A car accident in Arizona can leave you with serious injuries, costly medical bills, and a complicated fight with insurance providers that are more focused on minimizing payouts than helping you recover. You shouldnโt have to navigate this alone. At West Coast Trial Lawyers, we take on the legal battle so you can focus on healing.
Our Arizona car accident lawyers have spent over 20 years fighting for accident victims, securing over $1.7 billion in compensation. We know insurance companiesโ tactics, and we wonโt let them undervalue your claim. Whether youโre dealing with medical expenses, lost wages, vehicle repairs, or long-term suffering, we fight to maximize every dollar youโre entitled to.
Call us now at (213) 927-3700 or fill out our online contact form for a free consultation. There are no upfront fees, and you only pay if we win your case.
Why Choose West Coast Trial Lawyers for Your Personal Injury Claim?
Choosing the right lawyer isnโt just about experienceโitโs about having a team that truly fights for you. At West Coast Trial Lawyers, we have secured close to 2 billion for our clients and are committed to getting you the maximum compensation possible.
- We Know Arizona Roads and Traffic Laws โ Whether your accident happened on I-10, the Loop 101, or a busy Phoenix intersection, we understand Arizonaโs driving laws, accident hotspots, and the challenges of proving fault. This local knowledge helps us build strong cases and hold negligent drivers accountable.
- Insurance Companies Will Try to Pay You Less โ Insurance adjusters are trained to settle claims for as little as possible, often offering quick payouts that donโt fully cover medical bills, lost wages, or long-term care. We know their tactics and fight to ensure you get the compensation you deserve.
- We Prepare Every Case for Trial โ Some law firms rush to settle cases quickly to avoid the courtroom. We take the opposite approach, preparing every case as if itโs going to trial. This gives us leverage in negotiations and ensures that you receive the best possible outcome.
- No Upfront Costs, No Hidden Fees โ We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you donโt owe us anything unless we win your case. There are no financial risks, no hidden feesโjust results.
After a serious car accident, you deserve more than just legal helpโyou deserve a team that is truly committed to your recovery. Let us handle the fight while you focus on healing.
Do I Need an Arizona Car Accident Lawyer?
After a car crash, you might wonder whether hiring a lawyer is necessary. Legally, you donโt have to, but handling an insurance claim or legal case on your own can be difficultโespecially when insurance companies focus on minimizing payouts rather than helping you recover.
If your accident was minor, with no injuries and clear fault, you may be able to settle the claim yourself. However, in cases involving injuries, disputed liability, or complex insurance negotiations, having an experienced lawyer can make a real difference. Insurance adjusters are trained to settle claims for as little as possible, often offering quick payouts that donโt fully cover long-term medical expenses, lost pay, or pain and suffering. Without legal guidance, many accident victims end up accepting far less than they deserve or unknowingly saying something that harms their claim.
A car accident attorney can step in to gather evidence, handle negotiations, and ensure your claim is taken seriously. Studies show that those with legal representation tend to recover higher settlements because attorneys know how to prove damages and push back against unfair offers. If a case requires litigation, an attorney can take it to court and fight for fair compensation.
Hiring a lawyer isnโt about making the process more complicatedโitโs about making sure you donโt walk away with less than you need to recover and move forward. For example speaking with a Phoenix car accident attorney early on can help you understand your options and avoid mistakes that could weaken your case.
Steps to Take After a Car Accident in Arizona
A car accident in Arizona can be devastating โleaving you rattled and unsure whatโs next. The steps you take right after can shape your recovery. At West Coast Trial Lawyers, weโve represented countless clients injured from motor-vehicle crashesโhereโs how to handle it.
