New Claim Starter Checklist

What is inside

A free printable starter checklist for people in the first days after an accident who are still asking 'do I have a case?' and need to protect the deadline, the evidence, and their own words before momentum is lost.

• Start Here: The Deadline You Can't Undo
• Confirm Your Statute of Limitations
• Evidence to Preserve in the First 72 Hours
• Scene, Photos, and Witness Checklist
• Documenting the Injury and Your Treatment
• Tracking Losses: Bills, Wages, and Out-of-Pocket
• What to Avoid Saying to an Adjuster
• Is This Worth a Lawyer? How to Decide
• What to Bring to a Free Consultation
• Your Next-Steps Worksheet

How to use the guide

1. Save a copy and read its instructions before filling in fields.
2. Use your records to enter facts and dates. Label anything that still needs confirmation.
3. Keep your completed copy private. Check the recipient and the included information before sharing.
4. Verify the applicable state rules. The guide does not decide coverage, legal deadlines, or claim value.

Who this is for

• People in the first days or weeks after an accident who aren't sure if they have a case yet.
• Claimants who want to protect evidence and the deadline before talking to an insurer.
• Anyone preparing for a free attorney consultation who wants to walk in organized.

Related tools and reading

• "Do I Have a Case?" Screener
• Statute of Limitations Calculator
• Fault Percentage Estimator
• Evidence Checklist
• Case Preparation Checklist

Sources

• NHTSA Traffic Records Standards

  Crash-documentation and reporting fields that shape evidence quality.

• USAGov Consumer Complaint Routing

  Official starting point for vehicle and consumer complaint escalation paths.

• CMS Medicare Secondary Payer Recovery

  Official Medicare recovery workflow relevant to settlement timing and lien math.