set, then move into local city and county pages where process, records, and local routing start to change what people actually need to do next.

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State pages cover deadlines, fault structure, records, and the first decisions that usually shape the claim.

Alabama Alabama Car Accidents explained: what actually drives the file, vehicle damage proof, and before deadlines close options PURE contributory negligence (common law): 1% plaintiff fault = ZERO recovery — AL is one of only 4 states (NC, MD, VA); no comparative reduction; last clear chance doctrine = only exception (defendant knew of plaintiff's peril, had time to avoid, failed); ALL surrounding states (GA, MS, TN, FL) use modified comparative fault Alaska Alaska Car Accidents: the practical pressure around claim narrative pressure, recorded statement risk, and early sequence Alaska requires 50/100/25 liability insurance and uninsured motorist coverage (AS 28.22.101) — among the highest minimums nationally; 2-year SOL under AS 09.10.070; modified comparative fault bars recovery at 50%+ fault (AS 09.17.060) Arizona Sorting out car accidents in Arizona: insurance leverage, response timing, and what deserves review first 12-13% uninsured driver rate — UM/UIM coverage essential; A.R.S. § 20-259.01 requires UM to be offered on all AZ policies Arkansas A more practical Arkansas Car Accidents guide: insurance leverage, the process pressure that hides behind the rule, and clearer timing Arkansas comparative fault ACA § 16-64-122: 50% bar (plaintiff ≥50% fault = NO recovery; ≤49% = reduced recovery); nonparty fault allocation permitted. SOL: 3 years personal injury (ACA § 16-56-105); property damage 3 years. I-40 (284mi east-west across AR; West Memphis to Fort Smith) = major freight corridor; NW Arkansas I-49 Ozark terrain = truck runaway/brake failure accidents. FMCSA ELD hours-of-service data + mandatory post-accident drug/alcohol testing (49 C.F.R. § 382) = critical preservation items in trucking cases. California Starting a car accidents issue in California: recorded statement risk, liability timing, and before the record drifts Pure comparative fault (Li v. Yellow Cab, 1975): no recovery bar — even 95% at-fault plaintiffs recover 5% of damages Colorado Colorado Car Accidents: why fault-allocation pressure, crash evidence, and decision sequencing matter early Modified comparative fault, 51% bar (§ 13-21-111): fault ≤50% = recover damages minus your fault %; fault ≥51% = zero recovery; I-70 mountain corridor traction law violations = negligence per se in winter crash cases Connecticut Car Accidents in Connecticut: what to sort out first, police report path, and injury timeline consistency Modified comparative fault: CGS § 52-572h; 51% bar (equal to or greater than 51% → no recovery); proportional reduction below 51%; joint and several for economic damages if defendant ≥ 50% at fault; several only for noneconomic damages; seatbelt non-use = comparative fault evidence (CGS § 14-100a); SOL: 2yr from injury/discovery (CGS § 52-584); wrongful death: 2yr from date of death (CGS § 52-555) Delaware Understanding Car Accidents in Delaware: liability timing, document control, and next steps Delaware mandatory auto insurance: Del. Code Ann. tit. 21, sec. 2118; minimum = $25,000/person + $50,000/accident BI liability + $10,000/accident PD liability + MANDATORY PIP $15,000/person + $30,000/accident (no-fault medical; regardless of fault). Delaware HYBRID SYSTEM = tort (at-fault) liability + mandatory PIP; PIP pays insured's medical expenses + lost wages up to PIP limits regardless of fault; after PIP exhausted → pursue at-fault driver's liability insurance. DELAWARE VERBAL THRESHOLD (Del. Code Ann. tit. 21, sec. 2118(a)(2)): to sue at-fault driver for pain and suffering + excess economic damages beyond PIP, injury must be = (1) death + (2) dismemberment + (3) significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement + (4) displaced fracture + (5) permanent injury (not temporary; expected to persist beyond 1 year); significantly limits DE car accident tort litigation. Modified comparative fault: Del. Code Ann. tit. 10, sec. 8132; 51% bar (plaintiff 51%+ at fault = no recovery); plaintiff 50% or less = damages reduced by fault percentage; joint and several liability principles apply with modifications. SOL: 2 years from accident date (Del. Code Ann. tit. 10, sec. 8119). Delaware Memorial Bridge: twin suspension bridges (completed 1951 + 1968; I-295/US Route 40; Delaware River between New Castle, DE and Pennsville, NJ); one of most heavily traveled East Coast bridges; heavy commercial truck volumes; New Castle Avenue/Route 9 approach = frequent truck