Arizona Accident Lawyer Blog

Most people who have never dealt with an insurance company before just assume the company will treat them fairly. They have no qualms about contacting the negligent driver’s insurance company directly and think they can handle the case on their own. But insurance companies will not act in their best interest.

After all, they have shareholders and a bottom line to protect. So they will do whatever it takes to save money. In addition, when an injured victim contacts an insurance company directly, the company may try to twist their words and use those words against them. They may even claim the victim said things that they did not say.

As Peoria personal injury attorneys, we are obviously a biased source. But we deal with injured victims on a regular basis who are being denied fair compensation by the negligent driver’s insurance company. That’s why we encourage injured victims to first consult with an Arizona injury attorney.

Continue reading " Don't Talk to the Insurance Company First - Talk to a Peoria Personal Injury Attorney " »

Those who have suffered serious personal injury or who have lost a loved one in a wrongful death will often try to make the insurance claim on their own. Far too often, people believe that the insurance company will deal honestly and fairly with them if they make a claim. However, it is important for people to understand both the risks and benefits of making an injury claim against an insurance company without the help of a lawyer.

Not every injury victim that wants to make an insurance claim against a negligent driver needs to hire a personal injury lawyer. We expect that the best Scottsdale personal injury lawyers will always be honest with people and explain to them that there is no law requiring that an attorney help them in making an insurance claim.

Making an insurance claim can some times be as easy as notifying the insurance company of an accident, providing them with the information, and providing them with the details of the injuries or damages that were suffered. After that, a settlement may be obtained.

Continue reading " Can a Scottsdale, Arizona Insurance Claim Lawyer Help Me? " »

In Part One of our discussion of the various forms of evidence you may need to provide to the insurance company after being in a car accident in Arizona, we emphasized the importance of getting pictures of the accident scene. The importance of doing this coincides with taking photographs of somebody who's been seriously injured. We certainly understand how morbid this can sound. It can be very uncomfortable to take pictures of a loved one who has been seriously injured. Nobody wants to remember their loved one in that condition. It can be very difficult for the person who has been seriously injured to even look in a mirror at times, let alone have someone else take those photographs. However, what if those photographs were the difference between obtaining a life-changing and fair settlement offer and never receiving any compensation for the injury? Well, unfortunately very often that can be the case.

And of course, it is not just about photographs. There are experts who can measure skid marks and look at the debris field after an accident. There are experts who can collect evidence and documentation that can help put together or piece together who is at fault for a case. The top personal injury lawyers have experience in seeking out all the different types of documentation and other evidence that can help support a claim days, weeks, months, or even years after the fact.

Continue reading " Types of Evidence I Need to Give to the Insurance Company after an Auto Accident: Part Two " »

As a personal injury trial lawyer it is unusual for us to use this space to write about anything other than serious injury legal issues. However, with the news that Rabbi Bryan Bramley of Temple Beth Sholom was accused of sexual assault, I felt it appropriate to address some legal issues in this case.

I have met Rabbi Bramley. My wife and I liked him in our one meeting with him.

An accusation such as this one can destroy an innocent man and his family. Understand that I am not making any judgment as to the truth or the allegation. I am in no position to know of Rabbi Bramley’s guilt or innocence. Importantly, neither are any of the people whose information on this is limited to media reports. None of us are in a position to question adequacy of the investigation, to know what the police did or did not investigate, or to know whether this allegation is true. Justice should be swift to anyone who commits a crime such as this. But, for an innocent man, should there be lifelong punishment as well? Of course, not.

I strongly encourage everybody to remember that "innocent until proven guilty" is not just some empty legal saying we throw out from time to time. Until the criminal process unfolds and we can know whether Rabbi Bramley is innocent or guilty of these charges, none of us should allow the charges themselves to destroy him and his family.

Why do we use our time to raise this issue in a personal injury blog? Because we believe it is the right thing to do. Far too many people are going to assume that because there was an allegation that it must be true. This assumption leads to labels that can destroy the innocent just as quickly as they punish the guilty, and it is not right.

We hope justice is done, whatever that is. For the guilty, justice should be to done to help support the victim and deter future conduct for the protection of other innocent children. We are all left to trust the criminal justice system to make sure that happens. If justice in this case is that there was no such wrongful act and that the allegation is without merit, we must all do our part to avoid rumors and labels regarding Rabbi Bryan Bramley that would destroy the man and his family even if he were actually nothing more than the victim of a false allegation.

I do not know what occurred, but I hope justice is done and will not take part in punishing someone who may later be found to have done nothing wrong. All of us should join in this commitment.

