I’ve Been In A Car Accident! What Should I Do?
- Get to a safer place. Roads can be treacherous to stand around on, so pull your vehicle off to the shoulder, if you can. If your car is not able to move, turn on your hazard lights and stay inside your vehicle, if it is safe to do so, until emergency responders arrive.
- Call 911. In any auto accident, you need to have a police officer analyze the situation and create a police report. A report with your original account of what happened is important in determining who is at fault for the crash.
- Get medical treatment right away. Car accidents are usually violent collisions that can cause a variety of injuries to the human body. It is common for latent injuries from car accidents to catch victims off guard several days later. Seek medical attention, even if you don’t feel like you’re injured.
- Contact a reputable car accident attorney to advise you on how to protect your rights.
Can I File A Claim Even If I Was Partially Responsible For The Accident That Caused My Injuries?
Arizona subscribes to a pure comparative negligence rule when dealing with personal injury claims. Even if you were 99% at fault for the accident that caused your injuries, you are still entitled to recover for the one percent of damages that are attributed to the negligence of the other party. Determining how much of the fault will be attributed to each party can be complex and will be left up to the jury if your case goes all the way to trial. An experienced car accident attorney will be able to advise you on whether your claim is likely to succeed. Contact us today for an evaluation of your claim.
How Can An Attorney Help Me With A Vehicle Accident Case?
Not many of us think about it when we leave the house each day, but every time we get on the road, we put ourselves at risk of being involved in a car accident. If you’ve recently been involved in one, then you probably have a number of questions and concerns. How long will it take for you to recover from your injuries, and how much time will you have to take off work? How will you pay the bills? And how do you go about proving that the other driver should be held responsible? If the insurance company offers you money, how can you know if it is a fair offer or not? What are all the damages you can claim, and what kind of proof do you need for the insurance company?
It’s critical to speak to an experienced personal injury or car accident attorney. In addition to sitting down with you and discussing every last detail of what occurred, your attorney will immediately launch an investigation on your behalf in order to obtain all of the evidence that could be used in your favor. When hired early on in the case, your attorney will have the best chance of securing pertinent information which could mean the difference between getting the compensation you deserve and leaving you to deal with the aftermath of the car accident all on your own.
In addition to launching an investigation and building an argument on your behalf, your vehicle accident attorney will take care of all of the necessary correspondence with the insurance company. This will relieve you of the burden of dealing with this while you focus on your recovery and medical care. An experienced personal injury attorney will be able to provide you with the best advice in terms of what and what not to do as you proceed with your case.
Should I Take My Case All The Way To Trial?
Most vehicle accident claims settle before getting to trial, but not all. It can be difficult to know whether you are getting a fair offer from the at-fault party’s insurance company or if you could potentially receive two or three times (or more) what they have offered. This is yet another reason why having an experienced attorney is so important. The decision to take a personal injury case to trial must always be made by you, the person who has been injured, but it is your attorney’s job to ensure that you have everything you need in order to make the most informed decision.
What If I Am Hit By A Driver Who Doesn’t Have Insurance?
In Arizona, insurance companies are required to offer uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. Ask for it. Say ‘yes.” This provides protection for injuries that are caused by the negligence of another driver who carries insufficient insurance to cover the costs or has no insurance coverage at all. This type of insurance must be carried on your own policy, in order for it to protect you. If you carry this coverage and are hit by a driver who is uninsured or underinsured, your own insurance policy must pay for the damages you suffer.
It is important to remember that the representatives from your insurance carrier are still not looking out for your best interests. Just like every insurance company, they will only be looking to minimize the company’s losses. Consulting an experienced car accident attorney is always the best way to ensure that you are protected.
