Most people who call us aren't sure they need a lawyer. They've been in an accident, they're hurt, and they're not certain whether their case is worth pursuing. Here's when the answer is usually yes.
Your injuries are serious
Broken bones, spinal damage, traumatic brain injury, surgery, extended hospitalization — these aren't cases to handle on your own. Serious injuries mean large medical bills, ongoing treatment, and potentially permanent effects on your ability to work. Insurance companies move fast on these cases precisely because they know most people don't understand what they're owed. An early settlement offer, before you know your prognosis, is almost always a bad one to accept.
The other side is disputing fault
Arizona uses pure comparative fault (A.R.S. § 12-2505): your damages are reduced by whatever percentage of fault is assigned to you. Adjusters are trained to shift as much blame as possible onto the injured party, because every percentage point directly reduces what they pay. If anyone is claiming you were partly responsible, an attorney can build the evidentiary record that actually reflects what happened. Our post on Arizona comparative negligence law covers how this plays out in practice.
The insurance company's offer is low — or they've denied your claim
Insurers are businesses. Their first offer is rarely their best, and a denial isn't necessarily the end of the road. Attorneys who handle personal injury cases know what fair compensation looks like and how to push back. Unrepresented claimants consistently receive lower settlements — not because the law gives them less, but because they don't know what they're entitled to.
A government entity is involved
If a city bus, a public works vehicle, or a poorly maintained public road caused your accident, you're not dealing with a standard claim. Under A.R.S. § 12-821.01, you have just 180 days from the date of injury to file a formal Notice of Claim with the relevant agency. Miss that window and you're barred from suing, even if the standard two-year period hasn't expired. These requirements exist specifically for government claims, and they're easy to miss without legal guidance.
Multiple parties might be responsible
Some accidents have more than one potentially liable party. A multi-vehicle crash, a slip and fall on commercial property managed by multiple entities, a dog bite where both an owner and a property manager have exposure — these require careful analysis to identify every available source of compensation. Our personal injury lawyers work through these situations regularly.
You're getting close to the filing deadline
Arizona gives most injury victims two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit (A.R.S. § 12-542). That sounds comfortable until you account for the time needed to gather records, investigate liability, and negotiate. Clients who contact us in month 22 routinely have fewer options than they would have had earlier. The statute of limitations is a hard cutoff — no grace period.
Other situations worth a call
You're not sure whether you have a claim. An insurer is pressuring you to sign paperwork. Your accident involved a commercial vehicle, rideshare driver, or uninsured motorist. You suffered PTSD or significant emotional harm. A family member was killed and you're considering a wrongful death claim. In any of these situations, a free consultation costs nothing and gives you real answers.
At Sher Law Group, personal injury cases are handled on a contingency fee basis — you pay nothing unless we win. Call (480) 418-SHER (7437) or reach out online.