Coverage · all 50 states + DC
Car accident lawsby state.
Last updated Written by Accident Claim Check Editorial TeamAttorney review: pending
- ALAlabama
- AKAlaska
- AZArizona
- ARArkansas
- CACalifornia
- COColorado
- CTConnecticut
- DEDelaware
- DCDistrict of Columbia
- FLFlorida
- GAGeorgia
- HIHawaii
- IDIdaho
- ILIllinois
- INIndiana
- IAIowa
- KSKansas
- KYKentucky
- LALouisiana
- MEMaine
- MDMaryland
- MAMassachusetts
- MIMichigan
- MNMinnesota
- MSMississippi
- MOMissouri
- MTMontana
- NENebraska
- NVNevada
- NHNew Hampshire
- NJNew Jersey
- NMNew Mexico
- NYNew York
- NCNorth Carolina
- NDNorth Dakota
- OHOhio
- OKOklahoma
- OROregon
- PAPennsylvania
- RIRhode Island
- SCSouth Carolina
- SDSouth Dakota
- TNTennessee
- TXTexas
- UTUtah
- VTVermont
- VAVirginia
- WAWashington
- WVWest Virginia
- WIWisconsin
- WYWyoming
Compare states
Fault rulesat a glance.
General summary only — laws change and exceptions apply. Each state page explains the rules in more detail.
| State | Fault system | Shared-fault rule | Injury deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | At-fault (tort) state | Contributory negligence | 2 yrs |
| Alaska | At-fault (tort) state | Pure comparative fault | 2 yrs |
| Arizona | At-fault (tort) state | Pure comparative fault | 2 yrs |
| Arkansas | At-fault (tort) state | Modified comparative fault (50% bar) | 3 yrs |
| California | At-fault (tort) state | Pure comparative fault | 2 yrs |
| Colorado | At-fault (tort) state | Modified comparative fault (50% bar) | 3 yrs |
| Connecticut | At-fault (tort) state | Modified comparative fault (51% bar) | 2 yrs |
| Delaware | At-fault (tort) state | Modified comparative fault (51% bar) | 2 yrs |
| District of Columbia | Choice no-fault state | Contributory negligence | 3 yrs |
| Florida | No-fault state | Modified comparative fault (51% bar) | 2 yrs |
| Georgia | At-fault (tort) state | Modified comparative fault (50% bar) | 2 yrs |
| Hawaii | No-fault state | Modified comparative fault (51% bar) | 2 yrs |
| Idaho | At-fault (tort) state | Modified comparative fault (50% bar) | 2 yrs |
| Illinois | At-fault (tort) state | Modified comparative fault (51% bar) | 2 yrs |
| Indiana | At-fault (tort) state | Modified comparative fault (51% bar) | 2 yrs |
| Iowa | At-fault (tort) state | Modified comparative fault (51% bar) | 2 yrs |
| Kansas | No-fault state | Modified comparative fault (50% bar) | 2 yrs |
| Kentucky | Choice no-fault state | Pure comparative fault | 2 yrs |
| Louisiana | At-fault (tort) state | Modified comparative fault (51% bar) | 2 yrs |
| Maine | At-fault (tort) state | Modified comparative fault (50% bar) | 6 yrs |
| Maryland | At-fault (tort) state | Contributory negligence | 3 yrs |
| Massachusetts | No-fault state | Modified comparative fault (51% bar) | 3 yrs |
| Michigan | No-fault state | Modified comparative fault (51% bar) | 3 yrs |
| Minnesota | No-fault state | Modified comparative fault (51% bar) | 6 yrs |
| Mississippi | At-fault (tort) state | Pure comparative fault | 3 yrs |
| Missouri | At-fault (tort) state | Pure comparative fault | 5 yrs |
| Montana | At-fault (tort) state | Modified comparative fault (51% bar) | 3 yrs |
| Nebraska | At-fault (tort) state | Modified comparative fault (50% bar) | 4 yrs |
| Nevada | At-fault (tort) state | Modified comparative fault (51% bar) | 2 yrs |
| New Hampshire | At-fault (tort) state | Modified comparative fault (51% bar) | 3 yrs |
| New Jersey | Choice no-fault state | Modified comparative fault (51% bar) | 2 yrs |
| New Mexico | At-fault (tort) state | Pure comparative fault | 3 yrs |
| New York | No-fault state | Pure comparative fault | 3 yrs |
| North Carolina | At-fault (tort) state | Contributory negligence | 3 yrs |
| North Dakota | No-fault state | Modified comparative fault (50% bar) | 6 yrs |
| Ohio | At-fault (tort) state | Modified comparative fault (51% bar) | 2 yrs |
| Oklahoma | At-fault (tort) state | Modified comparative fault (51% bar) | 2 yrs |
| Oregon | At-fault (tort) state | Modified comparative fault (51% bar) | 2 yrs |
| Pennsylvania | Choice no-fault state | Modified comparative fault (51% bar) | 2 yrs |
| Rhode Island | At-fault (tort) state | Pure comparative fault | 3 yrs |
| South Carolina | At-fault (tort) state | Modified comparative fault (51% bar) | 3 yrs |
| South Dakota | At-fault (tort) state | Slight/gross negligence comparison | 3 yrs |
| Tennessee | At-fault (tort) state | Modified comparative fault (50% bar) | 1 yr |
| Texas | At-fault (tort) state | Modified comparative fault (51% bar) | 2 yrs |
| Utah | No-fault state | Modified comparative fault (50% bar) | 4 yrs |
| Vermont | At-fault (tort) state | Modified comparative fault (51% bar) | 3 yrs |
| Virginia | At-fault (tort) state | Contributory negligence | 2 yrs |
| Washington | At-fault (tort) state | Pure comparative fault | 3 yrs |
| West Virginia | At-fault (tort) state | Modified comparative fault (50% bar) | 2 yrs |
| Wisconsin | At-fault (tort) state | Modified comparative fault (51% bar) | 3 yrs |
| Wyoming | At-fault (tort) state | Modified comparative fault (51% bar) | 4 yrs |
No-fault and choice no-fault jurisdictions: District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Utah.
FAQ
State lawquestions.
01Which states are no-fault states?
The no-fault and choice no-fault jurisdictions in our data are: District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Utah. In these places your own PIP coverage usually pays first.
02Which states use contributory negligence?
Alabama, District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia follow contributory negligence, which can bar recovery if you were even slightly at fault.
03Which state has the shortest deadline for injury claims?
Tennessee generally gives only one year for injury claims — one of the shortest deadlines in the country. Several other states give two years.
04Does the law of the state where I live or where the crash happened apply?
Usually the law of the state where the crash happened, but your own insurance policy and other factors can matter. An attorney can explain which rules apply.
Next step
Find out if you have a case.Free. Private. About 60 seconds.
Answer a few quick questions about your accident. If your case may qualify, our intake team will connect you with an independent personal injury attorney in your state. There is no cost and no obligation.
- Free to check
- No obligation
- Private