01

Start with jurisdiction, not a national rule

Ask where the event happened, where the parties are located, and whether more than one state may be connected. Those facts can affect which law and court apply; a directory page cannot decide that question.

02

Separate the filing period from the accrual date

A statute may describe a number of years, but the legal question also includes when the claim accrued, whether an exception applies, and whether a shorter notice step comes first.

03

Check how the state treats shared fault

States do not all treat a claimant’s fault the same way. Identify whether fault merely reduces damages, creates a threshold, or may bar a claim, then ask how the rule applies to the evidence.

04

Look for special defendants and claim types

Public entities, medical providers, employers, product manufacturers, minors, and wrongful-death claims can trigger separate procedures or periods.

05

Verify the lawyer through the regulator

Search the individual lawyer’s record with the state licensing authority. A firm profile and an individual license record answer different questions.