Scottsdale Personal Injury Attorney
A serious injury can have a far-reaching and lasting impact on your life. Beyond the pain and physical effects, an injury can create significant financial strain in the form of lost wages and medical expenses. If you become temporarily or permanently disabled, these effects can last for your entire life.
However, Arizona law allows the opportunity for the injured to seek compensation for their injuries from those who caused them. If you have experienced harm due to another’s negligence, a Scottsdale personal injury attorney can help. At The Entrekin Law Firm, we have significant experience representing the injured in Arizona and can help you recover the compensation you deserve.
Scottsdale Personal Injury Resources
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Why Choose Our Law Firm?
What is a Personal Injury Claim?
Common Accidents that Result in Injuries
Compensation in Personal Injury Claims
Can an Injury Lawsuit Result in Punitive Damages?
Proving Negligence in an Injury Claim
Benefits of Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer
We Assist You Throughout the Legal Process
How Do You Know If You Should Contact an Injury Attorney?
What to Look for in a Lawyer
Is it Affordable to Hire a Scottsdale Personal Injury Attorney?
You Only Pay if We Win
Speak to an Attorney Today
Why Choose a Scottsdale Personal Injury Attorney at The Entrekin Law Firm?
If you or a loved one has been injured due to another person’s negligence, you need an experienced lawyer who will fight for you. We have over two decades of experience fighting for justice on behalf of injured victims, and our expertise and dedication make us the perfect choice to assist you in obtaining the compensation you are entitled to.
Because we focus solely on Scottsdale personal injury law, we have an in-depth understanding of the intricacies of these types of cases and can provide dedicated representation to those who need it. Whether you have been injured in a car accident, slip and fall, or another type of incident, we are here to help.
Additionally, we firmly believe that all individuals should have access to justice and quality legal representation, regardless of their financial status. To ensure that everyone has this opportunity, we work on a contingency fee basis. This means you never pay us unless you get paid. Contact The Entrekin Law Firm today to schedule a free consultation and learn more about what we can do for you.
What is a Personal Injury Claim?
If you or someone close to you has suffered harm as a result of another person’s negligence, you may be entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit. This legal process allows individuals to seek financial compensation for the damages they have experienced, including medical expenses, lost income, and emotional and physical pain and suffering.
Personal injury cases can stem from various incidents such as:
- Automobile collisions
- Falls due to hazardous conditions
- Medical negligence
- Defects in products
- Dog bites
- Swimming pool accidents
This list is not exhaustive, so if you’ve experienced an incident that isn’t listed, please reach out to us.
Common Accidents that Result in Personal Injury Claims
Nearly any accident that results in an injury can lead to a personal injury claim if another person or entity was responsible through negligence.
The most common accidents that lead to recoverable personal injuries we help clients on include:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents and 18-wheeler crashes
- Workplace accidents
- Chemical exposure
- Product malfunctions and defective products
Any of the incidents above can result in serious injuries, such as:
- Spinal cord injury
- Neck and back injury
- Broken and/or fractured bones
- Traumatic brain injury
- Burn injuries
- Wrongful death
Generally, to collect damages the party responsible for the accident must be insured, or have sufficient assets to cover the costs that you are seeking. Due to this, there are some types of accidents where the damages are recoverable simply due to the fact that the parties will be insured. This includes motor vehicle accidents as all drivers on the road must be insured, as well as business-related accidents such as workplace accidents where businesses and employers alike must carry insurance. In other cases, it may be more difficult to identify parties who may be responsible and have insurance coverage to pay damages.
Compensation in Personal Injury Claims
If another person or entity was responsible for your injuries, compensation will more than likely come through an insurance policy. You will generally need to file a claim with the insurance company of the party that caused the accident to collect the damages you are entitled to.
Collecting compensation for your personal injury requires that you complete a complex claims process which includes:
- Gathering evidence to prove that someone or something else caused the accident
- Collecting evidence of your medical and occupational damages from related experts
- Incorporating the evidence into the drafting of a claim
- The filing of a claim in the time you are allowed to file
- The successful negotiation of your claim with the insurance company
- If a fair settlement cannot be negotiated a lawsuit will have to be filed
Recovering damages after your accident requires that you were injured due to the accident and that your injuries resulted in costs and damages that you can prove with evidence. If you work with a local Scottsdale personal injury attorney, your lawyer will use legal instruments like depositions, requests for production, and interrogatories to collect the evidence you need to make the strongest case possible for your damages.
