At Begam Marks & Traulsen, P.A., we are more than ready to help you with any questions you may have about your personal injury case. While you can contact our Phoenix personal injury lawyers at any time, we’ve compiled some of our most common questions to help you get the information you need.
When Is the Best Time to Contact an Attorney after an Accident?
Confirming the safety of everyone involved and receiving medical treatment for any injuries are the most important first steps following an accident. Even so, you should try to contact an injury attorney in Phoenix as soon as possible. Not only will the events of the accident still be fresh in your memory, but having an attorney on your side gives you many benefits for your case, such as having ready support against the other person’s insurance company and someone to conduct an independent investigation of the accident scene to support your case. An attorney can also consult you on your best course of action.
What Steps Should I Take after an Accident?
Appropriate action right after an accident is essential to your potential personal injury case. While the state of your injuries may make it difficult to do everything on this list, you should still do as much as you can to help your case:
- Seek medical help for the injured. Getting appropriate treatment not only helps your health but provides you with a record of your injuries, as well.
- Contact the police if necessary. Some accidents, like car crashes, may require the attention of the police. A police investigation can help determine liability and provide essential evidence for the court.
- Get the other party’s contact and insurance information. You’ll need these pieces of information to successfully make a claim.
- Gather evidence. While evidence of some accidents may remain for a while after the incident, that’s not always the case. If possible, you should take photos or video of the scene to help document damage and contribute to determining liability.
- Get witness contact information. If any other witnesses are available, you should get their contact information so they can testify about the sequence of events that lead to the accident.
- Contact an attorney. The sooner you contact an injury attorney, the better off your claim will be.
- Report the accident to your insurance company. You will need to do this to help facilitate the claims process.
It is also important to not admit fault when speaking to the other party, as doing so can damage your chances at earning compensation. You should also not speak to the other party’s insurance company without the help of your attorney. The more of these steps you take following an accident, the easier it is to keep your calm and work towards a successful claim.
Why Do I Need a Phoenix Personal Injury Attorney?
While it’s possible to represent yourself in court, it’s not a wise decision. Arizona personal injury law includes many different rules and regulations about filing time, court procedures, and appropriate levels of compensation for your injuries. The attorneys of Begam Marks & Traulsen, P.A. have been completing personal injury cases for over 60 years and are familiar with these laws.
Having an attorney also helps you maximize your compensation amount. Some injuries with long-lasting effects can put a bigger financial, physical, and emotional strain on you than you may expect. Insurance companies like to take advantage of this to offer settlements for less than you deserve. With an attorney on your case, you’ll have a much better chance at getting the appropriate amount of compensation for your injuries.
What Types of Personal Injury Cases Do You Handle?
The lawyers at Begam Marks & Traulsen, P.A. are well-versed in all types of personal injury in Arizona. This includes but isn’t limited to car accidents, burn injuries, truck accidents, premises liability, motorcycle accidents, and wrongful death. If you or a loved one has suffered an injury due to someone else’s negligence, we can help.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire an Attorney?
At Begam Marks & Traulsen, P.A., we work all personal injury cases on a contingency-fee-basis. This means you don’t pay us unless we win your case, and you never have to worry about upfront costs or hidden fees. We offer free consultations that can help you determine the best approach to your case’s unique circumstances.
Do I Still Need to Seek Medical Help If I Don’t Have any Visible Injuries after a Car Accident?
It’s common for people who have been in car accidents not to have any obvious signs of injury. This can happen due to high adrenaline, shock, or even just delayed symptoms of injury. If you wait to receive medical treatment, you may suffer from more serious conditions. Some severe injuries, like traumatic brain injuries, can have incredibly delayed symptoms – and devastating consequences if left untreated. Our Phoenix car accident lawyers believe it’s in your best interest to receive medical treatment as soon as you can after an accident.
What If I’ve Already Begun the Claims Process for My Personal Injury Lawsuit?
If you’ve started the claims process already but find you need professional help, the attorneys at Begam Marks & Traulsen, P.A. can assist you with your case. We can pick up from where you’ve left off, start our own investigations, and redirect all insurance company communications to us, allowing you to fully focus on recovery.
What Should I Do If I’m Uncertain I Have a Personal Injury Case?
You should contact Begam Marks & Traulsen, P.A. if you’re uncertain if you have a personal injury case. Every accident has a different set of circumstances that led up to it and different injuries for the involved parties. Once you share the details of your case with us, we can help you determine if you’re eligible for compensation and advise you on your next steps.
How Long Does It Take to Receive Compensation from a Personal Injury Lawsuit?
Once you’ve started a claim, the specific details of your case will determine the timeline towards your compensation. Some cases are very straightforward and can reach an agreement through a few settlement negotiations. Others require lengthy battles in court against the opposing parties and their insurance companies. No matter what, our attorneys will develop a strategy that takes your needs into account – and fights for as long as it takes to receive your appropriate compensation.
What Should I Do If the Insurance Company Contacts Me?
In a personal injury case, you often need to worry about the other party’s insurance company reaching out to you and asking for a recorded statement. Sometimes they can contact you while you’re still receiving treatment and are in no sound state of mind to handle the situation. No matter what happens, you should not give a statement. The insurance company will try to use whatever you say against you throughout your case. No matter what they say, you have the right to decline to make a statement.
What Types of Damages Can I Recover from a Personal Injury Case?
The exact extent of recoverable damages from a personal injury case will vary depending on the type of case and the level of injury involved. For most cases, you’ll be able to recover the cost of your medical treatment. For injuries that will require additional treatment in the future, you can also receive compensation for these bills, as well as any lost wages due to time taken off.
In addition, it’s also possible to receive general damages, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and inconvenience from the injury. Some cases even involve punitive damages meant to discourage the behavior that lead to the accident in the first place. If your case is an auto accident, you can also receive compensation for the damage to your vehicle. Our lawyers can help you determine which types of compensation apply to your case, as well as the appropriate amount.
How Do Courts Determine Liability?
Liability is about determining who is at fault for the accident – and thus who is responsible for paying compensation. Liability consists of four major elements: the at-fault person is under a duty to do or not do something; the at-fault person breaches the duty; you suffer damages as a result; those damages are the result of the at-fault person’s breach of duty.
For example, in a medical malpractice case, medical professionals have a duty to provide safe treatment. Because they made a mistake while providing treatment, you suffered additional injury. Because your injuries came from a medical professional’s negligence, he or she is liable for the accident, and you have a right to compensation for your injuries.
What Should I Bring with Me When Meeting a Lawyer for a Consultation?
At Begam Marks & Traulsen, P.A., we have the resources to conduct a complete investigation regarding your accident. However, the more information we have at the start, the faster we can get to work on moving forward with your claim. Some important pieces of information and evidence you can bring to your first meeting with us are:
- Copies of any medical bills and records related to the incident
- The police or incident report, where applicable
- Photographs of any injuries or property damages
- Photographs of the scene of the incident
- Wage loss information
- Correspondence from insurance companies
- A written copy of your accident testimony
Depending on the type of case you’re facing, additional documents may be necessary to move forward. Our attorneys will let you know what else we may need from you and help you procure any other information you may not have ready access to.
Dealing with any form of personal injury can be stressful. With the attorneys of Begam Marks & Traulsen, P.A. on your side, you can rest easy knowing we’ll put our over 60 years of experience into helping you reach the best possible outcome for your case.