Phoenix Personal Injury Lawyer

Experienced Personal Injury Attorney in Phoenix

The ability to use the civil legal process to collect compensation for injuries is a critical tool to ensure that those who have suffered costs through someone else’s mistakes are given the opportunity to get the money that they need. To exercise that option to its fullest, it’s important that you work with a skilled, experienced Phoenix personal injury lawyer from Bleaman Law Firm, PC.

About Bleaman Law Firm, PC

At Bleaman Law Firm, PC, we understand what our clients need and are going through. Because we dedicate all of our time to personal injury cases, we have the in-depth experience necessary to help them get everything that they deserve. Our founding attorney, Marc Bleaman, has more than 23 years of experience in representing victims of personal injury accidents, and he can do the same for your financial recovery.

Injuries could come with medical costs, property damages, and intangible psychological costs. These things are the responsibility of those who caused the injury or, more likely, their insurance company. The civil process is a way to hold those at fault and their insurance companies accountable when they attempt to pay less than they actually owe. Reach out to our office to set up an initial consultation, where you can hear more about our available legal services.

Personal Injury Cases We Handle in Phoenix

Experienced personal injury lawyers can handle a wide variety of personal injury claims for their clients. At Bleaman Law Firm, PC, we can pursue claims for:

• Car accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Truck accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Distracted driver accidents
• Drunk driving accidents
• Rideshare accidents
• Boat accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Wrongful death
• Catastrophic injury
• Premises liability
• Dog bite
• Uninsured/underinsured motorists
• Burn injury
• Nursing home abuse and negligence

This is not a complete list. When you talk with us, we can explain how we can address your specific personal injury situation. We’d be happy to discuss how our background may benefit your individual circumstances.

What Does a Phoenix Personal Injury Lawyer Do?

A personal injury lawyer in Phoenix represents individuals who have suffered harm due to another party’s careless or wrongful actions. In Phoenix, these attorneys handle both settlement negotiations and courtroom litigation.

Key responsibilities include:

• Investigating accident details
• Collecting medical records and evidence
• Communicating with insurance companies
• Evaluating damages
• Negotiating settlements
• Filing lawsuits when necessary
• Representing clients at trial

Your attorney can explain the entire timeline you can expect for your personal injury recovery. It may be necessary to go to court to obtain compensation for your accident, or you might be fully compensated through settlement negotiations. Connect with a dedicated Phoenix personal injury attorney to discuss your available recovery options.

Should I Settle My Claim or Go to Court?

Depending on the circumstances of your claim and the interests of the defendant or insurance company involved, there may be the possibility of settling a case rather than filing an injury lawsuit. Whether or not you want to take that option will be up to you and will depend on the particulars of your situation. There are, though, some general things to keep in mind when considering the possibility of settling a case rather than taking it to court.

One thing to recognize is that a settlement usually comes about because both sides feel that they are gaining something by taking that option. For the defendant, this often means paying a little less than they may lose in a court case, along with the savings that come from not having to go to court. While that may seem like an overall negative from the position of the injured, it’s worth noting that there are some benefits for them as well.

One significant benefit to settling a case is that it can result in someone who’s been injured receiving their funds much more quickly than otherwise. By going to court, a case could take months or even years before there is a final resolution. For those who need funds quickly, settling may be the better option.

Additionally, it’s worth noting that taking a case to court always involves some level of risk. No matter how confident you feel in your claim, there is the possibility that it may not lead to the results that you’re hoping for. By settling a case, you eliminate that risk and will receive the agreed-upon amount.

Still, sometimes, an agreeable settlement can’t be reached, and going to court becomes the better option. Whether that’s the case for your personal injury claim will depend on the specifics of your case, the kind of evidence available, how agreeable the other party is, and several other factors. Your Phoenix personal injury lawyer should be able to help you understand the options in your case and help you decide on the right choice for you. It’s worth discussing your specific situation and personal injury goals with a knowledgeable attorney.

