In the immediate aftermath of a car crash in Tucson, you may feel overly anxious. If you are seriously hurt, call 911 to get emergency responders to the scene. Next, inform the police and your insurance company. Arizona is a fault state, which means the driver liable for an accident is also responsible for the losses endured by other parties. You will need to file a claim with the other party’s carrier. At this point, you need to find a personal injury lawyer who can represent you. Here’s why your lawyer is so relevant to your case.
They do the investigation
Claimants are under pressure to provide proof of liability and evidence. You need an attorney to ensure that your evidence is strong enough. Even if you fail to click pictures or gather details at the site, your lawyer will investigate independently and gather info from various sources. As required, they may hire accident reconstruction experts, who will help determine how the crash happened and establish fault.
They do the negotiation
Another thing that an injury lawyer would do is complete legal steps related to the insurance claim and negotiate with the insurance company. This may seem like an easy process, considering you have a valid case, but claims adjusters are skilled and shrewd people who know what it takes to deny settlements. Once you get an attorney to deal with everything, you don’t have to accept the first offer.
They can file a lawsuit
Arizona has a pure comparative fault rule, which allows a party to file a case regardless of their fault percentage (unless they are 100% liable). However, your rewarded settlement will be proportionated according to the blame. These laws are tricky and hard to understand, and if you are not proactive and prudent, the insurance company may pass the blame on you. If there is room to file a lawsuit, your lawyer will do that for you and ensure you get the best shot before the jury.
Injury lawyers don’t bill clients by the hour and charge a contingency fee instead. It means you don’t pay anything until you win a settlement or get compensation, which makes it easier to afford legal assistance. At the least, meet an attorney and know the claim better, for which you don’t have to pay a consultation fee. The best lawyers are the ones who communicate clearly with clients and share all possible outcomes.