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Hiring a Car Accident Attorney in San Tan Valley

People in the San Tan Valley, Arizona area who have been in an auto accident may be able to file a personal injury claim to get compensated for damages.

Anyone in San Tan Valley who has been in a car crash should reach out to a qualified personal injury law firm for a free consultation call to discuss their case. LegalFinders works to connect car accident victims with the best attorneys in their area.

Close-up image of a damaged white car after a road accident

People who have sustained injuries and/or property damage in a San Tan Valley car accident might be able to recover their losses by filing a personal injury claim against the liable parties.

If you hire a personal injury lawyer for legal representation, you have a statistically higher chance of winning a larger settlement than if you were to file a claim without a lawyer.

A skilled Arizona attorney can assess your personal injury case, determine who was at fault and liable in your accident, and help you to pursue a settlement to cover the losses you suffered.

Keep reading to learn more about personal injury claims for motor vehicle accidents, including what to do following a crash and how you can find top-rated attorneys near San Tan Valley.

 

What To Do After A Car Accident In San Tan Valley, AZ

What car accident victims do following a crash can impact the success of their personal injury claims. You should follow the steps below to ensure that you receive any compensation you are entitled to after an accident.

Step 1: Gather Documents

After a truck accident, motorcycle accident, or car crash, it is critical that you gather all paperwork and information related to the incident.

Insurance information for all involved drivers, police reports, eyewitness accounts, and photos and videos of the accident scene are all important.

If you can gather all the paperwork before meeting with a personal injury attorney about your case, you can make the most of your free initial consultation.

Step 2: Reach Out to A San Tan Valley Car Accident Attorney

Once you have collected the documentation for your accident, you should reach out to a San Tan Valley personal injury attorney for legal advice.

Most law offices offer free consultations for potential claimants to discuss their case with an attorney and determine whether filing a claim against the liable parties is appropriate.

Step 3: File A Personal Injury Claim

If you and your attorneys choose to move forward with a personal injury claim, you will file an insurance claim against the liable party.

The claim will notify the liable party that you are seeking a settlement for damages you have suffered from the accident.

Your lawyers will handle all communication related to your case. They will present your claim to the liable party and make a strong argument for why you deserve a favorable settlement.

Usually, a negotiation will take place between the insurance company or other liable party and your attorneys. Offers will be traded until an agreeable amount is reached.

Step 4: If Necessary, File A Lawsuit

Sometimes, it is not possible to reach a settlement amount that you and the liable party can both agree to.

In these rare cases, the personal injury claim may move to a lawsuit so the case can be pursued in court, where a judge will hear arguments from both sides and decide on a settlement amount.

Having lawyers with years of experience on your side will be invaluable if your case does end up in court.

 

How Does Liability Work In Car Accident Claims In San Tan Valley, AZ?

Liability is one of the terms that you will hear throughout the personal injury claims process. It is critical that you understand liability and how it works if you are going to file a car accident claim.

The liable party is the one who is responsible for paying the settlement amount to the claimant in a personal injury case.

In car accident claims, the liable party is usually the insurance provider for the at-fault driver. In cases where the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured, they may be entirely or partially liable.

Other possible liable parties include vehicle manufacturers (if a faulty part causes a crash), or the municipality responsible for maintaining the roadway where a crash occurs.

 

What Factors Can Influence Your Car Accident Case In San Tan Valley?

There are various elements that can impact your car accident claim, how much money you can receive in a settlement, and whether you should file a claim.

Two things that should always be taken into consideration are fault and the unique Arizona laws that might impact your claim.

The Party At Fault

In car accident cases, fault refers to the party that causes an accident to occur. In order for a personal injury claim to be successful, it must prove that the at-fault party acted negligently.

Negligence occurs when someone acts in a way that could put others in harm’s way. Usually, in the case of a car accident, one or more driver’s negligence leads to the crash.

One of the ways your lawyers will offer legal help is by determining who was at fault in an accident, and whether that will allow you to file a claim successfully.

Arizona Laws

Each state has different laws that impact how personal injury claims can be carried out. In Phoenix, Chandler, Tempe, Gilbert, San Tan Valley, and throughout Arizona, two laws that influence personal injury claims are comparative negligence and the statute of limitations.

The statute of limitations is an Arizona law that says that if you want to file a personal injury claim, you must do so within two years of the date of the accident. If you fail to begin your claim within this time window, you may not get an opportunity to do so.

Another Arizona law that is critical to understand is comparative negligence. This law states that people who are partially at fault for an accident can still seek a settlement from liable parties.

The final settlement amount will be determined based on the person’s percentage of fault for the accident.

Even if you share fault for a car accident you sustained injuries in, you should find a lawyer and discuss the possibility of filing a claim.

