In 2014, there were 109,554 traffic crashes in the State of Arizona. The collisions happened in every city and involved all types of people from young drivers to older motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, passengers, and motorcyclists. A large number of those crashes took place in Maricopa County, the most heavily-populated county in the state, and caused extreme damages including injuries and loss of life. The Arizona Department of Transportation estimates that collisions in Maricopa County alone in 2014 cost in excess of $1.8 billion in damages.
If you live in the Phoenix area, chances are that either you have been involved in a car accident or you know someone who has. With such a widespread impact stemming from these collisions, harm can be felt by the families, loved ones, friends, neighbors, and coworkers of the victims involved in addition to the victims themselves, drawing greater attention to safety concerns related to traffic accidents. But with so many collisions taking place, it may be surprising to realize how little the typical car accident victim understands about their legal rights and legal options when they are hurt.
Initially, victims should know that Arizona laws enable them to hire an attorney of their choosing. Retaining a lawyer with personal injury experience can help a victim move through the steps of a civil case while complying with all requirements so that the rights of that victim are not lost. As these cases are often complex and confusing, having a knowledgeable attorney on your side can clear up some of the problems and increase your chances for success in your claim.
Typically, victims have the right to seek financial compensation against those who have caused them harm. Often, that might be the automobile insurance company of an at-fault or responsible driver who caused the collision. But in other cases, it can be a company for which the at-fault driver was working, the owner of the car that the at-fault driver used, or even a city or state that created a dangerous roadway condition. If a crash is due to a faulty component in a car or a defect in something like a tire, the entity that created, manufactured, or designed the faulty part may be liable for your harm.
Victims can recover payment for the totality of the harm that they sustain in a collision when it occurs in the Phoenix area. Often, this means that a victim can receive payment for any and all medical expenses, surgical charges, rehabilitative care, and occupational therapy expenses that arise due to injuries. But recoveries are not limited to medical expenses as payment for wages missed while a victim was unable to work also may be appropriate. Most cases involve damages that stem from pain and suffering, and some cases have other elements like the permanency of any injuries sustained or scarring that resulted from the crash.
It is important to note that Arizona law requires a personal injury claim to be brought within a specified time period for it to be valid, so if you have been hurt, speaking with an attorney is a good starting point to ensure that you are protected.
The law firm of Abels & Annes, P.C. employs only personal injury lawyers who believe in fighting for the rights of victims. We offer a free, no-obligation case consultation to all those who have been hurt and who call us toll free at (855) PHX-LAWYER or locally at (602) 819-5191 and we keep an attorney standing by 24 hours a day, seven days a week to take your call.
If an accident has affected your life or has claimed your loved one, make sure you have a full understanding of the laws as they apply to your case. Call Abels & Annes, P.C. now and let us get to work for you.
Prior Blog Entry:
Back to School Safety Tips in Phoenix, Phoenix Injury Lawyer Blog, published September 2, 2015.