Bring the crash report, every claim number and letter from an insurer, your photos and witness names, a list of the medical providers who treated you with any bills you have, proof of time missed from work, the declarations page from your own auto policy, and anything you have signed. That set of papers lets a lawyer answer the questions that matter about your claim: who is responsible, where the money could come from, and what deadline applies. The checklist below says where to find each item. This page is part of the Decide section of our Montana Injury Claim Guide.
The Checklist
Copies are fine, and so are photos of documents on your phone. Keep the originals somewhere safe. If you are unsure whether something matters, bring it.
| Bring | Where to find it | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| The crash or incident report | The police department, sheriff's office, or Montana Highway Patrol that responded | An independent record of who, where, and what the officer saw |
| Claim numbers and adjuster names | Letters, emails, or texts from each insurer | Shows which insurers are involved and what has been opened |
| Every letter from an insurer | Your mail and email, including denials and offers | Shows what the insurer has said, asked for, and offered |
| Photos and video | Your phone, plus anything a passenger or witness sent you | Vehicle damage, the scene, and your injuries before they healed |
| Names and numbers of witnesses | Notes from the scene, or the crash report | People who saw it are harder to find as time passes |
| A list of every medical provider | Ambulance, ER, clinic, physical therapy, pharmacy | Lets the lawyer request complete records and bills |
| Medical bills and statements you have received | Your mail and patient portals | Shows what has been billed, paid, and is still owed |
| Pay stubs and a note of time missed | Your employer or payroll portal | Documents lost income |
| Your own auto policy declarations page | Your insurer's app, website, or agent | Lists your coverages and limits, including uninsured, underinsured, and med pay |
| Your health insurance card | Your wallet or plan portal | Health plans and government programs may have repayment rights |
| Anything you signed or recorded | Releases, medical authorizations, recorded statement dates | A signed release can end a claim |
The Crash Report
Montana requires the driver of a vehicle in a crash that causes injury, death, or apparent property damage of $1,000 or more to notify law enforcement immediately: the local police department inside a city or town, and otherwise the county sheriff or the nearest office of the Montana Highway Patrol (MCA § 61-7-108). If a law enforcement officer investigated and reported the crash, that report is usually the one to bring. If no officer did, the driver must file a written report within 10 days (MCA § 61-7-109). If you do not have a copy, bring the report or case number and the name of the agency.
Your Own Insurance Policy
People often bring only the other driver's information. Your own policy can matter as much. A Montana auto liability policy must include uninsured motorist coverage at the state minimum limits unless the named insured rejected it (MCA § 33-23-201). Underinsured motorist and medical payments coverage are separate coverages you may or may not have bought. The declarations page, the summary sheet that comes with the policy, lists each coverage and its limits. Our pages on uninsured and underinsured drivers and Montana med pay coverage explain why it matters.
Medical Records, Bills, and Health Insurance
You do not need complete medical records for a first meeting. A list of every provider, with approximate dates, is enough for a lawyer to request them later with your authorization. Bring the bills and statements you have, and your health insurance card.
The bills matter for more than the amount. A Montana health care provider who treats a person injured through someone else's fault can claim a lien on the injury claim and on the settlement money, after serving written notice of the lien (MCA §§ 71-3-1114 and 71-3-1115). If Montana Medicaid paid for your care, the state can have a lien on the part of a settlement that represents medical expenses (MCA § 53-2-612). Knowing early who has paid what avoids surprises when the claim resolves. Our article on who pays your medical bills while the claim is open covers this in more depth.
Anything You Already Signed or Said
- A release or settlement check. A settlement is usually paid in exchange for a signed release, and a release ends the claim. If you signed one, bring it. If you have one you have not signed, bring it unsigned.
- Medical authorizations. Insurers sometimes ask for broad permission to collect your records. Bring a copy of anything you signed.
- A recorded statement. Write down when you gave it, to which insurer, and what you remember being asked.
If You Do Not Have Everything
One thing you can make yourself is a short timeline: the date, time, and place of the crash; when you first saw a doctor and every provider since; the days you missed from work; and each conversation with an insurer, with the date and the person's name. Notes written close to the events are easier to rely on than memory months later.
Come anyway. Most of these items can be requested later. Deadlines do not wait for paperwork: most Montana injury lawsuits must be filed within 3 years (MCA § 27-2-204), and some claims, such as one against the State, a city, or a county, start with a written claim (MCA § 2-9-301). Our page on when to hire an injury lawyer explains which deadlines make early advice matter.
What You Share Stays Protected
Rule 1.20 of the Montana Rules of Professional Conducttreats a person who consults a lawyer about possibly hiring them as a prospective client. Even if you never hire that lawyer, the lawyer may not use or reveal what you shared, except as the rules would permit for a former client's information. You can speak plainly, including about anything you are worried hurts your claim.
When you have your papers together, send us a message about your claim or call 406-830-3060. Take our list of questions to ask an injury lawyer with you, and read our client reviewsif you want to know what working with A&M Law is like.
This page explains Montana law in general as of the 2025 Montana Code Annotated and the current Montana Rules of Professional Conduct. It is not legal advice about your situation.