Car crashes are devastating. Not only are they physically painful and emotionally traumatic, but they can also wreak financial havoc on individuals and families. If you or someone you care about has suffered a car crash, it’s important to team up with an experienced car accident lawyer who can protect your rights and get you the compensation you deserve. A skilled Mesa car accident lawyer is prepared to passionately and successfully advocate for you and your family as they fight to get you the compensation that is due. Schedule a free case evaluation with one of Esquire Law’s attorneys who will hear you out and start building your case today.
Why You Need a Mesa Car Accident Lawyer
With insurance, the authorities, and the emotions involved, car accidents can be complicated and messy. You may be tempted to go it alone, but hiring a lawyer to advocate on your behalf can lead to a much larger payout and a much less stressful experience. Here are some reasons why hiring a car accident lawyer in Mesa may be beneficial.
Car Accident Cases Are Complex
Car accident cases are complicated. So much hinges on minute details such as the state of mind the driver was in or the weather conditions on the day of the crash. Additionally, no two car accident cases are alike. For this reason, it can be exceedingly difficult to prove negligence on your own. Yet, an experienced and dedicated Mesa car accident lawyer has seen hundreds of car accident cases and knows the ins and outs of the law. They will know exactly how to handle insurance companies and opposing lawyers to get you the compensation you deserve.
Dealing With Insurance Companies Can Be a Headache
Insurance companies are notorious for greedily underdelivering compensation and gaslighting clients into thinking they don’t deserve more. Insurance companies are backed by large corporations with huge pools of resources and money to ensure that their clients only get paid the bare minimum after an accident. However, with a bold car accident lawyer around to cut through the lies and deception, you can get fair compensation for your crash.
Ensuring Fair Compensation is No Easy Feat
Whether you are shortchanged by an insurance company or the other party insists that they are not at fault, it can be extremely difficult to secure fair compensation and get justice on your own. More often than not, victims settle the first offer than the insurance company extends. However, as mentioned earlier, insurance companies are notorious for lowballing on payouts. Yet, if you have a car accident lawyer on your side, they will be able to call out the insurance company when they aren’t offering fair compensation. A car accident attorney from Esquire Law’s Mesa team will stand up for you and esure your payout is fair.
Start the Case Evaluation Process Today
You now know why it is a smart move to enlist the help of a personal injury lawyer after a car accident in Mesa. The longer you wait to start your case, the more difficult it will be to secure fair compensation. The first step in taking action to get the relief you deserve is to submit a case evaluation. This is a form that allows you to tell an attorney about what happened in your accident. After the attorney reviews this information and determines that your case is viable, they contact you to get started on your case. Esquire Law provides free case evaluations to prospective clients. You can also get on the phone with us to discuss your accident and the next steps to take.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Mesa
Car accidents can have devastating consequences. One of the best ways to protect yourself from an accident and to know when to take legal action is by being aware of the common causes of car crashes in Mesa, AZ:
- Speeding or Reckless Driving
- Distracted Driving
- Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
- Road Conditions and Weather
- Mechanical Defects
- Inexperienced Drivers
If any of the incidents listed above resulted in your car accident in the Mesa area, you may be entitled to compensation. For more information about the compensation you are due, fill out our free online case evaluation form and an attorney from our team will get back to you with legal advice as soon as they can.
Types of Car Accident Injuries
Car accidents can be life-altering. Because car accidents commonly happen at high speeds and involve metal crashing into metal, serious injuries can result from a crash. Some injuries that can happen after a car crash include:
- Head and Brain Injuries
- Neck and Back Injuries
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Broken Bones and Fractures
- Soft Tissue Injuries
- Psychological Impact and Impairment
Steps to Take After a Car Accident
Getting in a car accident can be highly traumatic. In the frightening and stressful moments after a crash, it can be difficult to know what to do and how to react. Luckily, our knowledgeable team of Mesa attorneys at Esquire Law compiled a list of steps to take after getting in a car accident.
1. Ensure Safety and Call Emergency Services
Your first priority after an accident of any kind is to ensure your safety and the safety of all other parties around you. If possible, move your car off the road. The median or the shoulder of the road are some of the safest places you can relocate to until the help arrives. If your car is undrivable, get out of the car and move to a safe location like the ones mentioned previously. If you’re unable to move, stay put until help arrives. In this case, moving around may increase the severity of your injuries. As soon as you feel safe enough, call 911. Emergency services will not only deploy medical professionals to tend to anyone injured in the accident, but they will also send the police. They will record critical information and file a report of the incident, which can prove useful in a personal injury case.
