If hurt in a car accident, you will suffer all sorts of injuries. You will probably have some broken bones and bruises. You may even have more serious injuries, such as a traumatic brain injury. However, there are other sorts of negative consequences.
Car accidents can result in:
- Lost wages
- Medical bills
- Property damage
- Emotional distress
- Anxiety
- Loss of social interaction
- Fear of driving
- Inability to sleep
- Loss of family relationships
The first three are easy to measure. You can show bills and tax records to prove what you have lost. You can document time missed from work and you can even get a doctor to estimate future medical bills.
The other types are harder to calculate. They are called non-economic damages. This is because there is no specific dollar value assigned to them. They are considered pain and suffering.
Arizona Recognizes Pain and Suffering
There are some states that do not recognize pain and suffering. However, Arizona is not one of them. Arizona law does recognize pain and suffering. It acknowledges that there are injuries you suffer that aren’t physical. It accepts that you can be hurt in ways that don’t have exact monetary values.
Pain and suffering represents the intangible damages you suffer in a car accident. Because all cases are different, juries have to calculate pain and suffering based on the circumstances of each case. Some of the factors they look at include:
- Does the person act like a person in pain would act?
- Did the victim have any pre-existing injuries or conditions?
- Can the victim do normal, everyday activities?
- What did the person do for a living?
- What did the individual earn prior to the accident?
- How old is the victim? How many more years would they work?
- Does the claimant have a family and children?
All of these things are taken into account when calculating pain and suffering. Insurance companies know this. So does your car accident lawyer.
You Need Phoenix Auto Accident Lawyers to Help You
You do not want to go up against the insurance company alone and you have no experience in dealing with legal issues. Also, you have no idea how to go about proving pain and suffering. Lawyers spend years training to do this type of thing. They have decades of experience handling auto accident cases. They know how to prove pain and suffering.
When you first meet with your lawyer, it is important that you be honest. Don’t hide anything or exaggerate your pain. Your attorney will find out the truth eventually. It is better that you tell him yourself. Don’t let it come out in the middle of a trial. It can not only be embarrassing, but it can cost you the entire case.
The lawyers for the other side are going to be working too. They will do their own research. If you were hurt years ago in another accident, they will find out about it. They will send investigators out to watch you. They will have videos of you performing tasks that you may later claim you cannot do. Don’t let this happen. Be honest and upfront at all times.
Contact an Auto Accident Lawyer in Phoenix
Phoenix has plenty of skilled accident lawyers. When it comes time to call one, don’t wait. You only have two years to file a lawsuit in Arizona for an accident. If you wait too long, you may lose the right to file suit.
When it comes to a good auto accident lawyer, you want one with:
- Training and education
- Years of experience handling auto accident cases
- Compassion and professionalism
- Availability
In an ideal world, all attorneys would be perfect. They’d never lose a case and always return your calls. However, we don’t live in an ideal world. You need to do your homework when choosing an auto accident lawyer in Phoenix.
If you’ve been in a car accident, you may be entitled to pain and suffering. Contact a lawyer who has what it takes to win your case. Call today to schedule your initial consultation. It is absolutely free. Your lawyer will answer your questions and concerns. He will give you an idea of what your case may be worth.
The insurance companies have lawyers working for them. You don’t want to go up against them yourself. You want a knowledgeable and experienced attorney by your side. They will fight to get you the compensation you deserve.