Many people understand that they need to have sufficient evidence in order to have a chance to receive fair compensation for their serious Scottsdale, Arizona personal injury claim. Some people believe that the insurance company will deal with them fairly as long as they provide certain evidence. Well, on the one hand that is true. At least it is true that you can count on the fact that if you have not collected all of the evidence you need to prove your claim, the insurance company is very unlikely to deal "fairly" with your case. It is probably then a leap of faith to believe that even if you have secured all of the necessary evidence that you can count on the insurance company to deal fairly with you in every case.

Insurance companies are for-profit businesses. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this. We expect companies to work towards making a profit. People who buy stock in the insurance companies expect those companies to do everything that they can in order to make that profit. However, the profit the insurance companies make far too often come at the expense of people who have suffered very serious personal injury cases and who will never return to the life that they had. Far too often, people who have lost loved ones in an accident that was caused by somebody else do not receive a fair settlement offer because the insurance company is hoping that they can increase their profit margins.

It is for this reason that the collection of evidence can be so vital. Many people are extremely uncomfortable with taking photographs of an accident scene. However, it is important to make sure that anything that can be photographed is photographed in order to preserve the evidence. Please refer to our next blog post for Part Two of this topic and to learn more about what kinds of evidence you can gather to help bolster any potential injury claim you may make.

As a popular suburb of Phoenix, Mesa is situated in Maricopa County and has a history that dates back two thousand years to the Hohokam people’s arrival when they built the city’s original canal systems. Mesa has definitely progressed since then and is now the third-largest city in Arizona with an estimated population of 460,155 in 2006. With so many residents and visitors utilizing a large quantity of businesses and a wide range of properties, slip and fall accidents, as well as other incidents caused by unsafe or poorly managed premises, take place from time to time in Mesa.

Many people do not realize just how serious a slip and fall accident can be for an injured individual and their family. Depending on the age of an individual, the position in which they fall, and what they happen to fall onto, some common slip and fall injuries include lacerations, bruising, broken bones, sprains, ligament tears, concussions, spinal cord injury, or internal bruising. Although these injuries vary, they are all potentially capable of inflicting steep medical costs, loss of wages, pain and suffering, and other damages upon an injured person.

If a private property owner or public business fails to provide notice of probable danger on a premise, the owner of that property may be held legally responsible for their negligence if a slip and fall injury accident occurs. If you or a loved one has been injured in Mesa due to an unsafe premise, a skilled Mesa slip and fall accident attorney may be able to assist you in obtaining the compensation that you deserve.

At Breyer Law Offices, P.C., our Husband and Wife Law Team has dedicated several years to helping those afflicted by another person or entity’s negligence. Mark and Alexis Breyer have the legal resources and knowledge to handle a wide range of premises liability and slip and fall accident cases. Contact Breyer Law today for a free, no-obligation consultation of your potential injury claim by calling 480-753-4534 or visit www.breyerlaw.com for more helpful information.

If you’ve been badly injured in a car accident in Tucson, Phoenix, or anywhere else in Arizona, one of the side effects you may be experiencing is lost wages. To deal with this issue, you need to make sure you contact an Arizona car accident attorney with a highly successful track record.

When you’re injured and not able to work, you are entitled to full compensation for all of your lost wages and benefits. In addition to that, you are also entitled to compensation for any future lost wages that you may deal with because of your inability to work at the job you once held.

But, in order to get this compensation, you need to have a highly skilled and experienced car Tucson accident attorney on your side. A skilled attorney will know how to get full documentation of your claims through doctor’s notes, past earning reports, tax returns, consultations with a vocational rehabilitation counselor, and information from an economist about your projected future earnings.

If you’ve been badly injured – or your loved one has been killed – in a car accident in Tucson, Phoenix, or anywhere else in Arizona, please feel free to contact us. We have extensive experience with significant wage loss claims and we can help you put together a plan for receiving full compensation for lost wages.

Too many people are quick to blame children in cases where a child wanders into a pool and drowns. Why people are surprised that kids wander is beyond us. But as Flagstaff, Arizona personal injury attorneys, we see this attitude time again.

Perhaps an adult should have kept a better eye on the child; or perhaps the pool owner should have done a better job of ensuring the pool was safe. However, it is unnecessary to blame the child when these kinds of accidents do occur.

In cases of drowning accidents, it can be overwhelming for the family to determine whether or not to file a personal injury lawsuit. The fact of the matter is that a lawsuit isn’t going to undo the tragedy and it may not be an appropriate choice for every family.

