Intake Eligibility Criteria: The Complete Screening Rubric

Criterion 1

Geographic Scope — California Only

The accident must have occurred within the state of California. This is the primary geographic boundary of the entire service. It applies to the accident location — not the caller's location.

The criterion is strict:

• An accident in Nevada does not qualify even if the caller is a California resident
• An accident on a California-registered vehicle outside California does not qualify
• An accident involving a California employer outside the state does not qualify under this criterion

The stated accident location in the recorded statement is used for geographic verification. Callers should state the California city, cross streets, or highway where the accident occurred. An ambiguous location that cannot be confirmed as California will not pass this criterion.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, California recorded 4,428 traffic fatalities in 2022 — among the highest totals of any state that year. (NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts 2022, Table 1, DOT HS 813 627) This sustained incident volume is what the geographic restriction is designed to serve.

Criterion 2

No Existing Legal Representation for This Incident

The caller must not have an attorney currently representing them for the specific accident being reported at the time of the submission. This criterion applies to:

• Callers who have signed a retainer agreement with a personal injury attorney for this accident
• Callers who have retained counsel through a legal referral service for this incident
• Callers whose attorney is actively advising them on this accident claim at the time of calling

This criterion does not apply to:

• General legal representation on unrelated matters (a different attorney, a different case)
• Callers who previously consulted with an attorney but did not retain them for this accident

Callers with existing representation for this incident should direct questions to their attorney. See who should not call the intake line.

Criterion 3

Personal Injury Must Have Occurred

The accident must have resulted in physical bodily harm to a person. The intake line is designed for personal injury accident documentation, not property-damage-only incidents.

Examples of personal injury that qualify:

• Broken bones, fractures, or dislocations
• Soft tissue injuries — neck strain, back pain, muscle tears
• Head and traumatic brain injuries
• Lacerations, bruising, or burns
• Internal injuries
• Worsening of pre-existing conditions directly caused by the accident

Examples that do not qualify under this criterion:

• Vehicle damage only with no physical injuries to any person
• Property damage claims with no personal injury component
• Emotional distress claims without accompanying physical injury

Medical documentation is not required at the intake stage. The personal injury criterion is assessed based on the caller's self-reported account. A doctor's report or hospital record is not needed before calling.

Criterion 4

Submission Completeness

The recorded statement must contain the minimum information needed to identify the caller, verify geographic eligibility, and classify the incident for review. An incomplete submission — missing core identifying or descriptive details — cannot be processed.

Minimum required elements:

• Caller's full legal name
• Preferred contact phone number
• California location of the accident (city, cross streets, or highway)
• Date of the accident
• Description of what happened
• Description of injuries sustained

A submission missing several of these elements may be flagged as incomplete and will not pass this criterion. For guidance on what to prepare, see the Pre-Call Checklist. For guidance on what to capture at the scene (photographs, the other driver's details, your own physical condition), see how to document a car accident scene in California.