Article Summary

• Shannon’s Law criminalizes what is deemed as a reckless discharge of a firearm in a populated area. The crime is generally charged as a Class 6 felony.
• Criminal cases do not always cover the financial losses a victim experiences after being involved in a negligent firearm discharge case. Civil suits focus on determining liability and then recouping financial losses related to the gunshot, including immediate and ongoing physical and mental care. 
• There are exceptions to Shannon’s Law, including lawful self-defense, defending against a threat from an animal, while shooting inside a designated target or shooting area, and while

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Continue Reading Claiming Compensation For An Injury From A Negligent Firearm Discharge

Article Summary

• Even a pedestrian who is partially at fault for an accident with a motorist can be awarded compensation. 
• Seeking medical attention is always advised for a pedestrian who has been struck by a distracted driver. Sometimes injuries aren’t felt immediately, and medical documentation is key to a compensation claim.
• Insurance companies might pressure a pedestrian who has been hit by a distracted driver to settle quickly, before all of the evidence and medical records are assembled.
  

Texting while driving is a common vice for motorists. Statistics indicate nearly half of all drivers admit to texting while driving, which…
Continue Reading What To Do If You’re A Pedestrian Hit By A Distracted Driver Who Was Texting

Article Summary

• Dog owners in Arizona are required by law to stay at the scene of the bite and exchange contact information with the person who was bitten.
• Every dog bite needs to be reported to the county’s animal control unit, which will give quarantine instructions and manage a field investigation of the incident.
• Emotional damages can and should be included in a compensation case following a dog bite.
  

Dogs are truly man’s best friend, but they’ve also got sharp teeth. And all too often, those teeth can leave marks. Even the friendliest of dogs may surprise an owner, act…
Continue Reading What Happens After You’re Bit By A Dog On Someone Else’s Property

Article Summary

• You should contact a car accident attorney after an accident, even if you didn’t feel pain immediately after the accident. Back injuries are common in car accidents and can take time to be noticed.
• It is difficult to determine an average payout from a back injury after a car accident, as a number of variables are factored into compensation, including the severity of the injury, if the injury impacts a person’s ability to work, and whether ongoing care is needed, to name a few.
• Back injuries after car accidents can range from soreness to nerve damage to paralysis.

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Continue Reading Average Payout: What Can You Expect for a Back Injury After a Car Accident?

Article Summary

• It depends. Most times, settlements are paid in a lump sum payment, but larger settlements may be paid in installments.
• Yes. There is a designated order for how settlements are paid. Debts and legal fees are paid first, and the remaining balance goes to the person who filed the claim.
• Most settlements are disbursed within three months of the agreement.
  

Car accidents can happen in seconds. The process of settling a lawsuit and receiving compensation for that accident can take quite a bit longer. While simpler cases may need just months to resolve, more complicated ones can take…
Continue Reading Lawsuit Settlement: What Is The Process Of Payout?

Article Summary

• The most common type of injury sustained in a car accident is a soft tissue injury.
• It is difficult to pin down an average payout for a soft tissue injury due to the number of factors that influence an injury settlement.
• Yes. It is important to seek medical attention after a car accident to make sure the process of documentation begins in case an injury claim needs to be filed at a later time.

Although car accidents can vary widely, from their cause to their outcome, they often share a common injury. Soft tissue injuries, which include whiplash,…
Continue Reading What is the Average Settlement for a Soft Tissue Injury?

Article Summary

• Yes. A new dog bite law became effective in Arizona in September of 2025, requiring dog owners to stay at the scene and exchange information with the victim.
• Consequences for fleeing the scene include a Class 2 Misdemeanor, which could result in fines and potential jail time.
• The previous law only required that the dog bite be reported to animal control.
  

Arizona has had a pretty cut-and-dry approach for handling situations where a dog bites someone who isn’t its owner. But a new law has added even more strength to the state’s stance on dog bite liability, putting…
Continue Reading New Arizona Dog Bite Law: What the “Bite and Run” Rule Means for Victims

Article Summary

• In Arizona, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim is two years from the date of the injury.
• If a case is not filed by that statutory deadline, the person with the claim will lose the right to recover damages from the insurance company, including lost wages and the cost of medical bills.
• Yes. Contact a personal injury attorney following an accident even if you aren’t sure if you will need to file a personal injury claim. An attorney can help negotiate with the insurance company to achieve the best results for you.
  
  

After a…
Continue Reading Accident Claim Deadlines: How Long You Have and Why You Should Act Quickly

Article Summary

• Yes. Accidents involving semi trucks can be more severe simply due to the weight and force of impact involved in a collision with an 18-wheeler.
• Proving fault in a collision with an 18-wheeler could be complex, as fault could fall to the driver, the trucking company, the cargo loader, a parts manufacturer, or even a road maintenance crew.
• Settlements secured on behalf of someone who lost their life in an accident with an 18-wheeler are paid to the immediate family or a court-appointed representative.
  

Car accidents are scary, unexpected, and jarring. Even fender benders, which may seem harmless…
Continue Reading In an Accident with an 18 Wheeler? Here’s How to Get Maximum Compensation

Article Summary

• Collect as much evidence as possible after a rideshare accident by taking photos, finding witnesses, going to the doctor and getting the authorities involved.
• The level of liability for a rideshare company when a driver is in an accident depends on whether the driver was on a “hired ride” at the time or whether they were “off app.”
• Rideshare drivers are generally considered contractors for rideshare companies, so liability can involve multiple insurance carriers.
  
  

Who’s Liable When A Rideshare Company Causes Your Injuries?
Despite the rising popularity of remote work, which has shifted transportation habits for many in…
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With increased traffic, celebrations, and enforcement during the holiday season, DUI incidents remain a serious concern across Arizona. Recently, John Torgenson joined FOX10 to discuss the real-world impact of impaired driving and what drivers and families should know to protect themselves if a DUI-related crash occurs.
The conversation focused not just on criminal penalties, but on the long-term consequences DUIs create for individuals, families, and communities, as well as the rights of those injured by impaired drivers.
Watch the full interview on FOX10
The Hidden Consequences of DUI Crashes
When people think about DUIs, they often focus on fines, license…
Continue Reading Holiday DUI Awareness: What Arizona Drivers Need to Know to Protect Themselves and Their Families

Article Summary

• Finding fault in a car accident that involves a pedestrian can be more nuanced than it seems. It’s important to find an attorney with experience with these types of accidents to make sure fault is appropriately placed.
• Pedestrians don’t always automatically have the “right of way,” but they do when they are following traffic laws.
• It is possible to seek damages from an accident even if you are partially at fault.
  

Arizona Pedestrian Accidents: Understanding The Law
It might be surprising to learn that pedestrians don’t always have the right of way, which is a common misconception. Arizona…
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Article Summary

• It’s important to disclose a pre-existing condition at the beginning of a car accident legal claim to avoid the appearance of fraud.
• Individuals with pre-existing conditions are not excluded from filing for and receiving compensation following a car accident.
• Medical records and a physical exam immediately following an accident are critical pieces of evidence needed for a legal claim.
  

Can A Pre-Existing Condition Impact Your Personal Injury Claim?
If you live with a pre-existing health condition, you’re not alone. Statistics indicate that about 2.7 million Arizonans live with a pre-existing condition, like heart disease or diabetes. When those…
Continue Reading Can a Pre-Existing Condition Impact Your Personal Injury Claim?