When to Call a Car Accident Lawyer

If you have had a car or truck accident, call our car accident lawyers in Phoenix before you talk to any insurance company. We have many car and truck accident cases every year. We know exactly what to do, and we can do it as quickly and efficiently as any law firm could. If you need help finding a reputable doctor near you who will wait to be paid, we can help. We can help you with the property damage claim and help you get your car fixed. We will get the police report, talk to the insurance company to prepare them for your claim, and we will investigate further if necessary. We will get the medical records and bills from your doctor when your treatment ends. We will gather any other information that will help get you a better settlement, such as lost earnings documentation.

Why Choose Schiffman Law Office, P.C.?

Unlike some other car accident lawyers, Mr. Thomson does all of the negotiations on your injury claim himself. When we have obtained the final offer from the insurance adjuster, we will check on the medical balances and figure out what you would get from settling, then get your authority before settling. We will go to the healthcare providers and get your medical bills reduced, if possible. We will work to resolve any liens that may apply, and do everything we can to maximize the amount of money you take home from your settlement. Call for a free consultation if you are hurt in a traffic accident.

What to Do, According to a Car Accident Lawyer

1. Call 911 and wait for the police to come and take a report
2. Stay calm
3. Get names, phone numbers and addresses of the people involved in the accident and witnesses
4. Get driver’s licenses of the other driver(s)
5. Get license plate number and state, and a description of the other involved vehicles
6. Photos of the vehicles at the scene before moving away can be very helpful
7. Do not move the vehicles until the police have seen them unless you are in danger from traffic
8. Do not discuss the accident with anyone except the police until you talk to us
9. Seek medical care if needed
10. Call our car accident lawyers to discuss your rights and what to do, if you were not the one who caused the accident
11. DO NOT TALK TO THE OTHER DRIVER’S INSURANCE COMPANY UNTIL YOU TALK TO US OR ANOTHER LAWYER, AND DO NOT GIVE THEM A RECORDED STATEMENT!
12. Notify your own insurance agent or company (but it is best to talk to us first)

Dealing With Your Damaged Car or Truck

It can be confusing and frustrating to deal with the aftermath of an accident. Your car or truck may have been towed somewhere, and needs repairs if it is not too damaged to fix. Our car accident lawyers can help you with the process of getting the insurance company to fix your vehicle or pay for it if it is a total loss.

Advice from a Car Accident Injury Lawyer in Phoenix: Property Damage

If your car or truck needs repairs and your policy includes collision coverage, your own insurance company will often pay to fix it and get it done faster than the other driver’s company would, but you will need to pay your deductible and wait to get paid back later from the other insurance company (once they accept liability, after their investigation, which may take weeks or months). If your car or truck has been towed, there will be a towing fee. Your insurance might cover this. The other insurer may not pay it until their investigation is completed. They can reimburse you if you pay the towing fee. If the vehicle is towed to a storage lot, there will be higher charges for every day it is stored there. If it stays in the storage lot too long, they will have the right to sell it to pay the storage fees. You need to get your car or truck out of the storage lot as soon as you can, to avoid high storage fees. If the vehicle can’t be repaired and it is a total loss, the insurance company should pay for the cost of a comparable vehicle- meaning the same model, age, engine and equipment, mileage, etc. They will base this on finding several comparable vehicles for sale, probably on the internet, and they can show what they consider in calculating the amount to pay. You can show them how your vehicle is different from the ones they compare it to, if they make a mistake in the evaluation and tires are new or something, and that may lead them to increase their offer. Sometimes the property damage policy limit is not enough to pay for all the damage caused in the accident, and then you will get and amount less than the total damage your vehicle has sustained. The insurance company only has to spend the amount the policy sets for its property damage limit (the minimum is $10,000.00).