EXPERIENCED CAR ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS IN PHILADELPHIA, PA

When you live in a city like Philadelphia, you’re surrounded by cars and people at all times. As far as the law is concerned, the leading cause of Philadelphia car accidents is “negligence.”

In a car accident case, you will have to prove that your car accident injuries are the result of driver negligence or another person or entity, such as a manufacturer.

A car accident occurs at any time – day or night – and for any number of reasons. A serious car accident in Philadelphia is often the result of:

• Tailgating
• Speeding
• Aggressive driving and road rage
• Failing to obey traffic signals
• Drowsy driving
• Distracted driving e.g. using a mobile device (texting, talking, emailing)
• Adjusting the radio or GPS/Maps
• Grooming such as shaving or applying makeup
• Adjusting the radio or other music device
• Rubbernecking
• Watching videos
• Interacting with other passengers
• Looking for an object in the vehicle while driving
• Reading or writing
• Drunk driving or driving under the influence (DUI)
• Driver cutting other drivers off
• Drivers are unable to see around blind spots, like double-parked cars or delivery trucks
• Drivers ignoring the laws for crosswalks
• Out-of-staters not knowing the traffic rules
• People cutting into bike lanes
• Stop-and-go traffic patterns
• Trying to “beat” the light, either on the straight-away or around corners
• Wrong-way collisions on one-way roads
• Driving at night
• Driving without a license
• Failure to yield the right of way
• Unsafe or illegal turns
• Defect of your vehicle or another’s vehicle
• Negligent maintenance
• Hazardous or dangerous roadway

While this is a fairly comprehensive list, there may be another reason for a car or truck accident. If you have been injured by or while in a vehicle, you may have a personal injury claim. Have experienced Philadelphia accident attorneys evaluate your case.

As a car accident victim, you may have suffered minor injuries or even serious injuries. These are injuries for which you can recover damages including but not limited to:

• Fractures and broken bones
• Brain injuries (TBI)
• Spinal cord injuries
• Neck and back injuries – Rear-end collisions may result in a herniated or ruptured disc
• Whiplash
• Lacerations
• Burns
• Broken bones
• Scarring
• Sprain, strains and soft tissue damage
• Mental or emotional anguish – The severe physical pain from a motor vehicle accident can cause long-lasting emotional harm.
• Loss of vision or hearing
• Amputation
• Paralysis
• Wrongful death

An experienced car accident attorney will be best able to evaluate your case and determine, based on the facts and circumstances, what kind of car accident claim you may have under Pennsylvania law.

As an auto accident victim, you may have suffered minor injuries or even catastrophic injuries. These are injuries for which you can recover damages including but not limited to:

• Fractures and broken bones
• Brain injuries (TBI)
• Spinal cord injuries
• Neck and back injuries – Rear-end collisions may result in a herniated or ruptured disc
• Whiplash
• Lacerations
• Burns
• Broken bones
• Scarring
• Sprain, strains and soft tissue damage
• Mental or emotional anguish – The severe physical pain from a motor vehicle accident can cause long-lasting emotional harm.
• Loss of vision or hearing
• Amputation
• Paralysis
• Wrongful death

A Pennsylvania car accident attorney will be best able to evaluate your case and determine, based on the facts and circumstances, what kind of car accident claim you may have under Pennsylvania law.

There is no simple answer to this question. Each case has to be evaluated by an experienced car accident attorney in order to determine the potential amount of damages an injured person can recover.

Initially, your Philadelphia car accident lawyer will weigh how severe your injuries were; your age and health at the time of the accident; whether you have a job or not and if you were the sole provider for the family, and how many members you supported; whether you had any fault in the accident; and the amount and type of insurance coverage you have.

In an auto accident case, you may be able to recover economic, noneconomic, and punitive damages.

In Pennsylvania, there are two main types of damages: compensatory damages and punitive damages:

• Compensatory damages are designed to make you whole after an accident. You may suffer both economic and non-economic damages.
• Economic damages will compensate you for financial costs incurred as a result of the accident. The idea is to “make you whole” or in other words, put you back in the financial place you were in before the crash. Such damages would include:
  • Present and future medical expenses which include ambulance fees, hospitalization, surgery, medication, medical equipment, surgeries, and doctor visits
  • Physical therapy and other necessary and related rehabilitation treatment and costs
  • The cost of replacing or repairing damaged property
  • Lost Income and wages
  • Loss of future earnings
  • Temporary or permanent disability

These types of damages are relatively straightforward. So long as they are related to the accident, they are proven by the medical bills and expenses incurred.

Non-economic damages by their nature are more difficult to calculate. This is where pain and suffering and emotional distress are covered. These damages include:

• Loss of ability to work
• Loss of future earnings
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of consortium (deprivation of family relationship including affection or personal physical reactions)
• Emotional pain and distress

These damages require a different level of proof than the economic damages as there are no bills to prove the amount. This does not mean the damages are any less real. They require the experience and knowledge of a car accident lawyer. An experienced car accident attorney will have knowledge of how the insurance company may weigh a personal injury lawsuit for these non-economic damages and be able to evaluate what kind of demand they may make and/or argue for in a settlement conference or at a trial.

