As Peoria car accident lawyers, we see the devastating results of careless driving every day. Car crashes don’t just put people in the hospital; they also have a sizable impact on victims’ lives in other ways. For instance, car accidents keep people from being able to go to work or school, result in loss of productivity at work, and can ruin a family’s finances for months or even years.

    At Mushkatel, Gobbato, & Kile, P.L.L.C., we understand how frustrating and difficult it can be to recover after a serious car accident. We offer our clients genuine compassionate and aggressive legal representation through each and every step of their auto accident claim. If you’ve been hurt in a Peoria, Arizona auto accident, contact us today to see how we can help with your case.

    We do not charge any fees upfront to start on a personal injury claim. In fact, you owe us nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

    How Can a Peoria Car Accident Lawyer Help After a Crash?

    A deadly car collision on the street in Peoria, Arizona.

    When you hire a car accident lawyer in Peoria, you are entrusting a very serious matter to that professional. That attorney and his or her law firm will be responsible for fighting for your financial future. Compensation after a crash may help you cover medical bills and replace months of lost income that you desperately need. Here’s a brief list of the ways that Mushkatel, Gobbato, & Kile, P.L.L.C. can help you demand the compensation you deserve:

    • Perform a thorough investigation. Our team will quickly jump into action and begin investigating your accident to determine how it happened and who was at fault. Once we are able to gather the necessary information to establish liability against the at-fault party, we will begin tracking your medical care closely.
    • Evaluate your injuries to determine full and fair compensation. Next, we work to determine what damages might be available. This often means gathering your medical records and bills, as well as consulting with industry experts, like doctors and nurses who are trained to help understand your medical care and long-term prognosis. These specialists can offer crucial assistance with building your case.
    • Aggressively negotiate with insurance companies and protect you from adjusters. Auto insurance companies train their adjusters to try to get you to say things and sign documents that will hurt your case. Even completely innocent and reasonable comments could give the insurance company an excuse to refuse payment. Our law firm will handle all settlement negotiations with the insurance company in an attempt to maximize your financial recovery.
    • Develop a strong case to present at trial. With many years of collective legal experience and wisdom, our team has developed a reputation for success both in and out of the courtroom. We know what it takes to prepare a case for trial and see it through to the verdict.

    What Types of Compensation Are Available for a Car Accident Claim in Peoria, Arizona?

    No two auto accident cases or injury lawsuits are the same. In most personal injury claims, however, you may be eligible for the following types of compensation:

    • Past and future medical expenses
    • Medical devices or equipment
    • Lost wages/income
    • Decreased earnings potential
    • Pain and suffering
    • Emotional and psychological distress (PTSD, anxiety, etc.)
    • Loss of comfort, affection, and support on behalf of spouses and close relatives
    • Wrongful death damages (When a loved one dies due to negligence, close relatives may be able to recover compensation for funeral and burial expenses, lost income and support, and other damages.)

    Keep in mind that the actual amount of compensation you may be entitled to receive will depend on the nature and extent of your injuries, medical expenses, lost income, and a host of other factors. Therefore, you need a skilled Peoria, Arizona car accident attorney to meticulously document these damages and argue aggressively for the true compensation you deserve.

    How Do You Prove Fault in a Car Accident Claim in AZ?

    Proving fault can be easy in some cases and very hard in others. In the vast majority of auto accident claims, the police are able to quickly determine who ran a red light, who rear-ended someone, and who disobeyed a stop sign. If the police reached a determination and found the other driver to blame for the offense, then it will help your case immensely.

    Sadly, there are times when it can be a he-said / she-said scenario without witnesses or where the police were unable or unwilling to create a report or documented trail of information to verify who caused the wreck. These circumstances are challenging, but there are still usually ways to prove your case. These may include:

    • Surveillance footage from traffic cameras and businesses along the route of your crash
    • Photos from the scene
    • Witness statements
    • 911 recordings
    • Police dash cams and body cams
    • At-fault driver’s toxicology reports
    • Phone and text records
    • Crash reconstruction analysis reports

    If you or a loved one has been hurt in a motor vehicle accident, you need to speak with a knowledgeable attorney as soon as possible to begin preserving evidence and building your case.

    What Should I Do After a Car Accident in Peoria, Arizona?

    After a serious motor vehicle accident, you are likely stunned and confused. Calling an injury lawyer may not be the first thing on your mind. Instead, you just want to get better and not be in so much pain. However, rest assured that the insurance company is working very hard behind the scenes to find ways to avoid paying you for your injuries, even if the other driver was completely to blame. This is just what they do and how they make money.

