What Should I Do After I’ve Been Hit by a Car in Phoenix?
If you’ve received medical attention, the most critical action is to protect your legal claim. Write down every detail you remember about the collision while the events are still fresh in your mind. Also, obtain a copy of the official police report from the responding law enforcement agency.
Gather all your accident-related paperwork, including medical bills, discharge papers, and records of your missed work days. Keep everything together in a safe place. Don’t give a recorded statement to an insurance adjuster, but refer them to your lawyer.
What if the Driver Claims I Was at Fault for the Accident?
It’s a common tactic for drivers and their insurance companies to try to blame the pedestrian, but don’t accept their assessment of fault. Even if you were partially at fault, you may still be able to recover compensation under Arizona’s pure comparative negligence rule.
A skilled Phoenix pedestrian accident lawyer will fight back against unfair blame and work to prove the driver’s negligence.
What Happens if the Driver Who Hit Me Fled the Scene?
If a hit-and-run driver hit you, you may still have options for compensation. Your own auto insurance policy’s Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage often applies in these situations, even though you weren’t in your car. A pedestrian accident lawyer in Phoenix helps you file a UM claim.
How Long Do I Have To File a Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit in Arizona?
In most cases, Arizona’s statute of limitations gives you two years from the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you fail to file your claim within this critical window, you’ll almost certainly lose your right to seek any compensation.
Contact a Phoenix pedestrian accident attorney as soon as possible to protect your legal rights.
How Does a Phoenix Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Prove a Driver Was Distracted?
Proving driver distraction requires a prompt and detailed investigation. Your lawyer may subpoena the driver’s cell phone records to look for evidence of calls or texts sent or received right before the crash.
Your attorney also interviews witnesses who may have seen the driver looking at their phone, checks traffic footage, and uses evidence from the scene to show a lack of awareness, like the absence of skid marks.