Continue reading " Flagstaff Personal Injury Attorneys Provide Information on Drowning Accidents " »

In Maricopa County and throughout the State of Arizona, the most common kind of drowning accident involves children in neighborhood swimming pools. In many of these cases, the tragedy was caused by a lack of proper security measures or supervision. At public pools, drowning accidents can occur when there is no lifeguard or an ill-trained lifeguard on duty. We also see drownings happen on our waterways in boating accidents. Either there was drinking or unwise behavior involved, or no life vests on the boat. What’s most unfortunate about these drowning accidents is that they are wholly preventable.

When these accidents do occur, the victim’s family may have the right to file a wrongful death claim against the negligent party. Just because that right exists, though, does not mean that it is the best decision for every family. The best advice we can give to families in the midst of such a situation is to consult with a wrongful death lawyer in Maricopa County who has experience with drowning accidents.

Continue reading " Should I Hire a Maricopa County Drowning Accident Attorney? " »

According to Arizona law a personal injury lawyer is not required to bring a personal injury claim. Before filing a lawsuit, an insurance claim is normally the first stem towards trying to obtain fair compensation for any personal injury claim. Though filing an insurance claim can be down without a lawyer, it is not always the best idea. Sometimes it will work out just fine, but other times it will lead to disaster.

For people who have suffered minor injuries in an auto accident or other accident that was not their fault, hiring a lawyer may not be necessary. As experienced Phoenix personal injury attorneys, we believe that when an injury is not too serious it does not justify hiring a personal injury lawyer.

When injuries are permanent or very serious, or in cases where medical expenses and lost income result because of the injury, injury victims and their families should consider hiring a personal injury attorney. When an injury affects a person’s life forever, not hiring a personal injury lawyer can be a serious mistake. When people suffer great financial losses due to a permanent injuries or loss of loved ones because of an accident that was not their fault, not receiving financial compensation for these injuries only adds insult to injury.

Continue reading " Do I Need a Lawyer to File a Personal Injury Claim? " »

Most often, people looking for a topnotch car accident attorney in Scottsdale think only about finding the best personal injury lawyer for them, which is what one ought to do when pursuing any personal injury claim. This is the only chance for an injured person to obtain justice, so finding a lawyer with the right personality type and attitude, a sense of justice for the injured person’s needs, and one with excellent credentials is imperative. Yet despite the focus on finding the best lawyer one can find, some may wonder whether personal injury lawyers will always work in the best interests of their clients, regardless of what may happen in an injury accident claim.

As veteran injury lawyers, we can speak from personal experience. Just as our clients struggle to overcome obstacles regarding their injuries, they also deserve someone who will fight for their rights in an accident injury claim. We are not afraid to take a personal injury claim to court, regardless of the odds against us. Some other personal injury lawyers may quit on their clients, but we feel justice is worth the fight. Besides which, whenever a personal injury lawyer drops a case or backs down from a fight, both the Arizona insurance company against which they were battling and the insurance industry as a whole see this. Insurance companies know which personal injury lawyers will fight and which ones will do anything they can to avoid a personal injury claim from going to trial.

Continue reading " Are There Occasions When an Auto Accident Attorney Can Fire a Client? " »

As experienced Tucson injury attorneys, we have experienced the advantages and disadvantages when bringing in witnesses to testify. Some of our clients’ cases were won because someone who saw what happened willingly showed up and told the jury what they saw. We have also had clients that did not receive justice because witnesses that observed an accident were either unwilling to testify or could not be found.

Witnesses play multiple roles in serious personal injury cases. Some witnessed the actual accident occur and can shed light on how an injury happened. Many times when there is a car accident or other motor vehicle accident, people will pull over to help. Others simply pass on by. When a Good Samaritan that saw what happened pulls over and helps, and then provides their name to the police, it is more likely that justice will be achieved in the future for a person injured in the auto accident.

These types of witnesses are not the only important ones. Friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, and others who observe how the seriously injured person’s life is affected by injuries can offer powerful testimony in personal injury trials. They are witness to the pain and suffering of those dealing with severe injuries from an auto accident or other type of personal injury that was not their fault. It is important when a personal injury claim goes before a jury in Tucson, Phoenix, Flagstaff, or elsewhere in Arizona for the personal injury victim to have people who can provide succinct and truthful testimony about what the injured person has been through.

Jurors may not believe an injured person’s testimony only, as they know that the person who files a personal injury claim is biased. Yet if friends, neighbors, family, co-workers, and others can bolster an injured person’s claims, it will strengthen the personal injury case.

For any questions about what witnesses may be able to do in a personal injury claim, or if you simply want some answers about your potential claim from a knowledgeable personal injury attorney, please contact us. We will give you an honest evaluation of your claim.

Those who operate public pools, and those who own pools, have certain safety regulations, codes, and laws they are required to follow for the safety of others. When these laws are not followed, and people drown – tragically and far too often children – there is an accountability that must be faced up to by the negligent party.

