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Car Accident

Do I Need a Personal Injury Lawyer for My Car Accident?

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Car accidents happen every day. Chances are you’ll experience at least one in your lifetime. But when it happens, will you know what to do? Will you need a car accident lawyer?
If you’ve been involved in an accident, or have been injured in some way, you can often be struck with a feeling of isolation. You don’t know who to turn to for help, and this can leave you feeling very helpless.
To make matters worse, your car may be totaled, you may not be able to work and you probably have medical bills piling up. No vehicle, absence from work and no money coming in can quickly make even the sanest person feel like going crazy.

Checklist: Do You Need a Car Accident Lawyer

Hiring a car accident lawyer is essential in cases where you are confident the other driver was in the wrong and there is ample evidence to prove your stance. Attorneys can help you present your case and contest fault. But before running out and hiring just any car accident lawyer in Phoenix, ask yourself the following questions.

Do Out-of-Pocket Costs Put You at Financial Risk?

Legal processes have a price. You must assess the field and determine whether you are financially able to handle a car accident case. Keep in mind certain expenses may be costly when you contest the fault yourself. If these figures are too much to swallow, it might be a good idea to hire an accident lawyer. Attorneys who specialize in car accident cases may be able to help you get more of the money you deserve.

Were You Seriously Injured?

If you’ve sustained an injury from a car accident, it may be in your best favor to opt out of fighting the case on your own and hiring a professional. Car accident lawyers are able to professionally present cases where long-standing or permanent injury has occurred. Keep in mind that the more that’s at stake in a case, however, the greater the likelihood the other driver may also enlist the help of lawyers.

Are You Prepared to Go to Court?

Besides the financial commitment, going to court requires your time, availability and input. There is little value in hiring a lawyer if you are not fully prepared to see a case through.
Remember, car accidents are a common daily occurrence. If you or your loved ones have a case that needs help, the Phoenix car accident lawyers at Brad Johnson Injury Law are ready for your call.

When You Should Hire an Attorney

Benefits: Arizona Accident Lawyers Fight When You Can’t

If you find yourself in the above situations, you should call a personal injury lawyer. Your lawyer will be there for you when nobody else will, and he will fight to get you every dime you deserve to help pay for medical bills, vehicle repairs and any other expenses you may have incurred because of your injuries.

Retrieve Financial Compensation for Your Injury

There is hardly anything more devastating than a serious motor vehicle accident. Flesh and bone doesn’t take kindly to rapidly moving, heavy pieces of metal. This can result in serious injury and even death. You can be laid up in a hospital for weeks or even months, resulting in not only damage to your body and mind but to your financial well being as well. This is why it is important to have the best personal injury lawyer you can find if you find yourself the victim of one of these horrible crashes.

Whether it is a tractor trailer accident, truck accident, or car accident, the damage that is done can be devastating. While you are lying helpless in the hospital all you can hear are the unfamiliar voices of the doctors and nurses buzzing around trying to make you comfortable and start you on your way to recovery. All you can think about is getting out of there and getting on with your life.

You are not only worried about your physical well being, but thoughts about getting back to work and the thought of possibly not being able to work again come crashing into your mind. While a good auto accident lawyer  may not be able to guarantee your health, they will at least be able to work on getting you the compensation you deserve for being thrust into this unfortunate situation.

Ensure the Settlement Amount is What You Deserve

Many times the settlement you will receive due to a car accident will be provided by an insurance company. What you need to remember is that the insurance company is not on your side. They have their own agenda, and that is getting away with paying out as little as possible, no matter how devastated your life might be. It’s the job of insurance companies to save as much money as possible, and they do that by attempting to settle with you directly and quickly before you have a chance to find representation. Insurance companies might try to settle with you by offering you a cash payment far less than what you actually deserve based on your injuries.  Don’t talk to them.

This is why a good personal injury lawyer who has experience with motor vehicle accident cases can be your greatest asset. They will protect your rights and will be on YOUR side, and they will be able to fight for what you deserve and get you compensation for a number of things that you might need to secure your future. It make sense to have an expert communicate with insurance companies on your behalf and “have your back” so you receive every dollar you deserve.

Don’t let them intimidate you with dollar signs and convince you that a quick fix can be had if you only sign a settlement agreement.  A good attorney will review your case and work directly with the insurance companies on your behalf, saving you the time of learning the lingo and understanding every minute detail of the law and how it applies to your situation, and help you collect damages for pain and suffering.

