Personal injury claims, explained in plain English
InjuryCompass helps people who have been hurt in an accident make sense of what comes next: what a claim may be worth, whether they need a lawyer, how long it takes and what to watch out for. We explain the law and the numbers so you can make informed decisions.
- Independent
- Not a law firm
- No referral fees
- Last updated: October 28, 2026
Informed people make better decisions after an accident
After an accident, most people deal with insurers, medical bills and legal deadlines for the first time, often while they are still recovering. We turn accident and injury law into practical information:
What to do first. The typical steps after an accident and the deadlines that matter.
How compensation is calculated. The methods insurers and attorneys use, shown step by step.
What a fair settlement looks like. The factors that raise or lower a claim’s value.
How to find and evaluate a lawyer. Fees, questions to ask and red flags.
Six areas, one practical guide
Our guides focus on the United States and also explain general principles in the UK, Canada and Australia. Rules vary by state and country, so always confirm them for your own jurisdiction. You can also try our free claim calculators.
The person behind InjuryCompass
Gerard Cabana
Founder and editor of InjuryCompass
Gerard is a qualified engineer based in Barcelona, Spain, and the creator of InjuryCompass. He researches, writes and updates every guide from statutes, official agencies and published claims data, with one goal: to make accident and injury claims easier to understand.
Guides are signed by the InjuryCompass Editorial Team, the name we use for the site’s research and editing work, which Gerard leads. Gerard is not a lawyer, and InjuryCompass does not give legal advice: our guides explain how claims generally work so you can ask better questions of a licensed attorney.
What InjuryCompass is, and is not
- An independent informational publication
- Funded by advertising, including Google AdSense
- Open about our sources, dates and estimates
- A law firm, and we do not give legal advice or representation
- Affiliated with any law firm, and we receive no referral fees
- Able to guarantee outcomes: figures are general estimates
For decisions about your own case, speak to a licensed attorney in your state, and to your healthcare provider or a tax professional where relevant. If we ever work with legal directories or referral services, we will disclose it clearly and keep it separate from our editorial content.
How every guide is built
- 01Guides are based on public legal and industry sources: state statutes, federal agencies, court and bar association guidance, and published claims data.
- 02Every guide shows a “Last reviewed” date and is updated when laws or figures change.
- 03Estimates and illustrative examples are clearly labeled, with the method behind them.
- 04No law firm, insurer or referral service can pay to change what we publish.
- 05When we find an error, we correct it and note the change.
Read the full process on our How We Research page.
Questions, corrections or suggestions?
Email us or use our contact page. We usually reply within a few business days.