Punitive damages are designed to punish a person for intentional conduct. This means their conduct that led to your injuries was more than negligent. While punitive damages may not be appropriate in a car accident case, that does not mean your Philadelphia car accident lawyer won’t consider them depending on the facts of your case.

If the person who caused your accident and injuries was operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol, drove recklessly, engaged in grossly negligent behavior, or had a willful disregard for the safety of other parties, punitive damages may be awarded. This will be determined by your Philadelphia car accident lawyer and by the court.

When seeking a car accident lawyer in Philadelphia or surrounding areas, make certain that this personal injury lawyer has experience in auto accident cases. We’ve been handling them for more than 40 years, and we’ve helped countless people by:

• Working with the doctors. We review your medical records, communicate with your doctors, and make sure all of your information is collected to build a case.
• Investigating the accident. We’ll speak to witnesses, schedule and take depositions, and review the police report of the crash scene. We’ll also review any footage available, whether that comes from people posting videos on social media, or from traffic and security cameras at local storefronts.
• Look into potential defects. If the truck had, say, defective air brakes or the car was on the recall list, but the part wasn’t available yet from the manufacturer, you may have grounds for a Philadelphia car accident claim against that manufacturer.
• Dealing with the insurance company. Your insurance company doesn’t want to pay you. They want to keep their money. As such, most insurers offer lowball offers hoping you will take it before you have a lawyer. We don’t back down when it comes to negotiating a fair settlement offer. We also don’t force you to take an offer you don’t want, because we are prepared to fight to make you whole.
• Prepare every case for trial. A lot of our clients want to avoid jury trials, but sometimes, that’s the only way to get the insurance companies or other negligent parties to play fair. Because we’re willing to go to trial, our clients often get better settlement offers right from the start. When they don’t, we put our considerable skills to use in a trial setting.

Car accident cases can lead to a lifetime of pain and suffering. They can also leave you with extensive medical bills and the inability to work. We make sure you’re protected at every step. Your job is to recover. Our job is to recover money for the injuries you sustained.

The first thing anyone should do if involved in a car crash is to seek medical treatment. Your health and well-being are paramount.

If you or a family member or other person on your behalf is able, you should follow these general guidelines. It will protect you, make your case stronger, and enable your Philadelphia car accident lawyers to better evaluate your case:

• Obtain copies of the automobile accident report from the police
• Collect the names of all parties involved including witnesses
• Call your car insurance company
• Journal all facts and details you remember about the accident including medical treatment and condition over time
• Keep all doctor appointments and follow doctor’s orders for recovery and treatment
• Seek legal advice from an experienced car accident lawyer

An experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney can evaluate your case and ensure that you receive the maximum compensation for pain, suffering, medical expenses, lost income or wages, loss of enjoyment of life activities, and more. Our Philadelphia car accident lawyers know the law, so let us put our knowledge to work for you. Contact us today and schedule a free consultation.

In the meantime, know there are some activities that you should avoid to ensure you can obtain the best outcome for your case. These include:

• Do not speak to the other party’s insurance adjusters
• Do not give a recorded statement to an adjuster or car insurance company
• Do not admit fault to any parties, witnesses, insurance adjusters, or others
• Stay off social media (no comments, photos, or updates on your status)
• Do not repair your vehicle until advised to do so by your personal injury attorney
• Do not sign any documents until you understand them and consulted with an accident attorney

We will review the facts of your case, explain the process, discuss the legal options available to you, and answer any questions or concerns that you may have. You don’t have to go through this process alone. Our experienced car accident lawyers are here to help. We understand the complexities of the car accident system, and our personal injury lawyers do their best to fight for you and protect your rights. Contact us today. Let us get started on helping you make things right.

You should hire a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after a car crash. An experienced car accident attorney knows Pennsylvania law and can help you understand your legal rights, assess the value of any car accident claims you may have against the negligent driver, and help you obtain fair compensation for medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and other costs related to the accident.

Legal representation will be critical immediately after the accident and moving forward and it’s unlikely you will have the same resources as our Philadelphia car accident attorneys have.

The top qualities of a car accident lawyer include:

• Knowledge and experience in the field of personal injury law including the rights you have to collect for medical expenses, lost wages, rehabilitation long term care.
• Excellent communication skills to negotiate with insurance adjusters, judges, and other lawyers.
• Analytical thinking skills to assess liability, evidence, and damages resulting from an accident.
• Strong organizational and research abilities to build a strong case. This is critical when negotiating with insurance companies or at trial.
• Compassion for clients to provide support during difficult times.
• Diligence for timely filing of documents and attending court proceedings as needed.
• Ability to work long hours as many cases require extensive preparation and follow-up work