accidents. I-95 Wilmington: Brandywine Valley section; "Dead Man's Curve" I-95/I-495 interchange (Exit 5B; Wilmington); Christina River bridge complex = significant accident history; DE State Police + Wilmington Police accident reconstruction. Florida Car Accidents in Florida: why without losing the reader in legal abstraction, follow-up treatment gaps, and the early sequence that protects options shape the opening strategy HB 837 (March 2023): changed to 51% modified comparative fault bar and reduced SOL from 4 to 2 years — date of accident determines which rule applies Georgia Georgia Car Accidents: where the records that usually matter before the file settles changes how readers should frame the problem 50% comparative fault bar (OCGA § 51-12-33): at 50%+ plaintiff recovers nothing — stricter than most states' 51% bar Hawaii Hawaii Car Accidents: fault-allocation pressure, decision sequencing, and when review matters Hawaii NO-FAULT state: mandatory PIP ≥$10,000/person (HRS § 431:10C-103); covers medical expenses + work loss (85% up to $800/mo for 1yr) + funeral ($2K). PIP is FIRST-PARTY (claim against own insurer regardless of fault). Tort threshold to exit no-fault and sue at-fault driver: (1) total eligible medical expenses >$5,000 OR (2) death/significant permanent disfigurement/significant permanent loss of use of body part or function. Pure comparative fault (Hawaii — NO fault bar; even 95%-at-fault plaintiff recovers 5% of damages; contrast WV/KS/ID modified comparative). SOL: 2 years from accident (HRS § 657-7). Minimum insurance: $10K per person/$20K per accident BI + $10K PD + $10K PIP. UM/UIM: must be OFFERED (insured may waive in writing; not mandatory like WV) — critical for serious injuries where at-fault driver uninsured/underinsured and PIP $10K exhausted. Idaho Idaho Car Accidents: what to handle first around ER discharge records, crash evidence, and timing Idaho modified comparative negligence § 6-801: "not as great as" standard; plaintiff at <50% fault = recovers (reduced by fault %); plaintiff at exactly 50% or more = ZERO recovery (50% bar); critical boundary at 49-50%. SOL: 2 years from accident date for personal injury AND property damage AND wrongful death (§ 5-219; shorter than NE's 4yr; strictly enforced). Minimum insurance: 25/50/15 ($25K/person/$50K/accident/$15K PD; $15K PD minimum lower than many states). Optional PIP § 41-2227: OFFERED but NOT mandatory (contrast KS mandatory no-fault PIP); Idaho PIP provides first-party medical + wage loss if purchased; insured can decline PIP in writing. Idaho at-fault (tort) state (NOT no-fault). Illinois Car Accidents in Illinois: how property-damage valuation and decision sequencing shape the early file 51% modified comparative fault: plaintiff at 51%+ at fault recovers nothing; at 50% or less, recovers proportionally reduced amount Indiana Indiana Car Accidents: what to handle first around repair estimate sequencing, tow-yard paperwork, and timing Modified comparative fault 51% bar (I.C. § 34-51-2-6): plaintiff at 50% fault recovers 50%; plaintiff at 51%+ fault recovers nothing — less harsh than TN's 50% bar Iowa A more practical Iowa Car Accidents guide: police report path, the review moments that actually change outcomes, and clearer timing Modified comparative fault: § 668.3; 51% bar (plaintiff ≥51% fault = zero recovery; 50% = 50% damages); nonparty fault allocation § 668.3(3): jury allocates fault to absent nonparties (defendant's burden to prove nonparty fault); joint/several: § 668.4 joint + several for economic damages ONLY; several (proportionate) for noneconomic; 2-year SOL § 614.1(2) personal injury + property damage. Iowa DOT claims: Iowa Tort Claims Act § 669.13, 6-month notice of claim; county road § 670.4, 60-day notice — failure = absolute bar. Kansas Sorting out car accidents in Kansas: recorded statement risk, early leverage, and what deserves review first Kansas = NO-FAULT automobile insurance state (KAIRA, KSA §§ 40-3101 to 40-3121); mandatory PIP minimum: $4,500 medical/dental/rehab + $900/month lost wages (1yr) + $25/day survivor benefit + $4,500 rehab. PIP pays regardless of fault. Tort threshold KSA § 40-3117: tort suit for noneconomic damages ONLY if medical expenses >$2,000 OR permanent injury/disfigurement/death. Below threshold = PIP-only recovery; no pain and suffering lawsuit. Liability minimums KSA § 40-3107(a): 25/50/25. Kentucky Kentucky Car Accidents: where the filing discipline that keeps leverage intact changes how readers should frame the problem Kentucky is a NO-FAULT/PIP state (KRS 304.39 MVRA): PIP pays first $10,000 medical + $200/wk lost wages regardless of fault through your own insurer; TORT CHOICE election (KRS 304.39-060) = choose