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Phoenix Car Accident Attorneys

Injured in an Auto Accident? We Can Help!

If you have been injured in any type of auto accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your medical treatment, ongoing medical care, lost earnings, and possibly much more.

Our Phoenix car accident attorneys at Cullan & Cullan, doctors practicing law, have years of experience helping victims of motor vehicle accidents get just compensation for their injuries. Vehicle collisions are one of the leading causes of injury in Arizona and happen all too often. Our legal team is here to help restore the quality of your life.

Common Types of Car Accidents

Car accidents can lead to serious injury to drivers and passengers involved – especially depending on the type of car accident. Some types of vehicle accidents, like rollover accidents and sideswiping, are talked about but aren’t as common as others.

Some of the most common types of auto accidents are also some of the deadliest – they are:

  • Rear-end collision: This occurs when one vehicle crashes into the back of another vehicle, often due to following too closely or sudden deceleration.
  • Head-on collision: This happens when the front ends of two vehicles collide, often resulting in severe injuries or fatalities, especially at high speeds.
  • Side-impact collision (T-bone): This occurs when the side of one vehicle is impacted by the front or rear of another vehicle, often at intersections or when one vehicle fails to yield the right of way.
  • Rollover accident: This occurs when a vehicle tips onto its side or roof, often due to sharp turns, high speeds, or collisions with obstacles. Rollover accidents can be particularly dangerous and result in serious injuries or fatalities.
  • Single-vehicle accident: This involves only one vehicle and can include collisions with stationary objects such as trees, utility poles, or guardrails, or incidents like running off the road due to driver error or adverse road conditions.
  • Multi-vehicle pile-up: This involves three or more vehicles and often occurs on highways or freeways, where multiple vehicles collide in a chain reaction, typically due to reduced visibility, speeding, or driver distraction.
  • Side-swipe collision: This occurs when the sides of two vehicles traveling in the same direction make contact, often due to improper lane changes or drifting out of lanes.
  • Pedestrian or cyclist accidents: These involve collisions between vehicles and pedestrians or cyclists, often occurring at intersections, crosswalks, or along roadways. They can result in severe injuries or fatalities for the pedestrian or cyclist.
  • Hit-and-run accidents: These involve a driver colliding with another vehicle, pedestrian, or property and then leaving the scene without stopping to provide contact information or render aid.

No matter what type of motor vehicle accident you’re involved in, the Phoenix auto accident lawyers at Cullan & Cullan, doctors practicing law, can help you establish a case and get the compensation you need to make a full and lasting recovery.

Contact our offices at (602) 900-9483 for a free review of your auto accident claim.

Arizona Car Accident Laws

Arizona follows a fault-based system for car accidents, meaning the person responsible for causing the accident is generally held liable for damages. This is also known as a "tort" system.

Suppose another driver is at fault for the accident. In that case, you can file a claim with their insurance company to seek compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering.

If the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured, or if their insurance coverage is insufficient to fully compensate you for your damages, you may be able to file a claim under your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, if you have it. UM/UIM coverage helps cover your expenses when the at-fault party lacks adequate insurance.

If you cannot reach a satisfactory settlement with the at-fault driver's insurance company, or if your damages exceed the limits of their policy, you may choose to file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver to recover compensation. In Arizona, you typically have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit.

Remember, Arizona follows a comparative negligence system, meaning that even if you are partially at fault for an accident, you may still recover damages. However, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found to be 10% at fault for an accident and your damages are $10,000, you would receive $9,000 ($10,000 minus 10%).

Arizona Auto Accident Statistics

The vehicle crash rate in Arizona has climbed steadily over the last several years. In 2015 alone, a total of 116,609 vehicle crashes occurred in Arizona—nearly 7,000 more than the previous year. In these crashes, 53,554 people sustained injuries and 895 died, including 24 children under the age of 14. This is the equivalent of one person killed in a crash every 9.79 hours.

Most accidents are the result of someone else’s negligence. Whether a driver was speeding, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or driving while distracted at the time of the accident, the victims deserve compensation for their injuries. If you recently sustained a serious injury or know someone who died in an auto accident in Arizona, the attorneys at Cullan & Cullan can help.

Causes of Auto Accidents

According to the Arizona Motor Vehicle Crash Report cited above, 41,309 accidents in 2015 were the result of drivers speeding too fast for conditions. Other top causes included failure to yield right-of-way, unsafe lane changes, and driver inattention or distraction. There were 4,757 confirmed cases of people driving while intoxicated, and 1,636 who fell asleep or drove fatigued. Every single one of these car accidents was entirely preventable.

When a driver’s negligence causes an auto accident, the law intervenes to protect its victims. If you are involved in a car accident, the most important thing is to seek medical attention right away. When an accident happens, you are startled. Your adrenaline is pumping. You may not immediately feel pain. It is important that you calm down and pay attention to how you are feeling. If you feel you have been hurt, it is very important to seek prompt medical attention so that you heal as fast as possible. It is important to know that in many car accidents the full nature and extent of your injuries may not be known for days or even weeks after an accident. For example, you may have injured your back in a car accident.

The doctor may decide to treat your injuries with conservative care. If you do not improve the doctor may then determine that you need more advanced medical testing such as a CT-scan or MRI. This test might reveal that you have damage to your spinal cord damage, such as a herniated disc. Other injuries that involve traumatic brain injuries may also be difficult to diagnose without further testing.

A very important second goal is that you preserve the evidence. This includes having a family member obtain photographs of your property damage and take photographs of any injuries you may have sustained. The insurance company will also take photos but they are not your friend and they own any photos they take.

