PERSONAL INJURY SERVICES IN PHOENIX

Affordable PERSONAL INJURY Lawyer in ARIZONA

PHOENIX ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS

Lawyers Specializing in Injuries Resulting from Traffic Accidents, Including Whiplash

Getting behind the wheel of a car can be terrifying when you think about how many traffic accidents there are per day. The most common type of car accident in Arizona is a rear end collision. And unfortunately, whiplash is a common injury that can occur as a result of a rear end collision. Many people assume that whiplash is a minor injury, and you should simply get on with your life. While this can be true in minor accidents, severe instances of whiplash can have a profound negative impact on the victim’s life. In these types of situations, a personal injury attorney can help you receive the compensation you deserve for your injuries.

personal injury claims myths, debunked

common misconceptions about arizona personal injury claims

Most people know someone who has gone through a personal injury claim, whether it’s relatively minor or more serious. Combining that with knowledge you might gain from the news and media, you could end up with a slightly distorted perspective of how personal injury claims work in Arizona. If you’ve been injured in an accident, don’t rely on what you’ve heard from friends and acquaintances about injury claims. Read on to learn more about common personal injury myths, and call 480-833-8000 when you’re ready for your free case evaluation.

MYTH DEBUNKED:

          While these are damages you can collect in a personal injury claim, there are several other types you can potentially recover. In addition to medical bills, you will need to request your future medical expenses if you will have long-term or lifelong medical treatment from your injuries. You can also request damages if your injuries hurt your long-term career prospects. Pain and suffering is a damage that encompasses most of the physical and emotional trauma you endure due to the accident. You might be eligible to collect other damages, such as loss of consortium or loss of companionship, representing the damage these injuries can do to your relationships and impede your ability to complete responsibilities around the home.

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MYTH DEBUNKED:

          In Arizona, the statute of limitations, or the time limit you have to file your case, for most types of injury claims is 2 years. However, there are exceptions to this. Claims against some county and local municipalities might be limited to 6 months. The statute of limitations for a dog bite in Arizona is 1 year. Check with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible after being injured in an accident to find out your applicable statute of limitations.

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MYTH DEBUNKED:

          It is a common misconception that the personal injury process requires going to trial. In fact, the vast majority of personal injury claims- about 95%- settle out of court. A personal injury attorney should be able to let you know if they think your case will settle or go to trial during a consultation.

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MYTH DEBUNKED:

          Most of the time, the other party will have some kind of insurance policy for the type of injury you experienced. The insurance company will be responsible for paying your claim, up to their policy limits. Their insurance rates might go up after your claim if they acted negligently. The other party will only be personally financially responsible for your claim if they don’t have insurance or don’t sufficient coverage.

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MYTH DEBUNKED:

          This is true in some countries, but generally not in the United States. Unless you are found to be engaging in fraudulent or otherwise unscrupulous behavior in your claim, you will be sanctioned by the court- otherwise, the other side can not charge you legal fees for the cost of bringing your claim.

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MYTH DEBUNKED:

          Insurance companies aren’t eager to offer out full and fair settlements for personal injury claims. You will most likely need to submit a demand letter rather than wait for them to offer you a settlement. You can probably expect a counteroffer lower than your demand.  It will then take some amount of negotiation to reach a number upon which both parties agree. It will take skill and patience to obtain a settlement that fully compensates you for all of your injuries.

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MYTH DEBUNKED:

          The right to a public defender only comes into play when your liberty is at stake. When it comes to civil suits, including personal injury cases, it is your responsibility to hire your own lawyer. You can interview your lawyers yourself during a consultation, which may be free and offered by phone.

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MYTH DEBUNKED:

          Being viewed as litigious can be quite a negative reputation in the United States. Much of this has been created by large companies reluctant to pay plaintiffs for their own negligence. Many people are dissuaded from bringing their personal injury claims simply because they don’t want to cause a fuss. But if someone else’s negligence or recklessness caused your injuries, you shouldn’t have to pay for your own medical expenses and lost income. You also deserve compensation for all of the stress and pain brought about by the accident.

