Answers To The Questions We Hear Most After An Accident
01
Hiring a Lawyer
Understand when to hire an attorney and how to choose the right firm.
In almost every case, yes. People who hire a lawyer usually recover far more money for their injuries, even after our fee comes out, than people who try to handle it alone. The insurance company has handled thousands of claims. This is probably your first. You are also doing this while you are hurt and missing work, so it is just not a fair fight on your own.
Even if your accident seems minor, it is worth a quick call so you know how much your claim is really worth before the insurance company talks you into less. The first call is always free, and there is no pressure: (602) 600-6427.
The sooner the better, ideally today. Proof disappears faster than people realize. Skid marks fade, store cameras overwrite their footage in a few days, and witnesses start to forget the details. Meanwhile, the other side often goes to work building their case against you within hours.
The earlier we get involved, the more of that proof we can lock down for you. There is no harm in calling right away: (602) 600-6427.
Most injury firms advertise the same things. Great service. Aggressive representation. Maximum compensation. The difference is whether they can actually back it up.
Our attorneys have recovered over 1 billion dollars for injured clients, earned hundreds of five star reviews, and have been recognized among Arizona’s top injury lawyers. We also have a success rate exceeding 99 percent and a reputation for taking cases to court when insurance companies refuse to be reasonable.
We intentionally keep our caseloads smaller than many high volume firms so your case receives real attention. You can actually reach your lawyer. Your attorney knows your file. Important details do not get lost in a stack of hundreds of cases.
Most importantly, we prepare every case as if it could end up in front of a jury. Insurance companies know that, and it changes how they evaluate our clients’ claims from day one.
02
Your Injury Claim
Yes, you can. Arizona lets you recover money even if you were partly to blame for what happened. Your share of the fault just reduces what you collect; it does not wipe it out. So if your case is worth 100,000 dollars and you were 20 percent at fault, you can still recover 80,000 dollars.
Keep in mind that police reports only guess at who was at fault, and they are wrong more often than you would think. Do not talk yourself out of calling us just because you think part of it was on you, (602) 600-6427.
Yes, and this happens all the time. Adrenaline has a way of masking pain right after a crash, so a lot of people feel fine that day. Injuries like whiplash, concussions, and back problems often feel worse on day three than they did on day one.
The best thing you can do is see a doctor now, even if some time has passed, and hang on to every record. Then give us a call, and we will take it from there: (602) 600-6427.
Usually you have two years, but some deadlines are much shorter, and missing one can end your case before it starts. If your claim is against a city or state agency, for example, you may only have 180 days. Cases involving a child, a wrongful death, or an underinsured driver each run on their own clock.
This is not something you want to guess at. Call us, and we will tell you exactly how much time you really have: (602) 600-6427.
03
Insurance Companies
Absolutely. Insurance companies track law firms the same way sports teams scout opponents. They know which lawyers settle quickly, which lawyers avoid court, and which lawyers are willing to fight.
The lawyer handling your case can affect how much money an insurance company sets aside to evaluate your claim. When an insurance company sees a firm with a reputation for thorough investigation, aggressive litigation, and courtroom experience, it often evaluates the claim differently than it would if the injured person were handling the claim alone or working with a firm known for quick settlements.
The injury may be identical. The offer often is not.
No, and please do not give them a recorded statement before you have talked to a lawyer. Their adjuster is not on your side, and that friendly phone call is really meant to get you on tape saying something they can use to pay you less.
Just take down their name and the claim number, then send them our way. We will make the calls stop.
No, and please do not give them a recorded statement before you have talked to a lawyer. Their adjuster is not on your side, and that friendly phone call is really meant to get you on tape saying something they can use to pay you less.
Just take down their name and the claim number, then send them our way. We will make the calls stop.
04
Working With Our Firm
It is just a real conversation, with no pressure and no sales pitch. We will ask you about the crash, your injuries, and what the insurance company has done so far, and then we will give you a straight, honest read on your situation.
You will hang up knowing exactly where you stand and what your options are. There is never any obligation, so there is nothing to lose by calling: (602) 600-6427.
You will talk to your actual lawyer, not a call center and not only a case manager. You will know your attorney’s name and have their direct line, and they are the one handling the big decisions and the settlement offer.
