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After a car accident, you may find yourself injured and with extensive damage to your vehicle, unsure of your next steps.
By hiring an auto accident lawyer with years of experience in personal injury claims, you can rest assured that you will get the compensation you deserve. LegalFinders can help you find a top-quality car accident lawyer in Catalina Foothills, AZ.
A car accident is a terrifying experience, especially if you or one of your loved ones has been severely injured and are facing high medical bills in addition to physical and emotional pain.
Without legal guidance from a personal injury lawyer or an excellent understanding of Arizona car accident law, you may end up with a settlement that is much less than you deserve.
By working with a lawyer from a notable law firm, you will have someone with you every step of the way, including to fight for you in court if your claim does not reach a settlement.
If you are looking for a lawyer in Catalina Foothills, AZ with years of experience in auto accident claims, LegalFinders can help.
One of the biggest factors that will affect any auto accident claim is which of the motorists is found to be the at-fault driver.
The at-fault motorist is the one whose actions resulted in the accident, though in order to be found liable for damages they must also be found negligent.
Negligence must be present for a motorist to be found liable, and it is possible that multiple motorists can be found negligent and liable.
It is important to remember that the motorist that is initially found to be at fault may not also be found liable.
Fault does not always guarantee liability in a car accident case, as there are certain instances when the at-fault motorist is not also found to be negligent.
For instance, an at-fault driver cannot be found liable for an accident if the accident was caused by a design error or manufacturing mistake.
It is also possible for multiple motorists or parties to be found liable in a car accident, even when fault can be placed on only one of the parties.
An example of this occurs when the victim of the accident is found to have not been wearing their seatbelt when the accident occurred.
While the at-fault driver was responsible for the accident occurring, the injured motorist is also partly responsible for the severity of their injuries by choosing not to wear their seatbelt.
Your first legal option after finding yourself the victim of a car accident in Catalina Foothills, AZ is to file a personal injury claim against the at-fault motorist.
By filing a claim against the at-fault party, this means you are seeking financial compensation to help cover the costs of your medical bills or vehicle repairs.
In addition to obvious damages, like medical and vehicle costs, there are also damages which are more abstract, such as loss of consortium or loss of enjoyment in life.
In the event that both parties are unable to agree on a settlement amount, your next legal step would be to file a personal injury lawsuit against the party that was negligent.
This can be done with the assistance of a quality car accident lawyer, one who can also stand for you in court and serve as a confident and knowledgeable legal representative.
The following are some steps that you can take immediately after a car accident in Catalina Foothills, AZ and in the days and weeks afterwards.
While some documents, such as medical records and vehicle repair estimates, won’t be available right away, there is some important information you can collect immediately.
Important documents and information to collect after an auto accident may include:
Depending on the severity of the accident, it may not always be possible to gather all of this information before leaving the scene, especially if you need medical attention.
Focus on gathering the information that you are able to, and your personal injury attorney can help you gather the rest.
To ensure that you do not say or do anything after a car accident that could potentially hurt your claim, it is a good idea to speak with an attorney as soon as you are able to.
Your car accident lawyer can provide you with legal guidance every step of the way, helping to build a strong case and ensure that you receive the highest compensation amount possible.
Your car accident lawyer can help you file your claim and help you gather and submit all required documents and evidence.
They can also help ensure that this is all done in a timely manner, so as not to miss any important deadlines or interfere with the statute of limitations.
At this point, the lawyers for both parties will go back and forth until a fair settlement is reached and compensation is determined for the party who filed the claim.
In some instances, the parties involved are not able to agree upon a settlement amount. When this happens, a lawsuit may follow.
In the rare instance that both parties in a car accident are not able to reach a settlement, the next step would be to file a personal injury lawsuit.
By hiring a top-quality car accident lawyer, you will have someone to speak for you and fight for you in court, helping you to secure the highest amount of compensation possible.
Some of the damages from a car accident are clear and obvious, such as physical injuries and vehicle damage. Others are less direct.
Common damages that can be claimed by injury victims of an auto accident include:
There are numerous types of injuries you can list on car accident claims, ranging from minor injuries to catastrophic injuries and even wrongful death.
A successful settlement can cover any medical costs you incurred as a result of your accident, no matter how large or small.
Common injuries listed on car accident claims in Catalina Foothills include:
There is no one single cause or situation that results in an auto accident, however, most accidents can be blamed on the negligence of one or more parties involved.
Someone who is negligent most likely did not intend to cause the accident, but their actions were found to be careless, thoughtless, or unreasonable given the situation that occurred.
Common causes of auto accidents in Catalina Foothills, AZ can include:
Arizona has a number of laws which could affect your personal injury claim and the amount of your compensation.
Arizona is an at-fault state, so motorists may file claims against the insurance company of the motorist who is found to be at fault for the accident.
In states which are considered no-fault for car insurance, motorists instead file claims with their own insurance companies in order to collect compensation for damages and costs.
A personal injury claim must always be filed on time and before the statute of limitations runs out.
In Arizona, a person has up to two years after the date of an accident to file a personal injury claim, according to the Arizona State Legislature, section 12-542.
Two years may seem like a lot of time, but it is not uncommon for insurance companies to drag out the process in order to avoid paying compensation to the injured party.
Arizona applies a comparative negligence principle when it comes to car accident claims, according to Arizona State Legislature section 12-2505.
This means that each motorist in an accident is assigned a percentage of fault for the accident, and the damages they can collect are based on these percentages.
Under the principle of comparative negligence, a person may file a claim for damages even if they are found to be up to 99% at fault for the accident.
Catalina Foothills is located in Pima County, which, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation, has the second-highest number of car crashes across Arizona in a typical year.
Car accident rates in 2021 for Catalina Foothills, AZ include:
Total automobile crashes
10,782
Total injuries from car crashes
5,432
Total fatalities from car crashes
161
Here are answers to some questions that are commonly asked about auto accident claims in Catalina Foothills, AZ.
By hiring a quality car accident lawyer in Catalina Foothills, AZ, you can rest assured that your case is in good hands.
The right lawyer can make all the difference when it comes to securing the highest amount of compensation possible for your damages. They can also fight confidently on your behalf in court in the event that you have to file a lawsuit.
To learn more about your legal options following a car accident or to request a free consultation or case evaluation, contact LegalFinders today.
