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You may have many questions when you are involved in a car wreck, we are here to help! We have compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions by car accident victims in Lake Havasu City.
Arizona is a fault state, which means car accident victims file claims with the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
In no-fault states, accident victims file claims with their own insurance company.
The technical answer to this question is ‘no.’ Arizona law does not require that you hire an attorney to file a claim.
However, people who do hire top-rated lawyers win higher settlement amounts, on average, than people who take on claims themselves.
Settlement amounts in car accident claims vary widely. Settlements could be as low as a few thousand dollars or as high as tens of millions of dollars. It depends on how severe the injuries and damage were, how the accident occurred, and other factors.
An experienced lawyer serving Lake Havasu City can review your information and help you get an idea of how much you might expect from a settlement.
People in Lake Havasu City, Arizona who have been involved in an auto accident might be able to get a settlement that covers their losses. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you file a claim against the liable party and get a favorable settlement.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a motor vehicle accident in Lake Havasu City, filing a personal injury claim against the liable party might be an option.
Injury claims can compensate you for property damage, medical bills, and emotional distress caused by the accident.
Accident victims who hire personal injury lawyers to help them file a claim receive higher settlement amounts, on average, than people who attempt to file claims by themselves.
An attorney with years of experience in the practice area of personal injury cases can help you get the most out of your claim.
Keep reading to learn more about car accident claims in Lake Havasu City, including how they work, what factors affect them, and more.
What you do in the days and weeks after a car accident can have a big impact if you end up filing a personal injury claim.
Whenever possible, follow the steps below after a crash to give yourself the best chance of success in a car accident claim.
After a car accident, gathering all documents and information related to the crash can save you time and give you better odds if you file a claim.
Some documents to gather after an accident include:
If you are able to bring the documents above to your initial case evaluation with an attorney, it will save time in the claims process.
If you sustained property damage or injuries in your accident, reaching out to a lawyer is a good idea. A personal injury attorney can tell you whether it is worth filing a claim and advise you on the next steps.
Most attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they are paid only if you receive a settlement. In other words, they have no incentive to suggest that you file a claim unless they think you will be awarded a settlement.
Most personal injury law offices offer free consultations, where they will review your documents and give you legal advice on the next steps to take.
If you do file a claim with the help of an attorney, they will make the process easy. Your lawyer will handle all communications related to your case and negotiate a fair settlement amount with the liable parties.
Your involvement during the claims process will be minimal, and impacts to your daily life will be few.
In rare cases, it might not be possible for all involved parties to agree on a final settlement amount. In these situations, your lawyers can help you upgrade your claim to a lawsuit so it can be moved to court.
In court, you will be glad to have legal representation from experienced lawyers who can argue your case and get you the highest possible settlement.
The liable party in a car accident case is the one who is legally required to pay damages to the injured claimant.
Although it is usually a negligent driver who causes an accident, it is not usually the driver who is liable for paying damages.
Instead, the at-fault driver’s insurance company is usually held liable. Arizona drivers are required by law to carry liability insurance so that if they cause a crash, someone can pay for damages to the victims.
If a driver is uninsured or if their insurance coverage limits are exceeded, they could be fully or partially responsible for damages in any accidents they cause.
Car accident claims can be complex. Some of the biggest factors in Arizona accident claims are fault, liability, negligence, and a handful of Arizona laws.
Every car accident claim in Arizona must sort out where to place fault, liability, and negligence. You need to understand the subtle differences between these important factors.
Fault refers to the party who causes an accident to occur. The fault could be placed on a driver who was being reckless or careless, an auto manufacturer who made a faulty part that caused a crash, or even the state for not properly maintaining a roadway.
Negligence must be established in every personal injury case. It does not matter if you are in Tucson, Phoenix, Lake Havasu City, or elsewhere in Arizona. In order to successfully file a personal injury claim, it must be proven that negligence led to the accident and resulting injuries.
Negligence occurs when someone acts in a way that could put others in harm’s way. Usually, in car accident cases, one or more drivers act in a negligent manner to cause the crash.
Liability refers to the party that ends up being responsible for paying damages to a claimant in a personal injury case. Usually, the liable party is either the at-fault party’s insurance company, or the at-fault party themselves.
There are some unique laws in Arizona that can impact legal issues including personal injury claims in the state.
First, Arizona is an at-fault state. This means that people can file personal injury claims directly against another driver’s insurance company, making it easier to pursue a settlement than in some other states.
Another law is called the statute of limitations. This law simply states that from the date your accident occurs, you have a maximum of two years to begin a personal injury claim.
Finally, a law called comparative negligence states that even people who were partially at fault in a crash can seek compensation through a personal injury claim. This law states that your final settlement amount will be adjusted according to your percentage of fault.
The point of a car accident claim is to win a settlement that covers your losses related to the accident.
Losses can be direct financial impacts like property damage costs, as well as less direct impacts like emotional distress. The losses you claim are called damages, and there are multiple categories as outlined below.
Compensatory damages are simply aimed at reimbursing you for the financial impacts of the accident. These include medical bills and costs, lost wages, and property damage.
Since your settlement is a one-time payment, damages include future estimates as well as incurred costs.
So, if you expect to continue to pay for medical care due to your injuries, or be unable to work because of them, your projected costs should also be included on your claim.
General damages are meant to financially compensate accident victims for emotional distress and other less direct impacts they have suffered due to their accidents.
Having injuries can be hard for a number of reasons. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you win a large settlement to cover your pain and suffering.
Punitive damages are sometimes awarded to claimants by a court, as a means of punishing the negligent party in an accident.
You cannot seek punitive damages but you might be awarded them, especially if someone acted particularly recklessly to cause your crash.
Whether a crash is a car accident, truck accident, or motorcycle accident, the most common causes always involve driver error.
Whether a driver is displaying reckless behavior like speeding or they simply make a mistake like failing to check mirrors before merging, human mistakes cause a majority of accidents on the roadway.
Other causes of accidents could include faulty parts such as brakes or tires, or dangerous roadway conditions due to lack of maintenance or bad weather.
The cause of an accident holds important information for personal injury claims. A law firm with lots of experience in car accident law can help you determine who was at fault in your crash and whether negligence was at play.
Car accidents can lead to a range of injuries. The type of injury and its severity will play a role in how large of a settlement you are able to pursue.
Some of the most common types of injuries seen in car accidents include:
According to the Arizona Department of Transportation, Mohave County, home of Lake Havasu City, saw a total of 3,667 car accidents in 2021.
The following are car accident statistics for Lake Havasu City:
People died
70
and 1,675 more were injured in car crashes in Mohave County in 2021
Crashes involving alcohol
236
in Mohave County in 2021
People killed
11
and 195 more were injured in alcohol-related crashes in Mohave County in 2021
If you or a loved one has been in a car crash near Lake Havasu City, LegalFinders can connect you with the top personal injury attorneys in your area.
Our network of attorneys includes only the best of the best. The lawyers in our network have excellent client testimonials and accolades.
Contact us today to get in contact with the best car accident lawyers in Arizona.
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Published: 21 December 2022
Arizona Department of Transportation — 2021 Crash Facts
Legal Information Institute — Liability
Legal Information Institute — Negligence
