Ask the Sage

Straight answers, no jargon, no scare tactics — the questions people actually ask after an accident, answered the way a friend who happens to know insurance would answer them.

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8 questions, answered

Search by keyword or filter by topic. Every answer opens with the short version, then explains the reasoning behind it.

8 results

Money & offers

Should I accept the first settlement offer?

Almost never for an injury claim. First offers are opening bids made quickly because early settlements are cheap — they typically represent a fraction of documented claim value, and once you sign the release your claim is closed forever.

Lawyers & fees

Do I need a lawyer for a minor car accident?

For property damage only, or a single checkup with full recovery and accepted fault — usually not. The moment there's ongoing treatment, disputed fault, or a lowballing insurer, representation typically nets you more even after the fee.

Money & offers

How is pain and suffering calculated?

Most adjusters start from one of two methods: a multiplier (medical bills × 1.5 to 5, scaled by severity) or a per-diem rate for each day of documented recovery. Both are negotiating anchors, not laws.

Fault & insurance

What if the at-fault driver has no insurance?

Your own policy's uninsured motorist (UM) coverage steps in as if it were the other driver's insurer — this is exactly what UM exists for. If you carry it, you file with your own company.

Money & offers

How much is a rear-end accident settlement worth?

Fault is usually clear in rear-end crashes, so value turns almost entirely on injuries: soft-tissue claims commonly settle for $2,500–$25,000, while disc injuries or surgery push well into six figures.

Fault & insurance

Can I claim if the accident was partly my fault?

In most states, yes — your recovery is reduced by your fault percentage. But the rules vary sharply: some states cut you off at 50% or 51% fault, and four states bar recovery at even 1% fault.

Deadlines

How long after an accident can I file a claim?

Every state sets a statute of limitations — commonly 2 or 3 years from the accident for injury lawsuits. Miss it and your claim is worth zero, no matter how strong.

Lawyers & fees

Will my injury case go to trial?

Almost certainly not — roughly 95% of personal injury claims settle before trial. Filing a lawsuit is usually a negotiation step, not a courtroom commitment.

Still not sure what your claim is worth?

General answers only go so far. The number that matters depends on your injury, your treatment, who was at fault, and which state you were in — which is exactly what the calculator accounts for.

Check your range in 60 seconds

Still not sure what your claim is worth?

The answers above are general. This one is about your case — six questions, about a minute, and a range built from what you tell it.

Estimated range

0/6 answered

Case type

What kind of accident was it?

Motor vehicle

Premises

Workplace

Medical

Product

Injury

What was your most serious injury?

Treatment

What treatment have you needed?

Fault

Whose fault was the accident?

Work missed

How much work have you missed?

State

Which state did it happen in?

Ask the Sage

8 questions, answered

Should I accept the first settlement offer?

Do I need a lawyer for a minor car accident?

How is pain and suffering calculated?

What if the at-fault driver has no insurance?

How much is a rear-end accident settlement worth?

Can I claim if the accident was partly my fault?

How long after an accident can I file a claim?

Will my injury case go to trial?

Still not sure what your claim is worth?

Settlement values

Accident types

State rules

Claims playbook

Still not sure what your claim is worth?