Car accidents can happen anywhere in Gilbert. Hundreds of motorists each year are injured while driving on Warner Road, pulling up to the post office, or even when pulling out of their driveways. Motorists and their passengers can suffer significant injuries, some of which are permanent. Despite how common they are, auto accidents remain shocking events. Car repairs can cost thousands of dollars, with medical expenses going through the roof.

Were you hurt in a car accident that was not your fault? Call CLS Law, PLLC today. Our Gilbert car accident lawyers can provide legal assistance and discuss your personal injury claim. We offer a free consultation with no risk, where our car accident lawyers will help you explore your legal options and pursue fair compensation. Whether you’re dealing with medical records or negotiating with the insurance company, our Gilbert car accident attorneys have the legal expertise to guide you through the process.

Common Car Accident Injuries We Help With

Even at low speeds, two motor vehicles can generate forces that bruise or break the human body. Many of our clients will end up in a hospital bed with physical injuries like:

Concussions or traumatic brain injuries

They might slam their head against the steering wheel or the inside of the car. Two passengers might even crack their heads against each other. This violent contact can cause blunt force trauma and damage the brain, leading to the need for immediate medical attention.

Whiplash

This is a common injury with rear-end auto accidents. A person’s head is thrown forward and then snaps back, tearing soft tissue in the neck, resulting in neck injuries that require medical treatment.

Back injuries

Traumatic car accident cases often lead to herniated discs, back sprains, and spinal column injuries. Pinched nerves can cause chronic physical pain and may demand ongoing medical care.

Chest injuries

The ribcage should protect organs, but a rib might fracture and spear a lung, leading to lung collapse. The sternum can bruise your heart, causing complications that may be fatal and lead to a wrongful death personal injury claim.

Burns

Battery acid might splash on a passenger, or the car could catch fire, burning a motorist before they can escape. Burn injuries often require extensive medical attention and can result in significant emotional distress.

Handling an Insurance Claim

Arizona law mandates that drivers purchase liability coverage for their vehicle before they can register it. This insurance kicks in if you are at fault for an accident. Anyone you injure can submit a claim for financial compensation. The minimum insurance is for:

  • $25,000 in bodily injury for a single victim
  • $50,000 in bodily injury for two or more victims in a single crash
  • $15,000 for property damage

Our goal is to help prove fault for your accident. We can find evidence and then submit your claim for compensation. Insurance covers:

  • Medical bills
  • Lost wages
  • Pain and suffering
  • Damage to your vehicle

Insurance companies are never eager to cut a big check to someone, even a person who is permanently laid up in bed. Instead, they might slow walk any investigation or they will outright deny liability for their insured. You need an experienced Gilbert accident lawyer to stand up to these insurance companies and demand that they treat you fairly.

Uninsured Motorist Accidents in Gilbert

About 12% of Arizona drivers lack insurance. This translates into almost 1 in 8 drivers being uninsured. What happens if one of them crashes into you?

If you have liability coverage, you should also have uninsured motorist insurance. This policy kicks in if you are injured in a hit-and-run auto accident or if the at-fault other driver is uninsured.

Unfortunately, obtaining full compensation is hard—even if you are submitting a claim to your insurer. They might pin full blame on you, or they allege you drove off the road because you fell asleep. Injury victims should schedule a free consultation with a Gilbert car accident attorney at our injury law firm immediately to discuss your personal injury case.

What Causes Car Accidents in Gilbert?

Car accidents in Gilbert can be caused by a variety of factors, both related to driver behavior and external conditions. Understanding these causes can help in building a strong personal injury case if you or a loved one has been involved in an accident.

Driver-Related Causes:

Distraction

Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of auto accidents in Gilbert. Whether it’s texting on a cell phone, adjusting the radio, or managing small children in the backseat, these distractions divert the driver’s attention from the road. Even a momentary lapse in focus can lead to severe injury accidents, making it critical for accident victims to seek legal assistance from Gilbert car accident attorneys.

Fatigue

Fatigue is another common cause of accidents, particularly on long drives or during late-night hours. A fatigued driver may doze off briefly or have significantly delayed reaction times, making it difficult to avoid obstacles or stop in time. This can result in rear-end collisions or more severe crashes that require extensive medical treatment and may involve pursuing legal action for compensation.

Speeding

Speeding remains a pervasive issue on Gilbert’s roads. When a vehicle is traveling at high speeds, it needs much more space to come to a stop. This increases the likelihood of a collision, especially in areas with dangerous intersections. Victims of such accidents often suffer significant injuries and face substantial future medical expenses.

Road rage

Aggressive driving behaviors, such as tailgating, cutting off other drivers, or intentionally causing harm out of anger, fall under the category of road rage. These actions can lead to catastrophic accidents, leaving victims with physical pain and emotional distress. Those involved in such incidents should contact a personal injury lawyer to explore their legal options for recovering compensation.

