While any aftereffects following an accident can be devastating if you suffer a catastrophic injury, the repercussions can be tragic. That is why, following a catastrophic injury accident, you should reach out to an experienced Phoenix catastrophic injury lawyer as soon as possible.
At Hutzler Law, our Phoenix catastrophic injury attorneys not only have the experience needed to take on these challenging claims, but we can help you go after the wrongful party that caused your accident and fight for the justice and damages you deserve.
Table of Contents
- Speak to an Injury Lawyer
- Why Choose Us?
- Catastrophic Injuries—What Are They?
- Common Causes of Catastrophic Injuries in Phoenix
- What You Need to Know About Catastrophic Injury Accidents in Phoenix?
- Frequently Asked Questions Following a Phoenix Catastrophic Injury Accident
Speak to an Injury Lawyer
Contact us for your consultation after a Catastrophic Injury.
Why Choose Us?
At Hutzler Law, we understand that following an accident, you would rather focus on your healing and recovery than the legal aspects of your case. For these reasons, our firm offers personalized, aggressive, and compassionate legal representation for those an accident harmed or who lost a family member due to another person’s wrongful actions.
Our legal team is prepared to fight for your rights, build a strong case that proves liability, and work hard to fight for the money you need. In fact, due to this dedication and drive, our firm has recovered tens of millions of dollars for our clients, and while we cannot promise every case we take on these same results when you work with Hutzler Law, we can assure you we can fight hard for every dollar you need.
Our office is conveniently located on North 12th Street, near the Grand Canal Trail, where we can meet with you in person or, if you prefer, virtually. Plus, our initial consultations are always free.
Catastrophic Injuries—What Are They?
A catastrophic injury causes serious harm that stops a person from permanently performing any gainful work. This also means when you endure a catastrophic injury, you can be looking at significant deformities or a long-term debilitating injury.
While numerous injuries can fall into the category of a catastrophic injury, in general, these injuries include:
- Spinal cord damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Limb loss
- Hearing or sight loss
- Neck trauma
- Internal damage, such as organ damage or internal bleeding
- Toxic chemical poisoning
- Severe burns
- Death
Those who survive these injuries will likely have to endure extensive medical bills and rehabilitative therapy costs that can last for the rest of their lives. That is why following a catastrophic injury accident, reach out to an experienced catastrophic injury attorney, such as those at Hutzler Law, as soon as possible. These legal professionals can help you go after the compensation you need to ensure you get the medical care you require.
Common Causes of Catastrophic Injuries in Phoenix
While there are numerous causes behind a catastrophic injury accident, they typically tend to result from:
- Pedestrian accidents
- Motorcycle crashes
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Trucking collisions
- Work-related accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Swimming pool accidents
- Hazardous conditions on a property
However, if your injury resulted from an accident not indicated on the list above, do not let this stop you from reaching out to an experienced catastrophic injury attorney. These legal professionals can review your case, determine if you have a valid legal claim, and go over your options.
What You Need to Know About Catastrophic Injury Accidents in Phoenix?
Although catastrophic injury accidents can happen anywhere, in Phoenix, they tend to occur more frequently than in other locations. For instance, due to its long highways and multi-lane roads, Phoenix motorists are known to drive fast, despite the posted speed limits. As a result, countless accidents and deaths occur every year due to this negligent behavior.
In fact, automobile accidents have increased by nearly 50 percent in Phoenix in the last decade. In just one year, Phoenix has experienced 35,274 car accidents, resulting in over 9,000 injuries and 207 deaths.
And sadly, it does not look like these numbers will be changing anytime soon, especially since Phoenix continues to see a population increase, which means more drivers on the road, and likely more tragic accidents, especially at some of the more dangerous intersections, including:
- 75th Avenue and Indian School
- 67th Avenue and McDowell Road
- 99th Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road
Time Limitations Surrounding Catastrophic Injury Accidents in Phoenix
Due to Arizona’s statute of limitations, which is a law that dictates the amount of time you have to file a legal claim following an alleged offense, individuals hurt in a catastrophic injury accident will only have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. If they do not submit their case within this deadline, they cannot take legal action to obtain the money they need.
For this reason, do not wait to reach out to a catastrophic injury accident attorney. At Hutzler Law, we can not only determine how much time you have to file your case, but we can also make sure that all the required legal motions are submitted to the appropriate court before time runs out.
How Much Is My Case Worth?
Depending on the circumstances of the accident, you may be entitled to certain types of compensation.
Typically, this compensation includes both economic and non-economic damages, such as:
- Medical bills related to doctor visits, hospital stays, medications, assistive medical devices, surgeries, and other medical treatments
- Future, ongoing medical care
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Personal property damages
- Pain
- Suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of companionship
- Disfigurement
- Inconvenience
An attorney cannot tell you exactly how much money you can receive following your accident due to the numerous factors that can affect this value, such as the extent of your injuries, the defendant’s culpability, and even the evidence presented.
