Auto Accidents and Liability
How do you know if you can benefit from an attorney? First of all most auto accident attorneys do not charge attorneys’ fees upfront, but instead get paid out of the settlement. So there is no harm in inquiring with counsel as this is known as a contingency fee arrangement. Auto accidents fall under a the category of law known as tort law. A tort is a legal wrong. In an accident if the other party is cited by the police with a moving violation then they are known as the “at fault party.” The at fault party’s insurance carrier has a duty to pay both for the damages to your car and for any bodily injury. Sometimes bodily injury is not immediately apparent and even low impact or low damage collisions can cause significant soft tissue injury causing you to miss work and endure pain and discomfort. The scale of injuries can vary greatly depending upon the circumstances, but the goal in hiring an attorney is to make sure you receive the medical treatment to make yourself 100% whole as well as putting extra money in your pocket after your medical bills and attorneys’ fees are paid.
In Arizona the following is compensible for the legal tort of negligence in an auto accident:
- The nature, extent, and duration of the injury;
- The pain, discomfort, suffering, disability, disfigurement, and anxiety already experienced, and reasonably probable to be experienced in the future as a result of the injury;
- Reasonable expenses of necessary medical treatment, treatment, and services rendered, and reasonably probable to be incurred in the future;
- Lost earnings to date, and any decrease in the earning power or capacity in the future;
- Loss of love, care, affection, companionship and other pleasures of the family relationship;
- Loss of enjoyment of life, that is, the participation in life’s activities to the quality and extent normally enjoyed before the injury.
Call me today for a free case evaluation so we can get you on the road to recovery. It is important to speak with an attorney prior to making a statement to the insurance company as the insurance company’s employees are trained to minimize the situation and to pay you as little as possible.