Do I need a lawyer after a car accident in Idaho?
Every rule below is quoted from Idaho law or a state agency, with a link. Checked September 17, 2026.
The short answer
We can't tell you whether you need a lawyer. We can show you the Idaho rules that usually decide it: how fault is split, how long you have, and how injury lawyers are allowed to charge. Many people with only car damage settle directly with the insurer. People with injuries, disputed fault or a claim near a deadline often talk to a lawyer first.
How fault changes your claim
If you were partly at fault
Idaho uses modified comparative fault with a 50 percent bar. You can collect money only if your share of fault is less than the other driver's. If your fault is 50 percent or more, you cannot collect anything.
“Contributory negligence or comparative responsibility shall not bar recovery ... if such negligence or comparative responsibility was not as great as the negligence, gross negligence or comparative responsibility of the person against whom recovery is sought, but any damages allowed shall be diminished in the proportion to the amount of negligence or comparative responsibility attributable to the person recovering.”
How long you have
- 2 years
- to sue for injuriesIdaho Code 5-219(4)
- 3 years
- to sue for car or property damageIdaho Code 5-218(3)
- 2 years
- for a family to sue after a deathIdaho Code 5-219(4)
- 180 days
- to notify the government if a public vehicle or road was involvedIdaho Code 6-906
Deadline to sue for injuries
You have 2 years from the crash to sue for your injuries.
“Within two (2) years: ... An action to recover damages for professional malpractice, or for an injury to the person, or for the death of one caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another”
If a government vehicle or road was involved
If a state or local government vehicle or road was involved, you must file a claim within 180 days of the crash, or 180 days from when you reasonably should have discovered it.
“All claims against a political subdivison arising under the provisions of this act ... shall be presented to and filed with the clerk or secretary of the political subdivision within one hundred eighty (180) days from the date the claim arose or reasonably should have been discovered, whichever is later.”
How injury lawyers charge in Idaho
Contingency fee rules
Idaho has no statute or rule capping the percentage a lawyer can charge in a personal injury contingency fee. The lawyer conduct rule only requires that the fee be reasonable and be put in a signed written agreement.
“A fee may be contingent on the outcome of the matter for which the service is rendered, except in a matter in which a contingent fee is prohibited by paragraph (d) or other law. A contingent fee agreement shall be in a writing signed by the client and shall state the method by which the fee is to be determined, including the percentage or percentages that shall accrue to the lawyer”
Questions to ask any lawyer before you sign
- What percentage do you charge, and does it change if the case goes to trial?
- Who pays case costs like records and expert fees if we lose?
- Will you handle my case yourself, or pass it to someone else?
- How long do cases like mine usually take here?
- What is the deadline for my claim, and when will you file?
If the insurer is the problem
File a complaint with the state
You can file a complaint against an insurance company with the Idaho Department of Insurance online or by calling its consumer hotline.
“Consumer Hotline”
Sources on this page
Each one was opened and checked on September 17, 2026.
Know My Claim is not a law firm or a government agency, and this page is not legal advice. Laws change, so check the linked source before you rely on a deadline.