full tort (most do) or limited tort; full tort = can sue at-fault driver for all damages after PIP; limited tort = must meet threshold (death/permanent disfigurement/$1,000+ medical) before suing for pain/suffering Louisiana Louisiana Car Accidents: document control, the timing points that turn a routine issue expensive, and the next review point worth slowing down for Civil Code foundation: La. C.C. Art. 2315 ('Every act whatever...obliges him by whose fault it happened to repair it') = Louisiana tort authority; pure comparative fault Art. 2323 = plaintiff recovers even if 99% at fault (reduced proportionally); OPPOSITE of Alabama pure contributory negligence Maine Maine Car Accidents: notice handling, the filing discipline that keeps leverage intact, and the next review point worth slowing down for Maine modified comparative fault (50% BAR): 14 M.R.S. § 156 — plaintiff at 50%+ fault = ZERO recovery (not 51% like most modified comparative states; meaningful distinction at exactly half-fault). Plaintiff at 49% fault = recovers 51% of damages. SOL: 14 M.R.S. § 752 = SIX years (one of longest negligence SOLs in US; most states use 2-3 years); tolled for minors (until age 18 + 6 more years) + mental incapacity + fraudulent concealment. Mandatory insurance minimums (29-A M.R.S. § 1601): $50K/person + $100K/accident BI + $25K PD (significantly above most state minimums). UM/UIM: must be offered at same limits as liability coverage; default included unless written waiver. MOOSE COLLISIONS: ~60,000-75,000 ME moose (largest contiguous US population); moose = center of mass at windshield height (1,000-1,600 lbs); ME-2 "Moose Alley" + US-201 Kennebec Valley + I-95 northern; moose collisions = COMPREHENSIVE coverage (not collision; no at-fault party); government liability if inadequate warning signs. Maryland Car Accidents for Maryland: a clearer read on treatment gaps, evidence timing, and what the file needs first Contributory negligence retained (Coleman v. Soccer Assoc. of Columbia, 432 Md. 679, 2013): plaintiff even 1% at fault = ZERO recovery; Maryland is 1 of 4 states + DC still using this rule; 'last clear chance' doctrine limited exception Massachusetts Car Accidents in Massachusetts: why without sacrificing clarity for length, recorded statement risk, and the first official sources worth checking shape the opening strategy No-fault PIP: $8,000 mandatory PIP pays first (M.G.L. c. 90 § 34A); tort threshold met when medical bills >$2,000 or serious injury (M.G.L. c. 231 § 6D) Michigan Car Accidents in Michigan: what deserves review before response, vehicle damage proof, and repair estimate sequencing No-fault PIP tiers (post-2019): unlimited, $500K, $250K, $50K (Medicaid) — choose at policy purchase; covers medical and 85% wage loss Minnesota Minnesota Car Accidents Guide: claim narrative pressure, fault-allocation pressure, and where early mistakes cost the most NO-FAULT STATE (§ 65B.41 Minnesota No-Fault Automobile Insurance Act): own insurer pays PIP regardless of fault; $40K total PIP ($20K medical + $20K economic loss); covers named insured, household members, passengers, pedestrians struck Mississippi Mississippi Car Accidents: what to handle first around treatment gaps, vehicle damage proof, and timing Mississippi PURE comparative fault Miss. Code § 11-7-15: plaintiff at any fault % can still recover (even 99% at fault = 1% recovery); NO recovery bar (contrast Iowa/Nevada/Arkansas 50-51% bar). SOL: 3 years (Miss. Code § 15-1-49 general personal injury statute). Mississippi routinely ranks in bottom 2-3 states for traffic fatality rate per VMT. I-55 (north-south through Delta + central MS; Memphis-New Orleans freight) + I-20 (east-west Meridian-Jackson-Vicksburg) = primary commercial corridors. Missouri Missouri Car Accidents: what to handle first around vehicle damage proof, scene-photo discipline, and timing Pure comparative fault (RSMo § 537.765, Gustafson v. Benda 661 S.W.2d 11 Mo. 1983): recovery allowed even at 99% fault — 13 states with pure comparative; defendants <51% fault are only severally (proportionally) liable Montana Montana Car Accidents: the filing discipline that keeps leverage intact, claim narrative pressure, and without hiding where the record really turns Montana modified comparative fault: Mont. Code Ann. sec. 27-1-702; 51% bar (plaintiff at 51%+ fault = zero recovery; at 50% or less = proportional recovery). SOL: Mont. Code Ann. sec. 27-2-204 = 3 years from date of injury; tolled for minors (until 18 + 3 years from 18) + mental incapacity. Speed limits: Montana rural interstate 80 mph (enacted 2015; highest in US; formerly 75 mph after 1999; effectively no daytime speed limit until 1999 "reasonable and