According to the 2021 Arizona car crash report, an average of 141 people were injured in collisions every day. If you have found yourself in a similar situation, how quickly should you file a lawsuit?
Your expediency can make the difference between receiving compensation for your injuries and having to pay for everything yourself out of pocket. When someone else causes your car accident, the law allows you to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party for damages, but there is a limited window of time during which you can file your case.
Thus, it is in your best interests to consult with a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after a car accident. Our law firm is here to help. Phillips Law Group has been serving the residents of Arizona since 1993 and has helped clients recover over $1 billion in damages.
States mandate the laws that govern car accident lawsuits. That means each state chooses its statute of limitations. Most states allow you two years to file, starting from the date of your accident. Should you miss that deadline, your case will likely be dismissed.
The sooner you file a claim and get started on the process, the better. Insurance companies sometimes use bad faith tactics to delay payment until the statute of limitations runs out, and you miss the opportunity to sue.
How long you have to file a lawsuit after a car accident depends on the laws in the state where your accident occurred. In Arizona, there is a 2-year statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit for an injury sustained in a motor vehicle accident. This means that you have 2 years from the date of the accident to sue the at-fault driver.
While two years might seem like a long time, you still shouldn’t delay in contacting a personal injury attorney soon after your car accident. The sooner you hire a law firm to represent you, the faster your lawyer can get started gathering evidence and filing all necessary documents.
Also, keep in mind that the statute of limitations may differ depending on who you are suing. Sometimes, you may have less than two years to file a lawsuit, such as when you are suing the city, county, or state; the statute of limitations is much less in some locations. For example, you must file a lawsuit within 180 days against a public entity, public school, or public employee in Arizona.
You likely have a valid claim if you suffered damages to your property or body due to the other driver’s negligence. However, a few ways you can determine if you should file a lawsuit include the following:
If any of these scenarios are true for you, you may benefit from speaking to an attorney about your case and getting advice on your options moving forward.
The first step in seeking compensation after a car accident is to file an insurance claim. Unfortunately, an insurance adjuster rarely agrees to a claim without negotiations, and in cases with extensive damages, you will likely need to fight for a fair settlement.
If you decide to file a lawsuit, the process involves five general steps:
The above is a broad explanation of a much more complex process. Additionally, most personal injury cases do not even make it to court. The negotiation process can begin at any stage in the process of a lawsuit, and you may reach a settlement at any point during that time.
What you do in the immediate aftermath of a car accident may profoundly impact your ability to file a claim or lawsuit. More importantly, making the right choices protects your health and well-being. Of course, the circumstances surrounding every car accident are different, but in general, you could benefit from following these steps after a collision:
The primary concern following an accident is your health. Even if you need immediate medical attention and cannot document evidence yourself, the police conduct an investigation, and you have access to that report. Additionally, you can hire an attorney who will conduct another investigation, independent of the police, and get the evidence you need to file a feasible lawsuit.
Damages are the losses that you sustained because of your accident. They have monetary value and are often recoverable in a lawsuit. The amount and type of damages your recover depends on the severity of the accident and your injuries, but there are two categories, compensatory and punitive. Even minor car accidents may result in damages.
Compensatory damages include economic and non-economic losses. An award for compensatory damages should replace those losses as much as possible. Examples include:
While rare, sometimes, you may receive a payment for punitive damages. This type of award does not place anything lost. Instead, punitive damages seek to punish the defendant for particularly terrible behavior and keep them from repeating it in the future.
If you have suffered the tragic loss of a loved one in a car accident, the legal team at Phillips Law Group extends our sincere condolences to you. If you intend to pursue damages on behalf of your deceased loved one, you could be eligible for a different type of lawsuit. Instead of a personal injury lawsuit, we could help you sue for wrongful death.
There is a separate statute of limitations for wrongful death cases. In Arizona, a wrongful death suit must be filed within 2 years of the person’s death.
Again, failure to file within the allowed statute of limitations will likely result in the court refusing to hear your case and your lawsuit being dismissed. You may be left unable to pursue compensation for your loved one’s death. Swift action is essential.
With limited time to file a car accident lawsuit, you have little room for error in the filing process. An experienced car accident attorney knows the bad faith tactics that insurance companies sometimes use to avoid paying large, valid claims.
The qualified attorneys at Phillips Law Group have decades of experience fighting for the injured and recovering fair verdicts and settlements. We relieve the burden of dealing with insurance providers and represent you with objectivity and professionalism.
We also know the financial burden that often follows a car accident. For that reason, we offer a free case evaluation and work on a contingency fee basis, which means that we secure compensation for you.
Contact Phillips Law Group today for your free consultation. To get started, call us now or fill out our free case evaluation form here on our website.