A paralegal will help you with the day to day stuff, but the strategy on your case is always your lawyer’s job.
Fewer than most firms, and that is on purpose. High-volume firms can run hundreds of cases per lawyer, which means your file becomes just one more number in a tall stack.
We keep our caseloads smaller so your lawyer actually knows your file and has the time to fight for you.
01 Hiring A Lawyer
01
Hiring A Lawyer
In almost every case, yes. People who hire a lawyer usually recover far more money for their injuries, even after our fee comes out, than people who try to handle it alone. The insurance company has handled thousands of claims. This is probably your first. You are also doing this while you are hurt and missing work, so it is just not a fair fight on your own.
Even if your accident seems minor, it is worth a quick call so you know how much your claim is really worth before the insurance company talks you into less. The first call is always free, and there is no pressure: (602) 600-6427.
The sooner the better, ideally today. Proof disappears faster than people realize. Skid marks fade, store cameras overwrite their footage in a few days, and witnesses start to forget the details. Meanwhile, the other side often goes to work building their case against you within hours.
The earlier we get involved, the more of that proof we can lock down for you. There is no harm in calling right away: (602) 600-6427.
Most injury firms advertise the same things. Great service. Aggressive representation. Maximum compensation. The difference is whether they can actually back it up.
Our attorneys have recovered over 1 billion dollars for injured clients, earned hundreds of five star reviews, and have been recognized among Arizona’s top injury lawyers. We also have a success rate exceeding 99 percent and a reputation for taking cases to court when insurance companies refuse to be reasonable.
We intentionally keep our caseloads smaller than many high volume firms so your case receives real attention. You can actually reach your lawyer. Your attorney knows your file. Important details do not get lost in a stack of hundreds of cases.
Most importantly, we prepare every case as if it could end up in front of a jury. Insurance companies know that, and it changes how they evaluate our clients’ claims from day one.
A lot. Personal injury is all we do, so no divorces, no criminal defense, no real estate closings. We handle car wrecks, motorcycle and truck crashes, Uber and Lyft accidents, dog bites, slip and falls, wrongful death, and underinsured driver claims.
Because we stay focused on this one area, we know the local courts, the adjusters, and the defense lawyers on the other side.
Yes. We have represented seriously injured clients and grieving families for more than thirty years. If you are asking because this has happened to you or someone you love, we are truly sorry.
We understand that after a catastrophic injury or the loss of a loved one, your first concern is not a legal case. It is getting through the hospital stay, planning a funeral, caring for your family, or simply figuring out what comes next. We start by listening. Then we take on the insurance companies, investigation, paperwork, and legal process so you can focus on what matters most.
Catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases require a different level of preparation. They may involve lifelong medical and care needs, lost income and earning capacity, complex liability issues, and losses that affect an entire family for years to come. We work with the appropriate experts, carefully document the full extent of those losses, and build the case around not only what has already happened, but what you and your family may need in the future.
You can see examples of our work on our Case Results page. Whenever you are ready to talk, we are here.
We believe you should judge lawyers by what they have actually accomplished, not by slogans on a billboard.
Our attorneys have recovered more than 1 billion dollars for injured clients and have handled everything from straightforward injury claims to catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases.
We publish many of our settlements and verdicts directly on our website because we believe you should be able to see the type of results a firm has achieved before deciding who to trust.
Every case is different, and past results never guarantee future outcomes, but experience matters. If you want an honest assessment of your case, give us a call: (602) 600-6427.
Google is the best place to start. More than 600 clients have shared reviews about their experience with our firm, and you can read those reviews here. You can also find reviews and information about our firm on Avvo and the Better Business Bureau.
We encourage you to do your research before choosing a law firm. Read what our clients have said, compare us with other firms, and choose the attorneys you believe you can trust with your case.
Nothing up front, ever. We only get paid if we win money for you. This is called a contingency fee, which means we take a percentage of what we recover. If there is no recovery, there is no fee, and you do not owe us back the costs we put into your case either.
Before you sign anything, we walk you through the fee agreement line by line so there are no surprises.
Yes, there are costs associated with pursuing a personal injury case, and we want you to understand exactly how they work before you hire us. Building a strong case may require medical records, court filing fees, expert witnesses, depositions, accident reconstruction, and other expenses. We advance those costs for you, so you do not have to pay them out of pocket while your case is pending. If there is no recovery, you owe us nothing for attorney’s fees or case costs.
