What Is the Definition of a Car Accident?

On This Page

1. Driving Behaviors That May Qualify That May Qualify As Negligence
2. What to Do After a Car Accident
3. Car Accidents Can Result in Lifelong Impairments
4. Your Lawyer Will Build a Case Based on Evidence
5. Call Berger and Green Today After a Car Accident

REVIEWED BY

C. William Kenny

February 02, 2024

Board certified by National Board of Trial Advocacy

Because there are many different types of car accidents, there is no one set definition. Many people define a car accident as a collision between two vehicles that results in injuries and property damage. However, some car accidents only involve one vehicle, yet still can cause injuries and property damage.

While these “accidents” are usually unintentional, injured drivers and passengers still have legal recourse options when pursuing compensation. If you or a loved one was injured in a car accident, you might choose to work with your personal injury lawyer. Our team can help you pursue financial recovery.

Driving Behaviors That May Qualify That May Qualify As Negligence

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) lists several motorist behaviors that  many consider “risky.” These behaviors could make a driver responsible for your losses.

The main causes of car accidents include many of the following:

• Speeding
• Tailgating
• Running a red light
• Running a stop sign
• Failing to yield to vehicles or pedestrians with the right-of-way
• Driving while drunk
• Driving under the influence of drugs
• Making dangerous turns
• Posting to or monitoring social media
• Taking photographs or videos
• Adjusting the vehicle’s entertainment system
• Eating or drinking

Rear-end and head-on collisions, rollover crashes, and side-impact car accidents can all result from these behaviors.

Still, an at-fault motorist may not be the only liable party. Government municipalities, mechanics, vehicle manufacturers, and employers are among those who could also be liable for a car accident under certain conditions. Your car accident lawyer will determine who is liable for your losses and seek compensation from those parties.

What to Do After a Car Accident

Below is a list of precautions you can take to help protect yourself and your case right after a car accident.

• Pull over to the side of the road. If anyone is seriously injured or your car has sustained any type of damage, call the authorities and emergency medical services to the scene.
• Collect contact information from the other driver and eyewitnesses. The responding officer should have included this information in their report.

What you do in the days and weeks after the car accident can impact the amount of damages you can seek, as well.

Consider:

Getting Medical Help If You Haven’t Already

We encourage you to go to your doctor as soon as possible. They will do a physical examination to make sure you are okay.

This visit might also reveal that you have injuries you weren’t aware of. Mayo Clinic dictates that injuries like traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) don’t show symptoms for days or weeks after an incident. Your doctor can get you started on a treatment plan to keep your injuries from getting worse.

Documentation of a visit to the doctor will also exhibit that you suffered injuries because of the car accident. The longer you wait to go, the more likely the insurance company will argue that something else caused your injuries or that you made them worse.

Keeping a Record of Your Days After the Accident

Your personal testimony of how the accident has affected your life will be an asset to your case. Every day, note:

• Your pain levels
• Your mood
• Your range of motion
• Your schedule, both for work and treatment

Jotting down these details may give the insurer less room to dispute your case.

Car Accidents Can Result in Lifelong Impairments

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that more than 2.3 million people receive emergency care or are hospitalized because of car accident-related injuries each year. Being injured in a car accident can be traumatic, and the negative outcomes of an injury can be lifelong.

As a result of your Pennsylvania car accident, you might experience:

• Changes in your personality
• Mood changes
• Harm to your cognitive abilities
• Physical limitations
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Loss of limb
• Physical pain

Your injuries may cause secondary losses that place limitations on your ability to work and live your life as you did before the collision. If you decide to work with a personal injury lawyer on our team, they could examine the effects of your injuries on your life and assign a monetary value to these impairments.

Such secondary losses may include:

• A period where you are unable to work and collect your normal income
• The inability for you to pursue personal, professional, or academic opportunities because of changes to your body or mind
• Changes in your relationships with others
• A lingering fear of driving or riding in motor vehicles
• The repair or replacement costs for your car
• The cost of doctors’ appointments
• The cost of transportation to doctors’ appointments
• The cost of psychotherapy and medication to address your trauma

The losses you suffer because of a car accident have a monetary value. Your lawyer can determine what those losses are and pursue compensation on your behalf.

Your Lawyer Will Build a Case Based on Evidence

You do not need to know the definition of a car accident to understand how devastating a motor vehicle collision can be. However, a lawyer with our firm can serve as your guide throughout the financial recovery process. You can expect them to:

• Present photographs and videos of the accident scene
• Refer to details outlined in the police report
• Assert the severity of your injuries, how long they will take to recover from, and how those injuries impact your ability to work
• Provide witness testimony concerning your accident and the ways that your injuries have affected you
• Name who was liable for your accident
• Talk to the involved parties and their representatives on your behalf
• Negotiate with other parties to obtain the compensation you deserve

All these legal services will be available to you on a no-win, no-fee basis.

Call Berger and Green Today After a Car Accident

If you or a loved one was in a car accident in Pennsylvania, Berger and Green could handle your case. When you call our team today, our representatives can explain the legal definition of a car accident.

We encourage you to take action quickly since 42 Pa. C.S.A. § 5524 does not give you a long time to file a lawsuit. Call Berger and Green today at (412) 661-1400 for a free consultation.