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A car accident has the potential to have a devastating impact on your health, your future, and your finances. At Torgenson Law, we understand the difficulties people can experience even in minor car accidents, and we want to help. If you or a loved one has been harmed in a traffic accident caused by a negligent driver, call our Phoenix car accident attorneys at (602) 759-0012. We are here to help you explore your options for compensation and give you support during this time.
Torgenson Law is 100% dedicated to personal injury law. Our Phoenix personal injury lawyers relentlessly fight for personal injury victims as well as the families of those who tragically lost their lives in a fatal car accident. Our goal is to empower those who feel broken to obtain the legal justice they will need to rebuild and essentially restore their quality of life.
Car crashes can happen for a number of reasons. External conditions, such as weather, can create dangerous roadway conditions, potentially causing the driver to lose control of their vehicle. But more often than not, a car accident is related to the negligent behavior of another driver. With recent advances in technology such as cell phones and GPS, there are more and more distractions on the road that have drivers not paying adequate attention to their surroundings. These distractions, combined with human error and negligence, have resulted in an increase in car accidents and injuries related to those accidents.
Most frequently, car accidents are the result of driver error or negligence. Operating a motor vehicle is a privilege given to drivers who adhere to the laws and rules of the road. Some drivers take this privilege for granted and do not take their responsibilities as seriously as they probably should. When drivers do not take their obligation to drive safely solemnly, they do unsafe things while driving such as use their cell phones, fall asleep, or drive under the influence. These kinds of reckless actions can also cause drivers to disobey crucial traffic rules and regulations, causing them to speed, run red lights, or, in the worst cases, strike another vehicle or person.
The legal team at Torgenson Law believes it is important for everyone to understand your rights following a car accident in the State of Arizona. In order for someone to be compensated for the injuries they sustained in a motor vehicle crash, it is necessary for the injured victim to prove fault by an involved party.
The exact costs to retain a car accident attorney vary greatly based on the law firm, the accident, and the circumstances of your case. At Torgenson Law, we understand that even minor motor vehicle accidents can result in significant, sudden financial hardship for many Arizona residents – and that spending more money on an attorney is likely not a priority.
That’s why we offer our legal services on a contingency fee basis. There are no upfront legal costs; your initial consultation is free. All legal expenses are advanced to the conclusion of the case, and you only pay for legal fees if we secure a favorable verdict or settlement on your behalf. Then, we take a percentage from your winnings – never from out of your pocket. If we don’t win, you don’t pay.
This arrangement allows you to receive the best possible representation without worrying about if you can afford it. Additionally, it allows us to put a full focus on your case – and not on billing or other extraneous concerns. This enables us to give you the best possible representation for the maximum possible compensation you need.
Often, the type of collision or accident in which you are involved can provide relevant information on how and why the incident happened. It is important to understand the different types of car accidents and the reasons for which they occur, which could be helpful when attempting to assign responsibility for the crash to an at-fault party or individual. Certain types of car crashes are more common than others. Some of these include:
At Torgenson Law, we pride ourselves on providing first-class, personalized service to all of our clients who have recently been involved in a car accident in or around the state of Arizona. Vehicle collisions can have long-term consequences for all victims and can lead to expensive hospital bills and medical costs. When working with the experienced vehicle accident lawyers at Torgenson Law, you may be entitled to financial restitution to cover the costs of:
Car accidents can result in rising medical expenses due to the injuries suffered. Hospital costs are at an all-time high in the United States, and serious incidents can require extensive medical care that is difficult for a majority of citizens to afford. These medical costs include past, current, and future expenses that are the result of a vehicle collision.
If you have sustained a significant injury from a vehicle collision, you may be unable to return to work for an indefinite period of time. In some cases, you may be unable to return to work permanently due to the severity of your injuries. We are here to help you regain lost income resulting from vehicle collisions. This type of compensation includes lost current or future income, as well as the loss of overall earning ability.
