Personal Injury: Frequently Asked Questions
Have you been involved in a preventable accident that left you injured?
You may be wondering if you have a claim, or have questions about what
your options are and how to proceed. Suzuki Law Offices, L.L.C. may be
able to help. Read on for answers to some of the most frequently asked
questions we hear about the
personal injury claims process.
How soon should I file a lawsuit?
If you have been injured in an accident, it is very important to contact
a lawyer as soon as possible. Each state has its own statute of limitations
that places a limit on the amount of time you have to file a claim. In
Arizona, you have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit in most
cases (some exceptions may apply). Failure to file within this period
will cause you to forever forfeit the option to sue and collect compensation.
Can I handle this alone, or do I need to hire an attorney?
In many cases, it will be in your best interests to hire an attorney to
ensure that you receive an appropriate amount of compensation for expenses
related to your injury. Insurance companies are notorious for attempting
to undervalue or dismiss claims, especially if they know that you are
without representation. An attorney has experience handling insurance
companies and can fight to protect your rights to a fair settlement.
What is my personal injury case worth?
Each personal injury case has its own unique set of circumstances that
will determine how much compensation you are entitled to. Be wary of anyone
who attempts to tell you the value of your claim before it has been investigated
by a lawyer. Depending on the facts of your case, an experienced personal
injury attorney can gather evidence to help you achieve maximum compensation
for medical and rehabilitation expenses, mental anguish, pain and suffering,
lost wages, lost earning capacity, and more.
How do I handle an insurance adjuster?
After an accident, an insurance adjuster may ask you to give them a recorded
statement about what happened. It is never a good idea to submit a statement
without first consulting an attorney. Insurance adjusters are trained
to subtly influence you into saying something that would ultimately insulate
their company against any liability, or to minimize your claims. Keep
in mind that these statements can also be used against you in court. Once
a statement is made, it may be very difficult to correct or explain later,
so talk to your lawyer on how best to handle the situation to preserve
your best interests.
Can I still pursue compensation if I was partially at fault for my injuries?
While personal injury law usually deals with accidents that are entirely
someone else’s fault, many injury accidents are caused by a variety
of factors where the blame may have been shared. To address this issue,
Arizona is one of the few states in the country with a Pure Comparative
Negligence Law, which allows both parties involved in an accident to collect
a percentage of compensation proportional to their amount of fault in
the accident. Other states and jurisdictions have modifications of this
law that may or may not allow them to collect compensation if they were
to blame for a certain percentage of the accident. Consult with your lawyer
to see what you may be eligible for.
What kids of claims can Suzuki Law Offices, L.L.C. help with?
Our firm has experience handling all kinds of personal injury cases, including
car accidents,
truck accidents,
bicycle accidents,
defective products,
property accidents,
construction accidents,
catastrophic injury,
wrongful death, and more.
Click here to email us about your case – we are available 24/7!