When you’ve been in a car accident, there is a complex set of obligations ahead of you. In addition to worrying about injuries, repairs, and getting back to work, you must also navigate the police report, insurance claim, and may even need to defend your right to a settlement under your own insurance policy. Fortunately, you don’t have to face this stressful and often confusing situation alone. If you can find a good car accident lawyer in Arizona, you will have an expert on your side who will fight for your right to a fair insurance settlement and protect you from false allegations of fault in the accident.
Hutzler Law is a top-rated Phoenix personal injury law firm. Our mission is to help victims of accidents and injuries to recover, while securing the fair compensation that each person deserves.
How Can a Car Accident Lawyer Help Me After a Crash?
Car accidents are both traumatic and costly experiences. This is a time when people are unusually vulnerable and at the most risk of being mistreated by the law, the other driver’s insurance, or even their own insurance provider. It is a time when you most need someone on your side who is not dealing with the aftermath of being in a car accident. Someone who can fight for you while you recover from your injuries or piece your life back together after damage to your vehicle.
That is why you need good lawyer. A car accident lawyer can represent you in dealing with police and insurance companies, making sure that your liability, policy coverage, and covered expenses are all fairly represented before anyone rules on fault or claim approvals. A car accident lawyer will defend your part in the accident and your right to a full insurance settlement, no matter what state you are in during those critical days in the aftermath of a car crash.
- Defend your role in the accident
- Collect documents regarding your medical and repair bills
- File any insurance claims before deadlines
- Ensure a fair investigation occurs
- Prevent an insurance company from undervaluing your settlement
- Appeal denied claims
The lawyers of Hutzler Law are here to help in any way we can. You can reach out for a consultation by calling (602) 730-4530 or get in touch through our online form.
How Can You Find a Good Car Accident Lawyer in Arizona?
Arizona is an at-fault state when it comes to car insurance. This means that one driver is at fault and their insurance must pay for all the expenses incurred by the crash, including the other driver’s medical and repair bills. This can result in denial of the person’s own cost coverage, increased premiums, and maybe even legal repercussions. This is why it’s important to find a good car accident lawyer as soon as possible. But what is the right procedure? How do you know which car accident lawyer is the right one to represent you and help you achieve the best possible outcome from this difficult situation?
Fortunately, there are a few practical steps that can help anyone find the right lawyer after a car accident.
- Search for local car accident and personal injury lawyers
- Check out law firm websites
- Read online reviews and testimonials
- Ensure contingency payment
- List your finalists
- Book a few consultations
- Learn each lawyer’s track record and methods
- Prioritize communication
1. Search for Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers
First, investigate lawyers in your area who specialize in car accidents and personal injury cases. These practice areas tend to overlap, so a personal injury law firm will likely include lawyers with a great deal of experience in car accidents. You may also benefit from the personal injury experience if you were injured in the crash and are seeking to build a strong claim on the other driver’s insurance.
Make a list of law firms or specific lawyers who practice in your area to begin a more structured search.
2. Visit Each Website and Look Around
A law firm’s website should be a good reflection of their brand, practice areas, and give you a glimpse at the lawyers who work there. You can gain some useful insights by checking out the websites of each lawyer and law firms who make it onto your initial list. Check out the service pages, lawyer bios, and get a feel for each practice.
3. Investigate Online Reviews and Testimonials
With your list, dive into online reviews and testimonials. Often, the best way to identify a good lawyer is by what their past clients have to say about them. You can learn a lot about a lawyer’s demeanor and process through reviews. Do they put people at ease? Do they take quick action? Are they extremely thorough? These qualities can influence your preference when choosing the right car accident lawyer to help you.
Some law firms also publish testimonials on their website, which may be longer reviews offered directly to the firm from past clients. These can also be enlightening.
4. Ensure Payment is On Contingency
Most personal injury and car accident lawyers work on “contingency.” This means that you pay no legal fees unless/until your lawyer helps you win a settlement. Typically from the other driver’s insurance company. Contingency payment means that you don’t have to worry about payment during the case, that you don’t have to pay if you are denied a settlement, and that your lawyer is very motivated to help you win the maximum sum to increase what they could potentially be paid.
5. Build a List of Finalists
Once you have investigated many different car accident and personal injury law practices in your area, choose up to five finalists who you consider to be the best candidates to become your personal lawyer in this car accident case. You may also want to write down why they are good finalists. You may be swayed by the reviews, like the experience listed on their web page, or have heard positive things about the law firm outside of this incident and search.
6. Book a Consultation and Interview Each Lawyer
With your finalists selected, it’s time to conduct a few interviews. Your first free meeting with a lawyer is called a consultation. During this meeting, you can discuss your case and each lawyer will give their assessment and you can discuss the best course of action. You can also ask a few questions to help you decide which lawyer is the best choice.
7. Ask About Track Records and Case Methods
During the consultation, be sure to ask each lawyer about their success track record regarding car accident cases and how they would approach defending you in your particular case. Determine how often each lawyer has been in business, how often they have worked on cases like yours, how often they win, and how much is won on behalf of each winning client.
8. Identify Good Rapport – Someone You Can Talk To
Lastly, make sure that the lawyer you choose is someone you easily communicate with. When a lawyer is helping you navigate the maze of records and insurance after a car accident, clear communication and a good vibe between you is important. During each interview, gauge how well each lawyer understand you, and how easily you understand them in return.
When to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer
The best time to hire a car accident lawyer in Arizona is immediately after the accident. Insurance companies rarely make accident aftermath easy, and often try to deny or minimize claims even when the fault clearly lies with the other driver. The other driver and their insurance will do everything they can to pin it on you, and both insurance companies are trying to avoid paying any claim at all. Even the police report of the accident may be incomplete or even biased, which will skew how insurance companies respond to the entire situation.
If you are injured, you may also have reduced capacity to tackle all these challenges to the best of your ability. In these situations, a car accident lawyer is especially important to look out for your best interests and fight for your right to a full settlement. If you are not in a good state to find a lawyer, ask a loved one to conduct the research and interviews so that a professional is in your corner from the very beginning of the investigation and insurance settlement process.
Seeking the Best Outcome After a Car Accident with Hutzler Law
Here at Hutzler Law, we are dedicated to defending the rights of those who experience car accidents and injuries. Among our skilled legal team, you are sure to find a lawyer with whom you have good rapport who can help you get the insurance settlement and fair treatment you deserve after an acccident. Contact us today through our website’s online form or call us at (602) 730-4530 to schedule your initial consultation. The lawyers of Hutzler Law are here to help.
Jason Hutzler
Jason Hutzler is the founding partner of Phoenix personal injury law firm Hutzler Law, and represents individuals throughout Arizona. His practice is primarily dedicated to personal injury and car accident claims, leveraging his deep expertise as a former insurance adjustor to navigate the complexities of insurance negotiations.