Scottsdale Personal Injury Lawyer

Personal Injury Lawyer Scottsdale, AZ

If you’ve been injured through no fault of your own, it is advisable for you to consult with a personal injury lawyer Scottsdale relies on. Whether you’ve been hurt on the job, involved in a motor vehicle accident, slipped and fell on someone else’s property, or been injured by a defective product, a personal injury attorney can help. In most of these situations, the outcome is often better when you work with an experienced personal injury lawyer, like Yearin Law Office.

Getting into a car accident or sustaining injuries in another type of accident can render you unable to do the normal things you do every day, like going to work or school, completing yard work and housework, caring for children, cooking, etc. If you sustained injuries because of another person’s negligence, it is important to contact a personal injury lawyer in Scottsdale at Yearin Law Office and take several steps to protect your interests in the coming days.

Not all accidents result in catastrophic injuries. But some seemingly mild injuries can result in long-term problems that require treatment and therapy. For example, if you hit your head in a car accident, you may not notice symptoms of having a concussion at first. But symptoms may develop that require you to go to therapy or a doctor.

Even if you do not think you need to see a doctor following your accident, attend all your appointments. Continue to go to all your medical and therapy appointments until the recommended course of treatment concludes. This can help you maintain a record of your healing and recovery process, as well as ensure you receive treatment for symptoms that occur later on.

Your personal injury lawyer in Scottsdale AZ will need to gather documentation to support your case. If they request a document or information from you, provide it promptly. You should also provide them with updates about your recovery process and copies of any expenses you incur for medical treatment. Additionally, if you have information relating to the accident or any witnesses, provide these details to your attorney as soon as you can.

When you work with a personal injury lawyer in Scottsdale at Yearin Law Office, you likely want to resolve your case as efficiently as possible. But this is difficult to do if you do not communicate with your lawyer. If your lawyer contacts you, return their call or email within a reasonable timeframe. Working in partnership with your lawyer can help you move your case forward so that you can increase your chances of receiving fair and proper compensation.

Recovering from an accident that results in serious injuries can take several weeks or even months. By taking steps to protect your interests, you can enhance your recovery process and hold the negligent party accountable for their actions.

What Is A Personal Injury?
Personal Injury Law Compensation
Reasons To Consult A Personal Injury Attorney
Personal Injury Attorney Scottsdale, AZ Video
Employer Responsibilities For Workplace Accidents
Scottsdale Personal Injury Law Infographic
Five Myths About Personal Injury Law
Car Accidents Are Not The Only Kind Of Personal Injury You Can Sue For
Factors To Consider When Filing A Personal Injury Lawsuit
Scottsdale Personal Injury Law Statistics
How to Handle the Insurance Company
Your First Settlement Offer May Be Low
Other Tips And Tricks
Scottsdale Personal Injury Law FAQs
Yearin Law Office Scottsdale Personal Injury Lawyer
Getting the Compensation You Deserve
See What We Can Do For You!

What Is A Personal Injury?

Knowing what a personal injury is seems like something that everyone in the world should know; however, this is not true. Personal injury is typically defined in everyone’s mind, body, or emotion. This is always an injury to a person as opposed to an injury on someone’s property. Personal injuries are the area of law that seeks to compensate victims who have been injured and punish the offenders for these injuries with monetary awards and punitive damages.

Personal Injury Law Compensation

In typical personal injury lawsuits, two types of damages are awarded punitive damages or compensatory damages. Each state has handled how these are dictated, and your Phoenix-based personal injury attorney can help you understand these rights.

When personal injury attorneys are proving your case or settling with your case you are often rewarded with compensatory damages. These are meant to compensate the victim for the injuries that they have suffered in the accident. To calculate these damages a monetary value is assigned to the impersonal harm, property loss as a result of the injury, and more. The monetary value can be actual or it may be estimated. Actual losses include medical bills, repair bills for an automobile or other property that was harmed as a director to personal injury, lost wages, or earned sick or vacation time that had to be used by the victim for recovery.

Indirect victims of personal injury may also have a legal claim for compensation. Spouses for example can file a suit to recoup monies for lost affection or loss of the spouse’s contributed to the household.

Punitive damages differ from compensatory damages and punitive damages are awarded to punish the perpetrator of the personal injury and not compensate the victim of the injury. The goal of punitive damages is to convince the defendant to change the harmful behavior by punishing them economically. These types of damages are not awarded in every personal injury case. There are a lot of factors that go into determining what amount of punitive damages the plaintiff of a personal injury lawsuit should ask for, and having competent representation with an experienced and focused attorney is just one thing a victim of personal injury can do for themselves.

