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People who have been in a car crash in the Yuma area might be able to file a personal injury claim against the liable party and collect a settlement to cover their damages.
Many law firms offer free consultations to help you determine whether filing a claim is the right thing to do. A personal injury attorney may be able to help you get the compensation you deserve after a car accident.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident in Yuma, Arizona, you might be able to get compensated for medical bills and other damages.
By hiring a personal injury lawyer and filing a claim against the liable party, you could be awarded a settlement to reimburse you for the impacts of the accident.
To file a claim, there must have been negligence that led to the accident, and you cannot have been solely at fault for the crash.
Keep reading to learn more about how car accident claims work, and how accident victims can seek compensation with the help of an auto accident lawyer.
Plus, find out how you can get in touch with the best Yuma personal injury lawyers.
What you do in the days and weeks following an accident can make a big difference if you decide to file a personal injury claim.
To give yourself the best chance at a favorable settlement, follow the steps below after a Yuma car crash.
Before reaching out to a personal injury attorney, it is advisable to gather all documentation related to your accident and any involved drivers.
Some documents you should gather include:
An experienced attorney can help you to gather this information. But, to get the most out of a free initial consultation with an attorney, it is best to gather as much of it as possible before meeting with them.
Once you have gathered information related to the accident, you should seek legal advice. Having an experienced car accident lawyer on your side during a personal injury claim will give you a better chance at winning a favorable settlement.
Your legal team will handle all communications related to your case, acting as the middleman between you, the liable party, and anyone else involved in the claim. They will negotiate a settlement with the liable party until a favorable offer has been reached.
Personal injury claims are similar to insurance claims. Your lawyer will help you file your claim, which involves notifying the liable insurance company or another liable party that you are asking them for a settlement for damages related to the accident.
Having quality legal representation is critical during a personal injury claim. Your lawyer will know what information to include on your claim to hold the liable party accountable and encourage them to offer a substantial settlement.
In rare cases, it might not be possible to agree on a favorable settlement offer with the liable party. In these cases, it may be necessary to file a lawsuit, which means that the case will move to court and a judge will decide on a settlement amount.
While it is rare to upgrade personal injury claims to lawsuits, it can happen — and if it does, you will be glad to have an experienced personal injury law firm on your side.
Several factors can affect a motorcycle accident, truck accident, or car accident case in Arizona. Some of the most notable factors include who caused the accident and which Arizona laws apply to the claim.
Determining fault in a car accident is not always straightforward. There may be disputes over who caused an accident, and there can also be multiple at-fault parties.
For example, if two vehicles collide at a four-way-stop intersection, but both drivers rolled through their stop signs, they might each be partially at fault for the accident.
An experienced lawyer can review your case and help determine fault.
Arizona has some unique laws which may impact your car accident claim. Two laws, in particular, that will impact your case are Arizona’s statute of limitations, and its consideration of negligence.
In Phoenix, Tucson, Yuma, and elsewhere in Arizona, comparative negligence applies to all personal injury cases.
This means that people who were partially at fault in a car accident can still file a personal injury claim. The settlement amount will be adjusted based on the percentage of fault a driver had.
Another Arizona law, called the statute of limitations, states that you have two years to begin your car accident claim. If you wait longer than two years after the accident occurs, you may not be able to file a claim.
Liability is different from fault. The liable party is the one who is legally responsible for paying damages to the claimant.
For a party to be liable, they must have acted in a negligent manner to cause the accident, or they must represent a party who acted with negligence.
For example, if a driver acts negligently by failing to check their mirrors before merging and they cause a crash, their liability insurance provider will be held liable for damages to injured parties.
The damages that you cite on your personal injury claim are a reflection of the different ways that an accident has impacted your life.
Arizona damages can be broken down into three categories: economic and non-economic damages, and punitive damages.
Economic damages are very straightforward. The goal of these is to reimburse the claimant for the direct financial impacts they have suffered due to their injuries.
Examples of economic damages include medical expenses, property damage, and lost wages due to being unable to work.
Non-economic damages are less straightforward. These include things like pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of relationships — all effects that can come indirectly from being injured.
Even people who have not suffered major injuries might struggle with other effects from the accident, like post-traumatic stress disorder.
People who are seeking damages on behalf of the wrongful death of a family member may be struggling with emotional distress, which can be compensated via non-economic damages.
Punitive damages cannot be sought in a personal injury claim. Instead, they are awarded by a court in rare cases to punish a negligent driver or other at-fault party.
No injury is too small or large to begin a car accident claim.
While more serious injuries generally result in higher settlement amounts, you should always consult a lawyer to help you determine whether filing a claim is the right thing to do.
Common injuries in Arizona car accidents that can lead to personal injury claims include:
There are a wide range of factors that can contribute to car accidents. Most accidents are the result of the negligence of one or more drivers.
Some common causes for car accidents include:
Many different types of car accidents occur, and most of them fall into one of the categories below.
Common types of car accidents in Yuma include:
Yuma County sees thousands of car accidents every year, resulting in hundreds of injuries.
The following car accident rates for Yuma County show how car crashes affect this area:
Yuma County crashes
2,581
in 2021
People killed in car accidents in Yuma County
28
and 1,457 people were injured
Alcohol-related crashes in Yuma County
140
in 2021
Crashes involving pedestrians occurred in Yuma County
32
resulting in 3 fatalities in 2021
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a motor vehicle accident in the Yuma area, you might be able to get a settlement from a personal injury claim.
LegalFinders can connect you to the top car accident attorneys in the Yuma area. We only work with law firms that have great accolades and high rates of success in their claims.
Contact LegalFinders today to be connected with top car accident attorneys in the Yuma area. Most attorneys offer free case evaluations.