In most cases, the more severe the injury, the higher the damages are. However, injured people only have one chance to recover compensation. Therefore it is important that your attorney takes the time to fully understand the extent of your injuries and the impact they will have on your life. It may not be possible to measure this immediately based on your emergency room visit alone. For example when it comes to burn injuries, research published by the National Library of Medicine notes that some types of burn injuries like electrical or fire burns may not look as serious as they are on initial inspection. The exterior burn may mask over significantly more severe injury below, an injury that could require multiple surgeries and ongoing medical treatment, medication, and rehabilitation to treat. The same can be true for nerve or ligament damage and brain injuries.
If you accept a settlement based upon only your emergency room bills and your car repairs, you will be prevented from collecting anything further. The insurance company might be quick to offer you a settlement that seems positive and beneficial in the hopes that you will take less than you are entitled to.
Can a Personal Injury Lawsuit Scottsdale Result in Punitive Damages?
In certain personal injury lawsuits, punitive damages may be awarded in addition to compensatory damages. These damages serve to punish individuals who engage in intentional misconduct or exhibit extreme recklessness.
In Arizona courts, the standard used to decide whether punitive damages can be awarded is based on determining if the person responsible had an “evil mind.” Arizona courts have defined this term to include two categories: 1) intentionally causing harm with ill will and knowing that an action is unsafe; and 2) likely to cause harm but doing it anyway.
An example of behavior that may lead to the awarding of punitive damages is road rage. If a driver is angry then deliberately collides their vehicle into the car ahead, the victim may be able to sue for punitive damages.
Additionally, insurance companies face the possibility of being held liable for punitive damages in cases of bad faith practices. This occurs when an insurance company knowingly denies compensation to an insured individual despite clear evidence of their obligation to do so. If the insured party can demonstrate that the insurance company’s refusal was intentional and motivated by malicious intent, punitive damages could be awarded.
Proving Negligence in a Personal Injury Case
Negligence is defined as the failure to take reasonable care to avoid causing injury or loss to another person. It involves more than just careless behavior; it requires action or inaction on the part of the defendant that falls below the standard of care that a prudent person would exercise under similar circumstances. In the context of a personal injury case, this means that someone must have acted recklessly or failed to act responsibly with respect to another individual’s safety.
Proving Negligence in Four Steps
For a plaintiff to win their personal injury claim against another party, they must prove four elements: duty of care, breach of duty, causation, and damages.
Duty of Care: The plaintiff must establish that the defendant had a legal obligation (or “duty of care”) towards them at the time of the incident. This means that there was a relationship between them — for example, if someone drives recklessly on public roads, they have a duty of care towards other drivers and pedestrians nearby.
Breach of Duty: After establishing that there was a duty owed by one party to another, it must be proven that this duty was breached due to an act or omission on behalf of the defendant — such as reckless driving.
Causation: The plaintiff must demonstrate how their injury was caused by this breach of duty through evidence like witness testimonies and expert analysis.
Damages: Finally, the victim must prove that they suffered losses due to their injuries and provide evidence such as medical records and pay stubs showing any lost wages due to missed work days.
What Are The Benefits of Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer in Scottsdale?
If you’ve been injured due to someone else’s negligence, it’s important that you take the necessary steps to protect your rights and get the compensation you deserve. One of the best ways to do this is by hiring a personal injury lawyer. Here are the benefits of hiring a personal injury attorney in Scottsdale:
They Will Handle All Legal Processes
Hiring a qualified personal injury attorney means that all legal processes will be handled professionally, leaving you free to focus on recovering from your injuries or trauma. This means filing all paperwork correctly and on time, making sure all deadlines are met, communicating with the insurance company and other defendants, and negotiating a settlement. Your lawyer should also be able to explain the process to you and be available to answer any questions you have.
Experience Matters
When it comes to securing fair compensation for an injury, experience matters. Insurance companies have an army of lawyers working around the clock who know exactly how to minimize costs and payouts. That’s why it’s important to hire an experienced attorney who isn’t afraid to go up against big insurance companies.
Maximize Your Compensation
When filing a personal injury claim, there are certain legal strategies that must be used in order to maximize your compensation. An experienced attorney knows which strategies work best for different types of cases, which can ultimately make a huge difference in terms of settlement amounts. This includes knowing when it is best not to settle at all and instead go through with litigation if necessary.
