Prescott Car Accident Lawyer

If you are in a car accident, you require immediate legal representation by a qualified and experienced Prescott car accident lawyer.  You may not realize that insurance companies do everything they can to avoid paying your claim.  You may receive requests from insurance companies wondering if you believe you were at fault or if you and your family are truly injured.  Insurance companies use these tactics to limit the amount of compensation they must pay.  Unfortunately, too many accident victims fall for them.  This is one reason why you must contact the Prescott car accident specialists at the Jensen Phelan Law Firm for representation after an accident.  The other reason:  a good lawyer will get you a much larger recovery 99% of the time.

Why Choose the Car Accident Attorneys at Jensen Phelan Law Firm?

Jensen Phelan Law is a top choice for legal representation in Prescott and throughout Arizona.  Our injury/wrongful death specialist attorneys provide caring and professional services and fight for fair compensation for your injuries and damages. Additionally, our team has more than 50 years of combined legal experience, so you can be confident that we have the skill and experience necessary to handle your car accident claim.  We achieve favorable settlements or judgment awards in 99% of the cases we have represented for the past 15 years.

How Our Prescott Specialist Car Accident Attorneys Will Help You

Throughout your case, our attorneys will deliver you and your family comprehensive assistance.  We know that you don’t just need money to recover.  You may be out of work without pay or have extensive repairs to make to your vehicle.  You need the right medical care.  You need guidance every step of the way for the best results.

Our specialist injury attorneys stand up for those who have sustained injuries at the hands of a negligent party.  We help you navigate the entire legal process while keeping your best interests in mind.  When you partner with the attorney at the Jensen Phelan Law Firm, you can expect us to:

• Investigate:  We will launch a thorough investigation into the accident by gathering evidence, reviewing police reports, and interviewing witnesses.
• Find and Preserve the Proof:  Nearly every case benefits from developing proof of facts that fade away over time.  Photographs, written witness statements, medical provider opinions answering defense arguments, etc.:  We take care of getting all these proofs.
• Negotiate:  As mentioned above, insurance companies use tactics that may pinpoint liability on you, allowing them to reduce or deny your claim.  However, we can handle negotiations on your behalf.
• Litigate:  While most car accident claims settle outside of court, there may be instances where the case goes to trial.  That may happen if the insurance company continues to offer low settlement offers.
• Personalization:  We understand that all car accidents are different.  That is why we personalize our services, representation, and strategy for each client.

Hiring our car accident specialist lawyers in Prescott, Arizona could have many advantages for you and your family.  We can help you establish grounds for a claim, gather proof of liability and all your harms and losses, and optimize your odds of securing full financial compensation.  We make all the difference to your injury claim, ensuring a fair and reasonable outcome on your behalf.

Common Causes of Car Accidents in Prescott

Understanding what negligence causes car accidents in Prescott is one of the best ways to keep yourself safe on roads and highways.  Common causes of car accidents in Arizona include:

• Distracted Driving is one of the most common causes of car accidents across the country.  Drivers may engage in various distractions behind the wheel, such as texting, eating, daydreaming, or engaging with passengers.  Any time a driver has their eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, or mind off driving, it creates unnecessary risk.
• Speeding is another common cause of accidents.  When drivers speed, they have less control over their vehicle and less time to reach to traffic, road conditions, and weather hazards.
• Despite the known dangers of drunk driving, too many drivers get behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol.  Alcohol impairs a person’s judgment, depth perception, and reaction times.  Therefore, drunk drivers are the most dangerous drivers on the road.
• Reckless drivers are the second most dangerous drivers on the road.  Weaving in and out of lane, tailgating, and cutting other drivers off are examples of reckless behavior that put everyone at severe risk.
• When drivers fail to obey traffic safety laws, they may cause a crash.  Many drivers run red lights or stop signs, causing them to crash into opposing traffic.  Additionally, illegally changing lanes or merging may also result in a crash.

The most dangerous thing on the road is other drivers.  In fact, in a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report, it was revealed that more than 90% of all auto accidents result from human error.  Therefore, always be aware of your surroundings and expect another driver to engage in risky driving.

Types of Car Accident Cases We Handle in Prescott

In addition to knowing the top causes of car accidents, drivers must also know the types of car crashes that occur in Prescott.  That way, they can thoroughly describe the event to police officers, an attorney, and the insurance company.

Rear-End Collision

When one car tailgates another or approaches a stopped auto from behind, a rear-end collision may occur.  Crashes like these are common at red light intersections and on highways with stop-and-go traffic because drivers stop and accelerate frequently.  The best way to prevent a rear-end collision is to keep a safe following distance.  A good rule of thumb is to leave at least a car’s length of space for every 10 MPH you are traveling (for example, 6 car lengths for 60 MPH) between you and the lead car.  However, you should leave more space if there are hazardous weather conditions.

Head-On Crashes

Head-on accidents occur when two vehicles going in opposite directions crash into each other.  These are the most dangerous collisions, mainly due to the speed at impact being doubled when cars hit head-on.  While these crashes are rare on multi-lane roads with a median dividing opposing traffic lanes, they are common on roads with no median present.  They may also occur on two-way residential roads.  Drunk and other distracted drivers are often the cause.

Side-Impact Accidents

Side-impact crashes, also known as T-bone collisions, occur when the front of one vehicle crashes into the side of another.  These crashes are prevalent at intersections when drivers run a red light or stop sign.  Since side-impact crashes usually result from a negligent driver, drivers cannot always avoid them by following all traffic laws.  These crashes can produce greater injuries because cars are designed to handle frontal and rear-end collisions more than side collisions.