    With this in mind, you need a skilled advocate on your side, as well. Once you enlist the help of Mushkatel, Robbins & Becker PLLC, our Peoria car wreck lawyers will immediately begin working to help prove your case and preserve your rights assisted by their knowledge of personal injury law. Here are a few key steps that you should take after an accident:

    • Get emergency medical care. Don’t assume you are fine just because you don’t have a lot of pain at the scene of the crash. Still, go and get checked out by emergency health care professionals, whether at a local emergency room or an urgent care clinic. Some broken bones may just show up as badly swollen or bruised joints. Only upon getting an X-ray will you know if that’s what is wrong. If you wait too long to get checked out, it can be difficult to prove that the injury was caused by the accident.
    • A woman injured in a car accident in Peoria, Arizona.Follow care instructions. If you want to get better, it’s usually a good idea to listen to your physician. If you have received care for an injury and require continuing physical therapy, do not miss appointments without rescheduling, and always speak with your attorney if you have concerns about your care. If you miss a lot of appointments or allow long delays in treatment, the insurance company can argue that your injuries are less serious than they really are.
    • Keep paperwork and evidence. At the scene of a crash, police will give you paperwork containing important details about the crash. Likewise, if not available immediately, you should be able to get an official police crash report from the police department that responded to the crash. This report will have crucial information for your case. Also, take photos, and keep all evidence. This means photos, videos, medical bills, receipts for all other expenses relating to the injury, any emails or letters from insurance companies, and any notes you’ve taken about your injury.

    In addition to these actions, there are some things you should NEVER do without first talking to your own personal attorney:

    • Never talk with the insurance company.
    • Never give a statement.
    • Never apologize or admit fault.
    • Never sign paperwork or accept any settlement offers without having them reviewed.

    What Are Common Types of Car Accident Cases We Handle?

    Although there are plenty of ways that people can get hurt in car accidents, some more common types of crashes include:

    • Rear-end. Perhaps the most common type of car crash, the rear-end collision can be more serious than it seems. These crashes usually happen due to the rear driver not paying attention to the road and not watching out ahead. Of course, there are times when the lead vehicle can be to blame, such as when the lead vehicle stops unexpectedly or has faulty running or brake lights.
    • T-Bone. The “T-Bone” crash happens when one vehicle hits the other at a directly perpendicular angle. These crashes often happen when inattentive drivers fail to observe traffic lights or stop signs, drive through intersections, and collide with other cars.
    • Head-on. Perhaps the deadliest scenario on the road is the head-on collision. These driving accidents happen when one driver crosses the center line and strikes the other vehicle in a direct impact. Alcohol and drugs often play a role, as well as driver fatigue. Drowsy and distracted drivers kill thousands of people every year. Most high-speed head-on crashes are either fatal or result in severe injuries and hospitalizations.
    • Sideswipe. This type of crash happens when there is a glancing blow to the side of a vehicle. Often, these crashes happen at merge points or when one car is overtaking or passing another and fails to remain in the proper lane.
    • Rollover. When a vehicle tips over in a crash, it can be lethal. The weight of the entire vehicle may actually crush the roof of the car, leaving passengers injured and trapped for extended periods of time, thus delaying medical care while rescue workers attempt to extricate them.
    • Other Types of Motor Vehicle Crashes. It’s not always two vehicles that crash. Sometimes, there are more than two cars. In fact, our experienced Peoria car crash lawyers have worked on cases involving multiple vehicles, such as pile-ups, where there may be numerous responsible parties, all sharing partial responsibility, and liability for the crash. Further, our law office routinely helps those in bicycle accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrians who are struck by negligent drivers, and those involved in bus accidents. Finally, we help people who are injured by commercial drivers in truck accidents.

    What Are Common Injuries Caused by Car Accidents in Arizona?

    A highway in Peoria, Arizona.

    When motor vehicles collide, they can cause incredible damage, both to property and to life and limb. If you’ve survived a car accident, then you probably have a lot of pain and discomfort. There’s a reason for this. Even minor impacts can cause your body to jerk back and forth violently inside the vehicle. This back-and-forth motion can cause trauma and strain to your muscles, ligaments, and tendons. In serious cases, you may strike against objects, like the dash, the steering wheel, or the windows. Even devices that are designed to protect you – like the seat belt and airbag – can be sources of great injury.

    Some of the more common types of injuries we see are:

    • Bruising
    • Scrapes, cuts, lacerations
    • Emotional and psychological injuries (e.g. anxiety, PTSD)
    • Headaches
    • Soreness of joints and muscles
    • Vertigo (dizziness)
    • Back and spine injuries (e.g. bulging or herniated discs, nerve injuries, etc.)

    If you experience any of these symptoms after a crash, you should contact a Peoria car accident attorney right away.

    Is There a Statute of Limitations for a Peoria Car Accident Injury Claim?

    Yes, there is! The state of Arizona’s statute of limitations for a personal injury claim, such as a car accident, is two years. It is critical that you do not let this time pass without filing your injury claim. If you do not file your injury claim before those two years expire, you will be giving up your opportunity for your case to be heard in court.

    Call Today to Speak with an Experienced Peoria Car Accident Lawyer

    attorneys at Mushkatel, Robbins & Becker

    With law offices located throughout Arizona, the injury attorneys of Mushkatel, Robbins & Becker PLLC are dedicated to representing people who’ve been hurt in serious car accidents. We understand the devastating toll that a car accident can take on you and your family. And if you’ve lost someone you love in a deadly car crash, we know that this can be a challenging and emotionally difficult time. We want to help you and your family move forward and pursue compensation for your losses and injuries.

    Contact us today to schedule an initial case consultation, and find out how we can protect your rights and fight for the compensation you deserve.