The short answer
- One author: The Accident Advisory editorial team. We don't claim outside expert review, and every page says who wrote it and when it was last updated.
- Primary sources, cited on the page. Every legal fact has two independent sources, the statute first, and every figure shows its source and year.
- If something is wrong, we fix it and log the change. Corrections go in the public editorial changelog.
In this guide
Who writes our guides
Every page is written and edited by The Accident Advisory editorial team, and every page carries the same byline: the editorial team, the date it was last updated and the number of sources it cites. We don’t put names, titles or credentials on pages to suggest an outside expert checked them. The authority of a page comes from the sources it cites, which you can check yourself.
How we research
Every guide starts from primary sources: state statutes and court records, federal and state agencies (such as NHTSA, FMCSA, the CDC and state departments of insurance and labor), and court dockets such as the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. Where we describe how a law works, we point to the statute or official guidance itself rather than to a secondhand summary.
- Two independent sources for every legal fact, statute first. A single law firm’s blog post isn’t a source.
- Every figure shows its source and year. If we can’t source a number, we don’t publish it.
- State facts carry a “last checked” date. A state value we haven’t checked against its statute and a second source shows “In preparation” instead of a guess.
How we write
We write in plain English and lead with the answer: every guide starts with “The short answer”. Our voice is calm and honest. We tell you when you probably don’t need a lawyer, and we never use pressure, countdowns or alarm. We cover the whole aftermath of a vehicle accident, not only the parts that might become a claim.
How we update
Every page shows when it was last updated. We revisit pages when the law, official guidance or court records change, and on a regular cycle. Laws differ by state and change over time, so check anything time-sensitive against your own state’s page, where each rule shows the date we last checked it.
Our use of AI tools
We use AI tools to help research, draft and structure our content. Every page is checked by our editorial team against the sources it cites before it’s published: AI helps with the work, but it doesn’t replace editorial judgement or accountability. AI-assisted content is held to the same sourcing and accuracy rules as everything else.
What we don't publish
- Estimates of what a claim is worth, settlement figures or tools that estimate them.
- Recommendations of a particular lawyer or law firm.
- Legal facts, such as deadlines or fault rules, that we haven’t checked against a current source.
- Pages that repeat the same text with only a state’s name changed.
Independence
Our content is written for readers first. Law firms that advertise with us have no say in what we publish, and they can’t buy a better position on any page. How the site is paid for is set out on How we’re paid.
Corrections
If you spot an error or something out of date, tell us through our contact page. We check the sources, fix the page, update its date and record the change in the editorial changelog. Messages through the site are paused while we rebuild it; the contact form will be back before the new site launches.
The Accident Advisory provides free, general information and is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Using this site does not create an attorney–client relationship. For advice about your specific situation, consult a qualified attorney licensed in your state.
General information, not legal advice. The Accident Advisory is not a law firm. Laws differ by state and change over time.