They will also be able to work on getting you compensation for both past and possible future medical care, such as any past and future loss of income, as well as any other applicable expenses that have been incurred as a result of the motor vehicle accident.

While they may not be able to give you back any physical attributes that may have been lost, a knowledgeable and experienced auto accident attorney will at least be able to help you get the compensation you deserve to make your future as comfortable as possible. For anyone that finds themselves in this unfortunate dilemma, contacting a personal injury lawyer is imperative to getting the most compensation for the serious injury you have suffered.

You might be thinking, “I’m not an ambulance chaser, and I don’t want to appear like I’m taking advantage of anyone.”  Because we deal with insurance companies every day, we get it.  We know what’s fair and reasonable, and what isn’t.  We will fight for you and for what you deserve.

Ensure that You won’t Miss Any Opportunity

It’s a good idea to have a personal injury lawyer’s contact information handy in case you ever need it. Of course nobody thinks about that until they’ve actually been injured.

If you wait, you may lose the opportunity to find evidence that will help you win your case. When you contact the lawyer, tell him or her you’ve just been injured and you need some help. The lawyer will walk you through every step.

Don’t waste time.  Protect yourself.

Personal Injury Lawyers at Brad Johnson Injury Law

The personal injury lawyers at Brad Johnson Injury Law know of medical personnel they can suggest to you so that you can get a full examination. If you have broken bones, these are going to have to be x-rayed.
You need a full checkup from a doctor because you may not know the extent of your injuries for some time after the accident. This is because of the adrenaline pumping through your body that masks any pain you should be feeling. These doctors will assess your injuries and will then submit a report that will be used as documentation for your personal injury case. Sometimes the doctor will even be called to the stand, if the case goes to trial.
A lawyer can suggest a doctor to you to ensure proper care for your injuries.  The lawyer will then compile your medical information in order to build a rock solid case. If the case is solid enough, the case may never see a courtroom. That’s because insurance companies often like to settle; especially if they feel as though they don’t stand a chance of winning against you and your lawyer.
Hiring a personal injury lawyer at Brad Johnson Injury Law isn’t something you do to become rich; the goal is to obtain proper compensation for your injuries.  The money you get can be used to pay off all that debt that’s been piling up since your accident.
Don’t suffer through your injuries alone. Instead, call Brad Johnson Injury Law, which will fight for you every step of the way so that you can win your case and get every dime you’re entitled to.
Our attorneys understand how you’re feeling and the stress associated with it.  We’re here for you 24 hours a day.  Give us a ring, and let’s chat.

What To Do After a Car Accident

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Traffic accidents happen all the time throughout Arizona. Chances are that you will be involved in a car accident at some point in your lifetime. It may be nothing more than a minor “fender bender” or it could be a serious accident.Many of these are caused by negligence or another driver not paying appropriate attention. Regardless of how the accident happened, as a victim you will likely have questions about your future and what is necessary to file the paperwork and claim to recover maximum compensation. There are ways to prepare yourself in case you do have an accident whether as a driver or a passenger.

Common Causes of Traffic Accident Collisions

Traffic can generate additional frustration and obstacles for drivers, but that is no excuse for getting involved in an accident when negligence plays a role. If a driver is not paying attention or is behaving recklessly behind the wheel, this information may prove fruitful in your personal injury claim and attempt to recover maximum compensation. This is why you should retain an attorney who has extensive experience in this field and who is willing to work on your behalf. Some of the most common situations that lead to traffic accidents in Arizona may include:

Any of these situations may prompt a victim or the surviving family members of someone who was killed in an accident to file a legal claim for compensation. If this applies to your case, taking action sooner rather than later may protect your eligibility to recover all the necessary funds to put the pieces of your life back together and to put this unfortunate incident behind you.