When your case resolves, our contingency fee and the costs we advanced are deducted from the recovery. Before any money is distributed, we provide you with a complete breakdown so you can see exactly where every dollar is going.
Medical bills and healthcare liens are separate from attorney’s fees and case costs. As part of our representation, we also work to resolve and, when possible, reduce those balances so that more of the recovery ultimately goes to you.
Everything is explained in our written fee agreement, and we will walk you through it and answer your questions before you decide to hire us. No surprises.
You can check for yourself, and we honestly recommend that you do. Every Arizona lawyer’s record is public at azbar.org. Look us up, and look up anyone else you are considering while you are at it. We are confident you will be very happy with what you find.
The Lawyer You Choose Makes All The Difference.
Not all law firms approach cases the same way. The experience, resources, preparation, and reputation of the firm you choose directly affect how your case is handled from day one.
- Free consultation
- No fee unless we win
- Available 24/7
02 Your Injury Claim
02
Your Injury Claim
Yes, you can. Arizona lets you recover money even if you were partly to blame for what happened. Your share of the fault just reduces what you collect; it does not wipe it out. So if your case is worth 100,000 dollars and you were 20 percent at fault, you can still recover 80,000 dollars.
Keep in mind that police reports only guess at who was at fault, and they are wrong more often than you would think. Do not talk yourself out of calling us just because you think part of it was on you, (602) 600-6427.
Yes, and this happens all the time. Adrenaline has a way of masking pain right after a crash, so a lot of people feel fine that day. Injuries like whiplash, concussions, and back problems often feel worse on day three than they did on day one.
The best thing you can do is see a doctor now, even if some time has passed, and hang on to every record. Then give us a call, and we will take it from there: (602) 600-6427.
Usually you have two years, but some deadlines are much shorter, and missing one can end your case before it starts. If your claim is against a city or state agency, for example, you may only have 180 days. Cases involving a child, a wrongful death, or an underinsured driver each run on their own clock.
This is not something you want to guess at. Call us, and we will tell you exactly how much time you really have: (602) 600-6427.
There is no set price because every Arizona car accident is different. The value depends on your medical bills, your lost wages, the pain and limits the injury puts on your life, and how much insurance is available to pay for it all.
Arizona has a couple of features worth knowing. The state does not cap the money you can recover for an injury, and you can still collect even if you were partly at fault, with your share simply reducing the amount. At the same time, Arizona only requires drivers to carry fairly low insurance limits, so finding every policy that could pay is a big part of getting you full value.
The best way to learn what your Arizona car accident claim is worth is a free call: (602) 600-6427. We will look at the facts, your injuries, and the coverage involved and give you a straight answer.
A few things drive it. The biggest factors are your medical bills, the income you lost, and how much the injury affects your daily life going forward. On top of that, the law allows money for your pain and the things you can no longer do the way you used to.
Cases that involve a serious or permanent injury, or an especially reckless driver, tend to be worth more. Be careful with anyone who promises you a big number on day one, because they cannot know yet. Once we understand your injuries and treatment, we can give you a realistic dollar range.
Yes, and this can have a huge impact on what actually ends up in your pocket.
Many doctors, hospitals, health insurance plans, and lienholders have legal rights to be repaid from your settlement. If nobody negotiates those claims, they can take a substantial portion of your recovery. Reducing those claims is one of the most important things we do for our clients. For example, we have taken medical balances of more than 50,000 dollars and negotiated them down to approximately 20,000 dollars. That left an additional 30,000 dollars in our client’s pocket instead of going to medical providers.
Settlement amount matters, but what you actually keep matters even more.
A few things drive it. The biggest are your medical bills, the income you lost, and how much the injury affects your daily life going forward. On top of that, the law allows money for your pain and the things you can no longer do the way you used to.
Cases that involve a serious or permanent injury, or an especially reckless driver, tend to be worth more. Be careful with anyone who promises you a big number on day one, because they cannot know yet. Once we understand your injuries and treatment, we can give you a realistic dollar range.
