Is There a Car Accident Claim Limit?

In Arizona, there are laws that don’t allow limits on the amount of money someone hurt in a car accident can get for their pain and suffering. A car accident lawyer in Phoenix will determine how much your case might be worth by looking at how serious your injuries are and how they might affect you in the future, who caused the accident, what insurance options are available, and the other factors that could have caused the accident.

However, lawyers can’t say for sure how much money you will win in a settlement. They can, however, work hard to protect your rights, explain the legal process to you, and show you similar cases to help you understand what your claim might be worth.

How Accident Settlement Amounts Are Determined

Arizona is an at-fault state. This means the drivers and other parties responsible for the accident are the ones who pay damages. Car accidents can lead to serious and lasting injuries, and you deserve to be paid for your medical bills, lost wages, and more. 

Car accident settlements range from a few thousand dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on the circumstances. Most claims are settled by insurance companies out of court.

How do you know how much money you are owed? Your accident attorney will look into the details of your accident, your actual expenses, and settlements from similar cases to determine the amount you should be paid.

Damages for Financial and Non-Financial Losses

Financial losses are easily quantifiable amounts that are relatively easy to determine. They could be existing and anticipated future medical expenses, lost income, replacement of damaged property, and lost earning capacity.

Non-financial losses are harder to put a number on. They are intangible losses such as chronic pain, emotional distress, and a reduced quality of life. These can be included on your claim, but you may not always get the full compensation you want if your claim only involves non-financial losses.

In extreme cases, punitive damages may be awarded if the person who caused the accident did it on purpose or due to negligence. Punitive damages are payments the guilty party has to pay on top of the compensation for your losses and damages. This might happen if the driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Because personal injury law and the legal process can be overwhelming, the benefits of an accident lawyer versus a general lawyer cannot be underestimated.

Mandatory Car Insurance in Arizona

Parties responsible for car accidents may also receive punitive damages for driving without car insurance. This is because driving without auto insurance in Arizona is illegal. Every driver must have a policy with the following minimum insurance coverage:

• $25,000 per person for injury or death in an auto accident
• $50,000 for two or more persons per accident
• $15,000 per accident for property damage

Some drivers may choose to purchase an insurance policy with higher coverage amounts.

Hire the Best Legal Team

Arizona does not use a standard formula to determine the damages from a car accident. There are no limits to the compensation you can request or be awarded. Personal injury attorneys and insurance companies negotiate settlements on a case-by-case basis to determine the value of damages for a claim.

Make sure you are satisfied with a settlement offer and carefully review the terms of the agreement and/or release. Settlements are final, so you can’t go back later and ask for more if you overlooked a detail. Do not accept money without speaking to an attorney first!

This is why it is so important to research personal injury attorneys in your area. Gage Mathers Law Group is a leading personal injury firm in Phoenix with a solid reputation for winning favorable settlements for our clients. If you are injured in an accident that was not your fault, the team at Gage Mathers will fight for you and hold others accountable. 

You need time to focus on healing and recovery, so let the team at Gage Mathers take over your case to help you win what you deserve. Call us today for a confidential case evaluation to learn more about what we can do for you!

About the Author

Joseph D'Aguanno

Guided by the belief that being a highly skilled specialist in a narrow field is better than being ordinary in everything, Joseph “JD” D’Aguanno leads Arizona’s best personal injury law firm in Phoenix, AZ. Having extensive cross-training in pre-litigation negotiations and trial lawyer skills, with decades of experience, JD strives to provide clients with the most valuable legal services a personal injury lawyer can provide. Under his direction, Gage Mathers Law Group is an award-winning personal injury law firm providing aggressive representation to victims of a car accident, medical malpractice, dog bite, motorcycle accident, and other injurious events. Gage Mathers is trusted by thousands of lawyers and clients throughout the country because of their reputation for getting clients the maximum compensation they deserve.

Years of experience: Over 23 years
Bar number: 020421
Location: Phoenix, AZ
JD’s Profile