"My wife and I found Torgenson Law the beginning of 2023. Hunter and his colleagues were very easy to work with! They knew exactly how to address our problems and that made me feel very comfortable. This is a Professional Team that I highly recommend. Thank You for all your help."
"Mi esposa y yo encontramos Torgenson Law a principios de 2023. Fue muy fácil trabajar con Hunter y sus colegas. Sabían exactamente cómo abordar nuestros problemas y eso me hizo sentir muy cómodo. Este es un Equipo Profesional que recomiendo altamente. Gracias por toda su ayuda."
Stephen K.
Read our 5 Star Google Reviews
Lea nuestros comentarios de 5 estrellas en Google
Being in a car accident can be a difficult experience that leaves you facing injuries, damaged property, and trauma. Trying to get compensation for being in that car accident could be even more stressful if you go it alone.
Maricopa County in Arizona is no stranger to car accidents, accounting for the largest percentage of crashes, injuries, and fatalities in the state. Each year, there are, on average, 86,687 collisions in Maricopa County. This number includes those that occur in Paradise Valley.
If you’ve been in a car accident, the best thing you can do for yourself is get a car accident attorney to help you. With the right people guiding you through the process, you have a much better chance of obtaining the compensation you deserve.
There are a few crucial steps that you must take if you’re involved in a car accident in Paradise Valley. Doing so not only ensures that you follow the law regarding car accidents but also helps you when you file a claim for compensation.
It’s essential that you report the accident as soon as possible. As the driver, you don’t have to file an accident report. However, you do need to call law enforcement to the scene of the accident if the collision results in property damage that exceeds $2,000 or involves serious injuries or fatalities. Remember that it’s not always easy to tell the amount of property damage or injury severity at first glance.
It’s also crucial that you reach out to a car accident lawyer with experience. It can sometimes be tempting to attempt the process on your own. You have to remember, though, that Arizona follows pure comparative negligence law.
What does this mean? Pure comparative negligence law indicates that more than one person can be responsible for an accident. Even if you were partly at fault, you can still receive compensation for any damages you suffered. This makes each case much more complex.
Insurers often fight the percentage of fault their driver was responsible for. This means they could make low-ball offers or refuse to pay for certain damages outright. Unless you know the law well and have experience, the best thing you can do is turn to a personal injury lawyer.
You want to reach out to an attorney as soon as possible. Although you may think that you have a good amount of time to file your claim, the sooner you reach out to a lawyer, the better the outcome may be. Just think of witnesses. Compare what someone remembers three days after an accident to what they might recall after a year.
In Paradise Valley, there are a few types of accidents you could be involved in. Each one presents its own challenges.
Rear-end collisions are the most common type of car accident in the area and in the entire state. They can happen anywhere, but they often occur at traffic lights and stop signs. Rear-end accidents can even occur in traffic jams when the vehicle in front brakes suddenly. Tailgating, which is when the rear driver is following too closely, is usually the cause of these crashes.
If a rear-end collision occurs at a traffic light or stop sign, injuries and other damages tend to be minor. That’s not the case if the accident occurs on the highway. A car that’s traveling at 60 miles per hour can do serious damage if it hits you from behind.
Head-on collisions occur when one vehicle hits an immovable object or another vehicle. They often happen when cars cross over into oncoming traffic.
If rear-end collisions are the most common type of accident, head-on collisions tend to be the most dangerous. They tend to be caused by distracted driving and result in severe injuries and extensive property damage.
Side-impact collisions are exactly what they sound like: one vehicle hitting another on the side. Most cars don’t have a good impact zone on their sides, which means that injuries and damage can be substantial.
One type of side-impact crash is a left-turn accident. Left-turn accidents occur when a driver turns left onto the path of an oncoming vehicle. The vehicle making the left turn bears the worst of the injuries and damage because it ends up being broadsided. Vehicles failing to stop at a red light can also cause these types of collisions.
Sideswipes happen when a driver changes lanes without checking their blind spot. They also occur when a driver veers out of their lane. These types of accidents are less likely to lead to serious injuries or fatalities. This is because both cars involved are traveling in the same direction.
Being in a car accident in Paradise Valley or anywhere in Arizona could result in injuries that vary in severity. It’s vital that you always accept medical help at the scene of the accident and that you get medical attention in the following days if you feel unwell.
Usually, bruises aren’t serious and tend to heal on their own within a week or two. It’s important, however, to always get them checked out by a medical professional. A doctor can ensure that your bruises are not signs of anything more serious, like internal bleeding. Look out for symptoms such as:
If you experience any of these, make sure to reach out to a medical professional.
