Zachar Law Blog

What qualifies an attorney as a “top rated” personal injury lawyer in Arizona?

Any lawyer can advertise as a “top-rated” lawyer.  It is easy.  Just pay for a billboard, or put on your website “Top Rated Lawyer” or “Voted #1” or something like that.

But did you know:  There are NO SERVICES ANYWHERE THAT RATE LAWYERS OR LAW FIRMS? Yep, it's true. 

These are ALL self-bestowed/made up titles. You see these all the time, but with these firms, did you know that many of the law firms who heavily advertise, rarely does a “lawyer” handle the case?  Big advertising, lots of cases, likely your case is being handled by a legal assistant only.

At Zachar Law Firm, our attorneys are all skilled at taking cases to trial, fighting the fight and making sure that the client gets the best result for his/her case. Have you checked the Google Reviews lately?  Do you know which attorneys are 5-Star rated by their clients?  

The reviews from clients are the BEST judge of whether the law firm is genuinely top rated or not! At Zachar Law Firm, we pride ourselves on making sure that the client’s case is of personal concern and that we put all the weight of our experience, excellent results and caring approach to get our clients the best result!

What does it mean if an attorney says there is “no fee if we don’t win your case”. Is this actually possible?

If an attorney says there is “no fee if we don’t win your case”, this means that the attorney is representing you on a “contingency” basis.  “Contingency” means that there is no cost to you until the case is won or the case is settled.  Yes, that is right.  Zero.

But I thought attorneys are expensive. This is a trick, right? Where is the small print?

In the United States, attorneys are allowed to charge contingency fees. The purpose of these is to give the people who need access to the legal system the ability to have an attorney on their side, at no upfront cost; the attorney simply chooses to wait to get paid at the end a percentage of the settlement or verdict. 

OK, that sounds great, but what if something goes wrong?  What if there is no settlement?  Will I then get a bill?

I don’t know what other firms do, but if you are a client of the Zachar Law Firm, the answer to this is no.

That’s right.  No bill even if we lose.  Why?

At Zachar Law Firm, we believe in our clients and our cases.  So much, that if we lose, we will not charge our clients.  Hundreds of hours?  No fee?  Thousands in costs?  No bill.  We do our best, with many years of experience representing victims in personal injury and wrongful death cases, to make sure that we have a good chance to get a recovery for our clients.  If there are problems, we’ll explain them.  If too many problems, then maybe we don’t take the case. 

But, if Zachar Law Firm accepts your case, you can be assured that we will put all of our resources into getting the best result for you.

The time after an accident should be your time when you focus on you—not compounded by the stress of how things are going to get paid.  That is what we do at Zachar Law—we take that stress and worry off of you to allow you to focus on your medical care and your family.  The last thing Zachar Law wants is for you to worry about how to pay an attorney.  Zachar Law Firm = contingency fees.

Questions or have a case Zachar Law Firm can help you with?  Call us today: 602-494-4800.

I was in an accident and received a brochure or flyer from various law firms in my mailbox at home, should I hire one of these firms?

First, while it is not unethical for a law firm to send a solicitation directly to a potential client, you should never hire an attorney or firm from a letter/brochure—without knowing more.

For the most part, any personal injury lawyer/law firm who is GOOD and what they do will have a website.  Likely, this will be listed in the letter/brochure. 

Go to the website and investigate. 

First, how much experience do they have?

Second, do they have any Google reviews and if so, are they all 5 stars?

Third, you need to learn if the firm actually files lawsuits and goes to court for its clients.  If not, look elsewhere!

Last, is the attorney an Arizona Certified Specialist in Personal Injury and Wrongful Death?

Less than 1% of Arizona attorneys are.  If this one is not, keep looking…

Understand, it is very easy for an attorney or law firm to brag and boast about what it can do for you, so do some legwork and find out for yourself.

Need personal attention?  Want an attorney and law firm that cares and puts you first?  (If so, avoid the big advertising firms).

Zachar Law Firm has been helping injured victims in Arizona for more than 23 years.  Personal Injury and Wrong Death cases – it's all we do.

Questions?  Please feel free to call us today at 602-494-4800 or check us out online:  www.ZacharLawFirm.com

How do I determine if my settlement offer is good or not?

Typically an insurance company’s first offer is a very low offer and in most cases, it will increase the offer.   At Zachar Law Firm, we have attorneys who are skilled at understanding the value of your case, what is fair and what is not.  The ZLF attorneys will advise you along the way and explain why the offer is too low or if the offer if a good one to accept.  The insurance companies understand that if you are represented by the Zachar Law Firm, your case may be worth more since an aggressive, experienced team is on your side.

But, what if the insurance company will not then make a fair offer:

The answer to this question depends on the lawyer you decided to hire.

