01
Why a written screening framework matters
Every intake team has a sense of a 'good case', but unless it's written down, quality varies by agent and by shift. A written framework lets you measure quality, give vendors a clear spec, and resolve disputes about returns using the recording.
02
The eight points
These are the questions our agents cover on every MVA call before a claimant reaches a partner firm:
- Fault — does the claimant describe another driver as responsible? Were citations issued?
- Treatment — have they seen a doctor, ER, urgent care or chiropractor, and when did treatment start?
- Police report — was a report filed, and do they have the number?
- Insurance — is the at-fault driver insured, and does the claimant have UM/UIM, PIP or MedPay?
- Timing — is the accident within your window and well within the statute of limitations?
- Representation — is another attorney already handling the claim?
- Jurisdiction — where did the accident happen and where does the claimant live?
- Consent — has the claimant given documented consent to be contacted?
03
Adjusting for state law
In no-fault states such as Florida, New York and Michigan, liability claims for pain and suffering generally require the injury to cross a severity threshold, so scripts should ask about fractures, surgery, and time off work. In contributory-negligence states such as North Carolina, any fault on the claimant's part can bar recovery, so fault screening should be strict. Choice no-fault states such as Pennsylvania and New Jersey require asking which tort option the claimant chose.
04
Turning the framework into a spec
Once your firm agrees on the eight points, add your own disqualifiers — minimum injury, excluded counties, maximum accident age — and write them into your vendor's insertion order. That single page becomes the standard every transfer is judged against.