2. Document the Scene
Once help arrives and you feel safe enough, you should capture detailed photos, videos, and voice recordings of the accident. Capture ample footage of your car and any other vehicles involved. Be sure to photograph the scene and surrounding area including street signs and road conditions. Don’t forget to take photos of your injuries as well. Don’t wait until it’s too late to document evidence. Photos or videos that are taken after the fact are much less useful and are sometimes not taken seriously.
3. Gather Evidence and Witness Information
If the other driver or drivers involved can safely exchange information, do so calmly. It can be easy to get emotional after something terrifying like a car crash, but make sure to keep a level head and collect the following:
- Driver’s name and contact information
- Insurance company and policy information
- Vehicle make, model, and license plate number
As you gather evidence and information, be careful as you converse with the other party and the police. You mustn’t discuss blame or anything outside of known facts. You may feel the need to apologize or express your concerns, but even the most harmless comment can get twisted into an admission of fault. Innocent comments can easily be misconstrued as an admission of fault. Simply exchange information and stick to facts, especially in today’s world where everything can be captured on video.
Witness statements are an invaluable tool in winning a case or claim. Get the complete contact details of anyone who saw the accident happen. Their accounts are an asset in determining who is at fault so you can secure a fair outcome for your case.
4. Seek Medical Attention
This step may seem obvious if the car accident is severe, and in these cases, emergency services will be deployed to safely transport you and other parties to the hospital. However, some car accident victims fail to notice their injuries if they don’t appear to be severe. When your body is pumping with adrenaline after a car crash, you may not even be able to feel some of your injuries yet. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to see a doctor immediately after an accident of any kind. Some injuries including whiplash or internal bleeding do not show symptoms until long after the fact and can get worse with time.
5. Report the Accident to the Police
Some drivers are hesitant to get the police involved in their case. However, having a police report is absolutely essential in proving fault and building a strong case or claim. Cooperate with the police to make sure that a detailed report of the incident is recorded.
6. Don’t Discuss the Accident
While keeping the details of a legal case under wraps may seem like common knowledge, a mistake that many victims make is discussing details involved in their case or accident with anyone other than their lawyer. This includes the other parties involved, their insurance company, or even your friends and family. Another huge mistake victims make is posting about the accident online or on social media. You don’t want to create any sort of physical or digital evidence that can be misconstrued by insurance or opposing legal teams. Anything you say, share, or post can be used against you later.
7. Contact a Car Accident Lawyer
As soon as you can, get in touch with a car accident lawyer. Time is of the essence when involved in a legal case or insurance claim. Every minute you wait, you could be losing a shot at fair compensation. At Esquire Law we make sure that you get as much compensation as possible from insurance and will support and represent you wholeheartedly if you decide to pursue a lawsuit. We can ensure that you don’t say or do anything that might interfere with your claim and will thoroughly protect your rights.
Arizona Car Accident Laws
Each state has its own unique set of laws when it comes to car accidents. It’s important to team up with a lawyer like an attorney from Esquire Law who is familiar with Arizona law. Here are some car accident laws that are unique to Arizona.
Fault Insurance Laws
Arizona is an at-fault or “tort” state, which means that the at-fault party must pay the damages to the other driver. Liability for a crash in Arizona will fall on the driver who is most at fault for the collision. Tort states like Arizona allow you to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party if desired. Additionally, the at-fault party’s insurance company is responsible for covering financial damages like medical bills and bills. They are also required to pay for non-economic damages like pain and suffering.
Comparative Negligence Laws
Even if you’re partially at fault for an accident, you may still be able to recover compensation. In the state of Arizona, pure comparative negligence is used to apportion fault among parties involved in an accident. In simpler terms, even if you are partially responsible for the accident, you will receive compensation, but your compensation will be decreased by an amount equal to your percentage of fault.
For example, let’s say you’re t-boned by another car that ran a red light. But let’s also say that you entered their path of damage because you turned right at a red light without yielding or checking the intersection. You may assume there’s no chance of receiving compensation. However, any good attorney will know that this is untrue. Under Arizona’s pure comparative negligence law, even though you were partially at fault, you would still be able to recover some compensation. That compensation would just be reduced by your percentage of fault.
