If you’re hurt after a car accident, you don’t have to face challenges alone. Arizona’s personal injury laws offer protection and potential compensation for those injured in motor vehicle accidents. Here’s a breakdown of the compensation you may be entitled to and some key legal concepts that could affect your case.
Types of damages available in Arizona
In Arizona, motor vehicle accident victims may be entitled to two main categories of damages:
- Economic damages: These cover financial losses. They include medical expenses, lost income, property damage and future care costs.
- Non-economic damages: These compensate for non-monetary losses. They include pain and suffering, emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life. In rare cases, you might get punitive damages if the other party was extremely reckless.
No two accidents are the same. Even with similar injuries, factors such as how bad the crash was, your overall health or the expected long-term effects of the accident may affect the compensation amount. Insurance companies, lawyers and a jury (if the case goes to trial) will consider these factors when deciding on a final settlement or award amount.
Comparative negligence rule
Arizona uses a “pure comparative negligence” rule. This means you can get money even if you’re partly at fault. Your share of fault will lower your compensation, but you can still get something even if you’re mostly to blame.
For example, if your case is worth $10,000 and you’re 30% at fault, you can still get $7,000 (70% of the damages). This rule applies to what you can recover after a motor vehicle accident, whether you’re dealing with insurance claim negotiations or a lawsuit.
Time limit for filing
You generally have two years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you miss this deadline, you might lose your right to seek compensation. It’s beneficial to consult with a car accident lawyer well before this time is up. After the deadline, you might lose your right to legal action, even if you have severe injuries.
