CLS Law, PLLC, is a Scottsdale firm dedicated to helping victims struggling after an accident. Getting involved in a car wreck, truck accident, or slip and fall can lead to incredible pain and disabling injuries. Many of our clients struggle financially because their injuries keep them out of work, while at the same time, they have more bills than they ever thought possible.

Call our firm to speak with an experienced Scottsdale personal injury lawyer. In a free, no-risk consultation, we can discuss your accident and address any concerns you have about whether you can receive compensation. If hired, we will get to work immediately protecting your rights.

How CLS Wins

You were injured in an accident and suffered injuries. Now you need compensation.

How do we win?

Our Scottsdale personal injury lawyers will:

  • Tackle all paperwork, such as insurance forms, and act as a gatekeeper who lets you enjoy your peace of mind.
  • Analyze your accident in a 360-degree manner, understanding the ins and outs of what happened.
  • Identify the defendants who have liability for the accident and put them on notice to save relevant evidence.
  • Demand fair compensation and negotiate aggressively to increase the amount offered to our clients.
  • Go the long distance to vindicate your rights, including filing a lawsuit where appropriate.

We have obtained numerous settlements for our personal injury clients. Unlike other firms, we don’t accept every case which comes through the door. Instead, we only accept a case if we believe it has merit and we can dedicate ourselves to constructing the case the right way.

We Have Significant Personal Injury Experience

Personal injury is a broad field. At the bottom, most personal injury cases involve clients who suffered bodily injuries in any type of accident. Most personal injury cases are brought on a negligence theory, meaning the defendant did not use sufficient care based on the circumstances, and you got hurt as a result.

Call our firm if you were injured by:

  • Car wrecks
  • Trucking accidents
  • Motorcycle crashes
  • Pedestrian accidents
  • Slip and falls
  • Dog bites and attacks
  • Defective products (product liability)
  • Medical malpractice
  • Premises liability accidents
  • Construction accidents
  • Wrongful death

An Overview of Personal Injury Claims

Many injured people call us with questions about what to expect after an accident. They are feeling the financial pinch of medical care and being unable to work. We understand how stressful people feel, and we can handle your case from beginning to end.

Here is an overview of the personal injury claims process.

It begins as soon as you are hurt. Ideally, you will ask the person who injured you for personal and insurance details. Also document the accident scene as best you can.

Once you hire a lawyer, we can begin reviewing the evidence. We might also go looking for additional witnesses or physical evidence to shed light on how you were hurt. We can’t win a case unless we show how another person bears most of the blame for hurting you.

As you continue with your treatment, keep track of how much your care costs. Also share information about your pain, including whether you are feeling depressed or cannot socialize with friends or family. We use this information as part of our negotiations.

Once we identify fault, we draft a demand letter and send it to the defendant’s insurer. Typically, we negotiate directly with an insurance company over the accident and possible compensation. A business should have liability insurance, as should any car driver. If you were injured on someone’s property, they might have homeowner’s insurance. These insurance companies either negotiate themselves or hire a lawyer.

Negotiation can take months. The other side might disagree about who is at fault for the accident, or they are skeptical that your injuries are really severe. Expect a lowball offer in return—and don’t be insulted. There is a strategy for negotiation. This is where your Scottsdale personal injury attorney shows their skills at protecting their client’s rights. We know how to negotiate effectively with even the most resistant insurer.

Although few personal injury cases go to trial, we keep that option available. Arizona’s statute of limitations mandates that you file a lawsuit within two years of the accident, and you’ll lose any leverage over the defendant if you miss this deadline.

Financial Compensation for Bodily Injuries

A personal injury claim is your chance to obtain financial compensation for your injuries. Accidents are incredibly expensive. Even minor fender benders can cost thousands of dollars in car repairs, to say nothing of medical care for your pain.

Our goal is to squeeze out as much compensation from the defendant as possible. We seek financial compensation for all economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages include:

  • Emergency medical treatment
  • Rehabilitation and prescription medication
  • All doctor’s visits or hospital stays
  • Property damage (including damage to your car)
  • Lost income or wages
  • Future lost income

Non-economic damages include:

  • Emotional anguish
  • Bodily pain and suffering
  • Disability
  • Disfigurement or scarring
  • Loss of consortium

Anyone who lost a family member in an accident might seek financial compensation in a wrongful death and/or survival action. CLS Law will meet to discuss whether you have a right to file this claim.

How Comparative Negligence Affects Your Scottsdale Accident

Arizona has adopted a comparative negligence rule. This means accident victims who contributed to their accident can still seek financial compensation. In fact, Arizona’s law is generous. In some states, a victim can’t sue if they were 50% or more at fault, but Arizona will let you sue provided someone else is at least 1% at fault. That means you can have majority blame for an accident but still bring a personal injury claim.

Under the law, your compensation is reduced in proportion to your share of fault.

If you are 33% at fault, you will receive a third less than you otherwise would. A case which is worth $45,000 might only be worth $30,000 as a result. If you are 70% at fault, you receive 70% less. A case that’s worth $50,000 would only pay you $15,000.

Our job is to downplay your own contributions to the accident—and play up the other side’s negligence. Let us get started by calling our firm. We need as much time as possible to dig through the evidence.

10 Things to Do After an Accident

You can improve your chances of obtaining a settlement if you take these 10 steps:

1.       Report a motor vehicle accident to the police as soon as possible. Use your phone to call from the accident scene.

2.       Obtain important information from the person who injured you, such as their name and insurance information. Share your own information with them.

3.       Take pictures of the accident scene so your lawyer can recreate what happened.

4.       Speak with any witnesses and ask for a method of contacting them (phone, email, etc.)

5.       Avoid apologizing for the accident or taking responsibility for what happened. This will only result in comparative negligence.

6.       Receive medical treatment as soon as possible by going to the hospital.

7.       Stick to your treatment plan but get a second opinion if you don’t think you are improving.

8.       Never give a recorded statement to an insurance adjuster or anyone else, even if they call you at home. Hang up the phone.

9.       Set your social media profiles to private and don’t post anything about the accident.

10.   Speak with an experienced Scottsdale personal injury lawyer as soon as you can.

Get A Free Injury Consultation

Our Scottsdale personal injury lawyers at CLS Law, PLLC are ready to help you. When you reach out to us, you’ll receive a thorough, no-obligation consultation where we will assess your case and provide clear guidance on your legal options. There is absolutely no risk involved, as our priority is to ensure you have the information and support you need to make the best decision for your situation. We are committed to fighting for your rights and securing the compensation you deserve, so you can focus on your recovery. Contact us today and let us be your trusted advocates in this challenging time.