PaulsGuide asks a short series of structured questions about your injury — the same facts an attorney needs to evaluate your claim. Here is every step, what we ask, and why it matters. It is free, you stay anonymous until you choose to share more, and nothing is sent to attorneys until you decide.
Step 1 of 17
The kind of incident — car crash, slip and fall, dog bite, malpractice — sets the legal rules that apply to your claim. Each type has its own deadlines, evidence needs, and damages available. Picking the right category points your claim toward attorneys who handle that exact kind of work.
Step 2 of 17
Every state sets a deadline for filing an injury claim, called the statute of limitations. The clock usually starts the day of the incident. Knowing when it happened tells an attorney how much time is left and how fresh the evidence still is.
Step 3 of 17
Where you were hurt points to who may be responsible. A workplace, a store, a private home, and a public road each pull in different parties, different insurance, and different rules.
Step 4 of 17
State law controls personal injury claims. The state where you were hurt sets the filing deadline, the shared-fault rules, any cap on damages, and which courts can hear the claim.
Step 5 of 17
The city and county determine the courthouse your claim would be filed in. Local jury values, court schedules, and police departments all vary, so this affects strategy and timing.
Step 6 of 17
The type of injury drives the value of your claim. Broken bones, head trauma, soft tissue, and internal injuries each carry different treatment paths and damages. Listing every injury keeps the claim from being undervalued.
Step 7 of 17
Pain on its own is hard to prove. What you can no longer do — work, sleep, drive, care for your family — is concrete evidence of how the injury changed your life. This information supports pain-and-suffering damages.
Step 8 of 17
Occasional discomfort and daily limitation lead to very different claim values. Frequency shows whether the injury is healing or lasting and whether future care should be part of the claim.
Step 9 of 17
Medical treatment is the backbone of an injury claim. Insurers measure injuries by the care received. Every ER visit, hospital stay, doctor visit, and urgent care trip becomes part of the medical record that supports the damages.
Step 10 of 17
Claims settle for more when injuries need continued care. Therapy, future surgeries, equipment, and life-care needs become future costs that belong in the settlement demand.
Step 11 of 17
A gap between the incident and treatment is the first thing insurers attack. Same-day or next-day care strongly ties the injury to the incident; longer gaps need a clear explanation.
Step 12 of 17
Fault decides who pays. Some states reduce recovery if you share blame, and a few block it entirely. Your honest view of what happened helps your attorney investigate every possible responsible party.
Step 13 of 17
Insurance is almost always where any settlement comes from. Knowing whose policies are involved sets the realistic ceiling on recovery and tells your attorney where to direct the claim.
Step 14 of 17
An injury claim covers more than medical bills. Lost wages, lost jobs, ongoing pain, and emotional distress are all compensable. The fuller the picture, the more complete the demand to the insurer.
Step 15 of 17
Step 16 of 17
Your account in your own words adds context that no form can capture. Details about what you saw, how it happened, and how it has felt since help your attorney spot leads and build a stronger claim.
Step 17 of 17
Evidence wins claims. Police reports, photos, witness names, and medical records lock in the facts before memories fade and scenes change. The more your attorney has at the start, the stronger the position.
It takes a few minutes, costs nothing, and you stay in control of who sees it.
Start your free claim summary