If you hired one of the big advertising law firms, chances are you are at an end.  “This is as good as we can do, and we recommend to you accept the offer”, is what you will be told.

At Zachar Law Firm, a bad offer is just the beginning.  And, if the offer does not get into an acceptable range, then the gloves come off.

File a lawsuit—Yes we will!!!

Questions:  Give us a call, and give Zachar Law Firm a try.  Look at our online reviews.  You will not be disappointed.

Do you have a personal injury case? How do you determine if you need an injury lawyer?

The first response is fairly simple: Did you suffer an injury? 

Injuries from auto accidents can be tricky, because you may not feel the pain until a couple of days after the accident.  Injuries may also seem minor at first but then linger and then get progressively worse.  While some injuries are fairly obvious, other injuries may seem minor or linger, but these are injuries.  If you feel pain after an accident, it is a good idea to see a doctor.  A doctor can evaluate you and help you make the right medical decisions.   

Next, should you consult with an attorney?  The first response is, why not?  You were in an accident, you are injured, maybe never been through this before—why not get answers from someone who knows?  You took the time to see your doctor (medical professional) to get answers, and you paid him/her for the advice.  So, take the time to see an experienced personal injury lawyer (legal professional) to get answers.  The best part—the lawyer, for an initial consultation is free.

Understand that insurance companies do not have your best interest in mind.  In fact, just the opposite.  Insurance company goals:  Settle quickly and/or settle cheap and/or don’t settle at all. 

In dealing with the insurance companies, do you know what to say?  Do you what not to say?  Be careful, because too much of either can really hurt your case.

An experienced personal injury lawyer will know the answers and be able to guide you, to the best possible result for you and your case.   Attorneys often prefer that a case is settled without having to go to court, but attorneys also offer the weapon of getting to court if that is what is truly needed.  This is a great weapon to have, especially if insurance companies are undervaluing your claim. 

IF you are looking for an experienced personal injury attorney, call Zachar Law Firm today.   The experienced attorneys at Zachar Law Firm know how to deal with the insurance companies, understand the full value of your case and are willing to go to court, if needed, to help you receive the best result for your claim. 

If my case goes to trial, how do I know that I will be represented well? What is your success rate?

The Zachar Law Firm success rate in litigation is simply excellent! Most law firms—even if they suggest otherwise, do not file lawsuits and do not litigate cases. At Zachar Law Firm, we do, because we know that with litigation and hard work, we will get better results for our clients. BY FAR!!!!

Recent example:

“Mary” was involved in a serious accident in Phoenix, Arizona where she hurt her leg. “Mary” had recently had surgery to the same leg, so the insurance company contended that her injuries pre-existed the crash.

The insurance company offered nothing. Zachar Law Firm filed the lawsuit. Very shortly thereafter, the at-fault driver’s insurance company paid its $100,000 limits.

The claim was then submitted to Mary’s underinsured policy, which for the same reasons, denied the claim.

Zachar Law Firm filed a second lawsuit. It took about six months of litigation, but eventually, Mary’s insurance company paid it’s $300,000 UIM limits.

At Zachar Law Firm, we know that many of our clients deserve more than the last “bad” offer from the insurance company.

We file lawsuits because 1) we WANT better results for our clients and because 2) we GET better results for our clients.
Questions? Call us today to discuss your case: 602-494-4800

Police officer killed by a person who was distracted driving: Arizona needs to wake up!

A Salt River Police Department officer was killed in a crash on the Loop 101 Tuesday.

According to Arizona Department of Public Safety, the officer stopped a vehicle on the Loop 101 around 6 p.m. While out standing with that vehicle, the officer was hit by a passing vehicle, which then hit the vehicle the officer had stopped.

The driver who killed the officer admitted to authorities that he was texting while driving, according to a release Wednesday morning. 

TEXTING WHILE DRIVING DO NOT MIX!!!  

How long is it going to take for our state legislators to WAKE UP to pass a law that prohibits texting while driving? Can we agree NOW that a real law on the books can and will have a deterrent effect on Arizona’s roads and highways?  

This behavior is reckless and dangerous and should not only merit compensatory damages for the family of the officer, but also punitive damages against the texting driver.  One way or another, a message needs to be communicated to every driver in Arizona that texting while driving is never acceptable!!!  

For the last 24 years, Zachar Law Firm has represented victims and their families in accidents like this. We handle these cases on contingency fees with no out of pocket ever from our clients.  

Questions on this case or your own case?  Call us anytime (602-494-4800) for a free consultation on your case.

Ask An Injury Lawyer Podcast Episode 003: Everything You Need To Know About Trucking Accidents

Trucking accidents can be extremely complex cases to handle. Chris Zachar of Zachar Law Firm goes into detail as to what exactly a person should do following a commercial trucking accident in Phoenix, Arizona. Remember, you are not in this alone. We can help. Be sure to listen in on the podcast below!