Motor vehicle accidents can result in long-term pain and suffering of victims. This type of compensation includes any mental, physical, and emotional anguish that is the direct result of a motor vehicle crash.
Vehicle collisions too often result in the premature passing of a loved one or family member. Whenever death is the result of irresponsible action or negligence on the part of another, our Phoenix wrongful death lawyers can pursue a claim. While no amount of money can make up for the lost life, this compensation can help cover funeral costs and lost income.
Like other states, Arizona has a strict statute of limitations on car accident claims – a deadline to file a valid lawsuit. In Arizona, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a car accident lawsuit. This statute of limitations applies regardless of the damages you are seeking, whether it’s for personal injury, property damage, or wrongful death.
If you are attempting to file an uninsured or underinsured claim, you have three years from the date of the accident to file a claim. In cases where you were initially unaware that the other party was uninsured or underinsured, you have three years from the date you found out (or should have known) that the other party is not insured or does not have an adequate insurance policy.
The State of Arizona is an at-fault insurance state, meaning that the party who is responsible for the car accident is also liable for the damages incurred in that crash. If a driver is determined to be responsible for the crash due to an act of irresponsibility or negligence, then the insurance company of the responsible driver must pay for the damages to the accident victim.
Regarding negligence, Arizona follows a pure comparative fault rule for personal injury claims. That means that, in an incident where one or more parties share blame, you may be entitled for the percentage of damages that you were not liable for.
For example, if in a car accident you were found to be 30% liable for the accident, you are entitled to recover 70% of the total damages awarded. Our attorneys are well-versed in Arizona’s comparative negligence laws and can help you get compensation even if you were partially at fault.
It can be difficult to evaluate exactly how much your personal injury lawsuit is worth because so many circumstances can affect your compensation. Generally, you may be able to recover the damages detailed in the compensation section above – and for further details, it is best to consult an experienced Phoenix car accident attorney.
Yes, even if a driver has claimed they are at fault, it is highly recommended to consult an attorney. Although it may make compensation easier, auto insurance companies may still be reluctant to offer a settlement that fully compensates you for all damages. A Phoenix car accident attorney can help negotiate with providers on your behalf to secure the maximum possible compensation for your needs.
It is highly recommended to consult an experienced Arizona injury attorney as soon as possible following the accident. Any insurance providers involved in the claims process will call you with a quick settlement offer in the hopes of resolving the case early. In many cases, these are low-ball offers – compensation amounts that are far lower than what you need to recoup all your losses.
By contacting an attorney as soon as possible, you can prevent these attempts to take advantage of your situation. An attorney will help you gather evidence, build a case, and negotiate on your behalf to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. Additionally, if you require medical care, attorneys may be able to direct you to the high-quality healthcare you need.
After a car accident, the first thing you should do is seek medical treatment if you feel you have suffered a serious injury. If the injuries are not evident right away, call the police and stay at the scene until they arrive. While at the scene, observe and gather any evidence. This includes taking pictures of the accident scene, any property damage, and the information of the party involved. It is also important to gather information from witnesses who saw the accident.
Once you leave the scene of the accident, you should call your insurance carrier as soon as possible. You will most likely receive a call from the insurance carrier of the at-fault driver. When talking to them, you should not give them detailed information or accept the first offer they give you before speaking to an attorney. Insurance carriers will do everything they can to pay you as little as possible.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, car accidents are one of the leading causes of death in the United States: in 2019, there were over 36,000 fatalities as a result of motor vehicle crashes. This is mostly because travel by car is one of the most popular and most-used methods of transportation in the country. Car collisions are extremely common and happen every day across the country and in our own state. These incidents can lead to severe injuries and often result in the deaths of those involved.
Vehicle collisions in Arizona, including both fatal and non-fatal crashes, have steadily increased throughout the years. According to the Arizona Department of Transportation (DOT), the state experienced 129,750 crashes in 2019, resulting in a total of 53,809 accident injuries. Additionally, accidents in Maricopa County accounted for 74.84% of all crashes and 46.98% of all fatal crashes in the state.
