After an accident, injured people may face medical appointments, missed work, insurance calls, repair costs, and uncertainty about what comes next. In cities like Tucson where accident rates are often higher than normal due to heightened population density, knowing what steps to take after getting into an accident can prove crucial when it comes to filing and securing a strong personal injury claim.
Arizona residents in particular may also want to look into options for a local Arizona personal injury lawyer in case they need to ask any questions or require help with processes like negotiations or collecting evidence.
Prioritizing Medical Care Over Insurance Decisions
Sometimes the accidents that appear least threatening are the most dangerous simply because the injuries they cause go overlooked. Mild dizziness and aches, for example, could be symptoms of more severe conditions like concussions or whiplash. As such, injured people should seek medical attention promptly, even when symptoms seem minor at first. Medical records, prescriptions, imaging results, therapy notes, and follow-up appointments may help connect injuries to the accident.
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Having these records organized and readily accessible is important when filing a personal injury claim because they can give insurance adjusters fewer avenues to reduce a victim’s compensation or deny their claim. Doing so sooner rather than later is particularly vital since the injuries a victim sustains from an accident may heal by the time they document them, making those injuries harder to connect to the accident in question.
Why Accident Evidence Needs to Be Documented Quickly
The conditions present at the scene of an accident when the accident took place can quickly change due to weather or human intervention, making it important that accident victims use the first 48 hours of their accident to collect as much evidence as possible.
At the scene of an accident, that evidence includes photos, witness names, police reports, incident reports, surveillance footage, and damaged property. Not long after, victims should also collect repair estimates, medical records, and insurance correspondence, as this information can corroborate their side of the story in such a way that better supports their claim for compensation.
Importantly, Arizona Revised Statutes § 12-542 says actions for injuries to another person must generally be commenced and prosecuted within two years after the cause of action accrues. In other words, accident victims in Arizona almost always have two years at most to file their personal injury claim; if they file after that deadline, there is little chance their case will be deemed legitimate by state courts.
Handling Insurance Conversations Carefully
Insurance adjusters may request statements, medical authorizations, or early settlement discussions in their effort to calculate what they believe should be the compensation they pay out to accident victims.
One legal-advice site notes, however, that “You are not legally required to provide (a recorded statement) to the opposing insurer, and doing so before you understand the full extent of your injuries is one of the most common mistakes people make.” This is because victims sometimes inadvertently present information in ways that weaken their case, giving adjusters the statements they need to deny claims or reduce compensation.
Although this tends to happen most often with car accidents, pedestrian injuries, bicycle accidents, motorcycle collisions, slip-and-fall incidents, dog bites, workplace-adjacent third-party claims, and injuries at commercial properties may also fall prey to predatory insurance tactics.
Be Willing to Get Help
Navigating the aftermath of an accident is a difficult time for many people, especially those dealing with severe injuries or lost wages while also contending with uncooperative insurance companies. As such, accident victims should consider seeking guidance or assistance from a qualified local personal injury attorney, as these experts are trained to help walk their clients through steps like evidence collection, negotiation, and, if necessary, going to trial.
At minimum, people living in accident-prone locations should familiarize themselves with the steps involved in documenting the scene of an accident, seeking medical care, and communicating with insurance agents in ways that do not implicate the victim. Following these steps could help accident victims keep their cases strong so they can receive the compensation they deserve.
FAQs
What should someone do first after being injured in Tucson?
They should seek medical care, report the incident when appropriate, document the scene if it is safe, collect witness information, and keep all treatment and expense records.
How long do injured people usually have to file a lawsuit in Arizona?
Arizona Revised Statutes § 12-542 generally gives two years for actions involving injuries to another person, though exceptions may apply depending on the case.
What records can help support a personal injury claim?
Useful records may include photos, medical records, police reports, incident reports, repair estimates, witness information, receipts, wage-loss documents, and insurance correspondence.