You may still be able to get the care you need. In a lot of cases, doctors will treat you now and get paid out of your settlement later. This is called treating on a lien, and it means you do not need health insurance or cash up front to start healing right away.
Then, when your case wraps up, we negotiate those bills down for you. If you are hurt and worried about how you will pay for treatment, call us: (602) 600-6427.
Yes, every paycheck you missed counts. That includes time off for treatment, the vacation and sick days you had to burn, lost bonuses and overtime, and even future earnings if you cannot go back to the job you had before.
Bring us your pay stubs, a note from your boss, and your recent tax returns, and we will handle the rest.
Yes, even though the car part of your claim does not earn us a fee. We deal with the insurance company, help you get a rental, push back if they try to total your car for too little, and walk you through diminished value if it applies.
You already have enough on your plate, so we pick up the car piece as part of taking care of you.
You Don’t Have To Figure This Out Alone.
Get clear answers from a team that has handled cases like yours.
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03 Insurance Companies
03
Insurance Companies
Absolutely. Insurance companies track law firms the same way sports teams scout opponents. They know which lawyers settle quickly, which lawyers avoid court, and which lawyers are willing to fight.
The lawyer handling your case can affect how much money an insurance company sets aside to evaluate your claim. When an insurance company sees a firm with a reputation for thorough investigation, aggressive litigation, and courtroom experience, it often evaluates the claim differently than it would if the injured person were handling the claim alone or working with a firm known for quick settlements.
The injury may be identical. The offer often is not.
No, and please do not give them a recorded statement before you have talked to a lawyer. Their adjuster is not on your side, and that friendly phone call is really meant to get you on tape saying something they can use to pay you less.
Just take down their name and the claim number, then send them our way. We will make the calls stop.
No, and please do not give them a recorded statement before you have talked to a lawyer. Their adjuster is not on your side, and that friendly phone call is really meant to get you on tape saying something they can use to pay you less.
Just take down their name and the claim number, then send them our way. We will make the calls stop.
Not before you understand exactly what you are authorizing. Some forms may be necessary to evaluate your claim, but others may give the insurance company broad access to years of medical records, including records that have nothing to do with your accident. The insurer may then use that information to question your injuries or argue that your claim is worth less.
If the request comes from your own insurance company, your policy may require reasonable cooperation. That does not mean you should sign every document without review. Contact our team before signing anything and send us the form. We can explain what it means, determine what information is reasonably necessary, and help protect both your privacy and your claim.
Do not assume it is their best offer. Insurance companies often make early offers before they fully understand your injuries, before all of your medical treatment is complete, and before you know the long term impact of the accident.
Once you accept a settlement, you usually cannot go back and ask for more money later, even if your condition worsens.
Before accepting anything, let us review the offer for free. It may be fair, or it may be far less than your case is worth. A five-minute conversation could save you from making a very expensive mistake.
A delay or denial does not necessarily mean your claim is over. The insurance company may be disputing fault, coverage, the cause of your injuries, or the amount of your damages. Whatever the reason, you should not have to keep chasing the insurer for answers while important deadlines continue to run.
Contact our team and bring us any letters, emails, or other communications you have received. We can investigate why the claim has stalled, demand an explanation from the insurer, gather the evidence needed to challenge its position, and take the appropriate steps to move your claim forward.
It may try, but having a preexisting condition does not automatically prevent you from recovering compensation. You may still have a claim if the accident caused a new injury or made an existing condition worse.
The insurance company may search through your medical history for another explanation for your pain, limitations, or treatment. Contact our team before discussing prior injuries or medical conditions with the insurer. We can gather the appropriate records, work with your medical providers, and, when necessary, consult qualified experts to show what changed after the accident and protect the value of your claim.
You may still have options. Many people carry uninsured motorist coverage or underinsured motorist coverage on their own auto policy. This coverage is specifically designed to protect you when the at fault driver has little or no insurance.
There may also be additional insurance policies available that are not immediately obvious. Part of our job is identifying every source of recovery that may apply to your case.
We investigate every possible avenue because the first answer from an insurance company is not always the complete answer.
If the accident was not your fault, Arizona law protects you from having your insurance premium increased simply because you were involved in the accident. Specifically, Arizona Revised Statutes § 20-263 prohibits an insurance company from increasing your motor vehicle insurance premium because of an accident that you did not cause or significantly contribute to.
