Minor Car Accident Lawyer BIG AUTO

Even a minor car accident can lead to complex legal situations, not to mention extensive damages and injuries. If you are recovering from the effects of a collision, it is important to take adequate time to get back on your feet regardless of how minor the accident was. Your attorney can bear the burden of navigating your accident claim on your behalf.

The minor car accident lawyers at Big Auto can support you by:

• Investigating the cause of your accident
• Evaluating the damages and documenting the associated costs
• Collecting evidence to establish who is at fault
• Negotiating with the insurance company and other lawyers
• Taking your case to court if necessary

Working closely with an attorney also helps keep the claims process on an appropriate schedule. There is a statute of limitations of two years from the date of injury for car accidents in Arizona, after which it becomes no longer possible to pursue compensation. Keeping in mind that many minor car accidents become hit-and-runs, it is doubly important to act quickly in contacting your lawyer.

Minor car accidents are typically those that happen at low speeds and that cause non-critical vehicular damage. Even so, the damage from a minor car accident can still be costly and may cause increasingly severe complications down the line. It is also important to remember that even the slightest impact can cause serious injury to the people inside a vehicle.

Common examples of minor car accidents include:

• Fender benders
• Rear-end collisions
• Side-swipes
• Parking lot accidents

While an affected vehicle can typically drive away from a minor car accident safely, that does not mean you should put off legal action. The damage your car sustains can still be expensive to repair and may lead to more severe issues if left unchecked. Your minor car accident lawyer can help you evaluate just how much your repairs will cost and assist you in beginning the claims process with minimum hassle.

While a low-speed collision might only cause superficial damage to your vehicle, it is worth remembering that cars can take a beating by design. The force of a collision, even a minor one, can exert force on your body that it is not capable of withstanding without harm. That is why even a minor car accident can lead to serious injuries or lasting conditions.
 
Some of the most common injuries that result from minor car accidents include:

• Whiplash
• Other soft tissue injuries
• Bruises or scrapes
• Head or brain injuries
• Mental or emotional pain and suffering

 
Many types of injuries do not show signs or symptoms immediately after an accident, especially in the midst of any shock or stress you might feel. That is why it is so important to seek medical attention as soon as possible after a collision, regardless of how you feel at the moment or the severity of the accident itself. Leaving an injury untreated can lead to long-term complications later on.

It is part of your duty as a responsible driver to call the police and report an accident immediately after the fact. This remains the case even if you only experienced a minor bumper tap or other minor incident. Not only is this the appropriate procedure but it also benefits you in that the officers at the scene will generate a police report regarding the accident. This report can serve as advantageous evidence if further legal action becomes necessary as you pursue compensation for your damages.

After contacting the police, both drivers involved in the accident must remain at the scene until responders arrive. Attempting to leave beforehand can lead to hit-and-run accusations. Once police conclude their initial investigation of the scene, you can take the opportunity to document the accident for your own records if it is safe to do so. Taking photos, exchanging information with witnesses and identifying officers at the scene are all things you can do to strengthen your accident claim.

In addition to reporting your minor car accident to the police, it is also important to promptly report to your insurance company. This is a necessary part of initiating the claims process and securing your due compensation in a timely manner.

Establishing fault in a car accident case is a matter of determining who was behaving negligently at the time of the collision. If the other party was driving recklessly or violating traffic laws, then the matter of fault may be extremely clear. Your minor car accident lawyer can also leverage photographic and video evidence of the accident scene to illustrate the nature of the accident and who is at fault.

It is also worth noting that Arizona enforces a comparative negligence principle when it comes to car accidents. This means that both parties can recover damages after an accident regardless of their degree of fault. For example, even if you are 51% at fault for the collision, you can still recover 49% of what you lost.

Knowing what to expect from your insurance settlement starts with assessing the damages sustained in the accident. The economic damages you can recover stem from any medical bills, repair costs and other monetary expenses you incur as a result of the accident. Be sure to keep thorough records of any medical statements and relevant invoices that may be useful in demonstrating your current and future losses to the insurance company.

You might also be eligible for certain non-economic damages as part of your claim. These might include any pain and suffering you experience after the accident, as well as any disabilities or lasting conditions you develop. The value of non-economic damages can be difficult to calculate, but your minor car accident lawyer can help you understand exactly how much compensation you deserve from the at-fault party.

Insurance companies are in the business of making money and some will take advantage of a driver’s frantic mindset after an accident to avoid paying a high settlement. In the case of a minor car accident, many motorists might view the situation as little more than an inconvenience that they want to put behind them as quickly as possible. Insurance companies know that these individuals are more likely to hastily accept the first offer presented to them.

The result is that insurers may offer a settlement even before you have a chance to fully evaluate your damages. It is important to always think twice before accepting such a settlement. It is in your best interest to fully understand the extent of your damages, as even a minor car accident can lead to costly complications that are not immediately apparent. You deserve compensation that fully covers all current and future costs related to your accident.

If the insurance does offer a lowball settlement, or if they deny your claim outright, having a minor car accident lawyer on your side can make all the difference. Your legal team can level the playing field during negotiations with insurance providers who are intimately familiar with all the ins and outs of complex insurance policies.

If it becomes apparent that you will not receive the full compensation you need through the typical claims process, taking the matter to court might be necessary. This can occur if the insurance company denies your claim or offers an insufficient settlement and is not open to further negotiations. You might also opt for litigation if the at-fault driver does not have insurance coverage, in which case you would file a suit for them to cover your damages out of their own pocket.

Keep in mind, however, that there are court filing fees to consider and that going to court does not guarantee you will get a favorable verdict. Your legal team can advise you on whether or not litigation is the right choice in your case.