The last thing anybody expects when they get behind the wheel of a vehicle is that they will be involved in an accident, particularly one in which the other driver flees the scene. Unfortunately, hit and run accidents are not uncommon in Arizona, particularly around the more crowded cities.
At Torgenson Law, our qualified and experienced team of Phoenix car accident lawyers are ready to help when you need an attorney by your side. Here, we want to explain hit and run laws in Arizona, what the penalties are for leaving the scene of a crash, and what you can do if you were injured in a hit and run incident.
According to data available from the Arizona Department of Transportation, we can see that there were 15,050 total hit and run crashes during the latest reporting year across the state. Out of these incidents, there were:
Hit and run crashes are taken very seriously by Arizona law enforcement officials, and those who flee the scene of a crash could face significant criminal and civil penalties.
Under Arizona vehicle accident laws, any driver involved in the crash has a duty to remain at the scene of the incident. Drivers are required to exchange information, including driver’s license numbers and insurance information. Drivers are also required to render reasonable assistance, help ensure that any injured party receives medical care, and contact law enforcement.
Additionally, any driver who strikes an unattended parked vehicle is required to stop immediately and try to locate the driver. If they are unable to find the driver of the impacted vehicle, they are required to leave a note that provides the name and address of the driver and the vehicle owner. An incident involving striking other property, such as fences, signs, or mailboxes, requires that a driver make reasonable efforts to notify the owner of the property and give them their name, address, and vehicle registration number.
Drivers who failed to comply with their duties under Arizona law could face criminal charges as well as a liability through a personal injury or property damage lawsuit.
There are various laws in Arizona that cover hit and run scenarios. This includes the following:
If you or somebody you care about has been injured in a hit and run accident, there are various steps that you can take both immediately following the incident as well as in the days and weeks following the crash. As soon as a crash occurs, you need to pull your vehicle over to a safe location if you can do so. If you see that another driver is fleeing the scene of the accident, it is crucial that you do not chase them. This is not your job, and it could result in you or somebody else sustaining a significant injury.
Take a deep breath, assess yourself and your passengers for any injuries, and called the police. Try to remember as much as possible about the vehicle that fled the scene as well as the driver. You will want to relay this information to the dispatcher. Some of the possible information that could be important include the following:
If you can safely do so at the scene of the crash, you can use your smartphone or another type of camera to take photos of any damages, injuries, debris, skid marks, causes of the crash, etc. You should also get the names and contact information of any eyewitnesses to the incident.
You will need to report the crash to your insurance carrier as soon as possible. If you have uninsured motorist coverage, this could be used to cover your medical expenses if the hit and run driver is not apprehended or if they do not have insurance.
Finally, you should contact a skilled Phoenix personal injury lawyer for help. At Torgenson Law, our team will conduct a complete investigation into your case and help secure full compensation for your losses. You can contact us for a free consultation of your case by clicking here or calling 602-600-0492.
If you or a loved one has suffered serious injuries in a car accident due to the negligence of another, please contact us immediately. At Torgenson Law, we are dedicated to fighting against the big insurance companies and major corporations on behalf of the good people who live and work in the great State of Arizona. Let us help you, too. Schedule a free case evaluation by calling us at (602) 759-0012, and see how we can help.
Torgenson Law is proud of the results we have obtained for our clients and we are thankful for the overwhelming positive ratings and reviews left by real clients on 3rd party review websites such as Google.com. We understand that choosing the best Phoenix accident attorney can be challenging. We encourage you to read our real testimonials from real clients found on our website’s client testimonials page or located on Google.com.
“Torgenson Law did an awesome job working hard for me, keeping me updated throughout my case, and making sure I got the most out of my settlement. If you have had an accident or injury, I would definitely recommend contacting Torgenson Law!” -Ian S.