Despite living in one of the most beautiful places in the nation, residents of Arizona encounter pain and tragedy every day. In many cases, residents are hurt by the negligence or actions of others, leading to injuries and lifelong consequences. Arizona law allows victims of personal injury to seek compensation, which is why it’s important to work with the right broken bone injury lawyer to fight for your best interests.
Who Needs a Broken Bone Injury Lawyer?
Arizona is the third most popular retirement destination in the nation, leading to a population where one out of every four residents is past the age of 60. These aging individuals are especially vulnerable to bones cracking and breaking during a fall.
As well, anyone who spends any time on the road in Arizona may need a Phoenix, AZ car accident lawyer to help with the aftermath of a motor vehicle accident. Over 35,000 injuries occur each year because of car crashes. While Arizona requires motorists to carry minimum coverage of bodily injury with their auto insurance, fighting for compensation is often challenging.
What To Expect From a Broken Bone Injury Lawyer
A personal injury case in Phoenix is very different from criminal cases or family law. Civil law requires the plaintiff to establish the negligence of the at-fault party. This means looking at both the actions or inactions of the party and the details of the environment when determining who is responsible for compensation.
Broken bones can alter your life in many ways. You could miss work as you recover or face long-term disability because of the severity of the injuries. You may deal with post-traumatic stress disorder, depression or anxiety that keeps you from enjoying life.
Insurance companies typically want a quick settlement, but rushing a check to your door doesn’t mean they are providing fair and just compensation. To get what you deserve, you want to work with an attorney who knows how to handle the specifics of a broken bone case and understands the changes and challenges you now face. These are some of the characteristics a good attorney will display.
Works Diligently
A highly qualified broken bone injury lawyer will work hard to get all the facts and details of your case. This means asking about the initial accident, who was present, how it happened, etc. However, the attorney should go a step further and get all the details related to the type of injury you have, the treatment prescribed and the long-term prognosis.
You should expect the attorney to gather:
- Police reports
- Witness statements
- Medical bills and treatment history
- Surveillance footage
- Photographs or video of the scene
- Any related government or organization reports
A broken bone attorney who is working for your interests will leave no stone unturned to ensure justice in your case.
Makes Demands
Once your attorney has the facts of the case and understands your injuries, he or she should make a demand for retribution to the at-fault party or their representative. This could mean going to the insurance company or an attorney for the liable party. While you shouldn’t rush into this part of the process, there is a two-year statute of limitations on personal injury cases in Arizona.
If an initial settlement offer comes back, your broken bone injury lawyer should advise you of the offer and present insight on how to respond. A good attorney understands that the first settlement is rarely anywhere close to justice for your injuries. Cases often go through repeated settlement offers and rejections before arriving at a figure that is fair.
Remains Transparent
If you decline the settlement offer, your attorney will begin working on a lawsuit. Make a point to discuss the billing process when you have an initial consultation. An attorney should be upfront about all fees and costs, with the average attorney taking up to 40% of the settlement amount. A reputable personal injury lawyer will never ask for this payment up front and will instead work on a contingency basis.
You might pay some fees and a retainer; if so, have a clear fee structure sheet and contract with all the details listed. Ask if you are paying for the attorney to do the work or for a team of paralegals and assistants. A lawyer who believes in transparency is proactive about sharing important information with you.
Understands Personal Injury Cases
A broken bone injury lawyer understands that broken bones are painful and can have a lasting impact on your life. These injuries often impact your ability to work, care for family members or for yourself, or enjoy social activities. In elderly individuals, broken bones can lead to subsequent health concerns.
Medical care to encourage proper healing and minimize permanent disability is your biggest concern, but you also have financial stress from lost time at work, rehabilitation or prescription costs and emotional trauma. Your attorney will adequately represent each area of loss as well as future losses from your injury to ensure you are fairly compensated.
Keeps Communication a Priority
You aren’t expected to know everything that is happening in the courtroom or with the at-fault party. It is your attorney’s job to stay in contact with you over filings or motions, as well as responses or changes to settlement offers. While you may communicate with members of the attorney’s team, such as a paralegal and other staff, you should trust the information and know it’s timely and reliable.
An attorney who returns your calls and messages and never hesitates to answer your questions cares about your case and works hard for you. Do your homework and look at the reviews and critiques of the attorney’s office to find out how well they interact with their clients.
Find Your Broken Bone Injury Lawyer
With the Sargon Law Group, you don’t have to wonder if you are making the right choice for a broken bone injury lawyer. We aren’t here to minimize your pain and experience while we collect on your settlement. Instead, we always fight for the best outcome possible and dedicate our efforts to your needs. We take care of you or your family member who is suffering from a personal injury. Contact us to find out more about our legal aid.