Phoenix Personal Injuries

Phoenix sees a wide variety of personal injury incidents, from serious vehicle accidents to slip and falls. Whether you are hurt in a pedestrian accident or a workplace incident, it’s critical to exercise extra caution in the following areas:

• I-10
• Loop 101
• S. 60
• 51st Avenue & Elliot Road
• 19th Avenue & Union Hills Drive
• 12th Street & I-10
• 63rd Avenue & I-10

In these places, drive safely, and be sure to stay alert as a pedestrian. Arizona, unfortunately, saw 271 pedestrian fatalities across the state, representing 21% of our total crash-related deaths in 2023. If you’re involved in a personal injury accident, you should document everything and contact a trusted Phoenix personal injury attorney. They can advise you further and represent your interests.

Common Types of Personal Injury Cases in Phoenix

Car accidents aren’t the only types of injuries that happen regularly throughout Phoenix. In fact, there are numerous ways that you can suffer harm due to the carelessness of another person, business, or organization. When another party breaches their duty to exercise reasonable care, injured victims have the right to pursue a claim and seek compensation.

Common causes of personal injury claims include car accidents, motorcycle wrecks, truck accidents, pedestrian accidents, and bicycle collisions. Major highways like I-10, Loop 101, and State Route 51 see thousands of vehicles driving through each day, which means serious traffic collisions are bound to happen.

Property owners have a duty to keep visitors safe while on their premises. Slip-and-falls, negligent security, falling merchandise, and unsafe property conditions can lead to serious injuries for victims.

Workers occasionally suffer injuries on the job that could lead to a legal claim if a third party was at fault. Product liability, dog bites, construction accidents, and wrongful death are other examples of common injury claims.

No matter how you were injured, each case may be unique based on the facts of your situation, available evidence, and Arizona personal injury laws. Some cases may even need to be settled in court. Our Maricopa County personal injury attorneys can evaluate your claim and determine the most effective way to proceed based on your goals.

What Is Compensated in a Phoenix Personal Injury Claim?

The compensation in a personal injury claim is paid out in what is known as “damages.” These damages are paid only to cover costs that are a direct result of the injuries that you suffered. Your lawyer may need to prove a connection between the incident and the costs that you have suffered.

Only if that connection is established may damages be awarded to cover those costs. The damages in a personal liability case are usually paid out in two forms of damages and, occasionally, in a third form.

Economic Damages

Economic damages cover the cost of things that have a clear financial component. If you’ve got a bill, paystub, or other documentation clearly outlining the monetary price of something, it’s probably compensated through economic damages. This includes things like:

• Medical expenses
• Hospital bills
• Rehabilitation costs
• Lost wages
• Reduced earning capacity
• Property damage

In the most significant cases, the injured person might never be able to return to work again or can only be able to return in a diminished capacity. In these cases, , the lost earning capacity and reduced future earnings can also be compensated through economic damages.

Non-Economic Damages

The costs of an injury aren’t limited to those things that involve a bill. There are many situations where an injury creates a number of intangible costs that tend to be more psychological or emotional in nature.

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Anxiety and depression
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Permanent disability

Although these things lack a monetary solution, they are still given an estimated value that is paid out in the non-economic damages category. The money isn’t expected to solve the problem, but it can be helpful in reducing stresses and burdens in other aspects of life, leaving you room to address these kinds of concerns.

Punitive Damages

There’s another set of damages that aren’t awarded in most personal injury cases but can be awarded in some qualifying circumstances. These are punitive damages, which specifically act as a deterrent against egregious behavior on the part of the defendant.

Typically, egregious behaviors may be limited to malicious intent or significantly reckless behavior. In these cases, punitive damages may be awarded as a punishment and deterrent for that kind of behavior. However, this is not case most of the time, and your lawyer can help you understand if there is a possibility for punitive damages in your claim.

How Could Comparative Negligence Affect the Damages in My Phoenix Personal Injury Claim?

While Arizona has no damage caps on personal injury claims, the award in a personal injury claim could be reduced by the doctrine of pure comparative negligence. Under this process, the defendant is given the opportunity to argue that the plaintiff is also at fault for the injury. The defendant’s lawyers are then given the burden of proof and must demonstrate the components of negligence regarding the plaintiff.

If the defendant’s team is able to successfully argue that the plaintiff shares in the fault of the injuries, then the court may determine a percentage for both parties that represents their share of fault for the injuries. In many states, if the plaintiff’s share is greater than 50%, they are not allowed to collect damages. Because Arizona operates on a system of pure comparative negligence, though, this does not apply.

