Personal Injury Lawyer in Scottsdale, AZ

After suffering an injury as a result of someone’s negligence, you could be able to get compensation. By turning to a Scottsdale personal injury lawyer like those at Gerber Injury Law, you can receive the guidance you need.

But what exactly does personal injury mean? This type of harm refers to an injury to the body or mind that was caused by someone else’s negligent actions or failure to live up to their responsibilities. By filing a personal injury claim after suffering one of these injuries, you can get compensation to cover your losses.

Each year in the United States, there are 57.5 million visits to doctors’ offices and 40 million to emergency rooms for injuries. A majority of these stem from car accidents, workplace accidents, and more.

At Gerber Injury Law, we can help with a number of claim types, including:

• Boat accidents
• Bus accidents
• Car accidents
• Catastrophic injuries
• Construction site accidents
• Dog bites
• Golf cart accidents
• Medical malpractice
• Motorcycle accidents
• Nursing home abuse
• Pedestrian accidents
• Premises liability
• Truck accidents
• Product liability
• Wrongful death

That said, you may be wondering: is it necessary to hire a personal injury lawyer, or can you file a claim yourself?

Benefits of Hiring a Scottsdale Personal Injury Lawyer

Although it can seem like an added stress to find a personal injury lawyer, it can actually end up saving you a lot of time, money, and frustration because they offer a multitude of benefits.

Providing an Objective Assessment

Not everyone who suffers an injury is eligible for compensation. You may think you meet all of the requirements, but some claims can be tricky. By turning to a personal injury lawyer, you can get an objective assessment. You don’t want to do all the work of gathering evidence for nothing.

Remember, too, that personal injury lawyers offer free consultations. This means that getting a fair assessment doesn’t have to cost you anything.

Understanding Arizona Law

Many people assume that personal injury claims are easy to file because they are so common. However, that’s not the case, especially in a state like Arizona.

Arizona is one of the states that follow at-fault laws. This means that the person who caused the accident is the one who has to pay for the other party’s losses.

The complications don’t stop there, though. Arizona law also follows comparative negligence, allowing people who were partly at fault to still receive some compensation. Whatever their winnings are, their percentage of fault is subtracted from their total.

These laws make it necessary to accurately determine the percentage of fault. You also want to remember that personal injury claims have statutes of limitations. Many have a two-year statute, but not all. If you don’t have a lawyer helping you, you could end up missing the deadline.

Strong Negotiation Skills

Trying to get as much compensation as possible means dealing with insurance companies. Most people have an inkling that insurers aren’t as helpful as they appear. Nonetheless, unless you’ve dealt with them before, it can be tough to understand just how far they go to keep you from getting compensation.

When you have a lawyer on your side, however, the whole process can become easier because you don’t have to negotiate yourself. You’re able to focus on healing without the added stress of dealing with insurers.

Investigating Your Case

To be able to get compensation, most types of personal injury claims demand that you meet some minimum requirements. To start with, you must prove that the person had a duty of care and that they breached it.

For example, if the person was driving a vehicle, they owed it to everyone on the road so that they could drive safely and follow all traffic laws. If they were speeding or driving under the influence, they breached their duty of care.

You then have to demonstrate that their actions directly led to your injuries. Finally, you must show that you can be compensated for those injuries. If all you suffered was a light scratch, that wouldn’t be enough to require compensation. Meeting all these requirements means gathering evidence, but that’s not always easy — especially if you’re dealing with injuries.

Fortunately, a personal injury lawyer knows exactly what kinds of evidence can make a difference in these types of claims and how to collect it. They will look at things like police reports, medical records, and witness testimonies. If necessary, they’ll also reach out to expert witnesses for help.

Dealing With Damages

Your lawyer will work with you to decide on the fair sums you can claim. This is simple with economic damages like medical bills, but it can get complex when you’re dealing with non-economic damages like pain and suffering.

It’s tough to put a number on suffering, but your lawyer will consider the injuries you sustained, how they have affected your life, and other factors. Then, they will put together a number that’s fair. This is another step that you likely don’t want to take on your own.

Handling Courtroom Proceedings

Sometimes, no matter how good your lawyer is, insurance companies and other parties don’t want to negotiate in good faith. If that happens, your best chance of getting compensation is taking the case to court. To do that, you need a lawyer.

The right personal injury lawyer will always be ready to litigate. They will have a strategy from the get-go about how to handle your case if a trial becomes necessary.

Emotional Support

Many people think of lawyers as just focused on winning the claim. The right personal injury lawyer, however, will also understand how stressful and traumatic an accident can be. You can count on support from them, which makes it a bit easier to go through this trying process.

Why Choose a Scottsdale Personal Injury Lawyer

You shouldn’t just hire any personal injury lawyer in the state. You want to reach out to someone who’s local.

Local Knowledge

A personal injury lawyer who’s worked in Scottsdale for a while knows how the local court system functions. They’ll be familiar with the judges they may have to argue in front of and what arguments tend to persuade them. All of that knowledge becomes extremely valuable when planning and strategizing the claim.

Local lawyers will also have other connections in the Scottsdale area. They may know lots of expert witnesses who can offer testimony on your behalf without having to travel half the country to do so. That saves time and money.

A local personal injury lawyer will also have knowledge of legal precedents in the area. This gives them leverage, which works in your favor. They’ll also have a better idea of local insurance practices.

Accessibility and Communication

A local lawyer gives you the chance to speak in person. This offers a much better way of discussing complex cases and avoiding misunderstandings. Having a lawyer who’s physically accessible allows you to get quick answers to questions without the need for playing phone tag.

Building Relationships

When you hire a local lawyer, you’re able to build a lawyer-client relationship. That means forming the kind of trust you can depend on when you run into concerns or worries. Because this is such a difficult and sometimes lengthy process, knowing you can turn to your lawyer for help is essential.

Additional Resources

Finding the right personal injury lawyer can seem daunting. However, there are numerous resources you can turn to for guidance.

One site to visit is the Arizona Bar Association, where you can connect with local lawyers. You can do a lot on the site, including checking a lawyer’s discipline.

Another resource to keep in mind is the State Bar of Arizona. You can use this site to read up on lawyer qualifications and licensing so that you know what to look for when choosing a lawyer.

For those who need free legal resources, turn to Southern Arizona Legal Aid. This organization offers civil legal aid and some assistance with completing paperwork. You need to fill out an online form to see whether you’re eligible.

Community Legal Services is another good option. It provides free legal aid to those who qualify.

Turn to Gerber Injury Law After an Accident

After an accident that results in injuries, there’ll be a lot for you to focus on. Something you need to do as soon as you can is contact a personal injury lawyer to help you get compensation.

At Gerber Injury Law, we’re here to offer the compassionate legal guidance you need to get through these difficult times. We know just how tough it can be to deal with injuries and medical bills that keep mounting. If the accident wasn’t your fault but was instead the result of someone’s negligence, turn to us for help.

Our team can guide you through the entire process and will take your case to court if necessary. We have over 20 years of experience helping the people of Scottsdale, and we can help you, too.

Don’t wait to get the assistance you deserve. Contact us at Gerber Injury Law today by calling 623-486-8300 or by sending a message via our contact form.