Reasons To Consult A Personal Injury Attorney

A proven and knowledgeable attorney can work to get you the maximum compensation possible for your injuries. A few reasons why you are well-advised to consult with a Scottsdale, Arizona personal injury lawyer include:

Increase Your Chances of Winning

Even what seems like a cut-and-dried personal injury case needs capable legal support. If you don’t have the right legal team to file and craft your lawsuit, you might lose your case. The more complicated your lawsuit is, the more you need a seasoned attorney on your side. A personal injury attorney can strive to increase your chances of obtaining a favorable result, making it more than beneficial to seek legal representation.

Increase Settlement Amount

Even if you feel as if your case will stand up to scrutiny by the other party’s insurance company and attorneys, you can still benefit from hiring a Scottsdale, AZ personal injury attorney. The lawyers and insurance companies on the other side have one thing in mind: saving themselves money. In the end, an attorney can fight to get you the settlement amount that you deserve.

Prevent Stress

Many people find that it’s wise to hire a personal injury lawyer so that they can focus their attention on recovering from their injuries. Personal injury cases are often stressful, and without accomplished legal representation, you’re left to handle it all alone. It would be best if you were focusing on getting rest and recovering from your injury. Recovery is your most critical job. Let your attorney handle the other details involved with the legal end of things.

Personal Injury Attorney Scottsdale, AZ Video

Employer Responsibilities For Workplace Accidents

If you suffered a personal injury on the job, your employer has a responsibility to take care of you. Neglecting those duties may land your employer in hot legal water. Below, Yearin Law Office explains employer responsibilities when responding to an on-the-job injury. Help your personal injury lawyer in Scottsdale AZ, determine how to approach your case and protect your rights.

Provide Immediate Medical Assistance

Employers should provide injured workers with medical assistance immediately after a workplace accident. Even if the employee does not seem injured or show signs of harm, it’s a good idea to have a doctor look him or her over, anyway.

Complete A First Report Of Injury

Companies should also draw up a First Report of Injury and submit it to the workers’ compensation insurance carrier and the local workers’ compensation board office. Companies that refuse to create a report of the injury could find themselves charged with a misdemeanor.

Work With The Insurance Carrier

Employers and employees must cooperate with the company’s workers’ compensation carrier as it investigates the injury. The insurance provider may have its own personal injury lawyer in Scottsdale, and employees and employers should cooperate with him or her, too. Injured employees may want to have the insurance company’s legal team reserve their questions for her or his personal injury legal representative.

Employers may have to submit the injured worker’s payroll history or personnel file. The worker’s compensation provider may also want to speak to employees who witnessed the accident or supervisors. If so, companies must comply as quickly as possible.

Help the Injured Worker Return To Work

Your employer’s responsibilities do not end after you receive medical attention or after working with its insurance carrier. When you recover enough to get back to work, your company must help with the transition. That may involve switching you to light-duty with responsibilities that match your physical capabilities and whatever restrictions your doctor recommends. Employers cannot terminate or punish injured workers for filing a worker’s compensation claim. Doing so may open them to legal action from Yearin Law Office.

Refrain From Committing Fraud

Just as injured workers may commit insurance fraud, the same applies to employers. For instance, neglecting to submit a First Report of Injury to reduce a claims history qualifies as fraud. Injured workers may learn of such deceitful acts if they find out why they did not receive the benefits they deserve.

Scottsdale Personal Injury Law Infographic

Five Myths About Personal Injury Law

Personal injury law covers a wide array of circumstances. Car accidents are probably the most common, but they’re far from the only personal injury cases your Yearin Law Office personal injury lawyer in Scottsdale AZ, has seen. With all the personal injuries out there, there are bound to be myths and misconceptions. Here are five of them.

I Have A Pre-Existing Condition So I Can’t Claim Damages

Even if your injury was exactly where you had a pre-existing condition, you can still claim damages, since the injury caused new damage. It may be a fight getting the insurance companies to see things your way, though. That’s why you need a personal injury lawyer in Scottsdale, from Yearin Law Office to help you get the medical records you need to navigate your claim.

I Was Partly at Fault So I Can’t Claim Damages

In some states, that may be true. Arizona is a “pure comparative fault” car accident state. That means that even if you were 90% responsible for your injury, you can still recover 10% of the damages you’d otherwise be entitled to. On the other hand, that would mean you’re responsible for 90% of the other party’s damages. Your personal injury lawyer in Scottsdale can walk you through things after his accident reconstruction investigator files a report.

