Category Archives: Personal Injury
Personal Injury Settlements for Minors: There’s More To It!
Minor children frequently have personal injury claims but they are legally incapable of agreeing to a settlement and unable to receive the funds. Therefore, under Rule 53 of the Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure, most settlements for plaintiffs under the age of 18 must be approved by the Court, who then authorizes the execution of […]
Duty in Torts
Before there is negligence, there must be a duty. Personal injury lawyers frequently work within the realm of negligence-based tort laws. Torts can be defined as: “… an act or omission that gives rise to injury or harm to another and amounts to a civil wrong for which courts impose liability.” In order for tort liability […]
Is My Personal Injury Settlement Taxable or Not Taxable?
It is tax time once again. The Rockafellow Law Firm is not in the business of giving tax advice, but there is one area of tax law that we are familiar with and give clients advice on in every case: That is: “Are personal injury settlements taxable as income?” The short answer is no, but […]
Devices That Help Determine Fault in a Car Crash: GPS, Dash Cameras and Black Boxes
GPS (Global Positioning Systems), dash cameras, and “Black Boxes” (Electronic Data Recorders) have become important tools in deciding fault for auto collisions Most commercial vehicles now have GPS to track the driver’s activity during the day and to make sure safe driving is being observed. This benefits the employer. It also helps in accident reconstruction. […]
COVID-19 Personal Injury Claims Against an Arizona School District
Will the new school year bring a new class of personal injury claims against the schools? Not likely. As Arizona prepares to send its students back to school, parents and school district administrations across the state face a multitude of decisions. On July 24, 2020, Governor Ducey announced Arizona’s “Open For Learning” plan outlining the State’s […]
Can You Bring an Emotional Distress Claim Related to COVID-19?
The novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is not only potentially deadly, but can be transmitted by individuals who are not showing any symptoms, so people might fear that they’ve contracted the illness even if they feel fine. While the virus has existed in the United States for months, obtaining a test is still difficult in […]
Arizona’s Top Personal Injury Verdicts in 2018
A summary of the highest awards Arizona juries handed out to personal injury plaintiffs in 2018 Each year, The State Bar’s magazine Arizona Attorney publishes a list of the top civil verdicts in Arizona. In 2018, like most years, there was an even split between jury verdicts in favor of the plaintiff, and those for […]
Independent Medical Exams: Why do they matter?
How can we fight back against an insurance company’s biased “independent” medical examiner? When an insurance carrier sends you to a doctor of their choosing, it’s usually to your detriment. How can we fight back? In nearly every personal injury claim, one of the main issues that prevents a case from settling is a dispute […]
IWS: Injured While Shopping
The lawyers at the Rockafellow Law Firm personally take nearly every incoming phone call for a potential case. When it comes to potential slip and fall or trip and fall claims, we often hear a common misconception floating around: that if you’re hurt within a store or place of business, the business is automatically liable and […]
If I Was In A Car Accident; Do I Need A Lawyer?
At the Rockafellow Law Firm, we are asked this question almost daily. It is an important question that must be carefully considered. As you may expect, the answer depends on multiple factors, including the following: 1. Fault: Who caused the crash? In many cases this is an easy question. In others, it can be difficult […]
