The hours, days and weeks following a serious accident can be full of difficult decisions. You want to make the right choices so you can get your life back on track and hold the liable party accountable, but this can be difficult to do alone. It is important to know when to hire a personal injury lawyer so you can get the help you need during a difficult time.
What Is a Personal Injury Lawyer?
A personal injury lawyer is a dedicated professional who has the knowledge, experience and resources necessary for handling every aspect of an injury case. They can provide guidance and help those who have been injured make level-headed decisions during stressful situations.
The right personal injury attorney will assist you by:
- Answering any of your legal questions
- Evaluating how much your claim might be worth
- Obtaining police reports, security footage and other evidence for your case
- Communicating with insurers and other lawyers
- Representing you at trial if necessary
Your legal team can also protect you from malicious insurance companies that might try to lowball you or take advantage of you while you are financially unstable. Personal injury lawyers understand insurance policies and loopholes just as well as insurers, giving them the ability to level the playing field for you.
How Do You Know When To Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?
If you experience any accident injury, do not hesitate to contact a personal injury lawyer for a free consultation. An experienced attorney can evaluate your case and help you understand if a claim is worth pursuing. This risk-free consultation gives you the chance to decide for yourself if hiring a lawyer is the right course of action.
At Sargon Law Group, you only pay us when we win a settlement for your personal injury case. You can confidently reach out to us for help in addressing some of these common issues people often face after an accident.
When Determining Fault and Liability
Being injured is scary enough, but even more so if the other party tries to blame you for the accident. Arizona’s comparative negligence law affects how much compensation a person can recover after an accident, even if they receive a small portion of the fault. If you are unsure of how to clear yourself of liability and prove the other person’s fault, then it may be time to hire a personal injury lawyer.
When the Insurance Company Denies Your Claim
Another frustrating scenario is if the insurance company denies your claim, but it does not mean your situation is hopeless. Hiring a personal injury lawyer will give you a stronger chance of pursuing a successful claim. Your attorney can identify any mistakes with the original claim, review the insurance policy and investigate for signs of bad faith from the insurer.
When Negotiating With the Insurance Company
It can seem like a positive sign if the insurance company is open to negotiating your settlement, but they can try to use it as a chance to rush you into accepting an unreasonable offer. If you choose to rely on an experienced personal injury attorney to negotiate for you, you will not have to engage with the other party’s insurance company.
What Steps Should You Take After an Accident?
The shock of a sudden accident can leave you unsure of what to do next. However, certain steps can help you stay safe and handle the situation appropriately.
Move to a Safe Location
Your top priority after any type of accident is to preserve your well-being. Move away from the spot where the accident happened and try to prevent others from getting hurt as well. For example, you should move to the side of the road and turn on your vehicle’s hazard lights after a car accident. If there were other people involved in your accident, check on their safety if you are able.
Seek Medical Attention
Always get a medical assessment after any accident, no matter how minor. In the case of a car accident, call the authorities and wait at the scene. If medical first responders arrive at the scene, seek immediate attention from them.
Regardless of your type of accident, go directly to a doctor or hospital after leaving the scene, even if you do not feel any pain or symptoms of injuries. Many conditions can go unnoticed, and having medical records related to your accident can help with the rest of your case.
Document the Scene
When it is safe for you to do so, document the scene by taking photos with your smartphone. You should also exchange information with the other people involved in the accident and any witnesses who saw it take place. Photos, videos and witness testimony can all become powerful evidence that strengthens your case if you decide to file a claim.
Call a Personal Injury Lawyer
If you are unsure of when to hire a personal injury lawyer, err on the side of caution by calling as soon as possible after your accident. Your lawyer can advise you on what exactly you should do next. They can also help you decide what to say to the insurance company so that you do not accidentally admit any fault for the accident.
What Is the Best Way To Make a Personal Injury Claim?
The best way to make a personal injury claim is to promptly notify the other party’s insurance company about your intent to seek compensation. This may seem overly aggressive or confrontational, but keep in mind that you are simply asserting your rights.
Avoid providing unnecessary details to the other party or making statements that they might construe as an admission of fault. This can be a good time to hire a personal injury lawyer because an attorney can advise you on what to say or send a demand letter to initiate settlement negotiations on your behalf.
Be sure to document your accident and keep track of your damages at every step of the claims process. Keep a record of all your medical treatments, property repair receipts and other documentation. Having thorough evidence is important when making a personal injury claim, as it helps make sure your settlement covers all current and future damages related to the accident.