Certainly, it is easiest to simply blame the victim of drowning. But when a victim is child, can the child really be blamed? Also, many will raise the point that a lawsuit after a drowning accident will accomplish nothing. Well, that is highly questionable. First, if the lawsuit can serve as a deterrent to others and prevent them from negligently operating their pools, that in and of itself can save lives.

The publicity that comes from drowning verdicts can further be a deterrent and a reminder to pool operators and that can save lives. Moreover, for the family that has been torn apart by a drowning tragedy, having some measure of justice may accomplish something very real to allow that family to move on in whatever different way it is going to be able to move forward. Certainly nothing can undo the horrendous tragedy, but some justice may be of some well-deserved consolation to the surviving family members.

If you or anybody you know has questions about the legal process involved after a drowning or near drowning incident, please do not hesitate to give us a call at Breyer Law Offices, P.C. Our Arizona swimming pool accident attorneys will be happy to provide you the answers that you need so that you can decide whether it is, or is not, in the best interest of the family to move forward with litigation. However, you deserve honest answers before making that decision.

Those reading this are probably wondering what personal injury clients and the Rocky Balboa from the Rocky movies might possibly have in common. They actually have a great deal in common.

As I know, Rocky is an older movie that many people may have not seen recently, so I will refresh your memory. The themes of the original movie about Rocky Balboa, the boxer, parallel in many ways those seriously injured individuals who file personal injury claims, though the similarities may not be readily apparent.

Take a closer look, however, and the real life experiences of those hurt in auto accidents or other accidents resulting in personal injury claims and the movie about Rocky become apparent. Remember that at the beginning of the movie, Rocky was down on his luck. In the same way, the vast majority of people who experience life changing personal injuries are also experiencing some of the worst moments of their lives. Yet, the movie does not celebrate that Rocky won the fight against the champion, which he actually lost in the first Rocky movie. Rather, it shows how Rocky overcame his circumstances through hard work and determination to put himself in the best position possible.

So many people regard the seriously injured clients we represent in various personal injury cases as quitters. They believe people pursuing personal injury and wrongful death claims have given up on life after becoming seriously injured or losing a loved one in an accident. The truth is rather the opposite. Our clients in personal injury cases show great courage at overcoming obstacles, committing themselves to a fight for justice that inspires us to help them fight for their rights after a debilitating accident. The fact that in their fight for justice they hire the best Phoenix, AZ personal injury attorney or wrongful death lawyer they can find should not count against them. Their strength of spirit and courage to fight for justice goes beyond winning a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit.

Continue reading " Phoenix, Arizona Car Accident Lawyer Compares His Personal Injury Clients to Rocky Balboa " »

The best Arizona personal injury attorneys also happen to be some of the most honest people you would meet. In fact, the top ten car accident attorneys in Arizona are also very honest. Yes, despite many people’s preconceived notions, the most respected and most highly regarded Arizona accident injury lawyers are honest. The fact that the best personal injury lawyers are also honest surprises many people in Arizona, which is unfortunate.

We strongly believe that the best lawyers are intrinsically honest in their dealings, especially when it comes to their clients. The best lawyers in Arizona need to tell their clients the truth, regardless of whether the news is good or bad, and their honesty is part of what makes them top personal injury lawyers.

It is easy for a personal injury attorney to sell themselves to a potential client, and easier still to gain a new client just by saying what that person wants to hear.

We do not believe the best Arizona personal injury lawyers do that.

Continue reading " Can You Find an Honest Arizona Auto Accident Attorney? " »

My experience as a certified specialist in Arizona injury and wrongful death law has given me the opportunity to help a number of people who suffered a variety of serious injuries due to someone else’s negligence. The first thing that normally occurs after a serious injury is that the injury victim is taken to the hospital, often by ambulance, or in some cases via helicopter. Documentation in any personal injury claim thus begins right at the accident scene. First responders take note of any injuries or conditions that they observe. Personal injury victims are then further evaluated in the ambulance or helicopter by emergency medical technicians. Once the injured person arrives at the hospital, medical providers take more notes. Within the first forty five minutes after any very serious accident, having three sets of notes and observations of the personal injury victim is not unusual.

Beyond these initial observations, medical records and observations of the injury continue to be made. Medical providers always try to document fully and accurately medical conditions, yet sometimes they are recorded inaccurately. This can be due to a number of factors in any accident, but can include how busy the doctors are, communication problems between the injured person and medical personnel, inaccurate memories when recording notes, time lapse between when the doctor saw the injury victim, and a whole host of other factors.

