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If you or a loved one have been involved in a car accident or truck accident, you know they can cause property damage and serious injuries. But if you live in the Mesa, AZ area, there are a number of experienced car accident attorneys who can help you seek maximum compensation for your experience.
Arizonans drive more than 179.7 million miles on the state’s roadways every day, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT).
Still, it’s hard to log so much time on the road without making mistakes. Accidents happen, and unfortunately, they can leave behind devastating effects.
But an auto accident doesn’t have to be deadly to cause serious damage, or a major disruption to your life.
If you or a loved one have been involved or injured in a car accident, there are a number of top Mesa car accident attorneys that can offer you the legal advice and guidance you need to get the compensation you deserve.
Assigning fault in car crash cases may be trickier than it appears on the surface. Even when it seems obvious who the at-fault party is, there are certain legal considerations to keep in mind.
In a personal injury case, “fault” can be issued in varying degrees, including:
Car accidents are generally complicated matters, with a number of different people or parties potentially responsible for creating the conditions that led up to the crash.
These varying levels of fault mean a personal injury lawyer can designate several parties whose actions may be at play. And the severity of the classification can help determine the amount of damages that can be pursued.
If someone is considered at fault for an Arizona auto accident, they can be considered a liable party. And liable parties – whether they be individuals, corporations, or other agencies – are the ones responsible for paying damages.
Most typically, fellow motorists will shoulder the blame for causing an accident, but pedestrians or bicyclists who were involved may be found liable, too.
Auto manufacturers are also frequently brought into these cases, especially if malfunctioning or poorly designed equipment helped create the conditions that led to the crash.
And in cases where poorly maintained roads contributed to the situation, even government bodies could be held liable. These parties are also sometimes called to task if a poorly designed road, such as one with sharp turns, bad signage, or poor lighting, was in play.
An experienced Mesa auto accident attorney will help you determine any parties who may be liable in your case.
The phrase “car accident victim” is a bit misleading. Even if you’ve been involved in one of these unfortunate situations, you’re not helpless. There are several legal options you can pursue.
Filing a personal injury claim is perhaps the most common course of action, and one that can be greatly helped by enlisting the help of an experienced law office.
Through the claims process, you’ll be able to tally any costs related to property damage, medical bills, or other pain and suffering caused by the accident to negotiate a settlement.
But even if the amount of compensation can’t be agreed upon, you’ll have further options, including filing a lawsuit against any liable parties.
A free consultation with a personal injury attorney will help provide the legal advice you need to determine your best course of action.
Regardless of which course of action you choose to take after an accident, there are a number of steps that will be helpful to take, to build as strong a case as possible.
If you choose to file a personal injury claim, gathering evidence is a crucial first step.
This can include any number of documents, which may be difficult to track down, including:
An experienced car accident lawyer will be able to advise you about which specific paperwork would be the most helpful in your case.
Car accident cases can be big or small, but if there was any property damage or personal injury involved, it’s highly advisable to hire legal representation.
Besides helping you build a strong case and seek the compensation you deserve, a seasoned attorney can be an asset during such an emotionally taxing situation.
A good lawyer will help ensure the case proceeds as smoothly as possible, no matter how complicated.
This step is more of a task for your attorney, but it’s the last part of a majority of car accident cases.
When all parties involved have experienced lawyers, it’s not uncommon for reasonable damages to be offered, and cases to be settled out of court.
Still, this isn’t always the case. If an agreement can’t be reached between the legal teams on either side, you can still bring your claim to court, where verdicts are returned by a judge or a jury.
Costs incurred in an auto accident often affect more than finances. That’s why personal injury cases often include damages for everything from physical difficulties to emotional distress.
Medical damages can cover a wide range of medical costs, which can be related to any treatments or attention required in the wake of the crash, including:
If you were forced to miss work in the wake of an auto accident, you could be eligible for damages connected to lost wages.
These payments cover the salary you missed out on while away from work, and compensate for any diminished earning capacity related to your absence, including lost bonuses, promotions, or reassigned accounts.
In cases where serious injuries left you unable to return to your job or the same line of work, you may also be entitled to additional damages that cover the costs of changing careers.
Many personal injury lawyers attempt to take into account any costs that could help compensate for emotional and physical stress, including:
If you’ve suffered fatalities as a result of a crash, you may be entitled to compensation related to:
Despite their use in our everyday lives, automobiles can be incredibly dangerous machines in the wrong hands, or in the case of an accident. Heavy and fast, they can lead to any number of serious injuries, including:
While there are some federal guidelines when it comes to car accident laws, every state also has its own set of rules for dealing with personal injury claims.
You should ask your Mesa car accident lawyer how these Arizona injury laws could potentially impact your case.
Generally, states adopt either “no-fault” or “at-fault” laws.
In “no-fault,” situations, insurance policies cover damages for their policyholders, regardless of who is legally found to blame for a crash.
Arizona is an at-fault state. This means that the person or parties deemed responsible for causing the car accident are ultimately held responsible for paying damages.
Arizona is also a state that follows a legal principle called comparative negligence. In these scenarios, the liability of every party involved in an accident is under consideration.
Ultimately, liability may be assigned to any number of parties in comparative negligence states. And each party will be assigned a certain share of the total damages involved.
A statute of limitations is the time period you have after a crash to file a personal injury claim related to that incident.
Statute of limitations vary by state and by situation, but in Arizona, the statute of limitations for car accidents is two years.
In areas like Mesa, Gilbert, and Chandler, car accidents happen all the time, for a number of reasons.
Driver error is perhaps the most frequent cause of auto accidents. Driving while fatigued and distracted driving are very common issues on the road, and can frequently lead to crashes big and small.
Sometimes, mistakes are caused more by acts of aggression than carelessness on the road. A drunk driver is far more likely to be involved in an accident than a careful, sober one. And even less antagonistic actions like speeding or tailgating can have devastating effects.
But even with all the room for human error, an accident is not always a motorist’s fault.
Bad brakes, blown tires, or other types of mechanical malfunction can just as easily lead to accident or injury on the road.
And bad weather can also create dangerous road conditions, especially in areas with poor roadway maintenance or design.
While the wide-open landscape of Arizona may make it a beautiful place to drive, its high-speed highways, crowded urban areas, and highly trafficked trucking routes can make it a dangerous place to hit the road.
There were at least 121,345 car crashes across the state in 2021 alone, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), thanks in no small part to these infrastructural difficulties. And nearly 1,000 of those incidents involved fatalities.
If you or a loved one were involved in an auto accident, you may have a number of questions.
While an experienced law firm will have the most specific advice for your case, these are some generally reliable answers.
If you, a family member, or loved one have been impacted by a motor vehicle accident, you don’t have to suffer alone.
LegalFinders can help put you in touch with a top Mesa personal injury lawyer, who can provide the legal services and advice you need to get the compensation you deserve.
Schedule a free case evaluation today to have a Mesa area attorney examine your case.
