Car Accident Attorney in Tempe, Arizona

Car Accident Attorney in Tempe, Arizona

After a car accident, start with your health and the facts

A collision can leave you dealing with medical appointments, a damaged vehicle and calls from insurers at the same time. You do not need to have every document or know who is legally responsible before asking about your options.

Jacko Law Group offers free consultations for injury matters, with its headquarters in Tempe and offices listed in Phoenix and Scottsdale. Call (480) 452-7373 to discuss what happened. Contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Get medical attention when you need it. If you are still at the scene, prioritize safety rather than gathering evidence in traffic or another dangerous area.

Organize the information you already have

A useful starting file may include:

• The date and location of the collision and the names of the people involved.
• The responding agency and any incident or report number.
• Photographs you already have of the vehicles, roadway and scene.
• Witness names and contact information.
• Medical records, appointment information and bills you have received.
• Insurance information, claim numbers and correspondence.
• Receipts and records of time missed from work.

Keep original files where possible and note which documents you have not yet obtained. You do not need to delay a consultation until the file is complete. Tell the attorney about any request for a statement, release or settlement agreement so it can be discussed in context.

Request the report from the investigating agency

The agency that investigated the collision matters. Arizona Department of Public Safety records requests are handled through DPS's records process. A collision investigated by a city police department may require a request to that department instead.

Start with the agency name and incident number supplied after the crash. Check the agency's current instructions for identification requirements, available records and fees. ADOT's crash-report forms and resources are not a substitute for identifying the agency that holds your individual report.

A report is one part of the file. Photographs, witness accounts, treatment records and other evidence may also matter when the facts are disputed.

Fault and deadlines need a case-specific review

Arizona's comparative-negligence statute generally provides for damages to be reduced in proportion to a claimant's applicable fault rather than treating every allegation of shared fault as an automatic bar. The statute has qualifications; an attorney should explain how the rules may apply to your circumstances.

Arizona law includes a general two-year limitations provision for many injury claims, but that is not a safe deadline to assume for every matter. Claims involving public entities or public employees can require a notice of claim much sooner, and other facts can change the analysis. Do not wait for an insurance discussion to resolve before asking counsel about deadlines.

No website can determine the deadline or likely outcome of your case from a short description alone.

What to discuss in your consultation

Explain how the collision happened, what injuries or symptoms you have experienced, what treatment you have received and which insurers have contacted you. Mention any government vehicle, rideshare trip or commercial vehicle involved. If you do not know an answer, say so rather than guessing.

Useful questions include:

• What additional records would help evaluate the claim?
• Are there deadlines or notice requirements that need attention now?
• How are the injury and vehicle-damage issues different?
• What does a representation agreement cover?
• How are attorney fees and other case costs handled?
• Who should I contact with new documents or questions if the firm accepts the case?

For injury matters, the firm's published position is that there is no attorney fee if there is no recovery. Ask about the complete written agreement, including case costs, before deciding whether to retain counsel. No outcome is guaranteed.

Related accident and injury information

Different circumstances can call for different evidence. See Jacko's pages about pedestrian injuries, rideshare accidents and catastrophic injuries. The practice-area directory provides an overview of the firm's published services.

Speak with Jacko Law Group

Call (480) 452-7373 or use the contact page to request a consultation. The Tempe headquarters is listed at 222 South Mill Ave., Suite 800, Tempe, AZ 85281. Confirm meeting arrangements directly with the firm.