Motor vehicle accidents frequently prove devastating to friends and family alike. Too often, the victims of such accidents are left suffering from tremendous personal injury that may cause them both physical and financial pain for years to come. However, those who have been injured through no fault of their own do not deserve to suffer for a harm that somebody else caused.

Who is liable?

Motorists have a duty to drive responsibly and with a due regard to public safety. So when a motorist drinks and drives, speeds, runs a red light, or otherwise conducts their behavior in a manner that is reckless, they may be held liable for any harm that is caused as a result of their driving. However, it is also often difficult to tell who is liable for any specific car accident.

Due to the nature of car accidents, there may be many causes for the accident itself, and teasing apart these causes is often a difficult problem. In the Phoenix area, after one has been involved in a car accident, it is often beneficial to meet with a Phoenix Car Accident Lawyer as soon as possible. An experienced and knowledgeable lawyer may be able to help with accident reconstruction, and with determining any levels of liability.

Ultimately, liability is determined by whomever is most negligent for the accident. So even in cases when one is speeding, they may still be not negligent for car accident if the other driver had run a red light. Sometimes, the level of liability will be reduced when both parties are in some way negligent.

Filing a personal injury claim

If a victim has been injured as a result of someone else's negligent or willful conduct, they may consider filing a personal injury claim. Personal injury is a type of tort, and it may be filed in a civil court. If one is successful, they can obtain monetary compensation to cover not only their medical expenses, but also any living expenses related to the harm as well. In some cases, punitive damages may also be possible.

Unfortunately, the law in this area is often quite complicated, and the maze of rules and procedures that govern the judicial system may seem intimidating at first sight. That is why it is often beneficial to first contact a Phoenix car accident lawyer. Not only may a lawyer help with determining whether a claim is possible, but they may also be able to help with successfully navigating the judicial system.

Many times, a victim may be tempted to go it alone and file a claim with the assistance of someone who is experienced in this area. However, that may well cause more harm than good. A personal injury claim requires the proper and timely filing of certain documents, and missing a deadline may well result in the denial of one's claim. It is thus advisable to retain the services of a Phoenix car accident lawyer as one seeks to recover the compensation that they are entitled to.