What Is the Average Car Accident Settlement in Phoenix?

As a resident of the 5th-biggest city in the country, plenty of drivers share the road with you any given day. The same applies to the entire state. 

The state of Arizona is home to nearly 6.4 million licensed drivers, according to recent data. There’s always a chance of getting into a car accident when you share the road with so many drivers. 

Knowing the right steps for responding to a car accident will help you take action if the time comes. It starts with understanding how much you can expect to get paid from a car accident settlement in Phoenix. 

The tips below will teach you more about settlement amounts and how to plan a successful case. 

How Much Can You Expect From a Car Accident Settlement?

First, you must learn how much you can expect to get from your case. 

The average car accident settlement with notable injuries is approximately $29,000, according to recent data. Accidents with no observable injuries pay $12,800 on average, while property damage costs per vehicle are typically $4,700. How much you receive for your settlement will depend on several factors. 

What Affects Your Car Accident Settlement Amount?

Your car accident lawyer will look at several variables when pursuing your case settlement. Plaintiffs can expect different levels of car accident compensation depending on the details of the accident. These details will directly affect how much you get paid for your settlement. 

Understanding the following will help you feel informed and aware as you and your lawyer plan your settlement:

The Strength of Your Legal Argument

Having a good car accident lawyer is essential whenever you’re pursuing a case. Before moving forward your lawyer will listen to you explain what happened and will weigh the merits of your case. They need to know that the car accident was the other driver’s fault and that you have legal grounds to recover money for all your damages. 

A good lawyer has experience both with case law and settlements so that they can prove these points. Arizona considers contributory negligence in car accident cases, which means that both drivers can be held responsible to varying degrees. If you’re partially at fault, it means that you’ll also receive a lower settlement amount. 

For instance, if the damages in your case amount to $100,000, and the other driver is found 70% responsible for hitting you, and you’re found 30% responsible for your injuries because you weren’t wearing a seatbelt, you would only get $70,000 in a settlement, rather than the full amount. 

Contributory negligence aside, your lawyer will need to prove the legality of your case in general. This means proving that the person who hit you was negligent and didn’t exercise their obligated duty of care when sharing the road with others. All of these factors come into play in a personal injury case, and will directly affect how much you get paid in the end. 

Your Medical Injuries

Taking care of your medical injuries is an essential part of the accident claims process, and often the biggest financial factor. You and your lawyer will need to prove that you suffered injuries and that those injuries were the result of the accident. They’ll also need to prove the cost of your injuries. 

A lot of this comes down to furnishing copies of your medical bills, along with any other documented proof. This could include things like computerized tomography (CT) scans or written recommendations from your physician. Your first medical bill is likely from the emergency room or urgent care. Having this initial record will also help to date your case, which is important for establishing a timeline.  

Property Damage Costs

Another benefit of hiring a lawyer is that they can help you get the money you’re entitled to for property damage. This is another major cost factor, outside of your medical injuries. In car accident cases, your vehicle is typically the biggest piece of property damage that you’ll need to concern yourself with. 

You might also have other property damage claims if the property that you were traveling with gets damaged or broken. The courts will consider the market value of your vehicle at the time of the wreck. The entire matter might also be handled by the insurance companies. You must provide all the documentation that you can so that you have no problem proving your property damage. 

Taking care of this part of your case will help you either repair your vehicle if possible or replace it with a new one.  

Non-Economic Damages From The Car Accident

When you hire a lawyer, you’re also putting them in place to handle your non-economic damages. This refers to things that can’t necessarily be easily or neatly quantified, yet are a substantial part of the case and your recovery. Emotional pain and suffering is often one of the most sought forms of non-economic damages that plaintiffs seek in their car accident cases. 

This refers to the state of anguish, stress, and turmoil that your case and injuries brought about. It can involve recouping money for therapy sessions or healing from your post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Having a lawyer skilled enough to pinpoint these sorts of issues will help you make sure that you recover money from your damages in full.  

Long-Term Healing From Your Injuries

It’s also important that you look into the long-term effects of your injuries so that you’re able to get the legal help that you need. A professional can provide you with an Arizona car accident settlement that looks at the total picture of your recovery. 