prudent" standard struck down in State v. Stanko, 1998 MT 323). Mandatory minimums: Mont. Code Ann. sec. 61-6-103; $25K/person + $50K/accident BI + $20K PD. UM/UIM: Mont. Code Ann. sec. 33-23-201; must offer at same limits as liability; automatic unless written rejection; stacking allowed in some circumstances (Transamerica Ins. Co. v. Royle, 202 Mont. 173 (1983) and subsequent decisions). WILDLIFE COLLISIONS: ~150,000 MT elk + white-tailed/mule deer + pronghorn (eastern MT plains) + bears (grizzly in NW MT/Glacier Country/greater Yellowstone ecosystem); elk collisions at US-93/MT-200/I-90 Missoula-Deer Lodge/Paradise Valley US-89 particularly dangerous (adult bull elk 700-1,100 lbs; windshield-height center of mass); wildlife collisions = comprehensive coverage (not collision; no at-fault party). Nebraska A clearer Nebraska Car Accidents page: insurance leverage, injury timeline consistency, and before a quick answer becomes an expensive one Nebraska modified comparative fault: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-21,185.09; 50% BAR rule (plaintiff ≥50% at fault = ZERO recovery; plaintiff <50% = damages reduced by fault %); NOT pure comparative like NM. Nebraska Unicameral Legislature context: only single-house legislature in US (49 senators; nonpartisan). SOL: personal injury 4 years (§ 25-207 — LONGER than most states' 2-3yr); wrongful death 2 years from date of death (§ 30-810). Minimum insurance: 25/50/25 ($25K/person/$50K/accident/$25K PD; property damage minimum higher than most states). UM/UIM: MANDATORY (cannot be declined by insured; 25/50 minimums) — automatic protection unlike NM where UM can be waived. Nevada Nevada Car Accidents Guide: medical intake wording, recorded statement risk, and what to sort out first Nevada modified comparative fault NRS § 41.141: 51% bar (≥51% fault = NO recovery); recovery reduced by plaintiff's own fault %; nonparty fault allocation allowed (phantom driver/nonnamed party % reduces defendant liability); Joint and several: defendant ≥50% at fault = jointly + severally liable for ALL damages; defendant <50% = severally only. SOL: personal injury 2yr (§ 11.190(4)(e)); property damage 3yr (§ 11.190(3)(c)). New Hampshire Sorting out car accidents in New Hampshire: injury timeline consistency, decision sequencing, and what deserves review first NH UNIQUE: ONLY state in US without mandatory auto insurance. RSA 264:1 et seq. (Financial Responsibility Act): drivers may operate WITHOUT insurance if they demonstrate financial responsibility (surety bond OR cash/securities deposit with State Treasurer OR certificate of self-insurance for large fleets). Drivers who DO purchase insurance: minimum 25/50/25 ($25K/person/$50K/accident BI + $25K PD). NH insurance is optional; UM/UIM coverage CRITICAL because uninsured drivers are legal; UM/UIM must be offered but is voluntary. Modified comparative fault (RSA 507:7-d): 50% BAR (plaintiff ≥50% at fault = ZERO recovery; plaintiff ≤49% = proportional recovery). CONTRAST with WV's 51% bar (WV 50%-at-fault plaintiff can still recover; NH 50%-at-fault = zero). SOL: 3 YEARS from accident (RSA 508:4) — among the most generous in US; longer than most states' 2-year standard. Wrongful death: RSA 556:12; 3-year SOL from death date; damages = lost earnings + society/companionship + deceased's conscious pre-death pain + medical expenses. New Jersey New Jersey Car Accidents: response timing, the first official sources worth checking, and the next review point worth slowing down for Verbal threshold (limitation on lawsuit): must prove permanent injury in one of 6 statutory categories to sue for pain/suffering — most NJ policies use this cheaper option New Mexico Understanding Car Accidents in New Mexico: property-damage valuation, record discipline, and next steps New Mexico pure comparative fault: Scott v. Rizzo, 96 N.M. 682 (1981); jury assigns % fault to each party; plaintiff's recovery reduced by plaintiff's fault % BUT never completely barred (pure = no minimum threshold; contrast 50%/51% modified comparative). SOL: personal injury 3 years (NMSA § 37-1-8); property damage 4 years (§ 37-1-4); wrongful death 3 years from death (§ 41-2-2). Required minimums: 25/50/10 (among lowest in US; often insufficient). NM = one of top 5 states by % uninsured drivers on road → UM/UIM coverage CRITICAL. Punitive damages available against DWI defendants when sufficiently reckless/willful. New York Car Accidents in New York: why without making the page read like a template, tow-yard paperwork, and the steps readers tend to miss at the start shape the opening strategy No-fault PIP: $50,000 per person covers medical + 80% lost wages regardless of fault — file within 30 days of accident North