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MYTH DEBUNKED:

          There are a few ways you can receive medical treatments if you can’t afford the out-of-pocket costs on your own. The first is checking if your own insurance offers MedPay. This helps cover your medical costs out of your own insurance, even if the accident wasn’t your fault. If your insurance doesn’t include MedPay, you may need to use medical liens instead. Medical liens allow doctors to complete your treatments with a balance that is paid out of your personal injury award.

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MYTH DEBUNKED:

          One of the insurance company’s tactics will be to pressure you with arbitrary deadlines to complete their policy’s tasks. One of those things is likely a recorded call about the accident. Even if the insurance adjuster seems friendly and sympathetic, they will be trying to poke holes in your story to reduce your claim’s value. While the insurance company obviously can’t pay out your claim without hearing about the details of the accident, it’s better to let a personal injury attorney handle these kinds of claim-related issues on your behalf. Your attorney will know exactly what kinds of traps that the adjuster will try to set and make sure that you don’t fall into them.

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MYTH DEBUNKED:

          Many people have preconceived notions about attorneys that dissuade them from ever calling one for a consultation after an accident. First of all, many personal injury attorneys offer initial case evaluations free of charge. Most personal injury attorneys also offer their services on a contingency basis. That means if the attorney agrees to take your case, they will receive nothing if you receive no settlement and lose at trial. If you do receive an award, the attorney will receive a set percentage of it.

          Whether or not a personal attorney is “expensive” also depends on their contingency fee. There is a wide range of percentages that personal injury attorneys charge. Many in the area charge 33% or more of your final award. Our personal injury attorneys know just how important your personal injury award is after an accident, and offer a guaranteed rate of 25%. That savings of 8% or more could translate into thousands of extra dollars in your bank account. For your free case evaluation, call 480-833-8000 to get started.

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WHIPLASH ACCIDENT attorney in PHOENIX, ARIZONA

MY AZ LAWYERS – PHOENIX PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS DISCUSS

WHIPLASH ATTORNEY IN PHOENIX

Experienced Phoenix, Arizona Injury Attorneys You Can Trust

If you’ve experienced whiplash in an Arizona accident, you know just how painful and stressful the experience can be. You deserve to be compensated for your injuries, and you deserve a compassionate legal representative who will take your claim seriously. Our Arizona injury lawyers will make sure that you are compensated for the obvious expenses from your injuries, like medical bills and missed time from work, as well as compensation for your pain and suffering due to the incident.

Experienced Phoenix, Arizona Injury Attorneys You Can Trust

The insurance companies will be using methodical strategies to keep your whiplash settlement as low as possible. Hiring a personal injury attorney shows that you are serious about getting your claim’s full value. Fortunately, the vast majority of cases are able to end in settlement rather than proceed to trial. 

Our Arizona injury team will keep your involvement as low as possible while also making sure you can receive your medical treatments in the meantime. We will negotiate with the other party until reaching a settlement that is fair to you, even after our contingency fees. This leaves you time and both physical and mental energy to focus on your recovery, rather than your personal injury claim. To get started with your free case evaluation, fill out our online form or call 480-833-8000.

Whiplash: More Than Just a Stiff Neck

Whiplash occurs when someone is jolted back and forth very quickly, injuring muscles and tendons in the neck and spine. Car accidents are the most common way to cause this movement with enough force to create whiplash injuries. However, there are countless ways you could experience whiplash besides car accidents. Theme parks are another big one- roller coasters and bumper cars can sometimes result in whiplash. Go karting, cycling, skating, and other racing sports also can result in whiplash injuries. Sometimes whiplash can occur from something as simple as a slip and fall. You can also experience whiplash from a fight, assault, or domestic violence incident. Working with large animals such as horses can also increase your chances of experiencing whiplash. No matter your specific case, you should go have a doctor check out your neck if you are injured in any way that involves your neck being jolted back and forth.

