Most vehicle accident cases are straightforward, with the at-fault driver’s automotive insurance company paying for property damage, medical bills and lost wages. Sometimes, however, an insurer disputes the claim because they do not believe it’s clear that their policyholder caused the accident or is fully responsible for the incident. Sometimes a person hires an injury lawyer in Tucson, AZ if the harm suffered was serious, as they want to be sure that maximum financial compensation is paid.
Intoxicated Driving
An injury lawyer in Tucson, AZ sometimes represents clients who have been harmed when another driver was operating a vehicle while intoxicated or was behaving recklessly. Driving under the influence of alcohol might be considered a more serious form of reckless driving. In Arizona, both of these behaviors are considered criminal offenses. The courts do not take either situation lightly.
Reckless Driving
Although the driver typically does not intend to harm anyone, behaving erratically or aggressively when behind the wheel can lead to disaster. The driver may have been attempting to pass another vehicle in a situation where this wasn’t safe. Darting in and out of traffic on a multi-lane highway in an effort to travel faster is a significant risk factor for a collision. A driver might veer off the road onto the shoulder and overcorrect when jerking the steering wheel, thus running into a vehicle in the adjacent lane.
Texting Behind the Wheel
Arizona still has not prohibited texting while driving, even though 47 other states have done so. Currently, it’s considered a form of distracted driving. If proposed legislation passes in 2018, texting while driving will become a class 2 misdemeanor criminal offense.
Filing Suit
When the other driver has been convicted of these kinds of offenses, the individual’s responsibility for the accident is difficult to dispute. If the at-fault driver’s automotive insurance policy has a low liability amount and the expenses connected with the accident are much higher, an attorney with a firm like Price and Price Law may recommend suing the driver. But this only makes sense if that person has enough assets that could be used to pay for damages awarded in court.