First, you need to have a big injury. Of course, you don't want to be badly injured. However, having a big injury is the first step to getting the most money from an auto accident. As soon as possible, you (or your lawyer) needs to preserve any evidence. This includes, preserving any event data recorders ("black boxes") in the vehicles. If you do not have the evidence that you need to prove your case, don't expect to get a a lot of money. Also, make sure to follow up with any medical treatment that you need. If you have serious pain, tell a doctor about it. If your doctor does not document your injury in your medical records, do not expect a big payout. You need to know how much your case is worth in order to get the most money possible. This is the toughest step for someone without a lawyer. It can take a decade (10 years) of experience to truly learn the amount that you should accept as settlement. If you do not know the fair settlement value, you will never know if the insurance company is offering you all of the money that they have set aside to pay your claim. This could result in you leaving hundreds of thousands of dollars on the table! As an example, my client broke his ankle when a car hit him while he was riding a bike. A broken ankle (with surgery) is a serious injury. In 2021, I settled his case for $350,000. You can see the plate and screws in his ankle: