The destruction and serious injuries caused by DUI accidents in Arizona outrages me. Those who drink and drive must be prosecuted, and drunk drivers ought to be sued by the injured victims in civil court by personal injury attorneys.
A January 10 report in the East Valley Tribune left me shocked and saddened. A family of four was hit at a four way stop when a pickup driven by two teens went through the stop sign without stopping, broadsiding the family’s car. It was determined that excessive speed caused the crash, and that the two teenagers were under the influence of alcohol. Two boys, aged 6 and 11, died in the crash, and the wife was in critical condition.
The line must be drawn somewhere for those who drink and drive. We as a society must do everything possible to prevent such tragic Arizona drinking and driving accidents from happening.
As Phoenix lawyers that deal with serious injury and wrongful death in Arizona, we aid Mesa, AZ families who have experienced injuries due to accidents. In this case, there is nothing we can do to bring back the lives of these two boys, nor can any settlement bring solace to their parents. Even if we sued the teenagers and their families for everything they had, it would not undo the harm they have caused. Yet it is imperative that drunk drivers be punished not only in criminal courts but also with personal injury cases in civil courts. We at Breyer Law Offices have never defended drunk drivers nor have we taken on drunk driving criminal defense cases. We cannot ethically do so. Rather, we will stand up for the rights of the victims of drunk drivers.
After any drunk driving accident, there are usually innocent victims. These innocent bystanders not only should be compensated for their losses, but as members of society their personal injury suits serve as an added punishment, and hopefully a future deterrent, to drunk drivers. Those who drink and drive must know that they are not only putting their freedom at risk should they be caught, but they may also lose their assets as well. Victims of drunk drivers and their families should contact experienced Arizona DUI accident victim lawyers to both punish drunk drivers as well as receive the compensation that is due them.
Our condolences go out to this family, who can never be compensated enough.
Many injury and wrongful death attorneys in Arizona will offer a contingency fee agreement for those who have been hurt due to the negligence of another individual. A contingency agreement is where the client and lawyer will agree to a certain percentage and the lawyer’s fee comes out of the settlement of the case.
Every lawyer is different with the fee that they charge. Typically fees range from 25% to 45%. The fee usually depends on the lawyer’s experience and the type of case. Lawyers who practice medical malpractice for instance usually charge a higher fee because these cases tend to go to trial and they are very expensive to litigate. Some medical malpractice claims require a lawyer to invest a quarter of a million dollars, or more, to bring the case to trial or achieve a settlement. Other claims such as car accident claims typically a lawyer will charge 1/3 of the settlement.
Every lawyer is different. Remember hiring a skilled personal injury attorney in Phoenix is not like getting the same retail product anywhere you go. For instance, if you want a television, you can likely find the television at a high end retail store or possibly the same exact one for a lot less at a place like Walmart or other discount store. When it comes to the law, very often the settlement is based on the lawyer’s experience. Not all claims will get the same settlement. It depends on how the evidence is presented to the insurance company and jury. Therefore, you need to choose a lawyer that you feel comfortable with who will get you the best possible settlement. The interesting thing about contingency fee agreements is that you can find a certified specialist in injury and wrongful death law that will charge the same as a new attorney who has no experience at all.
In short, a contingency fee agreement with an attorney will allow an injured person to pursue their claim and not have to pay any upfront money at all. Ask the attorney you hire what their experience is in injury and wrongful death law. Ask the attorney if they will charge you if your case is not successful.
In our office, we do not charge anything if we are not successful. Lastly, remember when it comes to the amount of the fee, it is the ultimate value of your claim that matters. if you had a case settle with an experienced attorney for $100,000 and they charge a fee, then you would receive $66,666.00. Let’s assume another attorney with less experience obtained a settlement of $75,000 but their fee was only 25%. You would have gone with an attorney who charged 25% instead of 33%, but you would only end up with $50,000 in your pocket instead of $66,666.00 if you had chosen the experienced attorney. All of these numbers are not set in stone, but it can give you a possible outcome of how different settlements and fee amounts works in injury and wrongful death law.