In Phoenix, Arizona, unless someone is 100% at fault, they may still be able to collect damages. However, the damages may be proportionately reduced based on their share of fault. For instance, on a damages award of $100,000, someone determined to be 30% at fault may only be able to collect $70,000.

Defending you against a claim of comparative negligence is one of the things your lawyer can do if litigation becomes necessary for your case. Their investigation may involve looking at how to defend against these kinds of claims.

What Should I Do After I’ve Been Injured?

If someone else’s negligence has led to an injury to you, there are some things that you may want to consider in terms of how you can act to preserve your negotiation position or opportunity to collect damages.

Have a Medical Evaluation

One of the first things to do after you’ve suffered an injury is to get medical attention. If the injuries are serious, it’s possible that paramedics may be called to the scene. If that’s the case, it’s important to let them check for any traumatic injuries that you could have, especially since shock and adrenaline could lead to you not recognizing a potential traumatic brain injury. Paramedics are trained to identify the kinds of injuries you might not notice.

Avoid Admitting Fault and Document Evidence

It’s also important that you choose your words carefully when discussing the injuries. The defendant’s lawyers may be looking for anything that sounds like a confession of fault that they could use to prove that you’re to blame for the injuries. In particular, use caution when communicating with insurance agents, and when possible, you should probably let your lawyer communicate on your behalf.

A critical component of a personal injury claim is collecting all the evidence available to make your case. A big part of that evidence comes from documenting the situation. If your injuries allow it, that process should begin at the scene of the injuries. It’s helpful to have pictures of the injuries, any accident that was involved, and the scene in general.

Documentation is important as the process moves forward as well. It’s critical that you keep a record of both your injuries and the costs. Anything related to visiting the doctor, medical bills, property damage bills, and other costs should be held onto. In general, it’s a good idea to document as much as you can and allow your Phoenix personal injury lawyer to review and sort through what’s most important and valuable to your case.

FAQs

What if the Person Who Injured Me Does Not Have Insurance?

There may still be ways to recover compensation if the person who injured you does not have insurance. There could be other responsible parties, insurance policies, or sources of coverage, depending on the situation. For instance, some car insurance policies carry uninsured motorist coverage. We can investigate and uncover all possible sources of recovery to see if you may still be eligible for compensation even without insurance.

Are Personal Injury Settlements Taxable?

Damages received for personal physical injuries are generally free from federal income taxes. However, there may be exceptions to this rule. For example, punitive damages and damages for lost wages are taxed differently. Each settlement is unique, so it is always advisable to speak with a competent tax advisor regarding possible tax ramifications prior to agreeing to a final settlement.

What Happens if My Injury Requires Future Medical Treatment?

Future medical expenses can also be brought into play during a personal injury case. If the injured party is going to need continuous medical care, rehab, surgery, medication, or long-term healthcare, then these costs can be factored into damages. Professionals can help project what those future medical costs may be, and they can provide professional opinions on how permanent an injury may be.

Do Personal Injury Cases Always Go to Trial?

No, the vast majority of personal injury claims settle before trial. Settlements can offer a quicker resolution, save money, and offer more certainty to both sides. If there is a disagreement as to liability or the worth of damages claimed, litigation may be required. Being prepared to go to trial can give a claimant more leverage in settlement negotiations.

Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer From Bleaman Law Firm, PC, Today

Whether you were hurt in Downtown Phoenix or injured while driving along I-10, hire a personal injury lawyer to protect your legal rights. Contact Bleaman Law Firm, P.C., to assert your rights.

It’s critical that you work with an experienced Phoenix personal injury lawyer, like Marc Bleaman, who can advocate for you and prove why you deserve the compensation that you’re seeking. We have over 23 years of experience in the Phoenix area. If you’ve been injured by someone else and are seeking damages, contact us today.

Phoenix Personal Injury Lawyer Reviews

Phoenix Personal Injury Resources:

• How Is Personal Injury Compensation Calculated In Arizona?
• How Much Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Cost in Arizona?
• Arizona Personal Injury Statute of Limitations
• Arizona Average Personal Injury Settlement Amount
• When to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer after a Car Crash in Arizona?
• How Do I Choose The Right Arizona Personal Injury Attorney For Me?