Many people believe that injury claims should be straight forward and to the point. The common thought is that if someone else is to blame for an accident, that at-fault individual should be financially responsible for the damage. This basic principle holds true often in Arizona but the reality is that the unique facts of any car accident make most matters anything but easy.
In some situations, it may not be clear who is to blame. The laws here compare the actions of those involved to determine whether one or more individuals is responsible, and if so, how much responsibility should be assigned to each motorist. Sometimes, police come to one conclusion about the fault of a crash and may or may not issue tickets in response but a different result can be reached in a civil court of law.
And yet in other instances, a victim who is already suffering from physical injuries is involved in a collision which then worsens those preexisting damages. These victims may wonder if they have the same legal rights as healthy victims or if they are out of luck for the damages done to them by another driver.
If there can be any good news after a car accident takes place, it is this: Arizona believes in protecting the rights of victims, no matter who those victims are. This means that people who are hurt in a collision may have the right to seek financial compensation for their damages against those who caused them harm or who are responsible, whether it is an at-fault driver, an automobile insurance company, a car’s manufacturer, a city, a county, a municipality, or even the state. These rights extend to victims who were injured before a collision happened or who had an unusual sensitivity to harm. Put simply, when a motorist drives in a negligent manner, that driver is responsible for injuries that happen in a crash, even if a victim suffers much more than a typical person would.
In practice, victims who are hurt before an accident takes place can still recover for their damages in a personal injury action. Their damages may include medical expenses from the worsening of their injuries or from the aggravation of a preexisting condition. The options for relief will depend on the facts of a particular collisions and speaking with a personal injury attorney can help you understand what options are available.
The legal team at Abels & Annes, P.C. offers a free case consultation without obligation to those who contact us toll free at (855) PHX-LAWYER or locally at (602) 819-5191. We understand that you may need answers outside of normal business hours so we keep a lawyer available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year to help you evaluate your potential claim so that you can take the steps needed to protect your rights. Further, if we represent you, we will never charge you a fee unless we make a recovery on your behalf and we advance all case-related expenses.
if you have questions, call Abels & Annes, P.C. now or contact us online if a car accident in Phoenix has affected you.
Prior Blog Entry:
Legal Rights after a DUI Motorcycle Crash, Phoenix Injury Lawyer Blog, published January 21, 2016.