Continue reading " Discussing Accident Claims and Medical Records with an Experienced Arizona Personal Injury Attorney " »

The Maricopa County city of Tempe, Arizona, contains an estimated population of 174,091 and is located in the East Valley of the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. Bordered by other major Arizona cities, Tempe is west of Mesa, east of Phoenix and Guadalupe, south of Scottsdale and north of Chandler. Tempe is considered to be the most densely populated city in Arizona, and welcomes residents and daily visitors to enjoy creative events presented at Gammage Auditorium and Tempe Center for the Arts. With such a busy population, accidents such as a slip and fall incidents in Tempe can occur from time to time, which can bring to light certain premises liability issues.

The aftermath of a slip and fall accident can be a disheartening experience that many times leaves a person feeling overwhelmed regarding his or her legal rights. A slip and fall accident can happen in a public environment at no fault of the injured individual. For example, a store may be under maintenance, but if there is no sign to warn a shopper, the person can slip or fall and suffer broken bones, concussions, harm to the spinal cord, or internal bruising.

When a public business or private land fails to give notice of possible danger on their property, the owner of the premises can be held liable for their negligence. If you have been seriously injured, lost money due to medical treatment, or even had to forfeit wages as the result of your slip and fall accident, an experienced Tempe premises liability lawyer can help you seek full compensation for all of your inconveniences.

Husband and Wife Law Team, Mark and Alexis Breyer, at Breyer Law Offices, P.C., are familiar with premise liability cases and slip and fall accidents and will work diligently with clients to recover damages due to a property owner’s negligence. Do not let someone else’s negligence hinder your life enjoyment. Call the experienced premise liability attorneys at Breyer Law Offices today at 480-753-4534 for a free consultation of your case.

“If it isn’t written, it didn’t happen.” Every personal injury claimant should consider this statement. We often use it in our office. The statement, at its root, is of course not true, as many things occur that were not written down. We also know that many other things that are written were written down inaccurately.

It is an unfortunate truth that Arizona personal injury cases are not based on the truth. They are instead based on facts, but are rather decided upon evidence. Evidence is not necessarily accurate, and it may not even reflect what actually happened.

For this reason, anybody that considers filing a personal injury claim should also seriously consider keeping a diary, though it is best to speak with an experienced Arizona personal injury attorney to guide you in this decision. There are definite risks in keeping a diary. They need to be kept accurately and consistently, including certain types of things that a personal injury lawyer may wish to deal with in trial. Yet there may also be advantages to not keeping a diary.

Continue reading " Arizona Personal Injury Lawyer Encourages Injured Claimants to Use a Diary " »

As a specialist certified by the Arizona State Bar in personal injury and wrongful death litigation, I am surprised at how many people trust the insurance company for the driver that caused the accident, yet distrust a lawyer that they hire. More specifically, people often refuse to even consider hiring a personal injury attorney. Instead, many attempt to handle an accident injury case on their own, and end up speaking directly to the insurance company representing the person that caused the injury.

Now, I understand that I am an attorney that deals in Arizona personal injury law, and so realize my own bias when I write about trusting a personal injury lawyer before trusting the other side’s insurance company. Yet I also know that I help people who are hurt due to someone else’s negligence.

But the reason we bring this up is not to plug our Arizona personal injury firm, or even myself as a personal injury lawyer. Yes, we do pride our efforts in fighting for our clients. Further, we know that we deal in a straightforward manner with our clients and are always honest with them so that they know what lies ahead. But as experienced personal injury attorneys, we also know how to protect our clients from making mistakes that might jeopardize their claim. We understand that it is neither about our firm nor is it about our top notch personal injury lawyers, but about having experienced legal representation when speaking with an adverse insurance company about a personal injury claim. And the more serious the personal injury claim, the truer this is.

Continue reading " Do Not Talk to the Other Person's Insurance Company Before Talking to an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney " »

The rapidly growing city of Surprise, Arizona, is approximately populated by 90,717 people as reported by a 2007 census; almost triple the count since the 2000 census. In December 2008, Surprise showed further signs of development when the Demographic and Permit statistics department took a count and found a new population of 109,672. Surprise, located in Maricopa County, also has a significant population of senior citizens, who live in an age-specific retirement community called Sun City Grand. The community is an offset of another large market of homebuilders and homebuyers who are attracted to Surprise’s fairly-priced homes and the city’s accessibility to state capital Phoenix. With many residents and a consistently growing population, it is no shock that Surprise experiences its share of personal injury on the local roads and major highways including instances of motorcycle accidents, which can lead to brain injury.

