Phoenix Personal Injury Attorney

Handling Even The Most Complex Personal Injury Cases in Arizona

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Personal Injury Law Firm Serving Maricopa, Navajo, and Yavapai Counties in Arizona

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If you or a loved one has been injured due to the negligent actions of another, you are entitled to seek compensation for the losses you’ve experienced as a result. The legal team at Belén Law Firm can help. Our Phoenix personal injury lawyers are aggressive in our approach to personal injury claims and will do whatever it takes to ensure our clients are met with fair compensation for the injuries they’ve sustained.

We are proud to serve clients in Maricopa County as well as Navajo County and Yavapai County, including the cities of Holbrook, Show Low, Pinetop-Lakeside, Winslow, Flagstaff, Sedona, Prescott Valley, and the Grand Canyon area. For a free consultation with one of our attorneys, call (602) 715-0908 today.

What Does a Personal Injury Attorney Do?

Personal injury law is a legal practice area that allows individuals who have been injured due to the negligence, recklessness, or intentional actions of others to seek financial compensation for the losses and damages they have faced as a result of their injury. As such, a personal injury attorney is a legal professional who specializes in representing injured clients in their personal injury claims.

Aside from aggressively advocating for their client, personal injury lawyers help injured victims navigate the often complex world of personal injury claims as well as handle all negotiation and litigation that comes with it. This includes negotiating with insurance companies for a fair settlement and potentially even fighting in court for maximum compensation through a personal injury lawsuit.

Other duties of a personal injury lawyer include conducting investigations, gathering evidence, filing court documents, calculating damages, and overall providing legal advice and representation throughout the duration of the case. The ultimate goal of a personal injury attorney is to ensure their client recovers fair compensation to cover medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and any and all losses associated with the injury.

Is Arizona a Comparative Negligence State?

Yes, Arizona does follow the comparative negligence doctrine. The exact statute can be found under ARS 12-2505, which states:

“The defense of contributory negligence or of assumption of risk is in all cases a question of fact and shall at all times be left to the jury. If the jury applies either defense, the claimant’s action is not barred, but the full damages shall be reduced in proportion to the relative degree of the claimant’s fault which is a proximate cause of the injury or death, if any. There is no right to comparative negligence in favor of any claimant who has intentionally, wilfully or wantonly caused or contributed to the injury or wrongful death.”

What this means is that each party involved in an accident may be assigned a percentage of fault. If the injury victim is assigned a percentage of fault, the damages they are awarded will be reduced by that percentage. In other words, if the defendant (meaning the person a claimant is bringing the claim against) is not found to be 100% at fault, they will only have to pay for whatever percent they are found responsible for.

Here’s an example: Mike and Mary were involved in a car accident and Mary received injuries. Mary brings a personal injury claim against Mike, claiming he is responsible for her injuries. Mike raises the comparative negligence defense, claiming Mary held some responsibility for the accident. The case goes to trial and a jury finds that Mary was 25% responsible for her own injuries. Mike still has to pay Mary for damages, but only for the percentage of fault that he held, which in this case is 75%. So, if the damages totaled $100,000, Mary would only receive $75,000 of that under the comparative negligence doctrine.

Common Types of Personal Injury Cases

There are a seemingly infinite number of ways a person can sustain injuries from another’s negligence, from car accidents to medical malpractice to slip and fall accidents and more. At Belén Law Firm, we work with injured clients in all types of personal injury cases. Some of the more common types of claims we handle include:

Motor Vehicle Accidents

Auto accident cases are the most common types of personal injury cases in the United States and certainly the cases we handle most frequently here at Belén Law Firm. There are a number of causes of these types of accidents, including drunk driving, distracted driving, road rage, speeding, and other dangerous driving practices. There are also various types of cases that fall under the umbrella of a motor vehicle accident case. This includes:

Car accidents
Truck accidents
Commercial vehicle accidents
Motorcycle accidents
Bus accidents
Ridesharing accidents
E-scooter accidents

Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrians may have the right-of-way, but that doesn’t mean they are immune to accidents. When a pedestrian is struck by a motor vehicle, this is considered to be a pedestrian accident. These accidents can occur when a person is walking, jogging, riding a bike, or simply standing (or sitting) still. Most often, these accidents occur at crosswalks when a motor vehicle driver is not paying attention to their surroundings. Whether the driver was texting, speeding, driving under the influence, or engaging in any other negligent or reckless behavior, they can be held liable for the often serious injuries that occur in a pedestrian accident.

