The moments following a car crash are full of uncertainty, ironically more so when the collision is less severe. This can leave you wondering if you should get a lawyer for a minor car accident.
Maricopa County, Arizona, accounted for over 71% of all crashes in the state for 2022, many of which were nonfatal. The personal injury attorneys at Sargon Law Group understand that even minor car accidents can have serious repercussions, and we are ready to help you navigate your unique circumstances toward a favorable outcome.
Should I Get a Lawyer for a Minor Car Accident?
The question of whether it is worth getting a lawyer for a minor car accident has a very clear answer. It is possible to suffer serious financial damages even in a minor collision, and our team at Sargon Law Group can help you recover the full extent of those damages. Having an attorney on your side becomes even more of a boon if the other party makes it difficult to pursue compensation, either by committing a hit-and-run or if the insurance company attempts to offer a lowball settlement.
Our Phoenix, AZ car accident attorneys can strengthen your case by:
- Investigating the circumstances around your minor car accident
- Collecting evidence establishing the other party’s fault
- Handling paperwork and compiling documents relevant to your claim
- Negotiating with the insurance company on your behalf
Taking quick action can make all the difference after a minor car accident, especially if one party quickly left the scene following the collision. Involving your attorney early in the process can help ensure that no evidence becomes lost to time.
What Is Considered a Minor Car Accident?
When you make the initial call to your lawyer, you can streamline the process by knowing how best to explain the nature of your accident. That is why it pays to understand what exactly separates a minor car accident from a more severe one. When you know that you are contacting a lawyer for a minor car accident, your legal team can be of greater help to you in turn.
The primary characteristics of a minor car accident are low speed and low impact intensity. A collision that happens when at least one of the vehicles is moving at 10 miles per hour or less tends to be a minor car accident. Fender benders, rear-end collisions and parking lot accidents are all common examples of such low-intensity crashes.
Minor car accidents also tend to imply a relatively minor amount of damage. Keep in mind that low-severity impacts can still lead to injury and not-insignificant repair costs. Some minor car accident claims can still be worth as much as $10,000 or more.
What Should I Do After a Minor Car Accident?
In the case of a small-scale collision, you might not consider the damage to be worth calling a lawyer for a minor car accident. You might even decide to leave the scene without taking action. This is generally not a wise decision to make. Not only is reporting an accident part of being a responsible driver regardless of how minor the accident may be, but there is also the potential that the damage could be worse than it initially seems.
Even a seemingly minor fender bender can give way to further damage or future repair costs that can get out of hand. This is to say nothing of personal injuries you might incur at the time of the accident without noticing. Choosing to simply leave the scene of an accident can make it difficult to pursue a claim later, so there are certain steps you should take to protect your interests and well-being:
- Call the police and wait at the scene
- Seek immediate medical attention
- Report the accident to your auto insurance provider
- Contact a lawyer for minor car accidents
Be sure to keep thorough records of any medical records or repair invoices pertaining to your accident, as these may serve as valuable evidence that strengthens your claim.
Are Injuries Common in Minor Car Accidents?
Minor collisions have the potential to cause significant injuries, including some that you might not notice right away. It is always best to seek immediate medical attention after any accident, regardless of severity. Many injuries do not present signs or symptoms immediately but can become catastrophic over time if left untreated.
Common injuries frequently experienced in minor car accidents include:
- Whiplash
- Bruising
- Lacerations
- Soft tissue injuries
- Head injuries
It is worth taking legal action if you experience a minor car accident through no fault of your own, all the more so when you sustain injuries in the process. You deserve your rightful compensation after sustaining damage to your property and to your person.
What Compensation Can I Get for a Minor Car Accident?
The presence of recoverable damages is a foundational part of any accident or injury claim. Getting a lawyer for a minor car accident is an important step in understanding what recoverable damages you can receive and evaluating the full extent of their worth. You might incur significant economic damages as a result of your minor car accident, such as:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Repair costs
You might also suffer certain noneconomic damages that you can recover as part of your car accident claim as well. It is completely valid to experience emotional pain and suffering, as well as conditions like anxiety or PTSD, even as a result of minor car accidents.
Contact a Lawyer for Your Minor Car Accident in Arizona
In the hours and days following a low-impact car crash, it is worth getting a lawyer for a minor car accident both to accurately evaluate the true severity of the damages and to secure the full extent of the compensation you deserve. At Sargon Law Group, we help motorists all across Maricopa County reach the best outcomes possible after any type of motor vehicle accident. Contact us today by calling (623) 225-5635 for a free consultation with our Phoenix injury attorney and to learn more about what we can do for you after a minor car accident.