If you have been injured in an accident in the Prescott area, you are likely facing financial hardships caused by growing medical bills, lost wages from missing work, as well as emotional hardships due to pain and suffering. Getting in touch with an experienced Prescott personal injury lawyer about the accident and your injuries can be helpful as you try to move forward in your recovery.
At Phillips Law Group, our legal team has a proven record of obtaining compensation for more than 155,000 clients in the past two decades. We have recovered over $1 billion for injury victims and their families.
We are prepared to answer any questions you may have and help you fight for fair and just compensation. Our consultations are free and there is no risk or obligation involved. Should you have a case, there are no upfront fees to hire an attorney. You only pay at the end of the legal process if we help you win.
Call us anytime, 24 hours a day, at 602-222-222 .
How Do I Know If I Have a Personal Injury Case?
Any kind of accident or incident can lead to a personal injury case, including but not limited to:
Since every case is unique, our Prescott personal injury attorneys need to review your situation to determine whether you may be able to take legal action.
There are four elements of negligence that must be proven to have a viable case for compensation:
Duty of Care
There must be a duty owed from one party to another person. In most instances, individuals, businesses and other entities have a duty of care to avoid causing others harm. Examples of this duty include:
- Drivers have a duty to their passengers and other drivers on the road to operate their vehicles safely.
- Store owners have a duty to their customers to keep their floors free from slippery conditions and other potential hazards.
- Doctors have a duty to their patients to provide appropriate medical care.
- Companies have a duty to their customers to make sure their products are safe to use.
Breach of Duty of Care
The other party must have breached his or her duty of care by doing something negligent or failing to do what a reasonable person would have done under similar circumstances. Examples of breach of duty include:
- A driver who is driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol strikes another vehicle.
- A store employee fails to put up warning signs around a wet area and causes a customer to fall.
- A manufacturer produces a faulty light switch that causes sparks that could start a fire.
- A doctor fails to provide a proper or accurate diagnosis of cancer to a dying patient.
Causation
The other party’s breach of duty of care must have directly resulted in another person’s injuries. Had the other party not done something wrong or failed to do the right thing, the victim would have been unharmed. Examples of causation include:
- A car accident victim suffered a brain injury after a head-on collision with a driver traveling the wrong way.
- A child was seriously hurt when a poorly-designed toy with small parts caused the child to suffocate.
- A woman suffered a broken arm after slipping and falling on spilled milk at a grocery store.
- A patient went into cardiac arrest after being given too much anesthesia during a procedure.
Damages
The person’s injuries from this breach of duty must have resulted in measurable damages, such as:
- Medical and hospital bills
- Receipts for out-of-pocket expenses (prescription medications, travel to/from doctor visits)
- Lost income, employment benefits or bonuses
- Receipts for home-related care (house cleaning, babysitting, caregiver services)
Our legal team has extensive experience gathering evidence of negligence on behalf of our clients.
Let us help you. Free Consultation. Ph: 602-222-222 .
How Much Can I Get for My Case?
Determining how much you may be eligible to recover is difficult without understanding the specifics of your situation. If we represent you, many factors may be considered, including the severity of your injuries, medical treatment obtained and required in the future, as well as your recovery time.
Generally, some of the damages personal injury victims may be able to pursue include:
Compensatory damages, also known as economic damages, are the amount of money you have lost and will continue to lose due to the other party’s negligence. These damages include things such as medical expenses, medical assistive equipment, physical therapy, lost wages, loss of earning capacity and property damage.
General damages, also known as non-economic damages, are harder to calculate because they have no monetary value. These damages are the pain and suffering you have experienced after the accident and could include things such as physical pain, mental anguish, loss of companionship and loss of quality of life.
What if I am Partially to Blame for My Injuries?
You may still be able to recover compensation if you share some blame for your injuries because of Arizona’s negligence comparative law. The amount of compensation received, however, will be reduced according to your percentage of fault.
For instance, say the court awards you $120,000 but finds you 45 percent at fault for the accident. Your award amount will be reduced by 45 percent or $54,000. That means the total amount recovered would be $66,000.
Our licensed Prescott personal injury attorneys are well-versed in various state laws affecting injury claims and are ready to explain how this law may impact your claim.
