The Ciulla Law Firm, PLLC - Phoenix Car Accidents

Jay L. Ciulla was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. He has nearly 20 years of experience in personal injury cases. He chooses to concentrate on personal injury and wrongful death cases, especially those caused by Phoenix car accidents.  He enjoys assisting clients in solving their legal problems and will take cases that are large and small because his emphasis is on helping people who are hurting. 

When you call The Ciulla Law Firm, you will speak directly with an experienced attorney who will be able to tell you quickly whether he can help in your case.  The initial private consultation is free.  As a matter of fact, there is no up-front fee for the attorney's services.  The Ciulla Law Firm will not be paid unless our client wins; consequently, our goal is to achieve the maximum settlement possible for our clients.   

Our office is located at 2025 N. 3rd Street, Suite 165, Phoenix, Arizona, 85004 in the heart of Phoenix, Arizona with easy freeway access 

After a motor vehicle accident, you are generally in shock and unable to undertake the often difficult process of making sure your rights are represented.  Mr. Ciulla's expertise is in negotiating with stubborn insurance companies who do not want to pay a fair amount to cover your hospital bills, wage loss and property damage.  Hiring The Ciulla Law Firm to represent your interests and do the paperwork will relieve your stress and allow you to concentrate on healing.

Phoenix Car Accident Information

We help many people involved in motor vehicle accidents in Phoenix, Arizona.  The City of Phoenix is surrounded by two Interstate freeways and myriad state highways: Black Canyon (I-17), Papago (I-10), Agua Fria (SR 101) and Piestewa (SR 51) to name a few.  Unfortunately, along with moving vehicles swiftly between Phoenix and outlying bedroom communities, the freeways and state roads offer many opportunities for motor vehicle accidents caused by negligent drivers.  Drivers injured in accidents in the Phoenix area often seek help from The Ciulla Law Firm to negotiate with insurance companies and prepare lawsuits if necessary.

How do I get my Phoenix accident report?

Most accidents in the City of Phoenix are investigated by the Phoenix Police Department, but collisions on the freeways and highways are investigated by the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) highway patrol.  Phoenix Police Traffic Accident Reports can be obtained online for free at https://www.phoenix.gov/pio/public-records.  You may also request a copy of the Traffic Accident Report via mail or in person at Phoenix Police Department, Code Enforcement Unit – Public Records Office, Suite 100, Phoenix, AZ 85034-3401 for a nominal fee.

Department of Public Safety crash reports are not available online; they can be ordered in person at or by mail for a small fee.  The Request for Copy of Accident Report is available online at http://www.azdps.gov/services/records/Department_Records/; however, the form must be printed out and either mailed or brought in person.  The mailing address is Department Records Section, P.O. Box 6638, Mail Drop 3111, Phoenix, AZ 85005.  The Arizona Department of Public Safety at 2222 West Encanto Boulevard is open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.  The office does not accept credit or debit cards; it accepts only cash, business checks or money orders for in-person requests.  Cash and personal checks are not accepted by mail; only money orders and business checks are accepted.  The checks and money orders must be made payable to Arizona Department of Public Safety (ADPS).

Keep in mind that Arizona Crash Reports are not available until 10 days after an accident; however, some reports take longer to be released.  DPS records may take longer because Troopers have 14 days to complete and submit traffic accident reports to the Department Records Section.  Wait at least that long to check on report availability from the Department Records Section at 602-223-2230/2236.

How do I get my Phoenix Fire Department and Ambulance report?

If you are transported to the hospital in an ambulance, you may want to obtain the Paramedic records (EMS Report) or an itemized billing statement.  Billing and medical records can be obtained from the City of Phoenix Fire Department at https://www.phoenix.gov/fire/services/records-request-forms.

If a traffic citation is issued by the Phoenix Police Department because of a car accident, the court date will be in the Phoenix Municipal Court at 300 West Washington, Phoenix, AZ 85003. 

The DPS issues traffic tickets in the Maricopa County justice courts, which will vary according to the location of the accident.

The aftermath of the motor vehicle accident is an ordeal.  Deep tissue injuries, broken bones and concussions do not go away overnight.  Often, vehicles are totaled or their value is diminished substantially due to the negligence of another driver.  Never assume you must accept the first amount that the other driver's insurance company offers.  Insurance companies are not prone to paying top dollar without encouragement from a skillful advocate.

Two-year Warning for Personal Injury Cases

In many cases, you have 2 years in which to file a lawsuit, but the medical bills will start arriving long before the statute of limitations runs out.  In some instances, the deadline is as short as 180 days!  Keep these suggestions in mind:

• You should consult with an experienced attorney immediately to find out which deadline applies to you.
• Do not submit to a recorded interview with the other driver's insurance company. The person who is interviewing you is likely trained to ask questions really not related to what happened, tripping you up and causing a permanent statement to be on record to be used against you later. 
• You can order a crash report from the police department or department of public safety online for a minimal sum. Although you may prefer to have the attorney order the crash report, it may be a document you want to have in hand during your initial visit to the attorney.
• Take photographs of the damage to your car and/or the other vehicle, including the interior of the car, the odometer, and the VIN. If you are able, take photographs at the scene of the crash.  DO NOT share these on the Internet or social media.  The photographs are for the court and attorney's benefit only because they document the event.
• Choose an attorney to represent you in negotiations with the insurance company. Personal injury attorneys deal with insurance companies on a daily basis.  You will have a limited number of crashes in your life (if you are fortunate).  Few of us have the time and patience to handle the personal injury process on our own.

Choosing an Attorney

Choosing the right personal injury attorney for your needs is important.  Should you hire a firm you have seen on television who has a large workload or ought you hire an attorney in a small law firm who has fewer cases and can give you personal attention?  What are the steps you take to decide?

Call and speak directly to the attorney to see if he can help in your situation.  Phone calls are advantageous to both you and the attorney because you can get an idea if you can communicate effectively and work together to make the process as painless as possible.  Here at The Ciulla Law Firm, we value your time and understand how difficult it sometimes is for our clients to take time off from work or school to meet with us.  To help expedite the initial interview process, we have created the following list of questions to ask any personal injury attorney before you hire him or her:

How long have you been an attorney in Phoenix?

How many Phoenix car accident injury cases do you handle each year?

How many personal injury cases do you handle at one time?

Do you focus on personal injury law or do you handle other types of legal cases?

Are you well-reviewed by former clients?

Contact The Ciulla Law Firm, PLLC (602) 495-0053

My team is here to take your calls.  You will talk directly to an attorney, who will explain your rights and determine if he will be able to help you.  If he can aid you in obtaining a fair settlement from the at-fault driver's insurance company, the attorney will explain the process to you.  The attorney will call you periodically throughout the process to update you on the progress of the case through the negotiations.  While we gather your medical records and bills, prepare demands and legal documents, you can relax and get on with your life.