I Have To Tell My Insurance Company Everything

You’re most likely required by your insurance company to report any accident to them. However, that doesn’t mean you have to tell them everything. In fact, you want to tell them as little as possible. You were in an accident. You suffered injuries. Your car was towed away. End of discussion. They may ask you to make a recorded statement; decline their invitation until after you speak with an attorney.

I’ll Have to Go to Court If I File A Lawsuit

The vast majority of the time, personal injury lawsuits are settled well before they would ever be heard in open court. Your personal injury lawyer in Scottsdale AZ can negotiate with the other party’s insurance company to get a fair settlement for you, one that covers your medical bills, future medical expenses, lost wages, future lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.

Car Accidents Are Not The Only Kind Of Personal Injury You Can Sue For

Car accidents make up a fair amount of personal injury cases. However, they’re far from the only cause of personal injury lawsuits. Some others include:

Medical Malpractice
Workplace Injury
Dog Bites
Slip And Falls
Wrongful Death
Premises Liability
Product Liability

Factors To Consider When Filing A Personal Injury Lawsuit

When you are injured due to another party’s negligence or recklessness, Arizona law allows you to pursue damages against that party for the losses your injuries have caused you. The at-fault party may be an individual, a property owner, a business, or even a government entity, depending on the circumstances of the accident. In some cases, there may even be more than one liable party named in your lawsuit. There are many factors that can affect your lawsuit, which is why it is important to speak to an experienced Scottsdale personal injury lawyer about your case.

Preserving Evidence

It is critical to any personal injury case to preserve as much evidence as possible. Without evidence, you may not be able to prove the other party’s liability. The other party may even intentionally “lose” or destroy evidence. This is why having a personal injury lawyer representing you right away is so important. Your lawyer knows the legal steps to take to ensure any evidence is preserved.

Time To File

Arizona, just like all other states, only allows a certain amount of time to file your claim. This is referred to as the statute of limitations. Once that time has expired, you will lose the option to sue the party who was responsible for your injuries. Arizona law sets that time at two years. In most cases, the clock starts ticking the day of the accident that caused the injury, however, there are some exceptions. Your personal injury lawyer in Scottsdale will be able to determine what the statute of limitations is in your case.

Comparative Negligence

Arizona is a comparative negligence state. This means that the victim can still recover a percentage of damages even if it is determined that they shared some portion of liability for the accident. For example, if one driver was traveling over the speed limit when another driver ran a stop sign and crashed into them, the driver who was speeding may be legally deemed to share a percentage of the fault in the crash. That percentage would then be deducted from the final amount awarded to them in a personal injury lawsuit.

Settlements

The majority of personal injury lawsuits never go to trial. Instead, negotiations take place between the injured party and the at-fault party (usually their insurance company) to come up with an agreed-upon settlement amount and avoid a jury trial. Unfortunately, insurance companies take advantage of victims who do not have legal representation and will often offer settlement amounts far less than the victim deserves. Having a skilled Scottsdale AZ personal injury lawyer representing you in these negotiations sends a message to the insurance company that their usual tactics won’t work, and they need to come up with a fair and just settlement amount.

Scottsdale Personal Injury Law Statistics

According to the National Floor Safety Institute, 87% of all fractures for those over the age of 65 are due to a fall. When patients are checked in to a nursing home for the first time, 40% of the time the reason provided is due to a recent fall. Slip and falls can have a devastating impact on the elderly population. Due to weakened bones and less resilient bodies, older adults are more susceptible to fractures, head injuries, and other serious health consequences. Recovery can be incredibly lengthy and costly. The fear of falling can often unfortunately lead to decreased physical activity and social isolation.

How to Handle the Insurance Company

When you decide to pursue a personal injury claim, your case will be assigned an insurance adjuster. This person is not working for you, but rather for the company. That said, they might tell you that they are ready and willing to work with you. The adjuster may be friendly, supportive, and empathetic to your situation. They will tell you how they want to resolve your claim in a timely manner, so you can move forward in life. As a personal injury lawyer, Scottsdale, AZ has to offer, we would like you to know that their ultimate goal is to settle for the least amount possible. They are very good at doing this because they are rewarded for their performance. In other words, they may be offered a bonus or promotion for settling claims for the least amount possible – this could very well include your own case. Because insurance adjusters are well known for their clever tactics and convincing language, you should retain a Scottsdale, Arizona personal injury lawyer.

The Insurance Adjustor Is Not Your Friend

It is the duty of an insurance adjuster to turn a profit for the company. As they work towards this goal, they might tell you not to worry. Or, that everything will be handled and you don’t need a lawyer. It should be said that in small, straightforward cases that involve limited, minor injuries or damages, you very well might not need a legal advocate. Anything that is complex, or involves a significant amount of losses, should be overseen by a qualified lawyer.