In addition to your initial injuries, you might have to go to physical therapy or rehab to regain full use of certain limbs or muscles or to decrease pain. Your initial medical evaluations will tell you a lot about the long-term picture of your healing and will help you seek an amount that makes sense. 

They will also look at the long-term picture when it comes to your income. When you miss time from work while injured, you can seek compensation in your case to help you take care of your living expenses.  

How to Get the Best From Your Car Accident Settlement

Now that you know more about the things that affect car accident settlement amounts, you need to put together a strategy that will help you. Taking a detailed approach to your case improves your chances of getting the biggest payout so you can take care of all these issues. 

So, which steps are the most important? 

Find a Good Personal Injury Lawyer

Securing the help of a good lawyer will help you tackle your case without a problem. Book a consultation with a law firm so that you can get all your questions answered. You should put together a list of the five best attorneys that you can find in your city so that you know you’ve done your due diligence. 

Ask the law firm what kind of car accident settlements they tend to represent and get all your legal questions answered. During the case, they will listen to the details and let you know whether you have a good chance of winning. 

Before hiring a law firm, ask about their prices and get a written copy. In car accident cases, this is usually a percentage of the settlement. Find out if they still charge you for legal costs if they lose the case, or if you’re free of obligation at that point.   

Get Started on Your Case Early

You must start on your personal injury case as early as you can. Doing this will help you improve your odds of winning since your lawyer will have plenty of time to plan your case and prepare evidence. 

You’ll also want to be diligent in pursuing your case because Arizona has a 2-year statute of limitations for car accident cases. Filing your case within this timeframe will meet the statute of limitations so that your case remains valid.  

Secure a Copy of the Accident Report

Make sure that you get a copy of the accident report that was created for your case. These reports are written whenever an officer is called to the scene of your accident. They stop or re-route traffic for everyone’s safety, and will also talk to both drivers and any witnesses to get the details of what happened on the record. 

This is often the earliest and most important piece of evidence that you’ll gather. Having the accident report will provide a point of reference and can all but win your case right away if the evidence is obvious. 

Do your best to take pictures and videos of the wreckage so that you have an even stronger foundation of evidence. Your lawyer will use all of it to help you prove where and how your vehicle was struck, the rate of speed, the nature of the damages, and other important details.  

Consider Whether a Settlement or Trial Is Best

After some conversations with your lawyer, you will have a better idea of whether you should pursue a settlement out of court or finish the case via a trial. Your lawyer will offer advice based on the evidence that you have and the legitimacy of your claims. They can also let you know the pros and cons of each, and what kind of settlement amount and outcome you can expect. 

Once you know the risks and rewards, you can decide how to navigate your car accident case. However, 95% of these cases are settled, so this is also the most likely outcome for your accident.  

Take Care of Your Healing

Don’t take your eye off the ball when it comes to getting your medical treatment and recovery. Staying diligent with healing proves that your injuries are real and also helps you recover in full. 

You will typically visit a physical therapist at least once weekly. Many people start visiting the chiropractor to help with back and neck pain. You will also need to schedule several visits with your physician for regular checkups, in addition to specialist appointments and surgical procedure consultations.  

Prepare for the Case Deposition

A legal deposition is often a big part of your case or settlement. Your legal professional will prepare you for the deposition so that you know what to expect and get comfortable answering questions. 

This is a pre-trial prerequisite that explores the evidence and narrative and often dictates whether or not the case goes to court. This hearing is held with a court reporter present and is recorded and archived. While it doesn’t take place in court, it’s still sworn testimony that can be used in court.   

Handle Your Car Automobile Accident Case

These tips will help you get the best possible car accident settlement. This is incredibly important since a vehicle wreck can become costly and take a long time to resolve. The main thing that you need to do is hire a quality lawyer that can assist you. Once you have a trusted legal professional, you’ll be able to get paid for your troubles and pick up the pieces after your accident. 

We’re the law firm that you need to turn to.  

Sweet Law is happy to help you out whenever you have a car accident case. We take pride in serving the Phoenix area and can help you get the accident settlement that you’re entitled to. Take the time to contact us on our website or call (602)610-6101 for more information.