Auto Insurance Archives | Brad Johnson Injury Law

Who Is Responsible?

The responsible party insurance policy generally pays for the losses you suffer, including property damage and injuries. However, victims of uninsured drivers will find this to be a loss. If a driver is uninsured or underinsured, this indicates the claims you may make are not covered by that party’s coverage.

If you purchased uninsured or underinsured auto insurance, your policy may provide financial protection for you. This is a policy you buy in addition to comprehensive car insurance, collision insurance, and liability insurance. It protects you in these incidents. In this situation, the insurance company may pursue legal action against the driver who lacks coverage. Your insurance claim pays for the damage in this situation. You do not suffer any losses such as losing your no-claims benefits or receiving penalty points.

Generally speaking, the motor insurers bureau MIB will handle any type of points on the driver’s license. And, they may help track down the uninsured and untraced driver, too.

Most importantly, do not take the uninsured driver’s promise that they will pay you back. Many drivers in this situation may ask you not to contact their insurer or call the police. Do not make this mistake. Even when the situation is due to road traffic and was just an accident, it is critical to protect yourself from financial loss. Gather their information, call the police, and then contact your insurance company.

What If You Do Not Know the Driver?

One of the most devastating situations occurs when a hit-and-run driver takes off, leaving you with injuries and damage. You may not have a chance to gather details on who it was. In this case, work with the police to identify the untraceable driver. Again, your uninsured or underinsured auto insurance policy should help you in this situation.

What If Your Insurance Does Not Cover Your Losses?

This is perhaps a difficult situation and one in which you will want to contact a personal injury attorney who will work to represent you and help you obtain the legal support you need. Whether you need to file a claim with your insurance company, another insurer, or you need to take legal action against the uninsured driver, these professionals will provide you with support throughout the process. An accident with an uninsured driver can leave you with thousands of dollars worth of damage to your car and medical bills. It is critical for you to take legal action to recoup these losses in many situations.

It’s More Than Just a Claim

When you suffer an injury due to an accident, you may face a significant amount of damage and long-term pain. You may even find yourself unable to get back to day-to-day life. When this happens because of the actions or inactions of another person, you have the legal right to take action. Many men and women suffer for years after being in this situation. You deserve compensation for your losses. We encourage you to contact an experienced law firm, such as Brad Johnson Injury Law, to learn what steps you can take to recoup your losses.

If you’ve been in a car accident recently, you want to give serious consideration to ensuring your physical and financial health. Insurance companies may encourage you to settle any claims quickly on their terms. But remember, you do not have to settle quickly or under their terms.

Arizona law protects you from unfair claims or settlements. So whether you are the victim of an accident due to an unsafe driver, or accused of causing an accident, we can help.

One of the first things we need to fully understand your accident and your case is your accident report. In Arizona, vehicle accident reports are fairly standardized. With a little insight, you can understand the details documented in your accident report in order to help ensure you get the settlement the law guarantees you.

First Things First: Get a Copy of Your Accident Report

You absolutely must obtain a copy of your accident report. You need it and we need it to provide your best legal representation.

Arizona law enforcement officials are required to complete a detailed accident report at the scene of every accident. Once complete, they then submit the report to the Arizona Department of Transportation Traffic Records. Once your accident report is filed, you have the right (and personal obligation) to get a copy of it.

It’s important that you get a copy of your accident report as soon as possible. When it comes to protecting your rights under Arizona law, time is not your friend.

If you have not already obtained a copy of your accident report, you can do so.

The details documented in the report will be used as evidence in your case, whether or not you go to court to seek damages or protect yourself from claims. Insurance companies will use this report to determine and settle claims. So even if your case does not go to court, your accident report will affect your outcome.
Details in your report will include information about all involved parties, the vehicles involved, and the officer’s determination for who was at fault and what caused the accident. If you were involved in the accident, you have a right to obtain a copy of this report.

Remember, your accident report contains legally important information and will be used for you or against you by insurance companies and in court.

Understand Your Arizona Accident Report

Once you have a copy of your accident report, you can begin to understand the details of your case.

Who did the officer cite as “at fault?”
How did the officer document damages to the vehicles involved?
What does the report say about you and your involvement?

Knowing these facts before you talk with your insurance company — or anyone else except your lawyer — is important to protect yourself and your rights.

Anatomy of the Arizona Accident Report

Fortunately, the Arizona accident report is standardized and fairly simple to decipher. Here’s what you need to know.

Blue Section

The top section in blue includes the basic summary of your accident.

The number of people involved
The number of injuries or fatalities
The precise location of the accident
Whether an involved party left the scene

Give this section a careful read to identify any potential errors. Officers are only human and while it’s rare, it is possible that some of the details could be inaccurate. If they are, we will want to work together to correct the record to protect your interests.

Red Section

The next section in red is considerably more detailed.

This is where we see the who, what, when, where, why, and how of the accident.

Driver names, insurance information, vehicle information, and other critical details will be found here. This section will even include details on whether or not you or the other party were wearing a seatbelt.

Needless to say, it’s crucial that you review every detail of this section as soon as possible so we have time to dispute or correct any inaccuracies.

Green and Orange Section

The green and orange sections that follow contain contact information for involved parties and reporting officers. Again, you should verify the accuracy of this information.

Purple and Green Section

The next sections in purple and green are your officer’s account of what happened in picture form and his or her own words. These accounts will be used as evidence by your insurance company and a court of law, so it’s important to understand what the officer enters here so we can work together to use this information for your benefit or correct the record if necessary.

Yellow Section

The last section in yellow contains many small details of your accident that could have a big impact on your case. Go over these with a fine-toothed comb to identify any inaccuracies or missing information. One small detail here could have a very big impact on your outcome.

Contact a Car Accident Injury Lawyer

If you have a copy of your accident report and would like our help in understanding it, contact us today. We can help you carefully review all of the details of your report and take appropriate steps to ensure your rights are fully protected.

What to Do if You’re Hit By an Uninsured Driver