Statute of Limitations for Filing Claims in Arizona
If you would rather hold the other diver accountable by taking them to court instead of seeking an insurance settlement, you have a window of time in which you must do that. In the state of Arizona, you have no more than two years to bring your case to court. Lawsuits can take a lot of time to put together. Act fast before time runs out.
Specific Arizona Laws Related to DUI and Distracted Driving
DUI
Arizona is very strict in the way it deals with individuals who drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Anyone with a blood alcohol content of (BAC) of 0.08% or higher will receive a DUI charge. Arizona has a zero-tolerance law for Driving Under the Influence, which means an officer can arrest someone for a DUI even if their BAC is below the legal limit. Victims need to note that DUI convictions focus on the driver’s use of alcohol, not on the level of danger in their driving. That said, they may also receive a reckless driving charge on top of their DUI if evidence can prove that they were driving recklessly.
Reckless Driving
In Arizona, reckless driving is defined as driving in a way that is dangerous to other people’s safety or the safety of their property. Some examples of reckless driving include texting while driving, tailgating or intentionally following another vehicle too closely, aggressive driving, racing, and failure to heed traffic signals, among other actions. When proven and convicted, reckless driving in Arizona can result in a class 1 or class 2 misdemeanor.
How a Mesa Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
While hiring a lawyer may seem expensive and excessive, it may turn out to be one of the best decisions you ever make. Hiring an attorney is the best shot you can give yourself at full compensation for your losses. Plus, when you hire an attorney from Esquire Law, you won’t have to pay any upfront costs. You won’t have to pay for anything until your attorney wins your case. Here are ways in which a Mesa car accident lawyer can do the legwork in winning your personal injury case:
Investigating the Accident
Car accident attorneys have seen hundreds if not thousands of car accident cases in their careers. They are experienced in understanding car accidents and can use their scrutinous eyes to investigate your accident and help you prove fault.
Gathering and Preserving Evidence
Car accident lawyers know what to look for and what to ignore when it comes to evidence. Plus, they have the resources to preserve and organize evidence so that it can be useful throughout your claim or lawsuit.
Negotiating with Insurance Companies
No one is better at cutting through the greedy lies of insurance companies like a car accident lawyer. Our fierce team of attorneys at Esquire Law will fight ferociously to ensure that you aren’t taken advantage of by an insurance company.
Representing Clients in Court
With a knowledgeable car accident lawyer from Esquire Law representing you in court, you will feel seen, heard, and well-represented. Our team of car accident attorneys will treat you with compassion and care while fighting vigorously on your behalf. Court cases can be long and exhausting, but you can rest assured with an Esquire attorney on your side.
Calculating Fair Compensation
Car accident attorneys are experienced at calculating the compensation that can realistically be expected. Oftentimes when victims try to account for damages on their own, important factors can be overlooked and you could miss out on full compensation. It’s best to leave the calculation to a personal injury attorney from Esquire Law.
Handling Paperwork and Legal Procedures
Even the smallest error in a piece of paperwork or a small mistake in legal proceedings can completely derail your case and dash any chance of receiving fair compensation. A car accident attorney will be skilled and experienced at handling paperwork and legal procedures related to your case. That’s why it’s important to trust an attorney when it comes to filing a lawsuit.
Compensation for Car Accident Victims in Mesa
If you or someone you love was involved in a car accident in Mesa, it is important to understand the forms of compensation you can expect from an insurance settlement or lawsuit. Here are some types of compensation available to victims of a Mesa car accident:
Economic Damages
- Medical Bills
- Lost Wages,
- Property Damage
- Anything related to a financial or monetary loss you suffered as a result of a car accident
Non-economic Damages
- Pain and Suffering
- Emotional Distress
- Loss of Consortium
- Any emotional consequences you suffered as a result of a car accident
Punitive Damages
- In cases of gross negligence, punitive damages may be filed
Consult with a Mesa Car Accident Lawyer Today
Car accidents can ruin lives. If you or a loved one were involved in a car accident in Mesa, don’t suffer in silence. Justice can be found by hiring a car accident attorney to help you receive the emotional relief, closure, and financial compensation you deserve. At Esquire Law, we understand that when you trust one of our attorneys, your future counts on us. We will not treat your case lightly and will give you all the respect and dignity you deserve as we fight for your rights. We are not afraid to take on greedy insurance companies or sleazy lawyers. You can trust us to fight hard and smart as we win your case. Don’t wait until it’s too late. File a free case evaluation or give us a call to discuss your rights today.