People in Flagstaff who have been in a car accident can seek compensation through a personal injury claim.
An experienced car accident attorney can walk you through the process of filing a claim and help to ensure that you receive the most fair settlement possible.
Have you or a loved one recently been injured in a car accident in Flagstaff or the surrounding area? If so, filing a personal injury claim with the help of a lawyer could help you recover money for your damages.
A personal injury claim against the accident’s liable party is one of your best options after being injured in a car crash.
Filing a claim is easy with the help of the right lawyer. It is highly unlikely that your claim will reach court before it settles.
Keep reading to learn about the details of car accident claims, including how fault and liability are assigned, and how to go about starting a claim.
If you have been in an auto accident and you were not at fault, Arizona law allows you to seek legal representation and move forward with a personal injury claim if applicable.
A personal injury claim is a notice that lets the liable party know you will be pursuing a settlement from them to cover losses you suffered due to the accident.
Once your Flagstaff car accident lawyer helps you file a claim, the next step is to present evidence and negotiate a settlement.
Usually, the claim will settle out of court when you, your lawyers, and the liable party agree on a settlement amount that will be awarded to you.
Fault is one of the most important components of a car accident claim. The at-fault party is the one that causes the accident to occur.
Usually, a negligent driver causes an accident. Sometimes, multiple drivers make mistakes and they share fault for the crash.
Other times, an outside party like an auto manufacturer could be at fault if, for example, a faulty part caused the crash. Or, the municipality responsible for maintaining the roadway could be to blame if dangerous road conditions caused the accident.
Determining fault is not always straightforward. An experienced personal injury lawyer can review the evidence related to your case and help determine who was at fault.
Fault matters, because the at-fault party will ultimately be liable for paying damages in a claim.
Although liability does ultimately fall on the at-fault party, drivers in Arizona are required to carry liability insurance, which covers them in the case that they cause an accident.
Liability insurance policies have limits. If damages tally up high enough, it’s possible that some of the burden of a settlement could fall on the driver themselves.
Usually, when you file a personal injury claim, it will be against the negligent driver’s insurance company. It is rare that a motor vehicle accident would result in medical bills and other damages that are so high that a driver’s insurance limits would be reached.
A personal injury attorney can help you to determine who is liable in your case so you can move forward with the claims process.
In the days and weeks after an accident, what you do can have a big impact if you start a personal injury claim.
If you want the best chance at winning a favorable settlement, follow the steps listed below.
There is certain information related to your accident and injuries that you will need to gather before you meet with a lawyer.
By gathering and organizing documents before you meet with an attorney, you can make the most of your free consultation.
Some documents you should gather include:
Of course, a Flagstaff personal injury attorney can help you gather this information.
But to expedite your claim and make the most of your meetings with attorneys, it is best if you can compile it ahead of time.
After compiling documents related to your case, it’s time to reach out to a Flagstaff, AZ car accident lawyer.
Your lawyer will educate you on your legal rights and the claims process. They will help you file a claim against the liable party and take over all correspondence related to your claim.
Your lawyers will use evidence related to your case to build a strong argument for why you deserve a favorable settlement offer.
After making calculations based on your expenses and losses, they will ask for a certain settlement amount. Usually, your attorneys and the liable party will trade settlement offers until an agreeable offer is reached.
In rare cases, it may not be possible to reach a settlement amount that all parties can agree on. In these scenarios, you might need to file a personal injury lawsuit, which moves your claim to court.
In the unlikely scenario that your personal injury case does end up in court, you will be glad to have the support and legal advice of an experienced law firm at your side.
Personal injury claims related to car accidents can compensate you for both the direct costs you incurred as well as the indirect impacts the crash has had on your life.
Medical expenses after a crash can pile up fast. Doctor visits, medication costs, surgery and hospitalization costs, and more can quickly add up to tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars.
All your medical expenses can be reimbursed through a personal injury claim.
If you expect to continue to need care related to your injuries, your expected medical costs can also be included as part of your settlement.
Sometimes, injuries or other issues related to your accident may keep you from going to work. The financial burden of losing your wages can be devastating. You can claim incurred and expected lost wages as part of your personal injury claim.
A car crash and the resulting injuries can be difficult in several ways. Emotional distress and the pain of injuries can be difficult to endure.
An experienced attorney can present a clear argument for why you deserve to be compensated for pain and suffering related to your accident.
If you have a loved one who has died in a car crash, you may be able to file a personal injury claim to recover wrongful death damages.
Wrongful death damages are meant to ease the burden of losing a loved one through a financial settlement.
Every state has unique laws that affect personal injury claims within the state.
Three laws you need to understand if you are filing a claim in Arizona are its “at-fault” law, comparative negligence, and the statute of limitations.
Arizona is an at-fault state. This means that it is easier in Arizona than in some other states to file a personal injury claim against the liable party.
Unlike no-fault states, Arizona’s laws state that the party deemed responsible for an accident is ultimately held responsible for paying damages related to it.
Arizona, like many other states, follows a principle called comparative negligence. This law states that even if you are partially at fault in an accident, you can still seek compensation through a personal injury claim.
A court will decide exactly what percentage of fault you had in the crash, and your final settlement amount will be adjusted according to your percentage of fault.
The statute of limitations in Arizona is a law that states that you have a maximum of two years to file a personal injury claim from the date of your accident.
Car accidents, motorcycle accidents, and truck accidents are all common in Flagstaff and Northern Arizona.
Usually, some form of driver negligence is what leads to a crash. Speeding, distracted driving (such as texting while driving), and other driver errors are some of the most common causes for collisions.
Other causes, like impaired driving (driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol), reckless driving, and dangerous road conditions can also cause accidents.
The cause of an accident can also reveal who was at fault for the crash.
Any injury or health issue caused by an accident can be included on a personal injury claim. More serious injuries tend to lead to higher settlements.
That said, no injury is too small to begin a claim. Even people who have only suffered property damage may be able to start a claim.
Some of the most common car accident injuries include:
Coconino County, home to Flagstaff, had over 3,600 car crashes in 2021 alone.
Some other facts on car crashes in Flagstaff, AZ include:
Coconino County fatalities
46
from car crashes in 2021
People injured
1,302
crashes in Coconino County in 2021
Accidents involving alcohol
209
including 6 fatalities and 144 people injured in Coconino County in 2021
If you still have questions about car accident claims in Flagstaff, look for answers below.
Whether you are in Flagstaff, Phoenix, or elsewhere in Arizona, we can connect you with the very best personal injury attorneys in your area.
Contact LegalFinders today to access our directory of top car accident attorneys in the Flagstaff area.
