How Our Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You After a Car Accident in Phoenix
At Runion Personal Injury Lawyers, our legal team, led by founding attorney Derick Runion, has over five decades of combined experience handling car accident cases. Our law firm has considerable resources to investigate and pursue claims for our clients.
If you are injured in a car crash in Phoenix, you shouldn’t have to worry about legal matters. You should be able to focus on your recovery. However, insurance adjusters may pressure you to settle your case.
Understanding the auto accident claims process can help you avoid costly mistakes. Hiring our law firm is a wise option.
When you hire our top-rated car accident lawyers in Phoenix, you can expect us to:
- Thoroughly investigate the car accident to determine fault and liability
- Explain your legal options and why we recommend a specific strategy for your case
- Gather evidence proving you are entitled to compensation for damages
- Work with expert witnesses when necessary
- Determine how much your car accident claim is worth after documenting your damages
- File insurance claims and deal with the insurance company on your behalf
- Negotiate a fair insurance settlement based on the value of your damages
- Take your case to court if the insurance company refuses to agree to a fair settlement
Our law firm accepts cases on a contingency fee basis. Therefore, don’t worry about how you will pay our attorney’s fees. We don’t get paid until we win your case.
Call Runion Personal Injury Lawyers today to schedule a free case evaluation with our experienced car accident attorneys in Phoenix, Arizona.
What Should I Do if I’m in a Car Accident in Phoenix, AZ?
Unfortunately, we all have a risk of being in a car accident during our lifetime. Therefore, it is important to understand what to do after a traffic collision in Phoenix.
Steps you can take to protect your best interests after a car crash include:
Call 911 to Report the Crash
Arizona traffic laws require that most car accidents be reported to the police. Calling 911 is the quickest and easiest way to report a crash.
Even if you’re involved in a minor fender bender, it is best to call the police and file a report. A driver may accept liability after the accident but change their story when you file an insurance claim. Having an official crash report is always in your best interest.
Gather Evidence at the Accident Scene
While you wait for law enforcement officers to arrive, take photographs of the vehicles and the accident scene. Make a video of the entire scene so you don’t overlook anything. Ask witnesses and bystanders for their names and contact numbers because the police might not talk with them, or they could leave.
Seek Immediate Medical Treatment
Prompt medical treatment is in your best interest regardless of injury level. You have a better chance of recovering with medical care. Also, delays in treatment can cause problems in a personal injury case.
Report the Crash to Your Insurance Company
Arizona requires drivers to have mandatory liability insurance. Report the crash to your insurance provider promptly.
However, be careful what you say when speaking with an insurance adjuster, even your own provider. You do not want to make statements that could be twisted to imply that you were at fault for causing the car accident. Insurance companies use comparative fault to reduce the value of or deny claims.
Call a Phoenix Car Accident Attorney for Help
We offer a free consultation, so talking with one of our attorneys costs nothing. Car accident claims can be complicated. Insurance companies try to avoid liability and may use unfair tactics to cheat you out of the money you deserve.
An attorney will protect you from these situations. Your attorney will fight to recover the maximum compensation for your economic and non-economic damages. They’ll also defend you against allegations of blame and fault.
Your time to file a car accident claim is limited by the Arizona statute of limitations. Don’t delay seeking legal advice; you could miss a filing deadline and lose your right to compensation.
What Happens After a Car Accident in Phoenix: What to Expect Next?
The steps above cover the first hours after a crash, but a car accident claim plays out over weeks or months. Knowing the general arc helps you avoid being pressured into a quick decision before you understand what your case is worth. Here is what the process usually looks like in Phoenix.
The first days. You focus on medical care while the insurance companies open their files. Expect the at-fault driver’s insurer to call early, often within a day or two, looking for a recorded statement or a fast, low settlement. You are not required to give that statement.
The following weeks. You continue treatment, and your medical records, bills, and lost-wage documentation start to build the backbone of your claim. Meanwhile, the insurer investigates fault and looks for any reason to reduce what it owes.
After you reach maximum medical improvement. Once your doctors understand the full extent of your injuries, your attorney can calculate the true value of your claim and send the insurer a demand letter. Settling before this point usually means settling for less than your case is worth, because your future medical needs are not yet on the table.
Negotiation. The insurer responds, often with a low counteroffer, and negotiation begins. Most car accident claims settle at this stage once the evidence is strong and well documented.
If a fair settlement is not offered. If the insurer refuses to pay fairly, the next step is filing a lawsuit. In Arizona, you generally have two years from the date of the crash to file under the statute of limitations, so do not let negotiations drag past that deadline. Filing does not mean your case goes to trial; many claims still settle afterward.
Throughout the process, the insurer is working to pay as little as possible. Understanding what your claim is actually worth is your best protection against accepting too little, too early.
Mistakes to Avoid After a Car Accident in Phoenix
What you don’t do after a crash can matter as much as what you do. These are the most common mistakes we see hurt otherwise strong claims:
- Admitting fault at the scene. A simple “I’m sorry” can be treated as an admission. Stick to exchanging information and let the investigation determine fault.
- Giving a recorded statement to the other insurer. Adjusters are trained to ask questions that can be used to shift blame onto you. You are not required to give one, and you should talk to a lawyer first. Here is more on how insurance adjusters work.
- Delaying medical care. Gaps in treatment give insurers an opening to argue your injuries were not caused by the crash. See a doctor promptly and follow through with the recommended care.
- Posting about the accident on social media. A photo or an offhand “I’m fine” can be taken out of context to dispute your injuries. Stay off social media about the crash while your claim is open.
- Accepting the first offer. Early offers are almost always below the full value of a claim, and once you sign a release, you cannot reopen it.
- Waiting too long to act. Evidence disappears, memories fade, and Arizona’s two-year filing deadline is firm. The sooner your claim is documented, the stronger it is.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Experienced Phoenix Car Accident Lawyers
You deserve to be compensated for all injuries, losses, and damages caused by a negligent driver. Call Runion Personal Injury Lawyers to discuss your case with an experienced Phoenix car accident attorney. We’re here to help you when you need someone on your side who has your best interest as their only priority.
