What a car accident claim is worth is decided mostly in the first two weeks, by people who do not know they are deciding it. This article explains what actually determines the value of an injury claim and why so much of it is documentation rather than argument. It covers the scene, the report, and the photographs nobody takes. It explains the coverage stack — liability, uninsured and underinsured motorist, medical payments, and health insurance — and why the at-fault driver's policy limit is frequently the ceiling regardless of the injury. It covers the recorded statement and the authorization, which are the adjuster's two most useful tools. It explains why gaps in treatment destroy claims and why the causation fight is usually about a preexisting condition. It covers liens and reimbursement, including the Medicare and ERISA claims that must be resolved before anyone is paid. It closes with the demand package, the release, and eleven ways good claims are lost.