That protection is important because many people are hesitant to use insurance benefits they have already paid for because they are afraid their rates will go up. Depending on your policy and the circumstances of the accident, your own coverage may help pay medical expenses, provide uninsured or underinsured motorist benefits, or get your vehicle repaired while the claim against the at-fault driver is being resolved.
You should not be afraid to use coverage you purchased simply because someone else caused the accident. Part of our job is identifying every available source of insurance coverage and helping you use those benefits appropriately while protecting your rights.
If you have questions about which coverage to use or how a claim could affect your insurance, talk with us. We can review your policy and explain your options.
You are not really suing the driver; you are dealing with their insurance company. The money comes out of the policy they already pay for every month, not their own bank account, and most of the time they do not even handle their own case.
When it is handled professionally, which is how we do it, it almost never hurts the relationship.
Insurance Companies Already Have Lawyers Working Against You.
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- No fee unless we win
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04 Working With Our Firm
It is just a real conversation, with no pressure and no sales pitch. We will ask you about the crash, your injuries, and what the insurance company has done so far, and then we will give you a straight, honest read on your situation.
You will hang up knowing exactly where you stand and what your options are. There is never any obligation, so there is nothing to lose by calling: (602) 600-6427.
You will talk to your actual lawyer, not a call center and not only a case manager. You will know your attorney’s name and have their direct line, and they are the one handling the big decisions and the settlement offer.
A paralegal will help you with the day to day stuff, but the strategy on your case is always your lawyer’s job.
Fewer than most firms, and that is on purpose. High-volume firms can run hundreds of cases per lawyer, which means your file becomes just one more number in a tall stack.
We keep our caseloads smaller so your lawyer actually knows your file and has the time to fight for you.
Within one business day, every time. That is our standard, not just a goal. Most people will move on to a different firm if they do not hear back quickly, and we refuse to be that firm.
Feel free to call us anytime at (602) 600-6427. And if you ever feel like you are being ignored, just tell us and we will make it right. We cannot fix a problem we do not know about.
Source: Martindale-Avvo, Understanding the Legal Consumer (2023). Online reviews rank as the most important factor in an attorney’s reputation, and 80 percent of consumers will contact another attorney if they do not hear back within 48 hours.
https://www.martindale-avvo.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Understanding-the-Legal-Consumer-2023.pdf
Less than you probably think. We carry the load so that you can focus on healing. Mostly, we just need you to go to your appointments, keep us posted on how you are feeling, hang on to your bills, and be reachable when there is a big decision to make.
You take care of getting better, and we will handle the rest: (602) 600-6427.
Most cases take anywhere from a few months for a smaller claim to a year or more for a serious injury. Your medical treatment is what really drives the timeline, and we will not rush you to settle before you are healed, because settling too early usually leaves money on the table.
Once we get to know your case, we can give you a real estimate of the timeline: (602) 600-6427.
Yes. Most cases settle before trial, but insurance companies pay attention to which lawyers are willing and prepared to take a case all the way. In fact, one of the best ways to avoid trial is to hire a firm the insurance company knows is prepared for trial.
If an insurance company knows a lawyer never files lawsuits or never tries cases, there is very little pressure to offer full value. When they know a firm is prepared to litigate, hire experts, take depositions, and put a case in front of a jury, settlement offers tend to look very different.
We prepare every case as though it may go to trial, even if it ultimately settles. That preparation often creates leverage that benefits our clients long before anyone steps into a courtroom.
Probably not, since most cases settle. But we prepare every single case as if it could go to trial, and that is a big part of why our offers tend to come in higher.
If your case does end up in court, we will prepare you for every step so that nothing catches you off guard.
Real experts who fit your case, not a one-size-fits-all approach. For serious injuries, we bring in accident reconstructionists, your own treating doctors, life care planners, vocational experts, and economists.
The point is that we pick the specialist your case actually needs, not just the cheapest one we can find.
Yes, you can change lawyers at any time, and it usually costs you nothing extra to do it. The two firms simply work out the fee split between themselves, so you do not end up paying double.
If you are unhappy with your current firm, or even just unsure, a second opinion is free and completely confidential. The sooner we look at your case, the more we can do: (602) 600-6427.
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