Common Car Accident Injuries

An auto accident of any kind could inflict severe injuries on victims.  At Jensen Phelan Law Firm, P.C., we represent clients involved in car crashes, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, pedestrian, bicycle, rideshare, e-scooter, and other motor vehicle crashes in Prescott and throughout Arizona.  We do not shy away from car accident claims involving common to unusual or catastrophic injuries, such as:

• Broken bones:  Broken legs, ribs, arms, and ankles are the most common injuries from a car accident.  In more severe crashes, accident victims might suffer from a broken hip or pelvis.  Severity ranges from simple breaks that only require a cast or severe fractures that surgery can only fix.
• Burns injuries:  If a vehicle catches fire after a crash or your skin comes in contact with a hot surface, victims may sustain a burn.  Burns range in severity, with a first-degree burn being the least severe while a fourth-degree burn is the most severe.
• Lacerations:  Bruises form when an object impacts the body.  Broken glass, sheet metal, and flying objects may result in bruising.
• Muscle Damage:  Common with car crash trauma.
• Whiplash:  When another car hits your vehicle, you might jolt forward or backward.  The sudden and often violent thrusting can pull muscles, ligaments, or tendons.  When the pulling occurs in the neck, you might suffer from whiplash.  While this injury is not typically fatal, it can cause severe pain and discomfort.
• Internal injuries:  Even if you walk away from a car accident with no external injuries, it does not mean you are fine.  You might have sustained an internal injury.  Airbags can cause abdominal injuries, or you might suffer from a bladder, spleen, liver, or kidney injury.  These injuries may also result in internal bleeding.
• Back or spinal cord injuries:  The spine carries nerve messages from the brain to other body parts.  When your spine sustains injuries, it may result in partial, temporary, complete, or permanent nerve damage. Unfortunately, there is no easy cure for a spine injury, and victims may have to undergo years of treatments, surgeries, and physical therapy to recover.
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI):  A head injury can cause immediate damage and complications for accident victims.  If left untreated, a TBI may lead to permanent brain damage or even death.  Symptoms to monitor for include headaches, dizziness, or irritability.  Remember, you do not have to hit your head to sustain a TBI.  The violent shaking of your head may also cause a brain injury.
• Limb loss or amputation:  In a severe car wreck, you may sustain severe injuries to an arm, leg, or another appendage enough to require surgical amputation.  These injuries leave permanent disabling effects on accident victims.
• Scrapes and cuts:  You might suffer from scrapes and cuts following a car crash caused by flying debris, such as glass.  These injuries are often minor, but cuts might become infected if left untreated.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD):  In addition to suffering from internal and external injuries, you might also suffer a lasting emotional injury.  PTSD is common among crash victims, resulting in depression and anxiety.
• Permanent Disability:  Many car accident injuries can leave permanent disabilities on a person.  For example, a spinal cord injury may result in paralysis.

Our car accident specialist lawyers engage in aggressive legal strategies on behalf of clients with life-changing car accident injuries.  We can help you recover the costs of your hospital and medical expenses, medications, live-in care, past and future losses, property damages, and more during diagnosis for personalized legal advice and information.

Steps to Take After a Car Accident

While the aftermath of a car accident in Prescott or elsewhere can be overwhelming, the steps you take at the accident scene and the coming days and weeks might be vital to your claim’s success.  If you were in a car accident in Arizona, keep the following next steps in mind:

• Report the crash to the police immediately (even if it appears to be just property damage)
• Take photos of the accident scene immediately
• Exchange information with the other driver at the scene
• Seek medical care right away, even if you think your injuries are minor.

Additionally, you should hire Jensen Phelan Law Firm.  Arizona’s personal injury laws are complex, and claimants must follow strict deadlines. One misinterpretation or missed detail may result in a judge dismissing your case or an insurance company denying your claim.  Instead, allow our experienced specialized Prescott personal injury attorneys to handle the day-to-day aspects of your case while you focus on your recovery. You can get in touch with us by filling out this online contact form or calling (928) 778-2660.

Frequently Asked Questions About Car Accident Claims in Prescott, AZ

How long will I have to file a car accident claim in the state of Arizona?

ARS Section 12-542 establishes the statute of limitations for Arizona car accident claims. Under this law, victims have two years to file a claim for damages. In cases involving fatal car accidents, families have two years from the date of death to seek financial compensation. If you wait until after this time limit expires, you will likely be barred from bringing a lawsuit and collecting compensation, even if it’s clear the other driver was at fault.

Do I need to hire a car accident attorney after being in an accident?

Understanding whether or not you want to hire a car accident lawyer depends on a few moving parts. While some accidents are relatively straightforward and can be handled without a lawyer, most require the help of a legal professional. However, you can never be too careful after any car accident, especially if you’re facing injuries resulting from another person’s negligence. A seasoned car accident attorney can help secure compensation for the injuries and damages you’ve endured.

How long do I have to report the accident to my insurance company?

The short answer is that it depends. There may be some cases where it’s unnecessary to report a car accident to your insurance company. When you do report your claim to the insurance company, they’ll often state that you must report this information “promptly” or “within a reasonable time” following the accident. This usually means a few days. You can always confirm this information by contacting your car insurance company after an accident.

Should I still hire a car accident lawyer if I don’t have auto insurance?

Yes, even if you don’t have car insurance, it’s still important to hire a car accident lawyer after an accident. In Arizona, drivers without insurance are personally responsible for paying damages to the injured individual. If the case goes to trial and the other driver secures a judgment against you, they have several options available to get some or all of that judgment satisfied, including garnishing your wages in some cases. A lawyer can be instrumental in helping to alleviate some of this pressure.