Do You Really Need to Hire a Phoenix Auto Accident Lawyer?

Did you know there’s an average of 6 million car accidents annually in the United States? Car accidents can change your life in an instant. But, even if your accident doesn’t cause traumatic injuries, you can still face long recovery times, legal issues, and lost wages.

If you’ve been in an auto accident, don’t just assume everything will work out on its own. There are a lot of issues that can come up, so it’s important to talk to a Phoenix auto accident lawyer right away. The best car accident attorney will review your case thoroughly and help you come up with a plan.

Keep reading to learn why you need to hire a Phoenix auto accident lawyer and see how they can help you with your case.

When Should You Call a Car Accident Lawyer?

A car accident lawyer will protect your legal rights and ensure you get compensation for your injuries, future medical treatments, and any time from work you miss due to the accident.

It’s always a good idea to consult with an accident attorney after a car accident. Still, there are certain cases where you need to contact an auto accident lawyer right away, which include:

You Have Serious Injuries From Your Car Accident

If you’ve had severe injuries from your car accident and have had to stay in the hospital for any time, you’ll most likely have a lot of medical expenses to deal with while trying to recover your health.

If you’ve had any type of back injury, whiplash, or broken bones, you’ll also be facing long-term medical expenses for future therapy or surgery.

You’ll also have to face possible changes to your current and future lifestyle if you have symptoms from your injury continue on for a long time. For example, you might have to change your job or even lose your job, which results in a huge loss of income.

It’s also not unusual to experience post-traumatic stress after a car accident. Feelings of shock, fear, worry, and ongoing memories of the accident can last a long time and interfere in your daily life.

Multiple People Were Injured

Auto accident cases can get really complex when you have multiple people that were injured in the same accident. Conflicting personal statements during an investigation can complicate your car accident even further. 

Also, in Arizona, you can be found partially at fault in a car accident and still be awarded damages. So it’s important to have the help of an accident attorney during the process so you can get the compensation you’re entitled to.

Disagreements Over Who’s At Fault

If you have an auto accident where nobody wants to admit fault, the case will likely be heard in court so a judge can review the case.

Also, if the liability for the accident is disputed, you’ll need to collect more evidence to prove your case. Arizona is an at-fault state, meaning you’ll need to prove who caused the accident first to receive any compensation.

If this happens, you may have trouble recovering compensation for your damages. You’ll need an accident attorney to help you through the legal process.

Your Accident Occurred on Unsafe Roadways

Suppose your car accident occurs as a result of unsafe road conditions. In that case, other parties may be responsible for your accident, like the city or state government or construction companies accountable for maintaining the road.

Debris and road safety issues can cause these types of accidents, which include:

• Potholes
• Uneven shoulders
• Missing guardrails
• Obscured road signs or faded road markings
• Car parts or hubcaps
• Lost cargo

You’ll need to file a different type of claim, and it’s best to have an accident attorney to help you prove your case, collect evidence, and file your claim.

You Were in an Accident With a Company-Owned Vehicle

If you were in an accident with a company-owned vehicle like a limo or a truck, then both the driver and the company could be liable for the accident.

Most of the time, a business will hire a lawyer or a team of lawyers to try to reduce the amount they’ll have to pay you, as well as reduce any type of bad exposure towards their company from the accident. In cases like this, you’ll definitely need an auto accident lawyer to help you.

What Will a Car Accident Lawyer Do After Your Accident?

Depending on the type of car accident case you have, you can initially expect your car accident lawyer to communicate with the other driver’s insurance company for you.

Remember, the job of an insurance adjuster is to find any legal way to limit how much they’ll pay you for any damages. Accident attorneys understand your rights and know how to talk to insurance adjusters. They’re also able to look at your case long-term and see the big picture and negotiate the best settlement for you. 

They’ll also deal with more complex matters such as:

Obtain Medical Evidence

Obtaining all necessary medical evidence is key to getting the right amount of compensation for your injuries.

Your car accident lawyer will work to obtain all documentation that’s related to your injuries. Your lawyer and their staff know the procedures for requesting medical records and can quickly get access to these records.

Also, to prove a personal injury claim, you need to be able to prove it through medical evidence. Your medical documents need to clearly state:

• Your exact injury
• Your physical limitations or disability
• That the other driver caused your injuries

Sometimes doctors make quick notes and don’t mention details on the cause of your accident or the extent of your disability in their medical records.

Your attorney will review your medical documentation to make sure this is included. If it isn’t, they’ll write to your doctor requesting they write a special letter to give their opinion on if the accident caused your injuries.

Obtain Liability Evidence

Your lawyer will also obtain all the evidence you need to prove the other driver was liable for the accident.

They’ll typically go back to the accident scene, take pictures, and get all of the accident and police reports. They’ll also speak to the police officers on the scene and key witnesses to the accident.

Thoroughly Assess Your Damages

Most of the time, after a car accident, you’re only thinking of the immediate impact it has on your life. An attorney will consider many things when calculating the amount of money you should receive for your damages.

Your attorney will look at your current medical expenses and calculate future damages by considering things like:

• The severity of your injuries
• How much medical treatment you’ll likely need in the future
• If you’re expected to recover
• If you’ll have permanent or long-lasting effects from the accident
• The way your injuries impact your daily life
• How pain and emotional distress have affected your life

Next, they’ll take a look at your current loss in wages from the time you had to take off work to recover from your injuries. Also, your attorney will see if you’re able to make a claim for lost earning capacity.

Lost earning capacity is a form of compensation that’s awarded if your accident causes a disability and prevents you from returning to the same job.

Help You Through a Variety of Legal Processes

Your injury attorney will help you negotiate the settlement with the other party’s insurance company once they initially respond to your claim.

Most of the time, the insurance company will submit a lower compensation amount. Your attorney will represent you through the legal process of negotiating this claim, so you’ll be more likely to receive a higher amount.

You might also have to face mediation or arbitration. Mediation consists of you and the person that caused your injuries sitting down and reaching a solution out of court. Arbitration is similar to a private court hearing and is sometimes required if there is a dispute about the compensation or who is at fault. During the arbitration, an arbitrator will review the evidence and make a final decision.

Your attorney will navigate you through this process so you can reach an agreement quickly and get a fair settlement. 

Contact a Phoenix Auto Accident Lawyer Today

If you’ve been in an auto accident, it’s worth reaching out to a Phoenix auto accident lawyer to see how they can help you with your case. 

If you’re searching Google for a car accident attorney near me, make sure to stop at Sweet Lawyers for help. We have over 40 years’ experience helping accident victims and can help you get the compensation you deserve. Together, we’ll help you recover and get your life back on track.

Be sure to contact us today to schedule a free consultation!