Many people have the attitude that they won’t go to the hospital unless a bone is showing, and will grin and bear most injuries. So if you’ve been in a minor accident, it may seem counterintuitive to go to the doctor if you aren’t currently in pain. But unfortunately, with whiplash injuries, this may be necessary. Whiplash symptoms may take days, or even weeks, to appear. You also could experience an adrenaline rush after an accident, temporarily masking your pain and causing you to refuse medical attention. So if you’ve been in any kind of accident that could’ve caused whiplash, you should promptly seek medical attention regardless of whether you have symptoms.

PHOENIX PERSONAL INJURY FAQs

FREquently asked questions with MY AZ LAWYERS

ANSWER:

Instead of having a flat rate or charging you by the hour, personal injury lawyers charge on a contingency basis. Here, you and your lawyer will agree upon a percentage of your award and it will be deducted from your award after your lawyer negotiates a settlement or wins your case at trial. Some attorneys offer lower contingency rates than others, so don’t be afraid to shop around and schedule multiple consultations when you’re considering a personal injury suit.

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ANSWER:

The best way to know if your settlement offer from the insurance company is fair is to estimate your claim’s value on your own. You need to make sure to include all the applicable damages, including future damages if you have permanent injuries. Some of these, like pain and suffering, can be subjective and may require negotiation. You should have your settlement offer reviewed by a lawyer before signing.

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ANSWER:

These are the two categories of damages that you can collect in a personal injury claim. Special damages are economic damages like medical expenses, future medical expenses, lost wages, and lost earning potential. General damages are more intangible, and include permanent disability or disfigurement, emotional distress, loss of consortium, and pain and suffering. Your injury lawyer will work to make sure that you are compensated accordingly for all your general and special damages.

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ANSWER:

Most personal injury claims settle out of court, but you could end up in court if the opposing party won’t offer a reasonable settlement. Our attorneys are prepared for trial but strive to keep our clients out of the courtroom. Trial is a stressful experience, and you should highly consider seeking out representation if you are struggling to negotiate with the opposing party.

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ANSWER:

Most accidents are covered by some sort of insurance policy, meaning you will be dealing with an insurance adjuster. An insurance adjuster’s job is to give you as little money as possible. You will probably be threatened with deadlines and given a lowball offer. Insurance adjusters often require injury claimants to give statements on a recorded line, which opens up the risk of saying things they will use against you. However, if you retain a personal injury lawyer, your lawyer can communicate with the insurance company on your behalf.

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ANSWER:

There are steps you can take at the scene of the accident to strengthen your personal injury claim. After an accident, if in doubt, see a doctor. Adrenaline from the accident can delay your pain, or you could have an injury like whiplash that takes a while to appear. You should call the police so they can issue a police report, which could be an important piece of evidence in your case. Take pictures and video of the scene and get contact information of any eyewitnesses. When you are ready to pursue your claim, consider consulting with personal injury attorneys about your case first.

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ANSWER:

This all depends on your case’s specifics. You might need to wait until you have received significant medical treatment before you can truly assess the damages you incurred. Your case could be settled within weeks, or it could take months, or even longer. At My AZ Lawyers, we’re dedicated to getting the most for your award as quickly as possible.

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ANSWER:

You can expect a wrongful death claim to be complex and fiercely defended by the insurance company. The wrongful death in itself is just one damage that wouldn’t be available in a standard injury claim. There are also funeral expenses, loss of spousal income, loss of consortium, and emotional distress that you as a family member may be able to recover after a loved one’s wrongful death.

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ANSWER:

There are so many factors that go into determining your claim’s value. Your medical expenses, as well as your future medical expenses, will be combined with other damages like your lost wages to calculate pain and suffering. Pain and suffering is usually valued at 1-5x your special damages. Your award could also be reduced if you were partially at fault for the accident. Contact our firm for your free consultation if you need assistance calculating your damages.