They can, however, help figure out which of these damages apply to your case, prepare strong legal arguments on your behalf as to why you should receive these damages, and help you pursue the maximum compensation you deserve.
Fighting the Insurance Company
Even though you may think that the insurance company will want to help you after a catastrophic injury accident, this, unfortunately, is not how these companies work. Like other businesses, they too want to make money. As a result, the less they pay you for your claims, the more money they make. That is why these companies and their adjusters will try to do anything to get you to settle for less or try to deny your claim altogether.
Consequently, before you speak to the insurance company, discuss the accident with a knowledgeable catastrophic injury attorney. At Hutzler Law, our skilled legal team can protect you from the deceitful practices these insurance adjusters may try and even take over these conversations for you, ensuring you do not say anything to hurt your case.
What to Do Following a Catastrophic Injury Accident?
Unfortunately, a catastrophic injury may prevent you from doing much at the scene. However, take what actions you can to protect your health, safety, and legal rights. For these reasons, after this accident, you should:
Contact 911
If you can, call 911 immediately or have someone near you call for you. Once you contact the authorities, they can provide necessary emergency medical treatment. In addition, after the police arrive and perform a preliminary investigation, they can jot down their findings in their police report, providing you and your attorney with valuable details if you decide to pursue legal action.
Follow Your Doctor’s Orders and Document Medical Needs
As you recover, it is critical to follow your doctor’s directions. Later in the process, the insurance agency may dismiss the severity of your injuries by searching for any evidence that you did not follow prescribed treatment plans, indicating that you may not have experienced as much pain as you reported. Additionally, ensure that you or a loved one can collect documentation of your treatment, the diagnosis, the length of your stay, and any additional information available.
Bring Documents to the Lawyer
You should have already received medical treatments when you meet with an attorney. Bring your medical reports documenting the severity of your injuries to this meeting, along with the police report, pictures gathered from the accident scene, bills associated with the accident, and any other documents that can help your case.
These lawyers can review all of this evidence and use it to prepare the strongest legal case on your behalf, helping you go after the compensation you deserve.
Frequently Asked Questions Following a Phoenix Catastrophic Injury Accident
After a catastrophic injury accident, it is common for victims and their families to have numerous questions about the incident, their legal options, and what they must do to obtain money for their harm and losses. For these reasons, our firm has prepared answers to the following frequently asked questions that our clients often have after a catastrophic injury accident. With the below responses, we hope you have the clarity you need to know what to do next.
Who Can You Hold Liable for a Phoenix Catastrophic Injury Accident?
You might hold numerous parties liable for a catastrophic injury accident, including:
- Motorists and other vehicle owners
- Employers
- Property owners
- Store owners
As a result, the best way to determine who was at fault for your catastrophic injury accident is to reach out to a knowledgeable catastrophic injury attorney as soon as you can. These lawyers can investigate your accident and obtain the evidence needed to show what happened and who was at fault for your injuries as they pursue the maximum financial recovery you deserve.
Can You Pursue Legal Action, If a Loved One Passed Away in a Phoenix Catastrophic Injury Accident?
According to the laws in Arizona, if an individual dies from a catastrophic injury accident, their loved ones can pursue a wrongful death claim and go after damages resulting from their family member’s passing
In other words, this claim is like a personal injury case in which the decedent (the injured individual) can no longer bring a claim on their own, and instead, they have someone step in to file one.
How Can Hutzler Law Help You Following a Phoenix Catastrophic Injury Accident?
After a Phoenix catastrophic injury accident, you have enough going on. The last thing you need to stress about is preparing a legal case to go after the compensation you deserve. Fortunately, with Hutzler Law on your side, you will not have to take on this complex legal battle alone.
Rather, once retained, our attorneys can:
- Thoroughly discuss your accident with you, determine if you have a viable claim, and help you figure out what legal options you can pursue.
- Investigate what happened and obtain the evidence necessary to show the extent of your damages and liability.
- Hire experts to validate your claim, including doctors, financial specialists, and accident reconstructionists.
- Take on the settlement negotiations and pursue a just settlement offer.
- Proceed to trial, if needed, and fight for the successful resolution of your case.
After suffering a catastrophic injury in Phoenix, do not wait to secure the legal help you need. Instead, contact Hutzler Law today at (602) 730-4530 for a free case evaluation and let our legal team show you how we can help you.
Hutzler Law, PLLC – Phoenix Car Accident Lawyers
4323 N 12th St, Suite 101,
Phoenix, AZ 85014