How To File A Personal Injury Lawsuit In Arizona
After an accident in Arizona, you may be wondering many things about how to proceed. One of your many concerns may include, “Where do I file my lawsuit?” The answer to this is dependant on where the accident took place and what the damages may have been, just to name two of the considerations. The decision to file a personal injury claim is one that is necessary when you have obtained injuries and expenses from an accident that you wouldn’t have had otherwise. It is also a way to hold those accountable for causing these damages.
The most common question victims of accidents have is, “Do I even have a viable personal injury claim in the first place?” The best resource you can utilize to find this out is to talk to an experienced Arizona personal injury lawyer. A knowledgeable legal professional will know how to evaluate your situation and provide you with the guidance you need, as well as the answers to the questions you have so that you are not in the dark.
Defining Personal Injury
The term “personal injury” is legal jargon for harm that is done to one person by the negligence of another. The party that can be liable for causing the harm can be a business, entity, or another private individual. The types of accidents that most often result in personal injuries and will lead to personal injury claims include slip-and-falls, dog bites, motor vehicle accidents, premise liability, and bicycle or pedestrian accidents, to name a few. A strong personal injury claim will be one that can prove the responsible party acted in a way that was reckless or negligent and directly caused your injuries.
Purpose of Filing A Lawsuit
After you have been in an accident, you may have sustained both injuries and property damages. You should not be on the hook for paying the costs associated with the recovery of your health and your personal property. Additionally, there are other expenses related to the degradation of your daily life that may have resulted, including losing the ability to work (which can lead to loss of wages), emotional trauma, and pain and suffering. All of these things should be accounted for, and when they are, you can receive your full justice for the wrongdoing that befell you.
The Process
In general, you will be filing your suit in the Superior or Justice Court where the incident took place or where the defendant resides. When you are seeking compensation that exceeds $10,000, the Superior Court is the location where you will be pursuing damages. After filing, the following will occur:
- The defendant is allotted 20 days for a response
- Filing of initial disclosure statement describing the incident
- Gather evidence to build your case
- The case will either go to trial or be settled out of court
- Cases that go to court will be subjected to the judge and/or the jury to make a final verdict
Many steps must be taken, and all the Ts must be crossed and Is dotted for your claim not to be thrown out and for you to have the ability to seek compensation. It is a lot for a private individual to handle alone when you aren’t an expert in Arizona personal injury law, and especially when you are also recovering from injuries. This is why there are such legal professionals like Arizona serious injury lawyers, such as those at ELG Law, who are authorities in the personal injury process and Arizona law.
Personal Injury Lawyers In Arizona
When you have questions or need legal guidance relating to personal injury law and claims, contact our team of resourceful Phoenix personal injury attorneys at ELG Law today at 623-562-3838.