Illegal turns

Making illegal turns, such as a left turn on a red light or turning where it’s prohibited, is a frequent cause of collisions in Gilbert. Such actions often result in T-bone crashes that can cause serious physical injuries and lead to complex personal injury claims. An at fault driver in these cases may face legal consequences and be required to compensate the injured party for their losses.

Intoxication

Despite strict traffic laws against drinking and driving, intoxicated drivers still cause hundreds of accidents each year in Arizona. These accidents often result in fatalities or severe injuries such as internal bleeding, broken bones, or traumatic brain injuries. Victims or their families may need to file a wrongful death claim or other personal injury cases to obtain maximum compensation.

Non-Driver-Related Causes:

Road defects

Poor road conditions, such as potholes, uneven surfaces, or missing road signs, are often overlooked but can be significant contributors to accidents. When a vehicle encounters a road defect, it can lead to loss of control, resulting in a crash. Those injured due to road defects may need to hold government entities accountable through legal expertise provided by accident attorneys.

Improperly set up work zones

Construction zones that are not properly marked or managed can create hazardous conditions for motorists. Confusing signage, unexpected lane shifts, or poorly placed barriers increase the risk of accidents. Victims of such accidents should document the scene and consult a personal injury attorney to ensure their legal rights are protected.

Car defects

Mechanical failures due to manufacturing defects, such as brake failures or tire blowouts, can also lead to accidents. In these cases, victims may have a claim against the vehicle manufacturer or another party responsible for the defect. Personal injury lawyers specializing in product liability can help navigate these complex personal injury cases.

If you have been involved in any of these types of accidents, it is crucial to gather all relevant medical records and file a police report. Your Gilbert office can provide local knowledge and support throughout the legal process, helping you to secure full compensation for your losses, including lost income and future medical expenses.

What to Do after a Car Accident

  • Stop your car immediately. It’s the law in Arizona. Don’t obstruct traffic, but pull over as close to the other vehicle as possible.
  • Swap insurance and personal details with other drivers. Ask to see their driver’s license and share your own if requested.
  • Do not admit fault for the accident, which can come back to haunt you.
  • Call the police to report your wreck. Tell them the location of the crash so an officer can come out.
  • Record the accident scene as best you can. We recommend using your phone to photograph any road hazard, like an obstructed stop sign. Also get pictures of the cars after the accident. Zoom in on the dents so we can see how the cars crashed into each other.
  • Talk with witnesses about what they saw. Ask for their name and phone number. Your lawyer might want to follow up with them.
  • Go to the hospital or a doctor’s office once you finish at the scene. You should immediately begin receiving treatment.

These steps help ensure your case is as strong as possible. You’ll have documented the accident scene and shown you take your injuries seriously. That sets you up well for success.

How CLS Law Can Help Your Case

No auto accident victim should take on the heavy burden of handling their own case. Winning full compensation takes tremendous effort, which you should spend rehabbing common injuries and resting. Our firm will:

  • Fill out insurance forms and coordinate with doctors about your prognosis;
  • Identify the correct defendant to sue for compensation;
  • Gather evidence, speak to witnesses, and build up the basis for your claim;
  • Negotiate a settlement with the defendant;
  • Participate in mediation when helpful;
  • Litigate your claim in court;
  • Take whatever steps are necessary to win compensation.

Our Gilbert car accident attorneys are dedicated and experienced. Our founder has won multiple awards for clients, including a $1 million wrongful death settlement.

The greatest benefit is peace of mind. You will rest assured that your legal team is doing what is necessary to win your case, especially when dealing with negligent drivers in Maricopa County. Whether your accident occurred at one of the most dangerous intersections or elsewhere, our accident attorneys are prepared to help you navigate the legal process and improve your diminished quality of life.

Contributory Negligence & Gilbert Car Accidents

Not every case is black and white. Sometimes, both motorists are partially to blame. We call this shared blame “contributory negligence.”

Arizona’s law is found at ARS § 12-2505. It is a “pure comparative negligence” scheme. You can request compensation no matter your share of fault, so long as it is under 100%. But your damages are reduced by your degree of blame. A case that’s worth $100,000 might only be $40,000 if you are 60% at fault.

Your negligence can take a big bite out of any settlement. The best bet is to be upfront with your lawyer about whether you were texting at the time of the crash. Our job is to downplay your negligence while playing up the other driver’s bad choices.

Speak with Our Gilbert Car Accident Attorney

Arizona law places strict limits on who can sue and when. You get two years from the day of the accident to file a lawsuit, and you don’t want to miss this deadline. If you call CLS Law at (855) 257-9467 we can review the accident and begin assembling evidence as soon as we are hired. Our consultations are without cost.