Post Auto Accident Checklist: What to Do after a Car Accident

When you are involved in or witness an auto accident, follow these procedures:

  1. Check for injuries. After a car accident, it’s always hard to think clearly and to remain calm, but it is important to take a few deep breaths and make sure you and anyone involved is not seriously injured. If you or anyone is severely injured, do not move. 
  2. Make sure it is safe to leave the area where the accident has happened. It may too dangerous to exit your car. If you are able to safely exit the vehicle, do so immediately. If anyone needs immediate medical attention call 911 for an ambulance.
  3. Report the accident to the police. Filing a report with the police helps to protect all parties involved, helps prevent fraudulent claims and legal ramifications. Reporting an accident to the police is generally part of any insurance company’s accident protocol. Stay at the scene of the accident until the police have come and gone. Make sure to get the name of the officer and provide them with your account of the event. 
  4. Get the information of all involved, including their names, addresses and insurance carrier. The other party may have even tried to flee the scene or have been difficult to speak to in the immediate moments following the accident. It is important to keep your wits about you in the immediate aftermath of an Arizona traffic accident. This is because you need to gather pertinent information that may become vital down the road if you file a personal injury claim.
  5. While you are waiting for the police to arrive, sit down and stay calm. While you may not feel much pain, you could be injured. Walking, bending or lifting can make your injuries worse.
  6. While you are sitting, go over what happened. Get the facts clear. How fast were you going? Where were you? Did you have your turn indicator on? Make some written notes if you can. Do not talk to anyone except the police about the facts of the accident.
  7. Gather Evidence. One such example has to do with contacting witnesses and taking pictures and videos of the scene. It may be difficult for you to remember the details of your Arizona traffic accident after the fact, but your attorney can begin to piece together how the accident occurred or engage witnesses experienced in accident reconstruction to ensure that the right information is provided to the courts as you go through your injury claim. A traffic accident largely depends on who may have been responsible for the crash. Having an attorney ready to take action as soon as possible and identifying critical issues and facts surrounding the scene of the accident may help refresh your memory or give you more clues about the manner in which you sustained injuries.
  8. If there are witnesses, ask them for their names and phone numbers. It is incredibly important to report any accidents that you witness. As a bystander, your perspective could be invaluable to those investigating simply because you would be unbiased and, for the most part, emotionally uncompromised. They may be able to help establish liability (who is at fault).
  9. Report the accident to your insurance company. 
  10. Monitor Your Injuries and Progress.Traffic accidents can lead to a number of different injuries which may be surprising for a victim who was hurt while moving at relatively slow speed. Whether you were cut off by another driver or T-boned by someone at an intersection, the injuries can be life changing. You may begin to experience chronic and difficult pain, making it challenging to get through your daily life or to return to work. Taking note of these injuries and symptoms and visiting your doctor on a regular basis will give you the maximum amount of treatment options available to you, so that you can prepare plan to accomplish as much as possible. It may initially seem overwhelming to confront the severity of your injuries and to figure out how to adapt your life to your new medical conditions, but a traffic accident attorney in Arizona, may be your best advocate going forward to protect your rights and to file a comprehensive claim to get the compensation you need to get better. Don’t allow too much time to lapse after you have been involved in a catastrophic accident. You have a limited period of time in which you can file a legal claim and finding an attorney immediately will help you determine your next steps.
  11. You may have rights that you don’t know about. An auto accident attorney might be able to help and answer your important questions.

Contact a Traffic Accident Lawyer for a Help

Brad Johnson Injury Law can help you with your legal claim and insurance. Our personal injury lawyers can help you understand the process of an accident claim by explaining all the details in a clear manner. We ensure our clients receive proper medical care to ensure a healthy recovery, allowing them to get back to their lives. Then we begin the fight for maximum compensation.

Muscle Pain From Car Accidents

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Whiplash is defined as “an injury to the cervical spine caused by an abrupt jerking motion of the head, either backward of forward.” Whiplash occurs when the head and neck are very quickly and abruptly thrust in one direction then back into the opposite direction. This can occur not only from car accidents, but also in contact sports such as football or soccer, slip and falls, or even a very sudden and vigorous sneeze.

Symptoms of whiplash affect your overall senses and body comfort. Symptoms might not occur for hours, days or even weeks after the accident. If you are involved in an accident, it’s important to follow up with your primary physician as soon as possible to see if any medical attention is needed.

Symptoms of whiplash include:

  • Headaches, head and neck pains, stiff neck, muscle spasms
  • Restricted head motion
  • Equilibrium problems, loss of hearing, ringing in the ears and eyestrain
  • Inability to concentrate, poor memory
  • Pain between the shoulders, low back pains, tremors, rapid heartbeat

Contact Car Accident Injury Lawyer

Do you need to hire an automobile accident lawyer? Attorney Brad Johnson covers methods to maximize your settlement value. Call us today at 602-598-5694 to discuss your legal options through a free consultation.

