Car Accident Settlement Rules by State
State law decides how much a car accident claim can be worth: whether your own fault reduces or bars recovery, how long you have to sue, and how much insurance the at-fault driver must carry. Pick a state for its calculator and official sources.
| State | Fault rule | Injury lawsuit deadline | Minimum bodily injury coverage | Insurance system |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Contributory negligence | 2 years | $25,000 / $50,000 | At-fault (tort) |
| Alaska | Pure comparative negligence | 2 years | $50,000 / $100,000 | At-fault (tort) |
| Arizona | Pure comparative negligence | 2 years | $25,000 / $50,000 | At-fault (tort) |
| Arkansas | Modified comparative negligence (50% bar) | 3 years | $25,000 / $50,000 | At-fault with add-on PIP |
| California | Pure comparative negligence | 2 years | $30,000 / $60,000 | At-fault (tort) |
| Colorado | Modified comparative negligence (50% bar) | 3 years | $25,000 / $50,000 | At-fault (tort) |
| Connecticut | Modified comparative negligence (51% bar) | 2 years | $25,000 / $50,000 | At-fault (tort) |
| Delaware | Modified comparative negligence (51% bar) | 2 years | $25,000 / $50,000 | At-fault with add-on PIP |
| District of Columbia | Contributory negligence | 3 years | $25,000 / $50,000 | Choice no-fault |
| Florida | Modified comparative negligence (51% bar) | 2 years | Not required | No-fault |
| Georgia | Modified comparative negligence (50% bar) | 2 years | $25,000 / $50,000 | At-fault (tort) |
| Hawaii | Modified comparative negligence (51% bar) | 2 years | $40,000 / $80,000 | No-fault |
| Idaho | Modified comparative negligence (50% bar) | 2 years | $25,000 / $50,000 | At-fault (tort) |
| Illinois | Modified comparative negligence (51% bar) | 2 years | $25,000 / $50,000 | At-fault (tort) |
| Indiana | Modified comparative negligence (51% bar) | 2 years | $25,000 / $50,000 | At-fault (tort) |
| Iowa | Modified comparative negligence (51% bar) | 2 years | $20,000 / $40,000 | At-fault (tort) |
| Kansas | Modified comparative negligence (50% bar) | 2 years | $25,000 / $50,000 | No-fault |
| Kentucky | Pure comparative negligence | 2 years | $25,000 / $50,000 | Choice no-fault |
| Louisiana | Modified comparative negligence (51% bar) | 2 years | $15,000 / $30,000 | At-fault (tort) |
| Maine | Modified comparative negligence (50% bar) | 6 years | $50,000 / $100,000 | At-fault (tort) |
| Maryland | Contributory negligence | 3 years | $30,000 / $60,000 | At-fault with add-on PIP |
| Massachusetts | Modified comparative negligence (51% bar) | 3 years | $25,000 / $50,000 | No-fault |
| Michigan | Modified comparative negligence (51% bar) | 3 years | $50,000 / $100,000 | No-fault |
| Minnesota | Modified comparative negligence (51% bar) | 6 years | $30,000 / $60,000 | No-fault |
| Mississippi | Pure comparative negligence | 3 years | $25,000 / $50,000 | At-fault (tort) |
| Missouri | Pure comparative negligence | 5 years | $25,000 / $50,000 | At-fault (tort) |
| Montana | Modified comparative negligence (51% bar) | 3 years | $25,000 / $50,000 | At-fault (tort) |
| Nebraska | Modified comparative negligence (50% bar) | 4 years | $25,000 / $50,000 | At-fault (tort) |
| Nevada | Modified comparative negligence (51% bar) | 2 years | $25,000 / $50,000 | At-fault (tort) |
| New Hampshire | Modified comparative negligence (51% bar) | 3 years | $25,000 / $50,000 | At-fault (tort) |
| New Jersey | Modified comparative negligence (51% bar) | 2 years | $35,000 / $70,000 | Choice no-fault |
| New Mexico | Pure comparative negligence | 3 years | $25,000 / $50,000 | At-fault (tort) |
| New York | Modified comparative negligence (51% bar) | 3 years | $25,000 / $50,000 | No-fault |
| North Carolina | Contributory negligence | 3 years | $50,000 / $100,000 | At-fault (tort) |
| North Dakota | Modified comparative negligence (50% bar) | 6 years | $25,000 / $50,000 | No-fault |
| Ohio | Modified comparative negligence (51% bar) | 2 years | $25,000 / $50,000 | At-fault (tort) |
| Oklahoma | Modified comparative negligence (51% bar) | 2 years | $25,000 / $50,000 | At-fault (tort) |
| Oregon | Modified comparative negligence (51% bar) | 2 years | $25,000 / $50,000 | At-fault with add-on PIP |
| Pennsylvania | Modified comparative negligence (51% bar) | 2 years | $15,000 / $30,000 | Choice no-fault |
| Rhode Island | Pure comparative negligence | 3 years | $25,000 / $50,000 | At-fault (tort) |
| South Carolina | Modified comparative negligence (51% bar) | 3 years | $25,000 / $50,000 | At-fault (tort) |
| South Dakota | Slight/gross negligence comparison | 3 years | $25,000 / $50,000 | At-fault (tort) |
| Tennessee | Modified comparative negligence (50% bar) | 1 years | $25,000 / $50,000 | At-fault (tort) |
| Texas | Modified comparative negligence (51% bar) | 2 years | $30,000 / $60,000 | At-fault with add-on PIP |
| Utah | Modified comparative negligence (50% bar) | 4 years | $30,000 / $65,000 | No-fault |
| Vermont | Modified comparative negligence (51% bar) | 3 years | $25,000 / $50,000 | At-fault (tort) |
| Virginia | Contributory negligence | 2 years | $50,000 / $100,000 | At-fault (tort) |
| Washington | Pure comparative negligence | 3 years | $25,000 / $50,000 | At-fault (tort) |
| West Virginia | Modified comparative negligence (51% bar) | 2 years | $25,000 / $50,000 | At-fault (tort) |
| Wisconsin | Modified comparative negligence (51% bar) | 3 years | $25,000 / $50,000 | At-fault (tort) |
| Wyoming | Modified comparative negligence (51% bar) | 4 years | $25,000 / $50,000 | At-fault (tort) |
More states are being added. Each state page lists the official statutes and agencies it is based on.