At some point, you might be asked to provide a statement about what happened. Should you agree, and lack preparation, you could very well be lured into saying something that will be used against you. It is generally recommended that you avoid giving a recorded statement, or signing something without a lawyer at your side. This is because it is too easy to be manipulated by the adjuster.

Your Claim May Be Denied

Even though your claim might have significant merit, it could be denied at first. This is one of the most common strategies used on a claimant. The reason for this is that the adjuster is hoping that you will get discouraged and drop the case. In addition to this, you might be told:

You are at fault
You are partially to blame
There is no evidence to support what happened
Your injuries are a result of previous injuries
You failed to get medical treatment in a timely manner
The alleged defendant has done nothing wrong

Know that these statements are common and should not discourage you. An insurance adjuster can say just about anything they want. If you are hearing statements like these, you can call a personal injury lawyer in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Your First Settlement Offer May Be Low

If your claim was not denied, you might be offered a lowball settlement. Usually, this won’t cover even a fraction of your losses. As you are offered this, you may be told that:

It is the best deal available
If you don’t accept you might risk everything
It’s a very fair deal
Anything else is beyond their authority
They will fight your case and could win

This is all meant to discourage you. The more desperate you sound, the more they may try to use these tactics against you. It is advisable to consult a lawyer for help, guidance, and support.

Other Tips And Tricks

The insurance company does not want to pay out an amount that you deserve, they want to save money so they make money. They want to find a reason you don’t deserve a claim at all, or offer far lower than you deserve. Let’s talk about some more common tricks that the insurance company may try.

They’ll tell you they’re claiming liability, and you should seek medical care. They say they’ll even pay the bill and reassure you it’s okay. In reality, when you finish your treatment course and submit your bills to them, they say they are only going to cover a small fraction. When this happens, it’s usually too late to hire a lawyer because they realize you are facing serious debts. And due to that debt you are desperate to exchange your right to sue for a settlement, anything, however insignificant.
They might attempt to settle early. They want to make a quick settlement that can be less than what your lawyer would get you. They might even send somebody to your house or the hospital to talk to, while you’re vulnerable immediately after an accident. If you settle then you cannot sue.
The adjuster is going to try to give you a deadline. It’s arbitrary but they will tell you it’s a one-time settlement agreement and you need to agree by a certain date. This is a lowball offer so that you never make it to talk to a lawyer or calculate your losses.
They’re going to act friendly, expressing sympathy and concern. They’ll claim they’re on your side and that you do not need a lawyer. They’re trying to get you to trust them and talk to them, taking notes on everything you say to use if you sue.
They’re going to attempt to blame your injury on a pre-existing condition. They’re going to ask you to sign a general medical authorization, which allows them to look at your medical treatments—all of them—throughout your entire life. You do not have to sign this paper.
They’ll dispute your injuries and claim they’re not severe.
They will attempt to delay your claim so that you become irritated and desperate. This tactic is often used to break you down so that by the time they stop delaying you, you need the money they’re offering you. This tactic can also be an attempt to push a claim past the statutes of limitation in your state.
They’re going to ask for a written statement, or to record a statement. They’re trying to find something to use against you—anything you say can be twisted and used against you, so do not talk to the insurance company; even your own.
They’re going to deny liability, totally or even partially. They want to place all the blame on you or a third party, it’s not their fault, they weren’t in the car, were they? This is a tactic used to try to break you down and is usually used in conjunction with various other tricks mentioned above.

Scottsdale Personal Injury Law FAQs

Who Can File A Personal Injury Lawsuit?

Once you retain a personal injury lawyer, the lawyer is going to file the lawsuit on your behalf of you. If the victim is deceased or the parent is mentally incompetent the lawsuit is going to be brought up by a family member or legal guardian. Others who are directly harmed by the personal injury may also have a cause of action.

Can I File A Personal Injury Lawsuit At Any Time?

No. There is a statute of limitations on filing for personal injury lawsuits, and the personal injury lawyer that you hire will be able to answer any questions regarding this. If your personal injury case is filed after the limit’s statute has expired it is very likely that the lawsuit be dismissed and you will have no recourse or method for compensation.

Is There A Typical Amount Of Compensation I Can Expect To Get?

We understand that when you are recovering from a personal injury you are likely wondering what it will take to get the compensation you deserve and want to know how much you will get. Every personal injury claim is going to be unique and different even if it has the same basic components. Someone else who was in a similar car accident as you were or who had a similar slip and fall accident may get more or less depending on other circumstances surrounding their accident. We will not be able to give you an exact answer when it comes to how much you will get because it could be an incorrect number and it may be exaggerated.