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ANSWER:

If you haven’t already, you should have the offer reviewed by an injury attorney. They will be able to tell you if the offer is fair, and offer to represent you if they think they can negotiate a higher award. Contact our firm at 480-833-8000 to schedule your free consultation.

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ANSWER:

At My AZ Lawyers, our attorneys are experienced in dealing with big insurance companies all the way down to self-represented defendants. We have helped so many people in situations like yours achieve a fair award that compensates all your damages. Hiring our firm alleviates the burden of a personal injury claim, and shows the insurance company that you’re prepared to go to trial if need be. We also offer fair and transparent pricing with our guaranteed 25% contingency rate. Many local injury attorneys charge 33% or more, so choosing us maximizes your award. Call and see for yourself by scheduling your free consultation at 480-833-8000.

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PHOENIX ACCIDENT LAWYERS

Whiplash Symptoms in Phoenix Accidents

Some of the most common symptoms of whiplash are stiffness, swelling, pain, and redness in the neck and spine. These will also probably come with a reduced range of motion in your neck. You may feel tired or dizzy after experiencing whiplash. Headaches are also common after whiplash injuries of varying levels of severity. Your arms and shoulder may tingle or feel numb. The more serious your short-term symptoms like the ones described above, the higher the probability that you will experience long-term whiplash effects.

Some of the symptoms of whiplash can be harder to attribute to whiplash, and could be signs of a more serious case. Sleeping troubles could be a less obvious sign that you have whiplash. You could also have struggles with concentration, or see yourself become more forgetful. Difficulties with bladder control aren’t unheard of after a whiplash injury. You may even develop depression and experience unexpected mood swings. If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms described above, it’s time to get yourself to a doctor for a medical examination for whiplash. And if you are diagnosed with whiplash, contact our personal injury firm for more information on filing a claim for your injuries.

Factors that Can Increase the Likelihood of Whiplash in a Phoenix Car Accident

There are a few factors that can make you more susceptible to whiplash injuries. One of those is previous whiplash injuries, as well as other neck and spine injuries. The higher the speed at which your accident occurred, the more likely there are to be whiplash injuries, and the more severe they are likely to be. Failure to use proper safety equipment or follow set standards for equipment could also increase the likelihood of incurring whiplash injuries. Unfortunately, the older you are, the more likely you are to experience whiplash in an accident. If none of the factors that increase the likelihood of whiplash apply to your situation, don’t rule out the possibility of whiplash. Visit urgent care or a doctor as soon as possible to have yourself examined for injuries.

Identifying Whiplash in Car and Motorcycle Accidents

As soon as possible after being in an accident that could have caused whiplash, or as soon as you start feeling symptoms, you should go to urgent care or a doctor. Your doctor will probably first ask you to describe the accident and the symptoms you are feeling. Your doctor will next perform a physical examination, viewing the affected area, applying pressure, turning your neck, etc. If your symptoms still can’t be identified, or your doctor believes you have a severe case, they will request additional testing. Your doctor may request diagnostics like a CT or MRI scan. Your doctor might even request DTI or a PET scan.

WHIPLASH MEDICAL TREATMENTS

Experienced Personal Injury Attorney near you 

Once your doctor has diagnosed you with whiplash, it’s time for you to start taking the medically appropriate steps to heal your injury. Depending on the type of work you do, you may need to take time off of work to avoid aggravating your whiplash. Physical labor could make your injuries even worse. In addition to rest, many people are able to find relief relatively easily with over-the-counter pain medications. But if your injuries are severe, your doctor may need to prescribe stronger medication to help with inflammation and pain. 

Your doctor may even recommend that you use a neck brace and attend physical therapy. Massages and chiropractor visits prove helpful to some whiplash victims. In serious injury cases, surgery may be necessary to alleviate the symptoms of whiplash. Your medical provider will help you decide which treatments are best for you. Don’t forget that you have the right to seek a second opinion if your first doctor tells you, against your beliefs, that you don’t have whiplash.