Dog Bite Injuries

Under ARS 11-1025, “The owner of a dog that bites a person when the person is in or on a public place or lawfully in or on a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog, is liable for damages suffered by the person bitten, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner’s knowledge of its viciousness.” Dog bites often result in serious physical, emotional, and financial damages for a victim, but these cases can be complex. That’s why it is important that those who suffer dog bite injuries equip the help of a skilled Phoenix personal injury attorney to ensure they are properly compensated for their injuries.

Catastrophic Injuries

Catastrophic injuries are personal injuries that cause extensive, long-term, or permanent damage. For example, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputation injuries, and severe burn injuries may all be considered catastrophic. These types of injuries significantly impact the life of a victim and their families, often leading to a lifetime of physical, mental, and financial distress. These cases are often very emotionally-charged, as the victim’s suffering spans far beyond the accident itself. A personal injury lawyer can help make sure that catastrophic injury victims have the financial support they need to pay for things like medical bills and lost wages while also being appropriately compensated for the pain and suffering they’ve endured.

Premises Liability

Every property owner, whether it’s a family friend or a government agency, has a legal responsibility to anyone who may come onto their property. This means they must keep their property safe and free of potential hazards. If a person suffers an injury on another person’s property and it is found that the property owner could and should have taken measures to prevent such an injury from occurring, a premises liability lawsuit may ensue. Common premises liability claims include slips and falls, swimming pool accidents, amusement park accidents, and electrocution injuries, to name a few. Dog bites or other animal attacks on a person’s property may also be considered a premises liability case.

Product Liability

Just as property owners have a legal duty of care to anyone who steps on their property, product creators have a responsibility to anyone who may purchase or use their product. Consumers have a reasonable expectation to assume the products they are purchasing will be safe to use as intended, but unfortunately, that’s not always the case. If a product causes harm to a consumer, anyone from the designers to the manufacturers to the sellers could be held liable in a product liability lawsuit.

Wrongful Death

Personal injury cases of all kinds can be traumatic and life-changing, but none so much as a wrongful death case. When a person sustains severe injuries that ultimately lead to their death or when they are killed immediately due to the negligence (or even intentional acts) of another, surviving family members may file a wrongful death lawsuit to recover damages such as burial and funeral expenses, loss of financial support, loss of companionship, and more. The Phoenix wrongful death attorneys at Belén Law Firm can’t take away your grief, but they can make sure the at-fault party is held accountable and that you and your family receive the compensation you deserve.

Types of Damages in Arizona Personal Injury Cases

When you’ve been injured in an accident, you deserve to be compensated for not only the physical trauma you’ve experienced, but the mental trauma as well. That’s why at Belén Law Firm, our Phoenix injury lawyers work tirelessly to ensure you receive maximum compensation for both economic and non-economic damages.

Economic Damages

Economic damages account for losses that can be easily measured, such as:

Medical bills
Rehabilitation expenses
Lost wages
Lost earning capacity
Property damage

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are not as easily measured. They include things like:

Pain and suffering
Mental distress
Loss of consortium
Loss of enjoyment of life
Loss of guardianship

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are reserved for cases wherein a defendant acted with extreme gross negligence or disregard for human life and are merely meant to punish the defendant rather than to compensate for any losses.

Why You Need a Phoenix Personal Injury Lawyer

If you have been injured in a personal injury accident in the Phoenix area, it is incredibly important that you equip the help of a skilled Phoenix personal injury law firm. There are many reasons for this. For one, insurance companies are notorious for minimizing the amount of compensation paid out to claimants, and they will no doubt try to undercut your claim. Personal injury attorneys are familiar with these tactics and will fight back against the insurance company on your behalf.

