Terms of Use

2. Not legal advice

Information on this site — including fatality data, filing deadlines, corridor descriptions, and general commentary on truck-crash cases — is provided for general educational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Statutes of limitation are listed as general civil deadlines. They vary by claim type, by defendant, and by facts. Some cases have shorter deadlines (for example, claims against government entities). Only a licensed attorney reviewing your specific situation can tell you which deadlines apply to your family.

3. Not medical advice

Descriptions of injuries, recovery, or emotional impact are general and are not medical or mental-health advice. If you or a family member is in crisis, please call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or go to the nearest emergency room.

4. What we offer

AVA provides three services free of charge to eligible families: funeral grants, living-expense grants, and free consultations with approved independent attorneys experienced in commercial truck cases. Eligibility for grants depends on need, verification, and available funds. A referral to an attorney is not a guarantee that the attorney will accept the case or that any legal case will succeed.

AVA is not a law firm. AVA does not collect attorney referral fees. Any decision to hire an attorney is entirely yours.

5. Applying for help

All applications are handled on avahelp.org. When you submit an application you consent to the collection and use of your information as described in our Privacy Policy. Submitting an application does not obligate you to accept any assistance we offer, and you can withdraw at any time.

6. Third-party links

This site links to government data sources (NHTSA, FMCSA, NSC) and other outside sites for context. We do not control those sites and are not responsible for their content, accuracy, or availability.

7. Intellectual property

© Accident Victim Assistance. Site copy, layout, and graphics are the property of AVA. State fatality data is sourced from the U.S. federal agencies cited on each page and is used in accordance with those agencies’ public-use terms. You may quote short excerpts of AVA copy with attribution and a link back to the source page.

8. Warranty and liability

This site is provided "as is." AVA does its best to keep information accurate and current, but we make no warranties about completeness or fitness for a particular purpose. To the extent permitted by law, AVA is not liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from your use of this site.

9. Changes to these terms

We may update these terms from time to time. Material changes will be noted on this page with a new "Last updated" date. Continued use of the site after an update means you accept the revised terms.

10. Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of the District of Columbia, without regard to conflict-of-laws principles. Any dispute arising from these terms will be brought in the courts of the District of Columbia.

11. Contact

Questions about these terms: help@avahelp.org, (888) 996-8814 or (202) 440-5214. Written correspondence: 2150 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037.