How Car Accident Compensation Works In Arizona

Yes. Like most states, Arizona has what’s commonly referred to as an at-fault car insurance system. This means the at-fault party who caused the accident is responsible for compensating anyone who suffered a financial loss due to the accident.

Often, this responsibility falls on the shoulders of the at-fault driver’s insurance company. They’re the ones that will likely compensate you for your accident expenses. But even if another driver clearly caused your crash, don’t be surprised if you have a hard time getting the money you deserve from the other driver’s insurance company. That’s because there’s often a lot of money at stake. And insurance companies will do everything they can to pay you as little as possible for your accident.

Are Arizona drivers required to have car insurance?

Yes. All registered vehicles in Arizona must have some form of car insurance. The minimum mandatory car insurance requirements for Arizona include:

• $15,000 for property damage sustained in an accident.
• $25,000 per person for injury-related expenses.
• $50,000 per accident for injury expenses two or more people injured in an accident.

What optional car insurance is available in Arizona?

Drivers often have a wide range of choices when it comes to optional car insurance in Arizona, including:

• Collision insurance, which pays for vehicle repairs after a car accident, regardless of fault. Collision is generally optional as far as the law is concerned, but if your vehicle is financed, it will likely be required by the lienholder.
• Comprehensive coverage, which covers the cost of repairing a vehicle or purchasing a new car due to damage caused by something other than a vehicle collision, including a theft, weather-related damage or an accident involving an animal.
• Medical payment coverage, also known as “MedPay,” which pays for medical expenses and funeral expenses resulting from an accident, regardless of fault.
• Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, which covers an accident with an uninsured driver or driver who does not have enough insurance coverage to pay for the accident.

Determining the total financial impact of your car accident claim should be simple. If your accident costs you thousands of dollars or significantly more, you should be paid in full. Remember, you didn’t do anything wrong. And Arizona law states that the at-fault party is responsible for financially compensating injury victims for all their accident-related expenses.

However, what you might not realize is just how many expenses you should be compensated for as a result of your car accident. It’s not just short-term expenses immediately after your accident. It’s long-term expenses as well, even if they occur years after your accident. That’s why your Arizona car accident could be worth a lot more money than you might suspect.

What expenses can I be compensated for in Arizona?

As explained above, you should be compensated for all your accident expenses, including future anticipated expenses. Such expenses can include:

• The cost of all medical treatment due to your accident injury, including follow-up doctor’s appointments, physical therapy and long-term pain management.
• Money to repair damage to your vehicle or buy a new one if your car is a total loss.
• Replacement income if you can’t work and need time off to recover from your injury.
• Lost future income if you are unable to return to work or can only work in a reduced capacity due to a permanent disability.
• Modifications to your home, such as installing a wheelchair ramp.

How is car accident compensation calculated in Arizona?

This can be a contentious question to answer. In many cases, insurance companies only take into account some but not all accident-related expenses. For example, if your car accident injury prevents you from being able to perform routine activities like cleaning your home, you may need to hire someone to do such work and other tasks for the rest of your life. And you should not have to pay for such expenses if someone else caused your accident.

This is why you should talk to an experienced Arizona lawyer who can review your case and provide an accurate, independent assessment of how much money your car accident is really worth.

In many cases, insurance companies – both yours and the other driver’s – often have the most to say about how much money you and other injury victims should receive for your Arizona car accident.

But they don’t have to be the only ones who decide how much your accident settlement is worth. You can be part of these important conversations. And often, the best way to do so is to have an experienced attorney representing you at the negotiating table, speaking on your behalf.

Should I accept a settlement offer for my car accident?

Many times, insurance companies make settlement offers to injury victims soon after an accident. If you have been contacted by the at-fault driver’s insurance company and received a settlement offer, you might be tempted to take it.

But before you decide to accept such a settlement offer, it’s important to carefully consider your options. If you agree to accept a settlement offer, your legal case is settled. As a result, you cannot ask for more money in the future, even if your accident-related expenses increase more than expected in the future.

Insurance companies know that many people simply want to resolve their case and take the quick payment. But if you accept a lowball settlement offer that doesn’t cover all of your expenses, you could end up having to pay for many of your accident-related bills out of your own pocket. That can be financially devastating. That’s why you should talk with an Arizona attorney right away to better understand your legal rights.

Can I request more money for my car accident?

Yes. If you receive a settlement offer and you believe it does not cover your accident-related expenses, you have the right to ask for more money. But just because you can ask for more money does not mean that you will receive it. You can expect the insurance company to fight to pay you as little as possible.

An experienced attorney can help negotiate a better settlement offer. They know how to deal with insurance companies and can demand more money on your behalf. This is why it’s important to talk to a lawyer who understands how the compensation system works in Arizona.

Yes. You can take legal action seeking financial compensation for any financial losses you sustained as a result of a car accident in Arizona. However, to win your case, you need to provide evidence that your accident-related injuries occurred due to the reckless or negligent actions of the other driver.

Another key element in any Arizona car accident lawsuit is time. Under Arizona Revised Statute §12-542, injury victims have two years from the date of their car accident to file a lawsuit seeking damages (financial compensation) from the at-fault party.

But be aware that taking legal action after a serious car accident in Arizona can be complicated. The other driver’s insurance company will have lawyers to fight back against your lawsuit. This is why you need an attorney on your side, standing up for your legal rights.

Can I sue for pain and suffering for a car accident in Arizona?

Like many states, Arizona allows car accident injury victims to file a lawsuit seeking damages for pain and suffering. Such damages are often referred to as non-economic damages, as opposed to economic damages.

Economic damages are specific expenses with an exact dollar amount, such as the cost of repairing damage to the vehicle caused by the accident or medical bills to treat your injuries.

Non-economic damages such as pain and suffering do not have a specific dollar amount associated with them. But they are just as real and can have a serious impact on someone’s life. That’s why knowledgeable attorneys often demand compensation for pain and suffering for their clients.

What if the other driver doesn’t have car insurance?

Depending on what type of car insurance you have, you may be able to file a car accident claim with your own insurance company if you’re involved in a collision with a driver who doesn’t have car insurance.

Unfortunately, even if you have uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, don’t simply assume that your insurance company will fairly compensate you. In many cases, your own insurance company will do everything they can to pay you as little as possible or perhaps even try to deny your UM accident claim.

This is why you need an experienced lawyer on your side, helping you every step of the way.

Demanding the financial compensation you deserve for your Arizona car accident can be a lot more difficult than many people might realize. That’s why it’s critical that injury victims meet with a lawyer right away.

Your attorney can answer your questions, explain your legal options and get right to work on building the strongest possible legal case. This is important because the evidence you need to demand the money you deserve can be destroyed or disappear quickly after a serious crash. And without evidence in support of your car accident claim or lawsuit, you will have a hard time building a convincing legal case.

Give your injury claim or lawsuit the best opportunity for success. Talk to an experienced Arizona car accident attorney right away.

Arizona Premier Car Accident Lawyer

Browne Law Group
366 N Gilbert Rd, Unit 202, Gilbert, AZ 85234
(480) 771-2442