Injuries can cause a lot of stress especially to those who never encountered the law before. With the medical expenses on the rise, with or without an insurance cover, given the loss of wages as you recover, an accident will significantly affect your life.
It is therefore helpful to have an idea of what to anticipate when the need arises to file a personal injury claim in Phoenix. Knowledge of these steps can go a long way in alleviating this stress while enabling the person to make the right decisions during the entire process.
Step 1: Treatment
Whether it be at your job, or elsewhere, your health should always be your topmost priority. This means that in the event of an accident, a person should seek the services of a doctor. This shall be of utmost significance in a bid to support the claim, especially in showing the extent of injuries that were incurred.
Step 2: Seek the Help of a Phoenix Injury Lawyer
If you are already prepared to solicit the aid of a professional after an accident has happened, it is wise to consult the services of a Phoenix injury lawyer. By seeking the services of a Phoenix injury lawyer, the probabilities of getting adequate compensation, particularly when dealing with insurance providers, are higher.
Step 3: Filing of the Claim
The next thing to do now is to follow up with your personal injury claim—either on your own, or with the assistance of a lawyer or an attorney. This means alerting the responsible party and their insurer of the decision to seek reimbursement. Your lawyer could help to fill in all forms necessary to ensure that all information in relation to the case is recorded. It is important to move fast because the law governing the filing of personal injury claims in Arizona is limited to 2 years from the occurrence of the incident.
Step 4: Investigation & Evidence Collection
It is your lawyer who will look for facts and evidence in relation to the occurrence of the accident. It may involve the collection of police reports, medical records, statements from any eyewitness and any other relevant pieces of evidence. This step is quite significant in creating a solid basis for the negligence claims and demonstrating the loss suffered by you.
Step 5: Settling the Case
Once all the facts have been gathered, the lawyer will go to the negotiating table. The goal is to achieve the maximum award based on your losses: medical bills, wages lost, pain and suffering, etc.
Step 6: File a Lawsuit if Necessary
In cases where resolutions cannot be reached through the usual methods of negotiating, the case may require filing a lawsuit and getting an enforceable judgment.
Step 7: Trial and Resolution
Some of the steps involved in a trial might be a little cumbersome to understand but your lawyer should be able to make it easier for you. This step involves the provision of a decision by the judge after the trial—the judge will inform you of the decision based on the lawyers’ arguments.