Carolina Car Accidents in North Carolina: where early mistakes cost the most, claim narrative pressure, and fault-allocation pressure Pure contributory negligence: even 1% plaintiff fault bars ALL recovery — one of only 4 states still using this doctrine North Dakota Car Accidents in North Dakota: what to sort out first, police report path, and injury timeline consistency North Dakota requires 25/50/25 liability coverage and mandatory uninsured motorist coverage (NDCC sec. 39-16.1-04; 26.1-40-15.3); three-year SOL for injury claims, two-year for wrongful death Ohio Ohio Car Accidents: why follow-up treatment gaps, treatment gaps, and record discipline matter early 51% modified comparative fault (ORC § 2315.33): at 50% or less, recover proportionally; at 51%+, recover nothing Oklahoma Car Accidents in Oklahoma: how injury timeline consistency and response timing shape the early file Modified comparative fault (Okla. Stat. tit. 23 § 13): 50% threshold — plaintiff recovers if NOT MORE THAN 50% at fault; 51%+ = bar to recovery; no joint and several liability (abolished 2011, tit. 23 § 15) — each defendant pays only their proportionate fault share; Laubach v. Morgan 588 P.2d 1071 (Okla. 1978) = foundational comparative fault adoption; 2yr SOL personal injury (tit. 12 § 95(A)(3)); 2yr wrongful death (tit. 12 § 1053) Oregon Oregon Car Accidents: treatment gaps, notice handling, and when review matters Modified comparative fault (ORS 31.600): 51% bar — plaintiff recovers if not MORE than 50% at fault; recovery reduced by plaintiff's % of fault; nonparty fault allocated to nonparties but does NOT reduce plaintiff's recovery; joint and several liability applies when plaintiff is entirely faultless (plaintiff can collect 100% from any solvent defendant); several liability among defendants when plaintiff has any fault; 2yr SOL (ORS 12.110); 3yr wrongful death (ORS 30.020) Pennsylvania Car Accidents in Pennsylvania: how crash evidence and evidence timing shape the early file Choice no-fault: full tort (all rights preserved) vs. limited tort (no pain/suffering unless 'serious injury') — elected at insurance purchase Rhode Island Rhode Island Car Accidents strategy: police report path, witness follow-up, and what to sort out first Rhode Island modified comparative fault: R.I. Gen. Laws sec. 9-20-4; 51% bar (plaintiff at 51%+ fault = zero recovery; at 50% or less = proportional recovery). SOL: R.I. Gen. Laws sec. 9-1-14 = 3 years from accident date; tolled for minors (until 18 + 3 years) + mental incapacity + discovery of latent injuries. Mandatory minimums: R.I. Gen. Laws sec. 31-47-2; $25K/person + $50K/accident BI + $25K PD (lower than ME's $50K/$100K). UM coverage: required at same limits as liability unless written rejection by insured; UIM offers at matching limits. UM stacking: anti-stacking clauses must be CLEAR AND CONSPICUOUS to be enforceable in RI. I-95 Providence: most complex/congested NE highway segment; I-95/I-195/Route 6 multi-level interchange (confusing signage + lane merges = high accident risk); Washington Bridge (I-195 over Providence River; Providence to East Providence; structural repair history); I-95 through Pawtucket (urban segment north of Providence; dense interchanges). Route 146 (Lincoln Highway; Providence to Worcester MA corridor): significant accident corridor in Providence County; Route 7 interchange (Lincoln) + Route 116 junction. RI residential accidents: Providence + Cranston + Woonsocket = bulk of state personal injury claims. South Carolina Car Accidents in South Carolina: response timing, treatment gaps, and the first decisions that actually matter Modified comparative fault 51% bar (§ 15-38-15): plaintiff > 50% at fault = zero recovery; plaintiff 50% or less recovers (reduced proportionally); BMW Spartanburg I-26/I-85 corridor generates high-stakes commercial vehicle fault disputes requiring immediate ELD data preservation South Dakota Car Accidents in South Dakota: record discipline, property-damage valuation, and the first decisions that actually matter South Dakota auto insurance: SDCL sec. 32-35-70; minimum = $25,000/person + $50,000/accident BI + $25,000/accident PD; PURE TORT (at-fault) state; NO mandatory PIP or no-fault medical coverage; UM coverage required at BI liability limits under SDCL sec. 58-11-9 (unless rejected in writing); UIM separately offered; high uninsured driver rates (open prairie geography + Native American reservation community poverty = above-average uninsured rates). Comparative fault: SDCL sec. 20-9-2; modified comparative negligence; 51% BAR (plaintiff 51%+ at fault = NO recovery; 50% or less = damages reduced by fault percentage); joint and several liability principles apply with