- Get Medical Help Fast
Donโt waitโsee a doctor, even if you think youโre okay. Hidden injuries like whiplash or internal bleeding can creep up later, and a medical check locks in proof of what the crash did to you. Your healthโs the priority. - Call the Cops
Dial 911 and get Arizona police on the scene. Their reportโdetailing skid marks, damage, who said whatโcuts through the โhe said, she saidโ when insurers start pointing fingers. Itโs your foundation, so donโt skip it. - Grab the Details
Swap info with the other driverโname, number, license, insurance, all of it. Gather witnessesโ contacts too, and if you can, snap photos of the wreck: cars, road, injuries. - Stick to the Doctorโs Plan
Follow every orderโmeds, therapy, whatever they say. Disregarding doctors can be a detriment to your health and gives the other side a cheap shot at your claim. Keep every visit, every bill, every note.
Cost of Hiring an Arizona Car Accident Lawyer
At West Coast Trial Lawyers, we believe you shouldnโt pay a dime to fight for whatโs yoursโunless we win. Like most Arizona personal injury firms, we work on a contingency fee basis: you only pay when we secure your compensation. If we donโt deliver, you owe us nothingโno risk, no upfront costs. Our fee comes from the settlement we recover, covering expenses like court filings or expert testimony, so youโre not stuck with out-of-pocket bills. This structure lets you focus on healing, not finances, while we handle the heavy lifting
Types of Compensation Available for Car Accident Victims
A car accident can take a lot from youโyour car, your health, your peace of mind. At West Coast Trial Lawyers, our Arizona car accident lawyers fight to get it all back, chasing every dollar youโre owed. Compensation splits into two buckets: economic damages for the hard costs and non-economic damages for the emotional toll.
Hereโs what you can claimโand why it matters.
Economic Damages
This is the tangible: wrecked car repairs or replacement, medical bills piling up from ER visits to therapy, and wages youโre losing while youโre off work. Canโt get back to your job long-term? Future earnings are on the table too. Throw in rehab costsโphysical therapy, whatever it takes to mendโand itโs clear: these numbers add up fast, and you shouldnโt face them alone.
Non-Economic Damages
Then thereโs the damages no receipt can measure. Pain and sufferingโthat ache that wonโt quit or the sleepless nightsโcounts. Emotional distress, like the anxiety that rides shotgun now, counts too. If the crash stole closeness with your spouse or family, thatโs loss of consortium, and itโs real. Punitive damages? Thatโs rare, but when the other guyโs recklessโlike a drunk driverโwe push to make them pay extra, not just to cover you, but to make an example.
Dealing With Insurance Companies After a Car Accident
After a serious vehicle accident in Arizona, insurance companies arenโt your friendsโtheyโre players in a game to pay you as little as possible. At WCTL, weโve seen it all: the other driverโs insurer fishing for slip-ups, your own provider dragging their feet. Hereโs how to handle themโand why you need us in your corner.
Watch what you say to the other sideโs adjusterโone wrong word, and theyโll twist your words to tank your claim. Tell your own insurer fast; Arizona law (ARS ยง20-259.01) gives them 30 days to respond once you report it, so donโt let them stall.
Theyโre not the most generous groupโtheyโll nitpick your policy, downplay your wreck, and push a lowball settlement to dodge a courtroom. Most cases settle because trials are a pain, but insurers bet on you caving early.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Arizona
Auto accidents in Arizona arenโt randomโthey follow patterns we at West Coast Trial Lawyers know inside out. From distracted drivers to crumbling roads, these crashes stem from preventable failures that leave victims paying the price. Understanding the culprits can strengthen your caseโhereโs whatโs driving the chaos on Arizonaโs highways.
Distracted Driving
Eyes off the roadโtexting, eating, fiddling with the radioโspells trouble. Arizonaโs seen a spike in these wrecks; hands-free laws (ARS ยง28-914) try to curb it, but too many still gamble with your safety.
Driving Under the Influence
DUI clouds judgment and slows reflexes, turning a quick drive into a deadly one. Arizonaโs strict on thisโover 28,000 arrests in 2023 alone, per state recordsโand every oneโs a risk you didnโt sign up for.
Drowsy Driving
Falling asleep at the wheel mimics drunk driving: decisions lag, reactions fade. Exhausted drivers on I-10 or Route 66 donโt just nod offโthey crash, and youโre left in the wreckage.