What Is Your Courtroom Experience?

It’s important that you are not afraid to ask your personal injury attorney what their courtroom experience is. With personal injuries, most people do not realize that not all cases go to a courtroom. In fact, many times clients are surprised to learn that they can settle outside of court (which makes the process less complicated and quicker). However, in the event that you do need to go to court, feel free to speak with your attorney about what kind of courtroom experience they have had, especially with similar cases. You want to know that you have an attorney who can be aggressive in court when it comes to speaking about what you are owed but someone who knows a good settlement offer without needing to go to court.

Yearin Law Office Scottsdale Personal Injury Lawyer

8961 E. Bell Road, Suite 201 A Scottsdale, AZ 85260

Getting the Compensation You Deserve

If you were injured in an accident, you might be seriously considering filing a personal injury lawsuit. However, Yearin Law Office wants you to focus on getting better. Settling your case or taking it to trial before what’s called your “maximum medical improvement” is likely a big mistake. Have you recovered fully? Are you as good as you’re going to be? Hopefully, you’ll recover 100 percent, but if not, you’re going to need additional compensation to live a comfortable and happy life. Your attorney will craft your case with that in mind and work to ensure you get every bit of payment you deserve.

Yearin Law Office fiercely represents clients in lawsuits, getting successful judgments against negligent motor vehicle operators, automobile and tire manufacturers, consumer product and services companies, owners of buildings and public facilities, and healthcare organizations. The legal team at Yearin Law Office wants to help you get the most out of your personal injury case. Reach out to schedule a consultation or case review with a personal injury lawyer at Scottsdale families trust today.

Proving a Truck Accident Case

A Scottsdale, AZ personal injury lawyer knows that truck accidents are one of the most catastrophic types of personal injury cases that victims and their families suffer. These accidents often lead to such catastrophic injuries that the victims in these crashes do not survive. Those that do survive are often left with permanent disabilities that have a significant impact to their quality of life and their families.

A truck accident lawsuit can be complex because of the potential issues of multiple liabilities, as well as the gathering of possible evidence. One piece of evidence that can be critical in these cases is the event recorder.

What is an event recorder?

A black box is a device that records important data of a vehicle’s activity, especially in the event of an accident. Many people have heard about the black boxes that federal investigators utilize when there are plane crashes. Many commercial trucks are equipped with a similar device, referred to as an event data recorder.

What type of data does the event data recorder collect?

These devices record the vehicle’s movements, including when the truck accelerates, what the speed of the truck is, and what the distance was for any braking the truck engaged in. The box also records the truck’s fuel flow rate and the engine’s RPM. If there is a crash, the event data recorder will even show what the force of impact was and the timestamp for airbag deployment.

How could the event data recorder help in a truck accident case?

The event recorder stores all the data mentioned above, including the activity both right before a crash and immediately following the crash. Your Scottsdale personal injury lawyer can use that evidence to help prove the truck driver or other party’s liability for the crash.

For example, in a truck accident where the lawsuit claims the truck accident was speeding and that was what caused the crash, the event data recorder should show what the trucks speed was in the moments leading up to the crash. If the truck driver slammed on the brakes right before the truck crashed into the vehicle, that limited braking distance would also be included.

How can an attorney obtain the information from the event data recorder?

It is unlikely that the truck company will voluntarily hand over the event data recorder to a victim’s lawyer in a truck accident case. However, an attorney can obtain a court order that authorizes the company to do so.

One important point, however, is that if there is a lapse of time between the crash and when you retain the help of a Scottsdale personal injury lawyer, this gives the trucking company ample time to “accidentally” erase or lose the data that from the device.

What does the lawyer do with the data?

Once the data from the electronic device is obtained, it is usually turned over to an accident reconstructionist who will use the data to create a report of how the crash occurred. The reconstructionist will use this data, as well as police reports, accident scene data, and other available evidence to show who was at fault.

See What We Can Do For You!

When you want to get comfortable working with a personal injury lawyer, it can help to have a list of questions to ask them when you go into their office or speak with them over the phone. While you want to find someone who can help you with your case and has a good track record, it is important that you are comfortable with your personal injury lawyer and begin building a relationship from the start. At Yearin Law Office, we take great pride in knowing that we do everything we can to help our clients when they are suffering from a personal injury that was caused by someone else’s negligence, and building a good relationship is the start. To see what we can do for you, give our office a call.