Challenging Your At-Fault Percentage After a Crash

In Arizona, you may share fault in an accident, even if you sustained injuries. For example, you may have been speeding when you collided with another individual who was distracted. This is known as comparative negligence, and an insurance company may assign a percentage of fault to each driver.

However, if you were injured in the accident, you will still want to recover as much compensation as possible. So, how do you challenge your at-fault percentage to maximize your claim?

If you’ve sustained injuries in a car accident in Arizona, contact the Phoenix car accident lawyers at ELG Law. Our team of auto accident lawyers is here to help you safeguard your legal rights and negotiate with insurance companies after your crash.

Fight Your Ticket

First, a law enforcement officer may be called into the scene of the accident in order to determine fault. If the officer believes one or both parties committed a traffic violation that contributed to the accident, they will issue a citation. If you receive a citation and you disagree that you committed the violation, you must fight the ticket.

Once you admit guilt for a ticket, an insurance company will use it against you in a settlement. But if you plead not guilty to the ticket, the state has to prove the charges against you at a hearing. At that point, your lawyer can represent you at the hearing.

In other cases, you may be able to attend a defensive driving class to have the citation reduced or dismissed. And in some cases, the prosecutor may decide that the case is not worth the cost or time and dismiss it.

Still, it’s important to consult your lawyer. Your lawyer may recommend disputing the facts with law enforcement so that the situation can be investigated. This process creates a record of disagreement.

Keep Records of the Dispute

On that note, it’s vital to keep records of your dispute. You should fight the insurance company’s statements about your part in the crash and take note of each statement. If the insurance company assigns blame to you in the crash, immediately disagree and send a letter that states your disagreement. Your dispute letter should include any information that you’re disputing, why you believe the insurance company is wrong, and any evidence that supports your version of the events.

Furthermore, you should keep a copy of all correspondence between you and the insurance company.

Typically, insurance companies will have procedures to handle these disputes. They may ask you to send recorded statements about your version of the accident events. Remember that it’s always a good idea to speak to your lawyer before giving a recorded statement.

Act Quickly

Finally, it’s important to act quickly. If possible, take witness statements and collect all the information you can. If you are not physically able to do this, ask any passengers in your vehicle to collect this information.

This will include any photographs showing the positions of the vehicles, damage, roadway debris, and other relevant parts of the crash scene.

Report the crash to law enforcement and seek medical assistance if you are injured. Then, file an accident claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company within Arizona’s statute of limitations.

Auto Accident Lawyer in Phoenix

If you’re in a dispute with an insurance company, the best way to ensure your success is to consult your attorney after an accident. Your lawyer will help you organize the facts of your case and act as a liaison.

Contact our Phoenix injury lawyers at ELG Law today at (623) 562-3838 for a free consultation.

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