Car Accident Insurance Claims and Lawsuits - Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Arizona

Arizona law requires drivers to prove their ability to pay for the costs of damages from an auto accident; most individuals do this by purchasing an insurance package that covers bodily injury liability and property damage liability. Motorists have the option to purchase uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage to pay for bodily injury caused by another motorist with too little insurance or none at all. Dealing with insurance companies can be a complicated experience, since they have their own best interests at heart. Victims injured in an auto accident should consult with a lawyer from the firm of Begam & Marks, serving Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Mesa. Our legal team helps victims of a car or other auto accident handle their insurance claims and lawsuits if the insurer is offering less than a fair amount of compensation. Our firm accepts cases from all over the Valley and beyond - including Glendale, Gilbert, Peoria, Tempe, Chandler, Buckeye, Surprise, and Sun City. Please contact our firm to schedule a consultation.

Types of Available Coverage for Your Injury
What is Uninsured/Underinsured Coverage?
Avoiding Pitfalls in Dealing with Insurers

back to top

Types of Available Coverage for Your Injury

The issue of whose insurance coverage or which coverage is available regarding a particular accident can be very complex.  One of the important things an attorney can do for you is to advise you in identifying insurance which may be applicable. In automobile insurance policies written in Arizona there are four main types of coverage.  They are:  liability, uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist, and medical payments coverage.  Liability coverage is the primary focus when determining fault in an accident – which driver is at fault, and does the at-fault driver have adequate liability coverage for the damages he or she caused.  If that driver has no insurance, the injured party can make a claim under his own uninsured motorist coverage.  If the at-fault driver did not have enough insurance to cover the damages, then the injured party can make a claim under his own underinsured motorist coverage. Finally, medical payments coverage may be available and it is a “no-fault” coverage.  For injuries other than from automobile accidents, homeowners insurance may provide coverage for an injury.  For example, if someone’s dog bites you or you fall at someone’s home because of their negligence, a claim could be made against the homeowners' policy.

What Is Uninsured/Underinsured Coverage?

Uninsured motorist coverage may be purchased by you from your own automobile insurance company.  This extra insurance protects you, your family, and other passengers in your car because it pays damages for injuries caused by other drivers who are not insured. Your own insurance company, in effect, stands in the shoes of the uninsured at-fault driver.  Underinsured motorist insurance, which you can also purchase from your own insurer, provides you coverage for an at-fault driver who has too little insurance.  For instance, if your claim has a value of $50,000 and the at-fault driver has only $15,000 in coverage, you may be able to collect the other $35,000 from your own underinsured motorist coverage – provided you have purchased that much coverage and paid the premium.  Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverages are in addition to your other regular auto accident insurance, and the premium is reasonable. For questions regarding claims or lawsuits, contact our Phoenix office (serving Scottsdale, Mesa, and other locations around the Valley).

back to top

Avoiding Pitfalls in Dealing with Insurers

The business of a car accident insurance company is to pay out less in claims than it brings in for premiums.  Thus, the insurance company is inherently your adversary.  Always keep that in mind in dealing with the insurance company.  You have no obligation to give a statement to the insurer for the party who caused your injuries and damages.  Too often, within a few days after an accident, a clever adjuster will call you and ask you to simply give him or her your side of the story.  You may make some statements which are incorrect or are not supported by the facts.  Moreover, you may not yet know the nature and extent of your injuries and how those injuries will affect your life.  You should not sign authorizations permitting an insurance company to obtain copies of your medical records, unless it is your own insurance company and you are, by your policy, obligated to do so.  Deal with the defendant’s insurance company as an adversary, someone who does not have your best interests at heart. We urge you to consult an experienced attorney who specializes in personal injury law for advice before having any dealings with the defendant’s insurance company.  An initial consultation with an attorney at Begam & Marks is free of charge.

 

Contact Us - Auto Accident Insurance Claims and Lawsuits: Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale

If you have been in a car or other auto accident and have questions about insurance claims or lawsuits, contact the Phoenix firm of Begam & Marks, serving Scottsdale, Mesa, and other surrounding Arizona areas. Our attorneys will meet with you to discuss your case during a free consultation.

back to top

Contact the lawyers of Begam & Marks, serving Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale, and beyond if you’ve been injured in a car or other auto accident and have questions about insurance claims and filing a lawsuit against a negligent or underinsured driver.

Message

Address:
111 W. Monroe St. Suite # 1400
Phoenix, AZ 85003

Phone:
800-285-0481
602-254-6071

Click for Directions