Common Car Accident Injuries

There are many different types of injuries that can occur in a traffic accident. Due to the incredible force of energy involved in a car accident, injuries can easily be catastrophic and lead to paralysis or permanent disability. Victims typically require lifelong medical care, expensive surgical procedures, and physical therapy.

Types of injuries that can occur because of an auto accident include:

  • Whiplash
  • Brain injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries and other back injuries
  • Soft tissue damage
  • Herniated disks
  • Concussions
  • Fractures or Broken bones
  • Rotator cuff injuries
  • Knee and hip injuries
  • Severe burns

The Second Collision & Third Collision

When one vehicle collides with another vehicle or a stationary object, the kinetic energy within the vehicle continues toward the point of impact. This means that vehicle’s passengers continue moving until coming in contact with the seatbelt, steering column, or other objects. Physicians call this the second collision or the human collision. The second collision often causes broken bones, head injuries, and whiplash injuries.

After the second collision, the organs within the body continue to move until they have their own collision with bones, other organs, or inside of the skull. Physicians call this the third collision, and it can cause organs to tear, rupture, and bleed. The third collision can cause the brain to strike the inside of the skull, leading to traumatic brain injury or closed head injuries. This can cause temporary or permanent brain damage.

Cullan & Cullan’s Proven Track Record in Car Accident Claims

The team at Cullan & Cullan strives to provide top-notch legal representation for our clients. Throughout the years, we’ve been able to secure millions of dollars for victims of negligent drivers, so that the victims can get justice for their pain and suffering.

Our most notable auto accident case results include:

  • $1,000,000 Car/Bus Accident (policy limit): Our client was injured when a school bus made a negligent left-hand turn, causing the collision. The defense alleged our client was speeding and the collision could have been prevented if that weren’t the case. Our team worked diligently to secure our client justice and compensation for the injuries sustained because of someone else’s negligence.
  • $1,000,000 Car Accident (policy limit): The defendant ran a red light while talking on their cell phone and crashed into our client’s car. The victim, a previously healthy and self-sufficient 80-year-old woman, suffered a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). The team at Cullan & Cullan worked with the client and her family to make sure she got the care and compensation she needed to recover.
  • $830,626 Car Accident: Our team represented a victim of a car accident injury who had a medical bill for $7,000. The defense offered $25,000 to settle the case, but our team would not rest until our client had the compensation they needed to pay for past and future medical bills and suffering.
  • $575,000 Car Accident: The defendant in this case negligently ran a red light, causing a collision with our client. Our client suffered multiple rib fractures, a lacerated spleen, and an arm injury. During recovery, the victim suffered severe depression while unable to work.
  • $563,770 Car Accident: Our client was hit by a moving vehicle with the driver immediately fleeing the scene. The victim suffered injuries causing Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy). Our team was able to secure a judgement that allowed the victim to get the financial assistance they needed to fully recover.
  • $550,000 Car Accident: Our team helped the victim of a car accident get the compensation they need for the fractured ankle and permanent pain and suffering they got from the negligent collision.
  • $500,000 Car Accident: The defendant failed to yield to our client and this resulted in a collision. The victim suffered a severe injury their leg and back. Our team helped get the victim proper compensation for their injuries and continued pain and suffering.
  • Hundreds of settlements for policy limits between $25,000 - $100,000.

Put 30+ Years of Experience in Your Corner

The difference between other law offices and Cullan & Cullan is that our lead attorneys have medical and law degrees, giving them an edge in and out of the courtroom. We have in-depth knowledge regarding auto accident injuries as well as federal and state accident laws. Our Arizona auto accident attorneys offer unparalleled legal representation when it comes to personal injury cases in Arizona.

Contact us at (602) 900-9483 today for a free consultation about your claim.

Record SettingVerdicts

View All Results
  • $26.1 Million

    Medical Malpractice

    Cullan & Cullan has set a state record in Nebraska with a $26.1 million medical malpractice jury award.

  • $25.4 Million

    Medical Malpractice

    Cullan & Cullan, Doctors Practicing Law, won a record-setting $25.4 million jury verdict for a family injured by medical negligence during labor and delivery.

  • $19 Million

    Truck Accident

    Negligent truck driver made a right-hand turn into plaintiff’s vehicle, causing fractured vertebra and partial paralysis. Defendant alleged plaintiff was trying to pass him on the shoulder. The insurance company offered zero before trial.

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Testimonials

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  • "The settlement gave my family the security we needed!"

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  • "Dr. Gene Cullan was very professional and compassionate!"

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    - Juanita B.

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Families We've Helped

  • "After suffering a spinal cord injury during a rollover accident, our client Tony Durham was left paralyzed for the rest of his life. Listen to his story on our website."
  • ""His team is phenomenal, and we are forever grateful for everything they have done for us.""
  • "We knew these would be lifelong issues for our son. You have to advocate for your kids because no one else will do it. Cullan & Cullan knew what was going on and we knew they would be successful in helping us."
  • "If your child is damaged or you think your child is damaged, you should seek a lawyer. Having a doctor-lawyer on my side really gave me hope."
  • "My child had permanent paralysis in her left arm and no one gave us a straight answer on how bad it actually was. We needed lawyers who understood the medical side of this case and hiring the Cullan brothers gave us the attention we needed."
  • "Joe and Pat came to meet me helped me fight my case. I was who they cared about and I felt so important with the Cullan brothers."
  • "For anybody who's been in an accident and suffered a catastrophic injury, Dr. Sam is the best person you could possibly call to help. Not only is he someone who is knowledgeable and very friendly, he's also a humble person - someone who will hold your hand and guide you through the process as he did with me."
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