Your Guide What To Do After Being In A Car Accident In Arizona
If you have been in a car accident in Arizona there are a few things you should do before anything. First, if you are hurt you should immediately go to the doctor. Why is that? Many people tell me (Alexis) they are hurt but don't want to go to the doctor. The necessity for going to the doctor after a Phoenix car accident is that if you do not have medical documentation the insurance company will most likely deny your claim. Without showing proof of your injury the insurance company will most likely say that if you were hurt you would have gone to the doctor.
Second, take pictures! Pictures can be of your vehicle, your body, items damaged inside the vehicle, the other vehicle, skid marks in the road, your hospital room, etc. The old saying "a picture is worth 100 words" is probably more true in proving a car accident injury claim than anything else. When a lawyer is explaining to an adjuster the trauma you went through, having a picture to show the trauma makes the claim that much more understandable.
Lastly, if your vehicle is in a tow yard steps must be taken immediately to try to remove it from the storage yard as the facility where the vehicle is being stored will charge storage fees for each day which can get very expensive. Some facilities charge as much as $50.00/day. You can make a claim through your own insurance company is liability is still being investigated. If you do not have collision coverage on your vehicle, specific letters need to be written to the insurance company indicating that you do not have the means to move the vehicle. In Arizona there is a law that says an injured victim has the duty to mitigate their damages. What that means is that an injured person has to take steps to move the vehicle. Therefore, when we represent clients we show all the steps that were taken. Another old saying which is very true for when dealing with insurance companies is "if it isn't written, it didn't happen." We recommend that all communications with insurance companies be in writing. If you are writing to the insurance company then one day those documents can be used as exhibits. Telephone calls cannot be used as exhibits and can be denied.
These are just a few pointed for what needs to be done right after a car accident. If you have been seriously injured we recommend consulting with a Phoenix personal injury lawyer. We welcome people to call us anytime to discuss a free evaluation of their claim. It is better to consult with a lawyer as soon as possible after your accident to make sure you are aware of all missed deadlines and what is the best way to proceed with your claim.
