Do not assume that no insurance card means no possible coverage—or that every hit-and-run is covered. Start with the facts and the policies in effect.

Ask for a written breakdown that connects the settlement amount to each deduction and the amount proposed for you. Label estimates before relying on them.

The car’s value and your loan payoff are different numbers. Compare the valuation, proposed payment and lender balance before assuming the debt is gone.

A rental reservation is not the same as insurance approval. Confirm who is paying, the covered amount and when that approval ends before agreeing to the rental.

A useful lost-income record connects the work you missed, the income affected and the injury-related reason. Start with records you already have.

Start with the agency that investigated the collision—not simply the city where it happened. LAPD, CHP and other agencies have different request routes.

A request from your own insurer is not the same as a call from the other driver’s company. Start by identifying the caller and the coverage involved.

A useful first conversation should clarify four things: whether the lawyer handles your problem, who would do the work, what the arrangement would cost and