- Compensation Following a Car Accident
- How an Attorney Can Help Following a Car Accident
- Look to Us for Legal Advice When You Need It Most
When you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a motor vehicle accident, you might benefit from the advice of a Crawford County car accident lawyer.
Here at Berger and Green, we know how hard it can be after a car accident that injures you or others. Physical pain, mental trauma, finances, and insurance claims can combine to create a very stressful situation for you and your family.
When another person or entity has been negligent in causing your accident, you may have a personal injury claim or lawsuit. Call (412) 661-1400 and learn how we can help.
Compensation Following a Car Accident
You may be eligible for compensation that covers a multitude of economic and non-economic damages. These damages include:
- Medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning capacity
- Disfigurement
- Temporary or permanent disability
- Property damage
Pennsylvania is a no-fault insurance state. As a result, as per the Pennsylvania Department of Insurance, Pennsylvania drivers must maintain a minimum amount of Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage. This insurance coverage is available regardless of fault and includes a minimum of:
- $5,000 of medical benefits for injuries sustained in car accidents
- $15,000 of bodily injury liability for injuries to one person and a total of $30,000 for all persons injured in the accident
- $5,000 of property damage liability
As a result, if you are injured, you can make a claim up to the limits of your PIP policy. While all drivers must maintain the minimum levels stated above, many drivers, as a practical matter, maintain PIP policies with higher limits.
Tort Coverage
Although PIP may cover some or all of your medical bills, if you have severe injuries, you may very well have bills that exceed the policy limits. You also may have suffered other losses in the accident, such as lost wages, pain and suffering, and emotional trauma.
When you choose PIP coverage, 75 Pa. C.S.A. § 1705 requires you to choose limited or full tort coverage. If you choose limited tort coverage, which is cheaper, you can get compensation for your medical bills and other expenses related to an accident. However, you typically cannot get other damages, such as pain and suffering, unless you have opted for full tort coverage.
Pennsylvania law does provide some exceptions to this general rule. If you have limited tort coverage, you still may be able to pursue compensation for all your damages if you have suffered a “serious injury” within the meaning of the police or in other selected circumstances.
In most cases, this type of injury involves a serious impairment of an important bodily function. If you have suffered a serious injury in a car crash, you should consult a Crawford County car accident lawyer for information about your legal options to seek compensation.
Call (412) 661-1400 today for your free consultation.
40+ years of experience from strong, knowledgeable, compassionate attorneys.
Start A Free EvaluationHow an Attorney Can Help Following a Car Accident
Some of the actions your lawyer can take care of while you heal include:
- Gathering evidence
- Collecting medical records and bills
- Interviewing witnesses to the accident
- Filing your claim and/or lawsuit
An Attorney Will Handle All Communication with Insurance Companies
After you suffer injuries in a car crash, you likely will hear from the insurance company for the other parties involved in the accident much more quickly than you might expect. You may still be receiving medical treatment or unclear about the events that led to the accident when you first hear from the insurance company. Despite your condition, the insurance adjuster likely will plan to meet or speak with you as soon as possible after your accident.
The fact is that the insurance company for the other party will do everything it can to avoid paying for your injuries, even if its insured party is clearly at fault. The company wants to talk to you not because it cares about you and your injuries but because it wants information from you that it can use to deny or refuse your compensation claim.
In other words, the insurer hopes you will provide the evidence it needs to limit its liability as much as possible.
As a result, when an insurance adjuster asks you to give a recorded statement and answer questions, you are not required to do so. An attorney can assist you in speaking with the insurance adjuster and prevent you from inadvertently giving evidence to support the insurer’s defense.
We can help deal with the insurance company, gather evidence, and file insurance claims, which can be crucial, especially when you are not up to the task or unaware of how to handle these matters on your own.
We know you’re hurting. We can help. Free case evaluations, home and hospital visits.
Contact Us Now For HelpLook to Us for Legal Advice When You Need It Most
When you suffer injuries in a car accident, you have the right to seek compensation for your losses, whether through insurance claims or eligibility for a personal injury lawsuit.
A Crawford County car accident lawyer can be instrumental in guiding you through the claims process and any resulting lawsuits, which can remove some worries and responsibilities from your shoulders.
Call our offices at (412) 661-1400 and find out whether you have a valid legal claim against one or more parties. You can rely on Berger and Green to investigate the facts surrounding your accident, evaluate your claims, and present the full range of options available to you. Together, you can work to get compensation for your injuries that you deserve.
