Car Accidents

No, please do not give a recorded statement to the adverse driver’s insurance carrier. In fact, we do not allow our clients to give recorded statements to their own insurance companies. The insurance carriers will never use these statements to assist you. Rather, they often ask questions in ways that minimize your claim, then they use your statements against you when it comes time to resolve the claim and pay you money. They have decades of experience in developing questions designed to minimize your injuries. At East Valley Injury Law, our team takes over all communication with the insurance companies so you can focus on your recovery, your work, and your family without the constant hassle of dealing with the insurance companies.

Absolutely. It is very common for soft-tissue pain, like whiplash, to set in days after a crash. Adrenaline kicks in after a collision and masks the pain. Insurance companies will try to claim you are not badly injured because you did not go immediately to a hospital. Also, because most accident-related injuries aren’t “visible,” insurance adjusters often attempt to dismiss them or claim you aren’t actually hurt. We know exactly how to document and prove these injuries so that your pain is taken seriously and your medical bills (physical therapy, pain management, surgery, chiropractic care, etc.) are covered.

This depends on several factors. Each scenario is different. Without consulting an attorney, you may make a decision with long-term, negative implications. Figuring out whether to use your own insurance or the at-fault driver’s policy can be confusing to the lay person – especially if it is their first time dealing with an insurance claim. East Valley Injury Law handles this entirely for you. We will investigate the crash, find every available layer of coverage, and make sure your property damage and medical bills are paid without you having to drain your own savings.

Probably not. Insurance companies make decisions based upon calculated probabilities. Those probabilities are always in the favor of the insurance company. You can be sure that any offer they make shortly after the crash is calculated to be in their best interest, not yours. These quick offers are tempting. However, if you have not determined the medical treatment you will need, the full complement of injuries you’ve sustained, and the long-term effects of those injuries, the offer is almost always much less than the full value of your claim.

You should never feel pressured to settle before you know the full, long-term impact of your injuries. Insurance companies are bullies. They use tactics to rush you into an early settlement calculated to save money for their shareholders. East Valley Injury Law won’t rush clients; we wait until your true long-term prognosis is clear so we can secure a settlement that actually covers your ongoing and future medical costs and needs.

If your accident was minor—no injuries, minimal vehicle damage, and the insurance company is cooperating—you probably don’t need an attorney. These can be straightforward cases where fault is clear and the payout is small. However, even in such circumstances, it is wise to speak with an attorney to ensure you are taking the right steps.

If you were injured, you most likely would benefit by hiring a lawyer. Injuries occur even in accidents where damage to the vehicle “minimal” or  “moderate”. This is especially true when the victim of the accident has pre-existing conditions making them more susceptible to injury than a normally healthy person. The injuries can make the claim complicated for the lay person—medical bills, future treatment, income loss, and insurance companies trying to minimize payouts. A lawyer will help ensure each of these matters are handled properly.

It’s also worth getting legal help if fault is disputed. If the other driver blames you for all or partial fault for the accident. Also, if there are multiple vehicles involved, proving what actually happened becomes more complex. An attorney will gather evidence, work with experts, and protect you from being unfairly assigned liability.