IN THE AFTERMATH OF AN ACCIDENT

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The strength of your potential personal injury claim will depend, in part, on how things are handled in the immediate aftermath of your accident. No matter the type of accident, the first thing you need to do is make sure you are safe and out of harm’s way. Assess your injuries and decide whether you need an ambulance, can take yourself to a doctor, or can simply go home. You may want to call the police to the scene of the accident to create a police report. If the accident happened. If the accident happened at a business or public agency, you should alert management to your injury so that they can create an incident report. In traffic accidents, you will need to exchange insurance information with the other driver at the scene, but there isn’t that same pressure to obtain that information immediately when your accident occurs in a public setting. If you’re able, take pictures of the scene and any conditions that contributed to your whiplash. You may also want to obtain the contact information of any eyewitnesses present.

It may be getting repetitive, but you should seek medical attention as soon as possible after an accident that may have caused whiplash. Proceeding with a personal injury claim for whiplash without a whiplash diagnosis is an ill-fated pursuit. Putting a name to the pain and stiffness you are feeling legitimizes your claim, and lets the court know what types of problems you’re facing. It also lets the court know that you’re making efforts to address the damages the whiplash injury is causing, rather than idling about to increase your damages. It also shows that you are taking steps to make sure you don’t aggravate your injury yourself. Lastly, seeing a doctor after a whiplash injury creates entries for your medical record, a key piece of evidence in personal injury claims.

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Potential Damages in a Whiplash Claim

When you incurred whiplash in an accident that wasn’t your fault, you shouldn’t have to pay for all the costs- obvious and hidden- of your injuries. Each case is unique, so the types of damages you can collect may vary from claim to claim. Before submitting your demand letter to the other party, you need an accurate calculation of all of your damages. The more severe your accident and injuries, the higher you can expect the damages to be in each category. 

For your specific circumstances regarding your accident and injury case, contact the best personal injury attorney in Phoenix. We can help you by answering questions you may have, and offering options and advice for your unique situation and potential personal injury case. Schedule a free consultation for the assistance of an accident attorney near you.

Contact a personal injury attorney to see which of the following types of damages may apply in your whiplash injury case:

  • The time you had to take off of work for medical appointments and to rest

  • Long-term costs if your injuries impeded your ability to advance in your career

  • Loss of companionship or consortium, for the pressure your injuries on your relationship and for household maintenance your spouse has to take over for you

  • Doctor’s appointments, prescriptions costs, chiropractor visits, massages, etc. 

  • Future medical appointments if you expect long term effects from your injuries

PERSONAL INJURY CLAIMS IN PHOENIX

Help! I Don’t Think I Can Afford to File a Personal Injury Claim in Phoenix, Arizona.

Especially if you don’t have medical insurance, the costs of a whiplash injury can be devastating, whether or not the accident was your fault. Millions of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, so unexpected Urgent Care and hospital bills can put you in a bad spot. If your whiplash injuries occurred in a traffic accident, your auto insurance policy may include MedPay for any medical bills that the other driver’s insurance company isn’t paying. If you can’t afford your out-of-pocket costs, you can also use medical liens to pay for your whiplash treatments. You may need a personal injury attorney’s assistance in establishing treatment through medical liens.

personal injury lawyers in chandler

Your next concern may be how you will pay for your personal injury attorney. The good news is that most personal injury attorneys accept payment on a contingency basis. This means that they receive a set percentage of your award, but you pay nothing if your case is unsuccessful. But if you have a high value claim, you will want to be sure to pick an attorney who offers a fair contingency rate. For example, many injury attorneys in our area charge 33% or more of your final award. However, at My AZ Lawyers, our experienced injury attorneys charge a guaranteed contingency fee of 25%. So if your case is worth $100,000, we can save you $8,000 or more. Your savings will increase with the value of your claim.