modifications. SOL: SDCL sec. 15-2-14; 3 YEARS from accident date; tolled for minors until age 18 (SDCL sec. 26-2-4). Sturgis Motorcycle Rally (Sturgis; Meade County; since 1938; typically first full week of August; 500,000-700,000 riders): ONE OF HIGHEST US concentrations of motorcycle accident claims per week anywhere in US; alcohol exposure from Full Throttle Saloon + Broken Spoke Saloon + Loud American Roadhouse + extensive Sturgis Rally corridor bars/outdoor venues; MAJORITY of attendees from out of state (MN + IA + IL + CO + NE + western states) = choice-of-law questions between SD law and injured rider's home state law for tort claims. Wrongful death: SDCL sec. 21-5-1; recoverable = pecuniary loss (lost income + support + services) + non-economic damages (loss of companionship + grief and bereavement of surviving spouse and children); NO cap on wrongful death non-economic damages in SD. Black Hills tourism: Mount Rushmore (~4 million visitors/year; Keystone; Wall; Rapid City area) = significant tourist traffic on I-90 + Black Hills roads. Tennessee Tennessee Car Accidents: where the records that usually matter before the file settles changes how readers should frame the problem SOL: 1 year for personal injury (T.C.A. § 28-3-104) — one of the shortest in U.S.; property damage is 3 years; minors tolled to age 19 Texas Sorting out car accidents in Texas: claim narrative pressure, document control, and what deserves review first Modified comparative fault: 51% at fault = zero recovery; 50% at fault = recover 50% of damages (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §33.001) Utah Sorting out car accidents in Utah: police report path, notice handling, and what deserves review first NO-FAULT PIP MANDATORY (Utah Code Ann. § 31A-22-309): minimum $3,000 PIP for medical; PIP = first-party claim with own insurer regardless of fault; THRESHOLD to sue in tort: (1) medical expenses >$3,000 OR (2) permanent loss/impairment of body function OR (3) permanent impairment OR (4) death; below threshold = PIP remedy only; above threshold = can pursue tort claim against at-fault driver; PIP insurer has SUBROGATION right against tort recovery; minimum limits: 25/65/15 (§ 31A-22-302) — note: $65K per-occurrence (not $50K like most states) Vermont Sorting out car accidents in Vermont: injury timeline consistency, decision sequencing, and what deserves review first Vermont requires 25/50/10 liability coverage (23 V.S.A. sec. 800); 3-year SOL under 12 V.S.A. sec. 512 (longer than neighboring states); modified comparative fault with 51% bar under 12 V.S.A. sec. 1036 Virginia Virginia Car Accident Laws 2026: What to Do After a Crash Pure contributory negligence (Baskett v. Banks, 1947 and progeny): 1% plaintiff fault = zero recovery; one of 4 states retaining this doctrine Washington Understanding Car Accidents in Washington: treatment gaps, notice handling, and next steps Pure comparative fault (RCW 4.22.005): plaintiff can recover even at 99% fault — no fault threshold bars recovery, unlike modified comparative or contributory negligence states West Virginia West Virginia Car Accidents: the process pressure that hides behind the rule, vehicle damage proof, and without oversimplifying the official framework West Virginia 2015 modified comparative fault reform: W. Va. Code §§ 55-7-13a to 13d. REPLACED prior contributory negligence (1% plaintiff fault = total bar). New 51% BAR rule: plaintiff ≤50% at fault = recovers (reduced by fault %); plaintiff ≥51% at fault = ZERO recovery. KEY DISTINCTION from Kansas/Idaho 50% bar: WV plaintiff at EXACTLY 50% fault CAN STILL RECOVER 50% of damages (KS/ID 50% = zero). Example: $400K damages; plaintiff 50% fault = plaintiff recovers $200K. SOL: 2 years from accident (personal injury + property damage + wrongful death from date of death; § 55-2-12). Minimum insurance: 25/50/25 ($25K/person/$50K/accident/$25K PD); Mandatory UM at 25/50 minimums (unlike Idaho optional UM); UIM offered separately (can decline in writing). Wisconsin Wisconsin Car Accidents: why tow-yard paperwork, claim narrative pressure, and document control matter early Modified comparative fault 51% bar (Wis. Stat. § 895.045): plaintiff ≤50% at fault = recovery proportionally reduced; ≥51% = zero; defendant >51% = jointly and severally liable; others only proportionally Wyoming Car Accidents in Wyoming: the early file behind vehicle damage proof, tow-yard paperwork, and real next steps Wyoming minimum auto insurance: 25/50/20 (Wyo. Stat. § 31-4-103); fault-based state (not no-fault); no mandatory PIP; high uninsured driver rate in rural/energy-sector areas; UM/UIM coverage optional but critical; Wyoming Highway Patrol (Cheyenne) investigates fatal accidents

