When Do You Sue After You’ve Been in a Phoenix Traffic Accident

Car accidents occur daily in Phoenix, but not all of them lead to a lawsuit. In 2015, there were a total of 116,609 auto accidents throughout the state of Arizona. In that same year, 36,139 of those accidents resulted in injuries. These accidents can lead to serious injuries leaving individuals physically hurt and emotionally scarred. No matter what type of automobile accident you are involved in, it is important to understand when you should sue after an accident. You need to be fully aware of the Arizona traffic laws to help you determine what to do in the event of an accident.

Traffic Laws In Arizona

Arizona is similar to many states in the United States because they use an at-fault system. This means that the driver who is at-fault in the event of an accident is liable for all of the damages that occurred. This system is used to help file insurance claims for accident victims. If both parties are at fault, then their percentage of fault will be deducted from their total compensation amount. You can file a lawsuit if it is not clear who caused the accident or if the individual is not accepting fault for the accident. The court will use the comparative fault system to determine the levels of liability. 

Comparative Fault System

Often there is one person to blame for traffic accidents. They could have been distracted driving, speeding, or reckless driving at the time the accident occurred. These accidents are pretty easy to resolve and determine who the at-fault party is. An accident like this will be resolved under the at-fault system where the driver who caused the accident will be entirely responsible for all of the damages and costs associated with the accident. 

When you are trying to recover money for damages sustained in an accident, you have two options. You can negotiate a settlement with the other driver and their insurance company so you don’t have to go to court. This would be a good option if you were involved in an auto accident where there is a clear understanding of who caused the accident. If you accept the settlement offer from the other driver, you will sign a document form that will waive your right to sue for damages in court. Your other option is to file a lawsuit. If you decide to file a lawsuit, the court will determine the levels of liability and total amounts of damages from the evidence presented.  

Finding An Arizona Automobile Accident Attorney

Being involved in an automobile accident can be a very stressful experience. It can be difficult to understand when to file and lawsuit and when to accept a settlement offer. You don’t have to go through this overwhelming time alone. The auto accident attorneys at ELG will help you determine what your best legal options are. Our attorneys will help you every step of the way and answer any legal questions you might have. Our job is to help you recover the maximum amount of compensation. Contact our highly trained  Phoenix attorneys at ELG for a consultation. Call us at either  Phoenix or Mesa Arizona law offices at (623) 877-3600.