Why Should I Seek Legal Representation?
Personal injury cases in Prescott and throughout the state that are handled by a lawyer typically result in higher compensation amounts when compared to cases handled without a lawyer.
At Phillips Law Group, we have a team of accident investigators, paralegals and support staff ready to work on your behalf. We know how to effectively gather evidence to support your claim and challenge evidence, including whether a key piece of evidence against you was improperly obtained or that the testimony provided by a witness contradicts an earlier statement. Our firm has access to medical experts who can attest to the extent and severity of your injuries and establish a direct link between your injuries and the accident.
We are prepared to guide you throughout the entire legal process and provide you with any updates along the way.
While most cases settle, some go to trial. We are always prepared for this because our goal is obtaining maximum compensation.
What is the Deadline for Filing an Injury Claim?
In Arizona, personal injury cases are governed by a statute of limitations, which sets a specific deadline for filing a claim. If you fail to file before the deadline passes, you may lose your right to file.
In most instances, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file an injury claim, but there are some exceptions. If you suffered an injury caused by an individual within the government or a government entity, you only have up to 180 days to file a claim. Victims who are minors at the time of their injury have until their 18th birthday to begin filing an injury claim.
It is generally a wise decision to discuss your claim with a qualified Prescott personal injury attorney so he or she may be able to figure out the deadline that applies to your situation.
Call Phillips Law Group today to schedule your free legal consultation. 602-222-222
Dealing With Insurance Claim Adjusters
Soon after an accident, you can expect to be contacted by an insurance claims adjuster who will ask you for details about what happened. He or she wants your version of events for one primary purpose: to deny or devalue your claim in the interest of saving the insurance company money.
These are some common tactics our legal team has seen insurance companies use over the years:
Offer a Quick Settlement
The insurance adjuster will want you to agree to a quick settlement before you learn the full extent of your injuries to save the insurance company money. He or she is not doing it because he or she cares about what you went through and wants to resolve the matter as soon as possible so that you can move forward with your life.
Ask for a Recorded Statement
You may be asked by an insurance adjuster to provide a recorded statement about the accident. He or she will make it seem like it is necessary and part of the process, but you are under no legal obligation to do so. Any recorded statement is for the benefit of the insurance company. They are hoping you will say things that discredit your account of the accident or diminish the value of your claim.
Make You Sign a Medical Release Form
The insurance adjuster may send you a number of documents to sign, including a medical release form. While this request may seem innocent enough, the goal of having you sign this document is to gain access to medical records from before the accident. The adjuster wants to use this information to claim your current injury is a result of an existing medical condition from before the accident.
Our Prescott personal injury attorneys are prepared to handle all communications and negotiations with the insurance company for you so that you can focus on your recovery.
Fill out our free online form to get started.
Immediate Steps to Follow After Being in an Accident
Although a lawyer can communicate with the insurance companies for you and help you file the necessary paperwork for your injury, there are certain steps you can take immediately following an accident to protect your health and your potential claim for compensation.
The first step is call 9-1-1 and obtain medical care so a doctor can diagnose and document your injury. It is also important that you follow his or her treatment plan to help aid in your recovery. You do not want the other party’s insurance company to think that your injuries are non-existent or not as severe as you claim.
The next step is to gather evidence if you are able. This includes the names, phone numbers and addresses from all involved parties and witnesses present as well as photos of the accident scene, damage to property and any visible injuries.
The final step is to consider hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer in Prescott. Time is of the essence if you have suffered an injury, especially at the hands of a negligent individual. The sooner you contact our firm, the sooner we may be able to investigate your claim and help you maximize your recovery.
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Consult With a Prescott Personal Injury Attorney to Learn More
The legal team at Phillips Law Group is dedicated to protecting the rights of injury victims throughout Prescott, Yavapai County, and across the state of Arizona.
Our founding partner Jeffrey Phillips is a member of the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 and has been selected every year since 2014. Jeff is also a Leaders Forum member of the American Association for Justice.
For assistance with all aspects of your claim, contact the Prescott personal injury lawyers at our firm. We offer free consultations and there are no upfront fees for our services unless we help you win your case.
Phillips Law Group. Ph: 602-222-222 .
Available 24/7