In a personal injury case, you want to make sure that every loss you’ve experienced is accounted for. Without a lawyer, you may not know the full extent of the damages you are entitled to. Personal injury attorneys will work to obtain all necessary medical records and conduct a thorough investigation into the accident in order to build and strengthen your claim, ensuring every angle is covered. This includes the long-term impact of your injuries and how they might affect your future. Overall, Phoenix personal injury attorneys like those at Belén Law Firm can help guide you through the whole process from start to finish, all while ensuring your rights are protected and you receive the maximum amount of compensation you are entitled to under the law.

How Long Do I Have To File a Personal Injury Claim in Arizona?

When filing a claim, personal injury victims must abide by what is known as the statute of limitations. Every state has a statute of limitations for personal injury claims – that is, a time frame for which an injury claim must be brought. In Arizona, that time frame is 2 years from either the date of the accident or the date you discovered the injury. Of course, there are some exceptions. A Phoenix personal injury lawyer can help make sure you understand the statute of limitations for your case and ensure your claim is brought within the appropriate amount of time.

If You’ve Been Injured Due to Another’s Negligence, Call the Personal Injury Attorneys at Belén Law Firm Today

At Belén Law Firm, our Phoenix personal injury attorneys are dedicated to helping accident victims regain some sense of normalcy after experiencing injuries due to another’s negligent, reckless, or intentional acts. That starts with ensuring they have the financial means to pay for things like medical bills and time off work while they recover.

If you believe you have a personal injury case and would like to speak to one of our skilled injury lawyers in Maricopa County, Navajo County, and Yavapai County, call our law office at (602) 715-0908 or complete our online intake form today for a free consultation.

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What Our Clients Say

"We first hired Belen and her highly esteemed team of expert litigators. For her integrity and professionalism, but during the course of our representation, we gained a degree of personal trust and reliance far exceeding our expectations. Belen demonstrated an amazing level of genuine care and compassion and an implicit desire to keep us informed and knowledgeable of each step in the process. She is a diligent and hard worker and leaves no stone unturned. Our representation was nothing short of brilliant, creative and successful! She is without a doubt the Lady I want in my corner. I would HIGHLY recommend her to anyone interested in winning their case with the least amount of headaches throughout the process."

"Belén is hands down the BEST defense attorney out there. She has the heart, compassion, determination, backbone and most of all, the desire to help her clients. Belén’s expertise and experience helped mitigate our case to receive a reduced sentence. She spent thousands of hours over the year and a half she represented our family to challenge the prosecution at every corner and on every angle. She went above what most attorneys do by hiring her own experts and investigators to ensure she went to battle fully loaded. Due to her dedication, determination and commitment, my family felt extremely satisfied and confident that she obtained the best outcome with a reduced sentence. Belén is a stand up human being who, not only represented our family, but became family. If you want the best defense attorney, Belen is your choice!"

"At a time where we felt helpless and, quite frankly traumatized, Belen stepped in and reassured us that we had options and assured us she would work her hardest for a satisfactory resolution. My teenage son needed defense against law enforcement and my family needed legal advice and support in the worst way. Despite being beaten black and blue by police officers that said he was resisting arrest, they also charged him with two felonies. We were all at a loss and Belen was able to keep us grounded as we went through the process explaining every step along the way. She worked extremely hard to expose the truth about the officer involved, and because of her hard work, the felonies were dropped. My son can go on with his life without having his record and character tarnished by these unjust accusations."

"Hire this one! I spoke to several firms before using Belen. Every other firm connected me to a sales person who refused to allow me to speak with an attorney. Belen was put on the phone when I called at 7pm on a Saturday. Belen cared about my son. He had a warrant for his arrest and did not know until he was pulled over and hauled off to jail. Belen went to the jail on Saturday, stood with my son in jail in front of the jailhouse court judge and told that judge how it was. My son walked out 2 hours later without paying for bail. The following week, she called the prosecutor and was able to get the plea reinstated from years prior that resulted in the case being fully dismissed. Also, her fees for everything were lower than the other attorneys who were trying to get me to pay over the phone. I highly recommend Belen!"