What Damages Can You Be Compensated For After An Arizona Car Accident?

The point of a car accident claim is to make a case against the liable party and seek a settlement amount to compensate you for losses you sustained related to the accident.

The different losses you cite on your claim and request compensation for are called “damages”. Damages aim to cover every way that a car accident has impacted your life.

There are three main categories of damages: compensatory, general, and punitive.

Compensatory Damages

Compensatory damages aim to reimburse claimants for financial losses they have suffered related to the accident, such as medical bills, lost wages, and property damage.

It’s important to note that since a settlement is a one-time deal, damages should cover both past and projected future financial impacts.

For example, if you have been unable to work since an accident due to your injuries and you expect to continue to be unable to work, your compensatory damages should cover your projected lost wages as well as the incurred ones.

General Damages

General damages aim to get you financial compensation for less straightforward impacts to your life due to an accident.

Emotional distress, pain and suffering, and even loss of relationships or loved ones are all potential secondary effects of being injured in a car crash.

Attorneys who specialize in the practice area of personal injury law can help you get compensation for these hardships caused by the accident.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages cannot be sought during a personal injury claim. They are sometimes awarded by a court as a means of punishing the negligent or at-fault party for their actions.

 

What Causes Car Accidents In San Tan Valley?

Most car accidents occur because of the negligence of one or more drivers on the road. Common causes of car accidents include:

  • Reckless driving: Reckless driving behaviors include aggressive speeding, swerving in and out of traffic, cutting off other drivers, etc.
  • Dangerous road conditions: Some crashes might be caused by dangerous road conditions such as snow- or ice-covered roads, improper signage, or large potholes.
  • Driver impairment: Driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol is illegal in Arizona and causes many accidents every year.
  • Driver error: A large percentage of car accidents can be attributed to driver error. Errors could include anything from failing to check mirrors before merging, to misjudging the needed stopping distance, to an array of other mistakes.

 

What Types Of Car Accidents Lead to Personal Injury Claims?

Accidents can occur in a number of different ways. Certain types of accidents are more common, and some are more dangerous than others. The type of accident can also serve to help determine fault in a crash.

Some common types of car accidents include:

  • Broadside collisions: Also called ‘T-Bone’ crashes, these collisions happen when one car crashes head-on into the side of another.
  • Sideswipe collisions: These crashes happen when the side of one car collides with the side of another, often when merging on a multi-lane road.
  • Multiple-vehicle accidents: Any accident involving two or more cars can be referred to as a multiple-vehicle accident.
  • Head-on collisions: Head-on crashes happen when two vehicles that are traveling toward each other collide with their fronts. These crashes often result in catastrophic injuries or death.
  • Hit-and-run accidents: When a car collides with a person, vehicle, or object and the driver proceeds to flee the scene, it is called a hit-and-run.
  • Rear-end collisions: When one car collides with the back of another car traveling in the same direction, it is called a rear-end crash. Usually, the driver in the back of the collision is at fault in these scenarios.

 

What Types Of Injuries Can Lead To A Claim?

It does not matter if you sustained large or small injuries if you want to start a car accident claim. Severe injuries do generally lead to higher settlement amounts, but anyone who has been in a crash can consult with a lawyer about starting a claim.

Some of the most common injuries that occur in Arizona car accidents include:

  • Whiplash
  • Chest and shoulder injuries
  • Head injuries including concussions and traumatic brain injuries
  • Neck injuries
  • Broken bones
  • Back injuries
  • Internal organ damage
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Scarring and disfigurement
  • Soft tissue injuries
  • Burn injuries
  • Fatality

 

Car Accident Rates In San Tan Valley, AZ

San Tan Valley is located in northern Pinal County, just southeast of Phoenix. The area sees fewer accidents than more busy neighboring areas, but car crashes still occur frequently in Pinal County.

The following are car accident facts for Pinal County and Arizona:

Pinal County crashes

4,645

including 49 crashes that had fatalities in 2021

People injured in car accidents in Pinal County

2,223

in 2021

Alcohol-related crashes in in Pinal County

233

resulting in 9 fatalities in 2021

Get In Touch With Experienced Car Accident Lawyers In San Tan Valley Today

Have you or a loved one been in a car accident in San Tan Valley? LegalFinders can connect you with top Arizona personal injury lawyers so you can get the compensation you deserve.

LegalFinders only works with law firms that are highly rated and have great success rates in their claims.

Chat with us today to be connected with the best personal injury lawyers in San Tan Valley.

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Published: 6 December 2022

ARTICLE SOURCES

Arizona Department of Transportation — 2021 Crash Facts

Arizona State Legislature — Comparative negligence; definition

Legal Information Institute — Comparative negligence

Legal Information Institute — Liability

Legal Information Institute — Negligence

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