Arizona Makes Two Appearances On Top 20 List Of Cities With Most Deadly Car Crashes

Driving is such a part of our daily lives that it’s easy to forget that driving can be dangerous business. All it takes is a few seconds fiddling with the radio, checking text messages, or just really bad luck to be involved in a serious traffic accident. Large cities are more populous and usually have higher traffic accident rates, including deadly accident rates. There were 41,000 people killed in car accidents in the United States last year, with some cities reporting higher fatalities than others. Two of Arizona’s largest cities have found spots on this list. With 17.02 people passing away from car accidents per 100,000 residents, Tucson placed 4th on the Top 20 list. With 14.59 deaths per 100,000 residents, Phoenix came in at number 11. This compares to the top city on the list, Memphis, Tennessee, with 25.96 accident deaths per 100,000 residents. Number 20 on the list was Bakersfield, California with 10.96 people per 100,000 residents. 

With two cities on the Top 20 list, this increases the likelihood that you could be seriously injured in a traffic collision in Arizona. Your case may require skilled representation to ensure you receive fair compensation for your injuries. For your free consultation with an experienced member of our Mesa accident team, call 602-600-6001. 

Lawyer assisting an injured client after car crashes, reviewing documents.

Steps To Take After Being Involved In A Car Crash

  1. Confirm Your Immediate Safety: If your car accident occurs on a busy street and your vehicle is still operable, move to somewhere safer whenever possible- the last thing you want after a car accident is to be struck by another driver who fails to notice your vehicle on the road. If you have injuries, or just suspect that you have injuries, you should seek medical attention immediately or as soon as possible. 
  2. Exchange Information With The Other Driver: Any party involved in a traffic accident is required by law to stop and provide contact information and insurance information. If a driver strikes an unattended vehicle, they should leave a note with this information. Do not admit fault in causing the accident while exchanging information with the other driver. 
  3. Take Pictures Of The Damage: Taking pictures at the scene of the accident can help contextualize any property damage that occurs as a result of the collision. If there are physical injuries, you should take pictures of these as well. If there are any conditions that led to the accident, like a fallen tree or damaged traffic signal, you should also take pictures of these. If you fail to do so at the scene of the accident, this evidence could be permanently lost. 
  4. Seek Medical Attention: You can visit a medical provider after addressing the accident if you have minor injuries or don’t believe you have been injured at all. Some injuries could take a while to appear, which can be unfortunate if you have already settled your accident claim. For example, whiplash, a common injury resulting from rear-end collisions (the most common type of car accident), might not appear for weeks or months after an accident. Go see your doctor or go to Urgent Care or the Emergency Room as soon as you are able to after a traffic collision. 
  5. Contact a Personal Injury Attorney: This step is optional, but highly recommended. It is preferable to seek out a plaintiff’s attorney’s guidance before speaking with the insurance company to avoid making statements that could damage your case. The other driver’s insurance company will likely ask you to discuss the details of the accident with an adjuster on a recorded line. They will ask questions that can trip you up and make you sound responsible for the accident. However, participating in this recorded call is often a necessary step of completing an injury claim if the plaintiff is not represented by an attorney. When the plaintiff has retained a personal injury attorney, they will take care of all correspondence surrounding the claim so that the plaintiff doesn’t have to complete this recorded call. 
  6. Calculate Your Damages: Even if it’s too early to tell exactly how much your damages will be, you should have a rough estimation of your damages before beginning negotiations with the other driver’s insurance company. This can be tricky if you haven’t finished your medical treatment yet, and especially if you will require long-term or lifelong medical treatment for your injuries. If you are struggling to figure out your damages on your own, consult with a personal injury attorney for help with your calculations. 
  7. Send The Other Driver’s Insurance Company Your Demand Letter: You should explain how much you are seeking for each type of damage and how you came to that number. If you have retained a personal injury attorney, they will take care of this step for you. Especially when the plaintiff is self-represented, the other driver’s insurance company is unlikely to agree to your initial demand so quickly. It can take persistent negotiation over several weeks, or even months, to obtain a fair settlement to compensate your for your injuries. 
  8. Settle Out Of Court Or Go To Trial: If you and the other driver’s insurance company can’t reach a settlement, your claim will proceed to trial. After your initial filing, you will need to engage in discovery, additional negotiations, and other steps that are all crucial to obtaining a favorable verdict. Do you believe your personal injury claim is on the course for trial? Get more information about your rights and options by consulting with a personal injury attorney- call 602-600-6001 for your free consultation with an experienced Phoenix and Mesa accident lawyer today. 

Why You Should Retain An Accident Lawyer For Your Claim

You might feel like you have a compelling case and the time, energy, and knowledge to represent yourself in your personal injury claim. Why give an attorney any part of your settlement for work you could perform yourself? But what seems like a relatively simple settlement agreement could end up being far more complicated than you would ever imagine. If you have been seriously injured in an accident, you could be juggling treatment from one or more medical providers, catching up on missed work and household tasks made all the more difficult by your injuries, and more on top of your claim. If you don’t want to be caught off-guard by an unexpected amount of work that goes into filing a claim, hire a personal injury attorney to complete it for you. 

A skilled injury lawyer won’t just make the process easier, but could yield you a higher award. With the proper education and experience, injury attorneys can achieve higher awards, even after their fees are paid. Most injury attorneys accept payment on a contingent basis, meaning you don’t pay until you receive your award, and their fees are a set percentage of that amount. Your injury attorney doesn’t get paid unless they win your case. Our Mesa injury lawyers strive to simplify the injury claim process in Phoenix and get you the highest award possible. Learn more about your potential claim, and our contingency fee advantage, by calling 602-600-6001 for your free consultation. Contact us today!