An estimated 85% of all traffic deaths in the United States will be attributed to a motorcycle accident. Many of those fatalities are preventable with proper precautions, such the use of a helmet. The sad fact is only half of the nation enforces a helmet law, despite that a helmet can protect bikers from fatal head injury. However, a helmet will not completely shield riders from disaster, and the remaining 50,000 who suffer annually from serious motorcycle injuries may have been harmed by another person’s negligence or distracted driving habits. Drivers who are not focused, or even intoxicated, can cause severe injuries at no blame of the motorcyclist. Severe injuries can involve intense physical discomfort, emotional misery, and at worst, a critical injury to the brain.

Traumatic brain injury, or TBI, is the repercussion of a heavy hit to a person’s head or a penetrating blow to the skull. TBI can happen in the aftermath of a motorcycle collision, or any accident that disrupts the natural activity of the brain. An annual approximation of 1.4 million people will suffer from TBI. Although a variety of accidents can trigger dysfunction in the brain, a motorcycle accident in Surprise can significantly increase the chances of traumatic brain injury. If you have been personally injured in a motorcycle accident, or were the victim of brain trauma, a skilled Surprise brain injury attorney is available to assist you in receiving compensation for your losses.

Mark and Alexis Breyer, Husband and Wife pair at Breyer Law Offices, P.C., know how painful a motorcycle injury or brain accident can be for a person and their loved one. The dedicated attorneys have worked diligently with accident victims for years, and have helped the injured recover their physical, financial and emotional expenses in Surprise city trials. Distracted and intoxicated drivers do not have to get away with their negligence, and a motorcycle accident attorney can defend your rights. For a free consultation of your situation, call Breyer Law Offices at 623-930-8064.

1. Insurance companies always try to do what is fair and just, and are not just focused on profit or their bottom line.
2. When their client is at fault, an insurance company will always admit it. They would never dream up ridiculous arguments to try to take the blame away from their negligent client, especially if the person injured was not at fault. An insurance company will, in fact, do an investigation so that the person injured by their client will be treated fairly, even if doing so involves admitting fault and accepting total responsibility.
3. Insurance companies never would deny that the people they insure did not cause an injury when they were negligent in a car accident. Insurance companies are far too moral to blame pre-existing conditions to avoid paying your claim in full. And they certainly would never hire doctors who would try to deny that it was their client that caused an injury.
4. An insurance company would never attempt to short change a payment to a person injured due to the negligence of someone they insure and, in fact, will always agree to settle amicably with the injured party for full and fair compensation. The insurance company will never make an injured person go to extreme lengths to prove how the injury affected his or her life, and will readily offer to pay every penny that is deserved in compensation.
5. Insurance companies will admit exactly how much is available to pay a claim. An injured person never needs to worry that the insurance company will deny that other insurance policies exist that can also be claimed against. Insurance companies are very helpful, and will readily share information about other insurance policies the negligent party holds with them that are available to claim against.

Continue reading " Five Reasons to Not Hire a Top Personal Injury Attorney to Aid in an Insurance Claim after an Accident that Results in Injury " »

Top Arizona auto accident lawyers explain to their clients the uphill battle that is often faced in today’s anti-plaintiff climate. There has been so much misinformation and insurance company advertising and propaganda against honest and serious personal injury claims, that overcoming the preconceived notions of many jurors can be difficult. This is why it is so important to make sure that every injury that is suffered is documented as soon as possible after an accident.

Many people make the mistake of not following up with their doctor when they are in pain following an auto accident because they think they will “get better.” Well, of course you should hope to get better. In fact, there is a very good chance that you will “get better” and will not have needed to go to that extra doctor or to get that extra documentation.

However, the best personal injury lawyers do everything they can to insist upon their clients getting to medical providers and following up as much as possible to eliminate anybody later claiming that they did suffer the injuries that they did in fact suffer. In fact, the real danger is in the situation where an injury, though apparent, does not seem to be as serious as it turns out to be. For instance, it is not unusual for people to suffer shoulder pain and discomfort immediately following a serious car accident. Usually that shoulder pain will resolve on its own. However, what happens to the person who waits a month to follow up with their medical provider and it turns out that the reason they have been unable to move their arm is because they had a rotator cuff tear? What about the person who suffers a torn labrum after a car accident and they fail to follow up with the doctor immediately following the accident and in the days and weeks that follow? What happens is that very often the insurance company for the driver who caused the accident will use that delay in treatment to claim that it was not the car accident that led to the serious shoulder injury.