The Physics of Rear End Auto Accidents

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Rear end accidents occur when an at fault driver hits another vehicle in front of them. Usually, this happen when the car in front stops and the driver from behind is unable to stop in time.

According to experts, this type of auto accident has a force equivalent to half of the speed of the car. For example, a vehicle traveling at a speed of 40 mph that rear ended another car is like hitting a wall at 20 mph.

The physics of rear end collision is different from head-on collision which happens when two car’s front ends collide. In this situation, the impact is greater and deadlier because the velocity of two vehicles traveling in opposite directions is higher.

Preventing Rear End Accidents:

Keep a safe distance and avoid tailgating. Maintaining a safe distance from another vehicle will allow drivers to have enough time to maneuver and respond to changes in speed.

If the road is slippery or the visibility is low due to bad weather, drivers should increase the time interval to react to a slowing or stopped vehicle.
Avoid being distracted. Mobile phones and other electronic devices can serve as a distraction for drivers.

Avoid constant braking-accelerating sequences. Doing so may increase the likelihood of rear end collision because the other driver is less likely to predict the speed of the vehicle in front of them.

When changing speed, do this by accelerating slowly.

Respect the right-of-way of other motorists. An accident can be caused by driver’s behavior, so by respecting the right-of-way and being courteous to other drivers, people can avoid accidents.

When approaching red traffic lights, take the foot off the accelerator pedal early on to avoid colliding with a slowing or stopped vehicle.

Always check the tire pressure. Correct tire pressure increases safety and can make the car fuel-efficient by increasing the rolling resistance by at least 10 percent.

To help you deal with issues involved in rear end auto accidents, consult with our personal injury lawyers. If you have questions, please take advantage of our free consultation.

Essential Items to Have in Case You are in a Car Accident

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Nobody expects to get into a car accident, yet they happen each and every day. It can happen when you’re on your way to and from work; it can happen on the way to church and it can even happen while you’re stopped at a stop light.

When that other car slams into you, the whole world stops. Most people just sit there for a moment, gathering their thoughts. They wonder if that really happened, they do a mental and physical check to make sure they’re not hurt, and it’s only after all that that they begin to wonder if the other driver is OK.

What to Keep in Your Car in Case of an Accident

It’s a very traumatic experience, no matter if it’s a small accident or a major one, and that’s why people don’t like to think about them. But you should give a thought to what you keep in your car in the off chance that you are involved in a car accident.

  • When you go over to the other driver, or drivers, to make sure they’re OK, it’s at this time that you’ll want to exchange insurance and contact information. Therefore, you must ensure that you keep your proof of insurance in your car. You might also want to keep a business card in your car so that you can easily hand over information the other driver can use to contact you. Also, it’s recommended that you call the police so that you can get a police report. The officer will also want to see your proof of insurance as well as your driver’s license. So the first thing you should keep in your car is your proof of insurance.
  • But what happens if the accident happens at night? Carrying a flashlight in your car is a good idea, even if you don’t expect to ever use it. A flashlight can be used to assess damage and also to assess any injuries that may not be visible in dim light. When you’re in an accident, your adrenaline is pumping and you may not feel injuries for some time afterward. A flashlight can be used to scan the bodies of each person involved so that you can ensure everyone’s OK.
  • It’s also a good idea to carry a first aid kit in your car in case of a car accident. You never know when you may need bandages, alcohol pads, or even scissors and all the other stuff that comes in one of these kits. New cars often come with these already included in the glove box. However, if you don’t have a new car, you can always buy an emergency kit at your local pharmacy.
  • Finally, you always want to keep jumper cables, a spare tire kit, a cell phone as well as the contact information for a good accident attorney. Give Brad Johnson Injury Law a call if you are involved in an accident – your free consultation could mean the difference between getting the compensation that is due you or facing the large insurance company on your own.

Again, nobody expects to get into an accident, but all of these things will help in case you ever find yourself sitting on the side of the road right after a jarring car accident.

How to Avoid a Staged Auto Accident

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You’ve probably heard of staged accidents, or seen them on television or in movies, but did you realize they really do happen?

Here’s the scenario: You’re driving along, everything seems to be ok, but then all of a sudden, out of nowhere, a car crashes into you in a parking lot. Perhaps the damage doesn’t appear extensive, and it seems obvious that the fault belongs to the other driver, but you find yourself accused of being at fault.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau reported that staged accidents were up 46% from 2007 to 2009, and the states with the highest staged incidents are Florida, New York, California, Texas, and Illinois. Arizona ranks 10th, high enough to cause concern.