Reckless Driving
Swerving lanes, tailgating, blowing through stopsโreckless moves rack up collisions. Arizonaโs highways see this daily, and one bad call can flip your life upside down.
Vehicle Defects
Brakes fail, tires blowโwhen cars arenโt maintained, youโre the one who suffers. A defectโs not your fault, but itโs your fight if the manufacturer skimped on safety.
Poor Road Conditions
Missing signs, potholes, faded linesโArizonaโs roads arenโt always kind. State and local crews owe you better; when they donโt deliver, we hold them accountable.
Failure to Yield
Not giving way causes thousands of Arizona crashes yearlyโintersections turn into traps when drivers ignore the rules. Itโs sloppy, and itโs on them.
Speeding
Flooring it cuts reaction time and amps up damage. Arizonaโs speed cams catch plenty, but too many still race through, leaving twisted metal and bigger bills.
Proving Fault in an Arizona Car Accident Case
At West Coast Trial Lawyers, we navigate Arizonaโs at-fault system to hold the right driver accountable for your damagesโmedical expenses, wrecked cars, lost income. Hereโs how fault works, what it takes to prove it, and what it means for your case.
How Fault is Established
Arizonaโs an at-fault state: the driver who caused the crash covers the costs. That hinges on negligenceโdid they blow a red light, tailgate, or break a rule like Arizonaโs texting ban (ARS ยง28-914)?ย
A ticket or citation seals the deal fast, but even without one, we pile on evidence: police reports nailing down the scene, witness accounts calling it like they saw it, dashcam or traffic video showing the truth. Skid marks, car damage, where the vehicles landedโall get dissected from the accident scene, sometimes with an accident reconstruction expert to settle disputes. We donโt guess whoโs at fault; we prove it.
What If I Share Some Fault for the Accident?
Arizonaโs pure comparative negligence law (ARS ยง12-2506) means youโre not out of luck if youโre partly to blame. Say you drifted lanes but the other guy was speedingโyou might be 30% at fault, theyโre 70%. Your payout drops by your share, so a $10,000 award becomes $7,000. Even if youโre 99% responsible, you can still claim that 1%โArizona doesnโt cut you off like some states do. We dig into every angle to keep your fault low and your compensation highโbecause every percentage counts
Will My Car Accident Case Go to Court?
Most Arizona car accident cases settle out of courtโnegotiations with insurers or defense lawyers usually get it done. We push hard early, armed with evidence and a clear picture of your injuries: broken bones, rehab costs, or weeks off work. Simple fender-benders wrap up fast; messy wrecks with big damages or stubborn insurance companies drag longerโsometimes six months, sometimes a year. If they wonโt budge, we file suit and take it to trial, laying out the crash story with witnesses and experts. Courtโs rare, but weโre readyโtrial prep gives us leverage to squeeze out every dollar you deserve
How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Claim in Arizona?
In Arizona, youโve got two years to file a car accident claimโstarting the day the crash happensโunder the stateโs statute of limitations (ARS ยง12-542). Miss that window, and your shot at compensation for medical bills, lost wages, or pain is considered abandoned. The same two-year clock applies to wrongful death lawsuits if a car accident takes a loved oneโs life.
Time is of the essence, and insurance companies wonโt remind youโtheyโll just wait you out. Contact a lawyer in Arizona, whether it be a Phoenix car accident lawyer from West Coast Trial Lawyers or any legal representation. We move fast to lock in your claim and fight for what youโre owed.
Free Consultation With an Experienced Arizona Car Accident Lawyer
A serious car accident can upend your life, but you donโt have to face the fallout alone. At West Coast Trial Lawyers, we turn your Arizona car accident into a fight weโre built to winโsecuring the compensation you need for medical bills, lost wages, and the toll itโs taken.
With our proven expertise and relentless advocacy, we stand up to insurance companies and at-fault drivers, ensuring your rights arenโt trampled. Speak to an expert Arizona car accident lawyer today!
Call us now at (213) 927-3700 or fill out our online contact form for a free consultation.