City & County Guides

These local pages are linked directly from the car-accident dataset, so new rows surface automatically at build time.

Arizona

Mesa Scottsdale

California

Alameda County Alhambra Anaheim Antioch Apple Valley Bakersfield Berkeley Burbank Camarillo Chino Chino Hills Chula Vista Citrus Heights Clovis Compton Concord Corona Costa Mesa Daly City Danville Davis Downey El Cajon El Centro El Monte Elk Grove Escondido Fairfield Folsom Fremont Fresno Fullerton Garden Grove Glendale Hawthorne Hayward Hemet Hesperia Huntington Beach Indio Inglewood Irvine Jurupa Valley Lake Forest Lakewood Lancaster Livermore Lodi Long Beach Los Angeles Los Angeles County Manteca Menifee Mission Viejo Modesto Moreno Valley Murrieta Napa Newport Beach Norwalk Oakland Oceanside Ontario Orange County Oxnard Palm Springs Palmdale Palo Alto Pasadena Perris Petaluma Pittsburg Pomona Rancho Cordova Rancho Cucamonga Redding Rialto Richmond Riverside Riverside County Roseville Sacramento Sacramento County Salinas San Bernardino San Bernardino County San Diego San Diego County San Francisco San Jose San Leandro San Marcos San Mateo San Ramon Santa Ana Santa Clara Santa Clara County Santa Maria Santa Rosa Simi Valley South Gate South San Francisco Stockton Sunnyvale Temecula Thousand Oaks Torrance Tulare Turlock Tustin Upland Vacaville Vallejo Ventura Victorville Visalia Vista West Covina West Sacramento Westminster Whittier Yuba City

New Jersey

Bergen County Edison Newark Paterson Woodbridge

Virginia

Chesapeake Hampton Newport News Virginia Beach

Washington

Everett Kennewick Spokane