Your Personal Injury Attorney Negotiates Your Claim Every Step of the Way
The insurance company is a for-profit business that makes a profit the same way as any other for-profit business, by maximizing revenues while minimizing costs. To the insurance company, payments made to injured persons like you are costs. Insurance companies employ full-time teams of claim analysts and attorneys to carefully scrutinize all claims that come in so that they can deny whichever ones they can, and pay as little as possible on those claims they cannot deny.
To level the playing field with the insurance company, working with a local Scottsdale personal injury attorney is recommended. Your attorney will carefully review the evidence concerning the accident or incident that led to your injury, and collect additional evidence to prove that someone or something else was at fault. Upon proving that another party was at fault, we’ll get to work collecting evidence to accurately and completely measure all the damages associated with your injury, both short- and long-term.
How Do You Know If You Should Contact an Injury Attorney?
In the aftermath of an injury, it can be difficult to know when you should seek legal advice and assistance. Here are two signs that it may be time for you to reach out for professional help:
You Are Struggling With Medical Bills and Other Costs
Medical expenses and other out-of-pocket costs can add up really quickly after an accident. If your insurance isn’t covering these costs or you don’t have insurance and are having difficulty getting the treatment you need, it’s definitely time to consider hiring a Scottsdale personal injury lawyer. They can help you file an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit to ensure that you get the compensation you deserve so you can focus on healing.
The Insurance Company Is Refusing To Pay
If the insurance company is refusing to pay or has denied your claim, it may be necessary to seek legal counsel. An attorney can review your case and provide advice on the best method for ensuring that you receive the correct compensation from the insurance company.
Just the simple step of having an attorney on your side could be enough to persuade the insurance company to pay what they owe you, as they likely want to avoid any lengthy or costly litigation.
What to Look for in a Personal Injury Lawyer
If you’ve been injured in an accident, it can be difficult to know where to turn for help. The last thing you need is a lawyer who doesn’t understand your situation. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to choose the best personal injury lawyer for your needs.
Experience and Specialization
When it comes to finding the right personal injury lawyer, experience is key. You want someone who specializes in personal injury cases so they are familiar with all aspects of your case, including how they are litigated, how certain types of damages are calculated and awarded, and so on.
Ask potential lawyers how many years they have been practicing personal injury law and if they hold any certifications or distinctions in their field. Also look into their past successes – ask them about any notable cases they’ve handled in the past and their success rate.
Communication Style
Another important factor to consider when looking for a personal injury attorney is communication style. Pay attention to how well the lawyer listens to you and your questions during consultations; do they take time to explain things clearly? Do they respond quickly?
It’s also important that you feel comfortable discussing sensitive topics with your attorney. Be sure that the attorney you choose takes time to answer all your questions so that nothing remains unclear as your case moves forward.
Reputation
In addition, research a potential lawyer’s reputation among other attorneys and former clients. Read online reviews from people who have hired that particular lawyer in the past; did those clients feel like their needs were met? What was their overall opinion of their experience working with them?
Is it Affordable to Hire a Scottsdale Personal Injury Attorney?
If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident, it is important to understand the financial implications of hiring a personal injury attorney. The good news is that personal injury attorneys typically represent clients on a contingency fee basis, making legal services affordable for just about anyone.
Contingency fee basis means that instead of charging for hourly work, legal services are provided without upfront payment, and the lawyer only gets paid if they win the case. This type of arrangement allows people who might not have the financial resources to pay for expensive legal representation to still access quality legal advice and services. Lawyers who work on contingency fee basis typically receive 33-45% of any settlement or award won from the case.
You Pay Nothing Up-Front and We Only Get Paid if We Win
At The Entrekin Law Firm, we handle all personal injury cases on contingency and we never charge a fee unless we win. From spinal cord injury cases to Scottsdale motorcycle accident lawsuits, our payment comes out of a portion of the winnings that we earn for you that we’ll agree upon before getting started. We believe that this arrangement benefits our clients who are already facing financial strain from the injuries. Without having to worry about a retainer fee or paying for representation, they can focus on recovery and getting back to the life they led before the accident.
Connect with a Scottsdale Personal Injury Lawyer for Help on Your Claim
If you or a loved one have suffered a serious injury, don’t delay. Contact The Entrekin Law Firm as soon as you are able to speak with a qualified personal injury attorney.