Arizona Personal Injury Lawyers

People in Arizona have the right to expect that they will be safe from harm when driving, when crossing the street, when shopping for groceries, and otherwise going about their daily lives. When someone else fails to act responsibly and causes a severe injury accident, you have the right to expect that they will compensate you fairly for your medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering, and other losses.

A report from the Arizona Department of Transportation shows that 41,350 injuries and 1,057 deaths occurred statewide from car crashes alone in just one recent year. Traffic accidents are hardly the only incidents that injure people. Slips-and-falls, pedestrian accidents, bicycle crashes, dangerous drugs, defective products, dog bites, and construction accidents are just a handful of the other ways people suffer injuries due to negligence.

It’s easy to feel hopeless after sustaining a severe injury, but it’s important to remember that you are not alone and you have options. The Arizona personal injury lawyers at the law firm of Swenson & Shelley have helped many people just like you seek fair compensation after an accident. Our injury attorneys have decades of experience and know how to help you make a strong case for compensation.

We handle a wide range of personal injury claims, and we would be happy to speak with you about your case. Contact our office today for a free initial consultation.

What Do You Have to Prove in a Personal Injury Case?

Arizona personal injury claims are most often based on the legal concept of negligence. A person, business, or other entity can be found negligent if you can show that they failed to take reasonable precautions to avoid injuring you. If you can prove the party who injured you was negligent, you can demand compensation for the injuries and other losses you suffered in the accident.

For example, drunk driving accidents are a common form of negligence we see at our personal injury firm. Driving while impaired is against the law in Arizona and makes the driver much more likely to hurt someone else. Because a drunk driver chose to consume alcohol and get behind the wheel despite the dangers and laws against drunk driving, they would likely be liable if they injured someone.

Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle in Arizona

At Swenson & Shelley, our team has extensive experience with a wide range of Arizona personal injury cases, including:

• Truck accidents – Eighteen-wheelers and other large trucks can inflict catastrophic injuries if they collide with a pedestrian, cyclist, or another motor vehicle. Because these trucks can be more than 20 times heavier than cars, commercial truck accidents are more likely to cause permanent injuries or kill crash victims.
• Car accidents – Even seemingly minor crashes at low speeds injure thousands of people across Arizona every year. A low-speed collision can still cause severe injuries like whiplash, broken bones, and soft-tissue damage. Higher-speed collisions can cause more severe neck and back injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and damage to internal organs.
• Motorcycle accidents – Motorcycles are smaller than most cars, making it difficult for other drivers to see them. Careless drivers can easily cause accidents if they don’t check for motorcycles before merging, changing lanes, turning, or passing. Motorcycle riders are more vulnerable to injury because they’re more exposed and are frequently thrown from the vehicle in a crash.
• Bicycle accidents – Cyclists are often injured by drivers who aren’t paying attention to their actions or aren’t looking out for bicycles, especially at night. Cyclists are also more exposed than drivers or passengers in cars, making severe injuries more likely if a crash occurs.
• Pedestrian accidents – Pedestrians can be severely injured if hit by any size vehicle. Pedestrian accidents are more likely at night and when drivers are distracted, impaired, or tired.
• Boating accidents – Too many boaters fail to take proper precautions while boating. Boating while impaired, failing to bring adequate safety equipment, and ignoring safety regulations can put everyone on the water at risk.
• Bus accidents – Crashes involving massive buses pose a threat to bus riders and occupants of other vehicles, as well as people on foot. Other negligent drivers cause many bus accidents, but bus drivers have also been known to drive while impaired or be careless in different ways.
• Construction accidents – Construction sites create many dangers for people walking or driving by, from accidents with large construction vehicles to falling objects.
• Dog bites – Some dogs can be vicious or driven to anger when scared or startled. Dog bites can cause serious physical injuries and lasting mental trauma.
• Slip-and-falls – Slip-and-fall accidents can happen anywhere with a slippery surface, from restaurants and stores to parking lots and workplace hallways. Many slip-and-fall accidents are caused by negligent property owners failing to address hazards.
• Traumatic brain injuries – Traumatic brain injuries are among the most severe types of injuries, as they can affect mobility, memory, personality, and more. Traumatic injuries often result from crashes, slip-and-falls, and other serious accidents.
• Neck and spinal cord injuries – Damage to the neck and spinal cord can have severe impacts, including partial or complete paralysis. Common causes of neck and spinal cord injuries include motor vehicle accidents, slip-and-falls, construction accidents, bike accidents, and pedestrian accidents.
• Wrongful death – A wrongful death is broadly defined as any death caused by someone’s negligent or willful actions. Arizona law allows certain surviving relatives to seek compensation from negligent parties for the death of a family member.

Types of Damages You Could Recover in a Personal Injury Claim

A successful Arizona personal injury claim can provide compensation for many different losses. With help from the right personal injury lawyer and the proper evidence, you could potentially recover compensation for:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Reduced earning potential
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress

Time Limit for Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Arizona

The statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit in Arizona is two years from the accident. If you miss this deadline, you will most likely be unable to pursue compensation for your injuries.

How Our Arizona Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help with Your Case

If you’ve suffered severe injuries in an accident, you don’t want to try to tackle a personal injury claim on your own. The Arizona personal injury lawyers at the law firm Swenson & Shelley can help with your case by:

• Investigating the accident to see if you have a case
• Gathering evidence to support your claim and maximize your potential compensation
• Handling any paperwork that needs to be filled out
• Helping you find the right doctors or other specialists to enhance your recovery
• Handling settlement negotiations with the insurance companies
• Representing you in court should your case go to trial

How Much Does It Cost to Hire an Arizona Personal Injury Lawyer?

As Arizona personal injury attorneys, we think it’s essential that everyone have access to qualified representation if they’ve been injured, regardless of their financial resources. That is why we don’t charge our clients any attorney fees upfront.

If we take your case, you don’t have to pay us any fees unless we help you recover compensation for your injuries. Once you’ve gotten the money you need, we get paid a percentage of whatever money you’ve recovered.

Steps to Take to Protect Your Rights After an Accident in Arizona

Taking the right steps after an accident could significantly affect your personal injury claim. Here’s what you need to do after an accident:

• Call 911 and seek medical attention immediately. If you aren’t taken to a hospital, see your doctor as soon as possible, as you may have hidden injuries that haven’t fully manifested yet.
• Report the accident to the police or another authority figure. Tell the property owner or a manager if the accident happened on someone else’s property.
• Get the names and insurance information from anyone else involved in the accident. For example, if you’re in a car accident, get the name and insurance information from the other drivers.
• Take pictures of the accident area as well as your injuries. If there’s anything you see that may have contributed to the accident, get pictures of it.
• Look for any eyewitnesses. Ask for their name and contact information.
• Don’t say anything to the insurance companies. Anything you say to them could be taken out of context, twisted, and used against you later when filing a claim.
• Talk to a personal injury attorney right away. The sooner you get help from a lawyer, the more they can do to help you seek the money you need.

Types of Catastrophic Injuries

Here are some of the most common severe injuries we see at our firm:

• Broken bones and fractures
• Damage to soft tissues and joints
• Internal bleeding
• Damage to internal organs
• Disfigurement
• Back injuries
• Spinal cord injuries, including paralysis
• Neck injuries, including whiplash
• Traumatic brain injuries

Talk to an Arizona Personal Injury Lawyer Now

The Arizona personal injury attorneys at Swenson & Shelley will be ready to assist you if someone else’s negligence has harmed you. Our consultations are free, and we won’t charge you anything until we win your case.

Contact our office to speak to a member of our team today.