What’s even more concerning about staged accidents is that often they are so well-planned that fake witnesses might be involved, additional passengers might claim injuries (people who weren’t even in the vehicle), and medical providers might prescribe treatments that really aren’t necessary – all for a nice payoff.

How can you avoid being a victim of a staged accident? Here are a few tips:

1. Call the police so they can write a police report. Do this no matter the extent of the damage.
2. Keep a camera with you and take pictures of the accident, the damage, and the people who were in the car who hit you. This is fairly easy to do now that many cell phones have a camera feature.
3. Take note of the number of people who were in the car who hit you. Get their names, phone numbers, addresses, and driver’s license numbers also. Don’t just focus on the driver.
4. Do not tailgate, as the driver in front of you may slam on their brakes for no apparent reason. This is an easy method for a scam artist to turn you into a victim.
5. If you require any medical treatments, keep careful records to make sure none of the treatment costs are inflated or fictitious.
6. Contact the Arizona Department of Insurance Fraud Unit if you suspect a medical provider, auto body shop, mechanic, or anyone else has committed fraud.

Nothing is worse than being in an auto accident and then finding out it was staged. Protect yourself.

Two Key Tips For Safer Driving In the Rain

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We know it doesn’t rain much in the Valley, but when it does, it really pours.  These two tips for driving in the rain have been going around our office and we thought you might find them helpful.

One driving method was told to a member of our team by a police friend who had experienced and confirmed it. It is useful, even while driving at night. Most motorists tend to turn their windshield wipers on HIGH or the FASTEST SPEED during a heavy downpour, yet the visibility in front of the windshield is still bad.  In the event you face such a situation, try wearing your sunglasses (any model will do), and voila!  All of a sudden, the visibility in front of your windshield is perfectly clear, as if there was no rain.  It might sound crazy, but it really works!

Make sure you always have a pair of sunglasses in your car, and share this idea!  You are not only helping yourself, but you might also save a friend’s life.  Try it for yourself.  Amazing, you will still see the drops on the windshield, but not the sheet of rain falling.

How does it work?  You can see where the rain bounces off the road. Sunglasses work to eliminate the “blindness” from the spray of passing semi trucks as well as the “kick-up” if you are following a semi or car in the rain. They ought to teach that little tip in driver’s training as it really does work.

Another tip: Never drive in the rain with your cruise control on. When our team member thought she was being cautious by setting the cruise control, and maintaining a safe consistent speed in the rain, a highway patrolman told her something that every driver should know.  If the cruise control is on when your car begins to hydroplane and your tires lose contact with the pavement, your car will accelerate to a higher rate of speed making you take off like an airplane. She told the patrolman that was exactly what had occurred.
The patrolman said this warning should be listed on the driver’s seat sun visor along with the airbag warning.  We tell our teenagers to set the cruise control and drive a safe speed, but to use the cruise control only when the pavement is dry.

With spring in full bloom and the pavement dry, hopefully we won’t need to implement these practices any time soon.  Monsoon season isn’t too far away though, and if we can each pass these tips along to just one person, we could be saving a life.

Key Steps to Follow When You’re In a Car Accident

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Chances are that you will be involved in a car accident at some point in your lifetime. It may be nothing more than a minor “fender bender” or it could be a serious accident.

There are ways to prepare yourself in case you do have an accident whether as a driver or a passenger.

Post-Accident Checklist

  1. Check for injuries. If anyone needs immediate medical attention call 911 for an ambulance.
  2. If you or anyone is severely injured, do not move. If you are able to safely exit the vehicle, do so immediately.
  3. Call 911 and report the accident to the police.
  4. While you are waiting for the police to arrive, sit down and remain quiet. While you may not feel much pain, you could be injured. Walking, bending or lifting can make your injuries worse.
  5. While you are sitting, go over what happened. Get the facts clear. How fast were you going? Where were you? Did you have your turn indicator on? Make some written notes if you can. Do not talk to anyone except the police about the facts of the accident.
  6. If there are witnesses, ask them for their names and phone numbers. They may be able to help establish liability (who is at fault).
  7. You may have rights that you don’t know about. We can answer your important questions at 602-650-1200 or toll free at 1-877-96-LEGAL.