Types of Personal Injury Accidents
Personal injury law is a far-reaching field that covers many types of accidents. Below are some examples of personal injury accidents that Sargon Law Group handles. If you suffer an injury due to someone else’s negligence, we want to help you.
Auto Accidents
According to the Arizona Department of Transportation, there were 122,247 car crashes in the state in 2023. Auto accidents often result in personal injuries and can also lead to some of the most complex accident claims.
A car accident lawyer can also help you after a bus, truck, drunk driving or multi-car accident. Each type of auto accident case has its own unique factors that an experienced attorney can investigate and evaluate.
Bicycle Accidents
Bicycle accidents, along with pedestrian accidents, are some of the most devastating personal injury cases. Motor vehicles can cause massive damage, but bicyclists and pedestrians are much more vulnerable to injury compared to car passengers. This can make getting compensation for a bicycle accident an especially pressing issue.
Boat Accidents
Getting compensation for a boat accident requires specific knowledge of both injury law and maritime law. At Sargon Law Group, a boat accident attorney can help address challenges like insurance claims, negligence and maintenance liabilities.
Defective Products
Defective product injuries can be complex accidents because it is not always clear who is liable for the defective product. A personal injury attorney can investigate manufacturers, distributors, retailers and other involved parties to determine who is responsible for your damages.
Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice injuries can be very time-sensitive, especially because many medical mistakes can go unnoticed for long periods of time. It is important to hire a medical malpractice attorney who will work quickly to determine where the negligence occurred during the treatment process.
Premises Liability
Premises liability accidents can refer to slip-and-falls, swimming pool accidents, falling object injuries, dog bites and more. Regardless of the severity of the injury, it is still important to hold the negligent parties accountable and secure the compensation owed to you.
Workplace Injuries
Any injury caused by an accident, overexertion or another person’s negligence can be valid for a workplace injury claim as long as it happens during the course of your job duties. This applies even if the accident happens during a break or while you are away from the work site. However, demonstrating that your injury is directly related to your job duties often requires a detailed understanding of Arizona’s workers’ compensation laws.
Wrongful Death
Wrongful death claims allow loved ones to seek compensation for the damages the deceased could have pursued if they had survived the accident. Spouses, children, parents or legal representatives of the deceased can sue for wrongful death to hold the negligent parties accountable and obtain financial relief for their loss.
Do You Need To Hire a Personal Injury Attorney for a Minor Accident?
Minor accidents often seem like straightforward cases, but it is still worthwhile to hire a personal injury attorney. The value of a minor accident claim often surprises many claimants because they are unaware of all of the recoverable damages they can pursue. Working with an attorney means having someone who can help you explore all possible avenues of compensation.
It is also important to consider the hidden effects of a minor accident. Property damage and personal injuries can worsen over time, even when caused by a minor accident. Choosing not to pursue a claim with the help of an attorney immediately after the accident can make it more difficult to recover full compensation if you decide to file many months down the line.
How Long Does a Personal Injury Lawsuit Take?
The length of a personal injury lawsuit can range from a few months to multiple years. The process can end quickly if the insurance company is quick to offer a satisfactory settlement, but even this can take quite some time because both sides have to thoroughly evaluate the case.
If the insurance company resists offering fair compensation, negotiations can drag on. This can involve multiple rounds of offers and counteroffers, with each side presenting new evidence until the other side is willing to arrive at an acceptable compromise. In some cases, mediation or arbitration may be necessary to help both sides reach a productive resolution.
If it becomes impossible to reach a reasonable settlement through negotiations, you might have to resort to litigation to get the outcome you deserve. Scheduling court dates and presenting your case at trial will extend the timeline even further. Although going to court will take longer, if your personal injury case goes to court and the judge rules in your favor, the other party is legally obligated to pay you the amount of compensation specified in the court’s decision.
When Is It Too Late To Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?
It is never too late to hire a personal injury lawyer as long as you do not sign a settlement agreement beforehand and the statute of limitations hasn’t expired. The statute of limitations for personal injuries in Arizona is two years from the date of the accident. After the statute of limitations passes, it is no longer possible to take legal action related to that accident.
In some cases, though, it is still worth consulting with an attorney even if you have already received a settlement or if the statute of limitations has passed. The court may be willing to make exceptions to the rules if new evidence comes to light or if the other party committed fraud. Your personal injury lawyer can work to build a case for granting an exception.
Call Sargon Law Group When You Need To Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer
If you are ever unsure of when to hire a personal injury lawyer, remember that there is no risk in calling to talk about your legal options. At Sargon Law Group, we are ready to answer the call for injured people in Phoenix, AZ, and all of Maricopa County. Contact us today to schedule your free case evaluation.