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Car accidents and truck accidents are unfortunately common occurrences on the road, responsible for property damage and personal injury, which can be catastrophic.
If you or a loved one have suffered from a motor vehicle accident while in the Tucson area, there are a number of experienced car accident attorneys who can help you seek the compensation you deserve.
Driving is one of the great privileges of our modern age – and Arizonans love to take advantage of it. All told, there are more than 179.7 million miles driven on the state’s roadways every day.
With all that vehicular travel, accidents are bound to happen, sometimes, to devastating effect. In 2020, Arizona was among the top 10 states for most roadway fatalities, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Even when they’re not representing the ultimate tragedy, however, auto accidents can be overwhelming events.
If you’ve been involved or injured in a car accident, there are a number of top-notch Tucson car accident attorneys that can help you build a strong case, and argue for a fair settlement.
While there are a number of common causes that can be attributed to car crashes, when it comes to assigning fault, things get a bit more specific.
From a legal perspective, “fault” is a term given to the person or parties being held legally responsible for an automobile accident.
But their level of legal responsibility exists within a spectrum, which ranges from:
These variations account for how intentional the actions of the responsible parties were. This designation also helps personal injury lawyers determine the amount of damages that can be pursued.
Still, it’s not necessarily just the “at-fault driver” who may be on the hook. There can be a number of different liable parties involved in an Arizona auto accident.
Liability is a broader definition, and can extend to any persons or parties that contributed to the conditions that created the accident.
And it’s these persons or parties who are held responsible for paying any damages found in the case. Any drivers, pedestrians, or bicyclists involved in the incident may be found liable.
If malfunctioning equipment played a role, it’s possible for auto manufacturers to also be involved, especially if there were injured parties in the crash.
And government bodies, including the Arizona Department of Transportation or even federal agencies, may also be considered liable. Typically, this happens when unsafe roadways contributed to the accident.
An experienced Tucson auto accident attorney will consider a number of other parties who could possibly be held liable in your case.
If you’ve been involved in a car accident, there are several legal options you can pursue.
Many car accident victims file personal injury claims, with the help of an experienced law group.
Your law office will use the claim to negotiate a settlement. Medical bills, costs related to property damage, and other damages can be used to calculate the amount you’ll claim.
In the case where a fair settlement can’t be agreed upon, you will have the opportunity to file a lawsuit. In these scenarios, your law office will prepare your car accident case to be decided by a judge or jury.
A free consultation with a personal injury attorney will help provide the legal advice you need to determine your best course of action.
Should you choose to file a personal injury claim, following certain steps in the wake of your car accident will be helpful.
Gathering details as quickly as possible is crucial, as it will help you build your car accident claim.
An experienced car accident lawyer will have the best advice about what you should specifically track down.
Generally, you should save any documents involving or related to:
Car accident cases can be emotionally taxing and legally confounding, especially if property damage or personal injury is involved.
That’s why legal representation is highly recommended, though not required in these cases.
A seasoned attorney can tap into their years of experience to help ensure everything proceeds as smoothly as possible.
This is generally the first thing most people think of after getting involved in a serious car wreck. But it’s important to follow the above steps first, in order to build and present the strongest case possible.
Once you or your personal injury lawyer are ready to file a claim, the process generally involves the official filing of paperwork.
This notifies all parties involved that they have been named in a personal injury claim, and are expected to respond.
A majority of car accident cases settle out of court. When all parties involved have experienced lawyers, it’s not uncommon for reasonable financial agreements to be reached rather quickly.
This isn’t always the case — but it’s also not your last option. If the parties involved can’t agree on a settlement, your legal team can bring your claim to court, where the verdicts are returned by a judge or a jury.
Whether financial, physical, or emotional, any costs you’ve incurred as a result of your accident can be considered damages.
Personal injury cases typically revolve around determining which types of damages you are owed, and by whom.
Damages awarded for medical considerations can cover a wide range of medical costs.
Costs related to any medical treatments or medical attention required in the wake of the crash count toward this category, including:
When injuries sustained in a car accident cause you to miss work, you could be eligible for lost wages.
These damages cover not just any salary you missed out on while away from work, but any earning capacity you may have missed out on due to your absence, including bonuses, promotions or new accounts.
And if your injuries left you unable to return to your job or even the same line of work, you may be entitled to the cost of being without work or having to change careers.
While this category of damages is the most difficult to calculate, it is also one of the most important to many car accident victims.
Pain and suffering can account for a number of emotional and physical costs related to a car crash, including:
These damages are reserved for the most tragic types of car accidents.
If you’ve suffered fatalities as a result of a crash, you may be entitled to compensation related to:
Automobiles are heavy, fast, and sometimes unreliable vehicles.
Despite the safety equipment that has been developed for them over the years, they can still cause a number of serious injuries, including:
While there are a number of federal laws dictating personal injury law, many states also have specific rules that may impact the outcome of your case.
An experienced law firm will advise you on how Arizona injury laws may influence your case or your legal options.
Arizona is an at-fault state. This means whoever is deemed responsible for causing the car accident in Tucson or other Arizona cities is ultimately held responsible for paying damages.
This concept compares to no-fault laws in place in other states. In these regions, everyone’s insurance policies cover injuries or damage that may arise from their own actions.
Still, it’s possible for several parties to be considered at fault in Arizona. That’s because the state also follows a legal practice called comparative negligence.
This legal doctrine demands the liability of every party involved in an accident be taken into account. Ultimately, liability in these cases can be assigned to any number of parties.
In a comparable negligence state, it’s even possible for you to be found partially at fault in your own case.
No matter the outcome, comparable negligence plays a role in the amount of damages you’re ultimately rewarded.
The statute of limitations represents the amount of time you have to file a personal injury claim after the crash. This time period is different in every state, and even different for different types of cases.
In Arizona, the statute of limitations for car accidents is two years. You’ll have that long after a police report is filed to officially file your claim.
In a city as busy as Tucson, car accidents happen all the time, for any number of reasons.
Generally, these scenarios happen due to driver error. Distracted driving and driver fatigue are among the most widespread issues on the road, and both are common causes of car accidents.
But drivers can also be aggressive. Behaviors such as speeding, tailgating, or drunk driving also make accidents more likely to happen.
Still, it isn’t always a motorist’s fault. Vehicles can malfunction in any number of ways that lead to a crash.
Bad weather can also be to blame, especially when it helps create dangerous road conditions. Sometimes, roadways are dangerous even in good weather, due to faulty designs or poor maintenance.
Arizona is home to a tangle of interstate highways, crowded urban areas, and highly trafficked trucking routes.
In 2021, ADOT recorded 121,345 car crashes in the state, thanks in no small part to these infrastructural difficulties. Sadly, more than 1,000 of those accidents were fatal.
And while city-by-city data were not available, it’s likely that many of these incidents happened in Tucson, as one of the state’s most populous cities.
Being involved in a car crash may prompt a number of questions. An experienced law firm will have the most specific advice for your case, but these answers can provide general information.
Car accidents can be devastating events, but you don’t have to go through the aftermath alone.
A top Tucson car accident lawyer can provide the legal services and advice you need to get the compensation you deserve.
LegalFinders can help you schedule a free case evaluation with a Tucson area attorney to get started on your case today. Contact us today for more information.