Continue reading " Have You Proved an Arizona Personal Injury Case? " »

As has been reported by the AP, a bus coming from Mexico to LA was involved in a horrific crash in Sacaton, AZ. Families of those who were tragically killed and those who suffered serious injuries undoubtedly are overwhelmed with concerns and issues most could not begin to imagine. At Breyer Law Offices, our hearts go out to the families of all involved. We know that no words can begin to express the sorrow that is being felt. We also know that, before long, there will be people associated with the bus company that may look to take advantage of families during this terrible time, trying to cut off their rights to recover. In fact, it is likely that there were lawyers and paid experts at the site of the crash for the bus company within hours, maybe even before the police had finished their investigation.

What is a family to do when faced with such a concerted effort to “change history” for the purpose of minimizing legal liability? We strongly encourage anybody who knows someone involved to reject any phone calls or contact with any representative of the busing company. As soon as there is someone in the family who can take the lead emotionally, we strongly encourage anybody involved to contact a certified specialist in personal injury and wrongful death litigation, so that the bus company – and any person responsible for this regrettable tragedy – is held responsible.

A video report posted on azcentral.com has new details regarding the fatal phoenix bus crash that killed 6 people yesterday. According to the report, the company that owned the bus which was traveling from Zacatecas, Mexico to Los Angeles was not licensed to transport passengers.

The Phoenix bus accident attorneys at Breyer Law Offices have seen first hand how stressful legal issues are for clients and their families. They also understand the tragic consequences a personal injury or wrongful death can have. The Breyer Law Offices will continue to monitor the investigation regarding these tragic deaths and provide information to it's readers as it becomes available.

According to the Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, a bus that was recently involved in the fatal accident that took six lives on Interstate 10 just south of downtown Phoenix was being operated illegally. According to an Associated Press news story, the bus, that had been traveling from Central Mexico to Los Angeles, was carrying 22 passengers at the time of the crash in Sacaton, AZ. Reportedly, the bus rolled over after striking a pickup truck, and the six passengers were thrown from the bus in the process, all of whom died. The remaining 16 passengers on the bus were all injured, as was the driver. Injuries sustained during the crash were mostly deemed serious, and resulted in catastrophic injuries such as broken spines and head injuries. Further investigation into the accident is still pending.

Transportation officials revealed that the bus company, Tierra Santa Inc., had been told that it was not allowed to permit its vehicles to engage in commercial interstate transportation of passengers, yet it was doing exactly that at the time of the Phoenix bus crash. While it remains to be seen to whom liability issues will be assigned, many instances involving bus accidents often result in both the driver and the bus company being deemed at fault. According to the article, police are investigating to determine the state of mind of the bus driver at the time of the accident, particularly if the driver was suffering from fatigue, as well as the maintenance history of the bus. Bus companies have an obligation to ensure that their vehicles are properly maintained, and that their drivers do not violate federal transportation guidelines by driving more hours than they are permitted to in a 24-hour period.

Details regarding this horrible fatal Phoenix bus accident are still being uncovered and the bus accident attorneys at The Breyer Law Offices will continue to monitor new information regarding the crash as it becomes available.

Several Arizona car accident personal injury lawyers are familiar with how many people do not know what to do after a serious car accident claim. The reality is, most people who are seriously hurt are not in a position to try to do much that can help their case other than knowing not to talk to anybody from the other insurance company and to focus on getting better. However, many times there are family members who would like to be of help. They need guidance in terms of what to do. There are some general first steps that can be taken.

First, take pictures. Take many pictures - when you think you have taken enough pictures, take more. Pictures of what? Anything that could later be disputed. Pictures of the car. Pictures of the roadway. Pictures of anything near the area where the accident occurred. Pictures of any injuries suffered. Pictures of the hospital room. The reality is that you never know what will be contested down the line. Many, many things that seem obvious at the time of any injury are later contested by the other insurance company or defendant. Therefore, every single digital photograph that you can take is worth taking to help the person who suffered an injury.

Continue reading " What Should I Do after a Car Accident in Arizona? " »

In helping people who have suffered serious injury as the result of the negligent driving of others, it is not uncommon for the person who caused the accident to contest the traffic citation or ticket that they received. When they contest the ticket and push it all the way to a “trial” on that traffic ticket, the person who is injured will often receive a subpoena. Under the subpoena, they are required to appear at court. This causes a great deal of concern to many people.

First, understand that you are subpoenaed to be a witness, you are not “on trial.” Instead, although you were the one who suffered the serious injuries, you are also a witness to what occurred. Therefore, an experienced Phoenix personal injury attorney knows that it is very common that you would be asked to provide that information in order to ensure that the citation or traffic ticket against the person who caused the accident is upheld.

Continue reading " I Have Received a Subpoena after a Car Accident I Did Not Cause: What Should I Do? " »

Personal injury lawyers in Phoenix will very rarely advise their clients or potential clients to give a recorded statement to an insurance company. Also, where this recorded statement is appropriate, if a recorded statement is going to be given, it should almost always be given with your lawyer at your side.