Fractures and breaks in bones can also occur because of a car accident. You may think it will be obvious that you have a broken bone, but that’s not always the case. Many times, pain can begin hours later. Keep in mind, too, that broken bones need to be seen by a doctor. Not only do they cause pain, but they can also lead to punctured organs and blood vessels.
An accident that jars the body can lead to whiplash. Whiplash results from a fast backward and forward movement of the head. It’s the most common of all car accident injuries, and it’s usually the result of a rear-end collision.
Signs of whiplash include:
This can be a painful condition that takes a while to recover from. Some people even develop chronic pain issues as a result of whiplash.
Facial injuries can include cuts, bone fractures, and even eye injuries. Debris or blunt force could impact your eyes, leading to vision problems as well. You could also suffer injuries to facial muscles, tendons, and cartilage, potentially leading to impaired function.
Burns are another potential face injury. They could require skin grafts that cause scarring and subsequent disfiguration.
Traumatic brain injuries are some of the most serious injuries you can sustain in a car accident. These are slow to appear and can take a significant time to heal — if they do at all.
Traumatic brain injuries can range from blows to penetrating injuries. Concussions are the mildest of this group. During a concussion, your brain bounces against the skull or stretches out of its natural shape. This leads to chemical changes within the brain that cause all manner of other problems. More severe forms of traumatic brain injuries could result in lifelong disabilities and even death.
Back injuries are also common in car accidents, with back sprains and strains being especially frequent issues. A sprain is when the ligaments in your back stretch or tear, while a strain occurs when you damage muscles and tendons.
You can also suffer more disabling back injuries after a car crash. For instance, you could experience damage to your spinal cord that puts you at risk of mobility issues, including complete paralysis.
If you’ve been in a car accident in Paradise Valley, the first thing you need to remember is to stay as calm as possible. This will allow you to look for injuries and help others who need it. Make sure to turn on your emergency flashers, too.
Check yourself for injuries first. If you don’t see any and don’t feel pain, try to help others involved in the accident. You shouldn’t move anyone who’s injured. If you’re in pain or injured, don’t try to get out of your car or move too much.
Call 911 as well. If you can’t do so yourself, ask someone else to call for you. Once the emergency medical personnel arrive, make sure to accept any offers to check you for injuries. With your adrenaline pumping, you may not realize that you’ve cut yourself or even broken a bone.
Remember that you need to call the police if there are severe injuries or property damage worth at least $2,000. For most people, the best thing to do is err on the side of caution and call even if you’re not sure.
If you’re in a condition to do so, start taking pictures and recording evidence of the accident. You should exchange information with the other driver but avoid speaking about the accident and admitting to fault. It’s also crucial that you get contact information for any witnesses.
Under Arizona law, you have to move your vehicle out of the road if:
Your next step should always be to contact a car accident attorney. This is essential even if the accident was partly your fault. Once you’ve spoken with your lawyer, you can let your insurer know of the accident.
When you turn to a car accident lawyer, you have the chance to get compensation. This could cover a variety of expenses you may have as a result of the accident.
After a collision, you can claim past, ongoing, and future medical expenses. You should be able to get coverage for things like:
If you need to get long-term rehabilitation, compensation has to include future expenses as well.
After a Paradise Valley car accident, you may also be able to claim property damage. If your car sustained damage or was totaled, you shouldn’t have to foot the whole bill if the accident wasn’t entirely your fault. The same applies to other types of property, including phones, tablets, and more.
Another important type of compensation you could be able to receive is pain and suffering. Many people think that this is included in medical expenses, but that’s not the case.
If you’ve had injuries or suffered trauma, it’s likely you have to live with pain and discomfort. The amount of pain and suffering compensation you receive will depend on your injuries.
After an accident in which you’ve suffered injuries or property damage, you may end up missing work. This means you lose money as a result of the accident. If that’s the case, you can ask for compensation for lost wages. You can consider all sources of income as part of these types of damages.
Lost income damages also include future wages you would have earned that you now can’t because of the accident. This is crucial for people who are dealing with long-term complications.
You can also get compensated for out-of-pocket expenses. Suppose that you had to hire a nanny to watch your children while you were getting medical care or had to rent a car while yours was being repaired. You could receive compensation for those expenses.
Loss of consortium is another type of damage you can claim if a loved one was in an accident that resulted in death or severe disability. Loss of consortium means you’ve lost the presence of your loved one, including their affection, their companionship, and more.
If you’ve been in a car accident in Paradise Valley, you deserve to have people on your side who have over 20 years of experience representing clients all over Arizona. That’s what we can offer at Torgenson Law.
Our dedication and desire to help our clients get the compensation they deserve make us the right advocates for those struggling to move forward after a car accident. We can guide you through the whole process so that you can focus on healing.
Don’t wait to call experienced lawyers to represent you after a car accident. Contact us today to get the help you need.
