What is the average settlement for a car Accident in Arizona

If you suffered injuries in a car accident caused by another driver in Arizona, you may have the right to seek financial relief for your losses. The average settlement amount in car accident cases depends on numerous factors, including the severity of injuries, the long-term impact on your life, the availability of insurance coverage, and who is liable for the crash. Although an attorney cannot precisely predict how much money you might recover in a settlement, an experienced lawyer can advocate for maximum compensation.

At Mushkatel, Gobbato, & Kile, P.L.L.C., you can trust our Arizona car accident attorneys to give your case the attention it deserves. Call or contact us today for a consultation.

What Factors Can Affect the Amount of My Settlement?

No attorney can precisely predict how much money a car accident victim will recover in a settlement. However, they can evaluate the facts and circumstances of a client’s case to determine what amount of money will provide the client with fair compensation for their injuries and losses. Some of the most critical factors that could influence the size of your car accident settlement include:

• The severity of your injuries
• Whether your injuries result in a permanent disability
• The number of liable parties
• Whether you share any fault for the accident
• The amount of available insurance coverage
• The strength of each side’s legal case
• Whether you file a car accident lawsuit and how close your case gets to trial

What are Some of the Most Common Injuries in a Car Accident?

Depending on the severity of a crash, a car accident can inflict a wide range of injuries on accident victims. Some of the most common examples of car accident injuries include:

• Broken bones
• Cuts, abrasions, and lacerations
• Dislocations
• Soft-tissue injuries
• Nerve damage
• Whiplash
• Back injury
• Internal organ damage
• Internal bleeding
• Spinal cord injury
• Facial injuries
• Traumatic brain injury
• Crush injuries
• Amputation
• Burns

What Damages Can Be Recovered in an Arizona Car Accident Case?

An Arizona car accident settlement can compensate you for injuries and other financial and non-financial losses from the wreck. A settlement can include money for your:

• Medical treatment
• Rehabilitation expenses
• Long-term care and support costs if you’re living with a permanent impairment
• Lost wages
• Lost earning potential and employment benefits
• Pain and suffering
• Lost enjoyment and quality of life
• Visible scarring or disfigurement
• Property damage

What are Arizona’s Car Insurance Laws?

Arizona law requires all drivers to have auto insurance coverage. This coverage must have the minimum policy limits required by state law. These minimums include:

• $25,000 per person for injury or death in an auto accident
• $50,000 for two or more persons per accident
• $15,000 per accident for property damage

Liability coverage kicks in when a driver causes a crash that harms others. Drivers may choose to purchase higher liability coverage limits. In Arizona, insurers also usually offer uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) equal to the policy’s bodily injury coverage limits, although drivers may decline this coverage in writing.

Driving without insurance coverage or proof of insurance constitutes an offense under Arizona law. Penalties include fines and possible driver’s license suspension.

Is There a Difference Between an Insurance Settlement and a Lawsuit Verdict?

Car accident settlements and verdicts are different. A settlement provides an agreed-upon amount of money resulting from negotiations between the parties involved. The parties will consider factors such as the accident victim’s documented injuries and losses, the strength of the evidence, and the potential expense of trial litigation to arrive at a compensation figure both sides deem fair.

Parties can also negotiate payment terms for a car accident settlement, including negotiating a structured settlement that pays money over time (which often leads to higher total settlement amounts). In exchange for a settlement, the accident victim agrees not to take further legal action against the at-fault driver.

A verdict comes from a car accident lawsuit. A judge or jury renders a verdict that awards payment to an accident victim for all the losses they can prove at trial. Once a plaintiff obtains a car accident lawsuit verdict and judgment, they can collect the entire judgment from the liable defendant(s).

Most car accident claims end with an insurance settlement.

How Long Might an Arizona Car Accident Settlement Take?

As with the settlement amount, an attorney cannot precisely predict how long it will take to settle. While some cases resolve in a few weeks or months, others can take a year or more to settle or reach trial. The complexity of the case, the number of defendants, and the extent of the injuries may all draw out the length of a case. Victims with catastrophic injuries do not want to settle prematurely. If they settle too soon, they may encounter unexpected costs and complications that they must pay out-of-pocket later. Settlements are final, so you don’t want to accept any money without speaking to an Arizona car accident lawyer first.

What Is the Statute of Limitations in Arizona for a Car Accident Claim?

Under Arizona’s statute of limitations, you have only two years after a car accident to file a lawsuit. In addition, if you have a car accident claim against a state or local government entity, Arizona law requires you to provide written notice of your claim to the appropriate government agency or official within 180 days of the crash. These deadlines make it critical to consult with a car accident attorney as soon as possible to ensure you make a timely claim.

Contact an Arizona Car Accident Lawyer

If someone else caused an accident that injured you, a hard-hitting legal team can help you fight for justice and accountability. Put Mushkatel, Gobbato, & Kile, P.L.L.C. to work for you. Call or contact us today for a consultation with a proven car accident lawyer in Arizona.

Visit Our Arizona Car Accident Law Offices

About the Author

Zachary Mushkatel

Zachary Mushkatel discovered his affinity for the law by chance. As a political science major at the University of Arizona, he first aspired to become a professor. But an unexpected invitation to participate on a mock trial team at the university encouraged him to turn his competitive spirit and drive…