Very often, the insurance company will claim that a recorded statement is required. However, when dealing with the insurance company for the driver who caused an accident, there is no law that requires a recorded statement. The reality is that this is more of a tactic used by the insurance companies to try to get something recorded that they can later twist and use against the person who is injured.

Many times I have told people not to give a recorded statement and they object by pointing out that they will just tell the truth. Well, of course they will tell the truth. You are required to tell the truth. If you are going to work with any lawyer that is any good, they will not work with you if you do not tell the truth.

However, ask yourself whether or not you can trust the insurance company to use that statement honestly or, in the alternative, if they might look to find ways to twist your words and use them against you. If they really just wanted to know what happened in the accident, why do they insist upon recording the statement? They could simply ask you what happened? They could ask you to put it in writing? However, if they just ask you what happened they won’t be able to twist your words against you later, or at least it becomes more difficult to do so.

Continue reading " Is it Okay to Give a Recorded Statement to the Insurance Company? " »

The desert scenery that frames the city of Florence, Arizona, is one of the many attributes that draw residents and creative-thinkers to experience its wealth of culture and history. Florence is one of the oldest towns in the state and proudly stands as Arizona’s sixth oldest European town. Major Directors have traveled to film the region’s backdrop, notably its well-kept Main Street. Although the city roads are carefully maintained, with such a growing population, the unfortunate reality is that sometimes motorcycle accidents take place in which a motorcyclist may suffer brain injury or other afflictions.

The tally for motorcycle accident death has reached a national high of 85% of all traffic fatalities, not including the number of serious injuries that an approximate 50,000 people suffer each year. However, a motorcycle operator in Florence can take certain precautions against injury, such as wearing a helmet, properly riding the motorbike, or even paying careful attention while sharing the road. Nevertheless, far too often, a negligent driver, and not the motorcyclist, is responsible for a collision taking place, thus causing serious injury in many cases, or even death.

A critical injury that motorcyclists may suffer is brain injury, or even worse, traumatic brain injury (TBI), which is caused by a sharp hit to the head or penetration to the skull. Brain injury is not only a common consequence of motorcycle accidents; an annual 1.4 million patients will seek treatment for TBI, including surgical procedure, prescribed medication, and grief counseling. The consequences of brain injury can be physically damaging, emotionally lasting and can severely strain the patient financially. During such challenging times, a Florence Arizona brain injury attorney can help an injury victim fully recover from brain trauma suffered due to another person’s negligence.

If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury, or suffered as the result of someone else’s negligence in a motorcycle accident, Husband and Wife Law Team, Mark and Alexis Breyer from Breyer Law Offices, P.C. have the knowledge to navigate your case through the Florence legal system so you can receive proper compensation for your losses. The Florence personal injury lawyers know your rights and will work diligently to obtain the positive results in a trial. Call Breyer Law Offices today at 520-624-4228 to receive a free, no obligation consultation of your case.

As experienced Arizona personal injury lawyers, we have seen the repeated and devastating effects of negligent driving. However, with the increased use of text messaging, there has been a nationwide increase in serious traffic accidents and people killed on our roadways as a result of others who choose to text message while they drive. Texting and driving is inherently dangerous. Now falling under the phrase "distracted driving" in many articles, this activity is not only potentially criminal, but there are also personal injury lawsuit ramifications.

The Arizona Supreme Court has already found punitive damages appropriate for those who drink and drive. However, those who make mistakes while they are driving but have no intent to cause harm – known as negligence under the law – are not responsible for punitive damages. In other words, those who drink and drive not only have to pay for the lost wages, medical bills, and other legal compensation owed to the person they have harmed, they also might be fined significant amounts of money to both punish the person who decided to drink and drive as well as to send a message to others not to do so.

Continue reading " Text Messaging While Driving Becomes a Personal Injury Case " »

Arizona has long adhered to "vicarious liability" for employers and their driving. In other words, somebody who is working for another company and is in the "course and scope" of their employment when they cause a car accident in Arizona not only create liability for themselves – the driver – but also for the company they are working for. We see this commonly where somebody runs a stop sign, runs a red light, or turns left in front of somebody else while they are working.

This is the type of simple negligence that would automatically make the driver responsible. However, Arizona, like many states, also makes the employer liable for the actions of their employee done while that person is still "on the clock." Similarly, text messaging while driving – while the driver is working for somebody else – will not only create liability for the driver but will also create liability for their employer.

Continue reading " Under Personal Injury Law Employers Are Liable for Employees Who Text Message and Drive " »