Have you been in a car accident in Philadelphia?
Do you need help resolving issues with your car insurance company? It doesn’t matter who was at fault; our experienced Philadelphia accident attorneys can help get you back on your feet.
Hiring an injury lawyer can make all the difference in obtaining maximum legal compensation after a car accident that has caused you serious injury. Contact our Philadelphia law firm today for a consultation. Know your legal rights and see how we will relentlessly pursue your car accident claim. Contact us for a free case evaluation – “We Win, or It’s Free” ®
Our Philadelphia Car Accident Law Firm Is Here To Help
A car accident can ruin you financially and severely affect your auto insurance rates if you don’t take the proper steps to ensure that you have everything in order from the very beginning. A personal injury attorney will do everything in their power to defend your case and get you the compensation you need to ensure that a car crash does not cause serious derailment to your life.
To ensure that you are taking the proper steps following a crash, we want to help give you all the information you need if you are caught up in an accident. From the first steps after an accident to working with your Philadelphia auto accident lawyer to get the compensation you need to get back on your feet.
Philadelphia Car Accident Statistics
Here are some startling statistics that demonstrate the stark reality of car accidents and how dangerous they can be.
- In 2020, there were 104,475 reported accidents in Pennsylvania alone, with 61,248 people injured.
- Every day, three people die in a car accident in Pennsylvania – that is one fatality every eight hours.
- One hundred sixty-eight people are injured each day in a car accident in Pennsylvania – that is about seven injuries every hour.
- 1 out of every 57 people in Pennsylvania is involved in a car accident, with 1 out of every 209 people injured.
- On average, 21 alcohol-related traffic accidents occur every day, with most accidents taking place during the night and on weekends.
- 53% of traffic-related deaths are the result of aggressive driving, such as speeding and failing to yield.
Most Dangerous Roads And Intersections In Philadelphia
One-quarter of the most dangerous road segments in the state of Pennsylvania are located in Philadelphia. Not surprisingly, the most treacherous section with the highest occurrence of car accident fatalities in the state is Roosevelt Blvd. Coming in second is the Delaware Expressway (I-95).
What makes Roosevelt Blvd. so dangerous? This 12-lane highway is over 100 years old and can be incredibly complicated to navigate. Drivers are sent through residential neighborhoods, commercial strips, and many intersections where many accidents occur. Two hazardous intersections on Roosevelt Boulevard are the Red Lion Road intersection and the Grant Avenue intersection.
Main Causes Of Car Accidents In Philadelphia
- Speeding
- Distracted Driving
- Drunk Driving
- Bad Weather
- Failing to Follow Traffic Laws
- Failing to Stop for Pedestrians
- Failing to See Bicycles and Motorcycles
What To Do After A Philadelphia Car Accident
While every accident is a little different, we feel that these essential steps will help get things resolved and everyone safe in the most effective way.
- Make Sure Everyone Is Ok: Check yourself for any blood and injuries to make sure that you can get out of the vehicle safely. If it is safe to do so, check the other passengers and occupants of the car.
- Remain at the Scene: If any property is damaged or someone is injured, it’s a crime to drive away. Stay put and wait for help.
- Get Medical Attention: If you have serious injuries seek medical attention immediately. Nothing is more important than your health. If you do not need immediate medical care, you should still visit a hospital or doctor soon after the accident to ensure that your injuries are documented and health protected.
- Call the Police: The accident must be documented if you decide to pursue a claim. Call 911 so that they can conduct a preliminary investigation and prepare a police report.
- Exchange Information: Name, address, and phone number. This is the most basic information you will need that will allow you to at least contact the other person if other things are not working. You will want to ask for insurance information, their driving license number, plate, and vehicle information.
- Call Your Insurance Company: Contact your insurance company to let them know you have been in an accident. DO NOT give any recorded statements. Insurance companies are notorious for making lowball offers to minimize the amounts they have to pay. They will use anything you say against you.
Call Your Car Accident Lawyer: Get legal help after a car accident. Reach out to your experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney. They will look out for your best interests, speak to insurance companies on your behalf and maximize your financial recovery.
Things You Should Not Do After An Accident:
- DO NOT admit fault or apologize
- DO NOT give recorded statements to insurance companies
- DO NOT post to social media
We Proudly Represent All Car Accident Injury Victims
We pride ourselves on making meaningful differences in our clients’ lives. From setting up and guiding you through treatment to relentlessly pursuing financial recovery, we help clients get back on their feet after a car crash.
We are experienced in fighting for clients whose injuries include:
- Broken bone injuries
- Burn injuries
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Concussion and head injuries
- Whiplash
- Amputation
- PTSD
- Wrongful death
What Can You Recover After A Philadelphia Car Accident?
“Damages” refers to both the car accident victims’ losses and the compensation that may be available in a settlement or judgment. Recovering damages after an accident requires proving fault and that the defendant negligently or recklessly caused the car accident. In addition, you also need to establish the losses you suffered as a result of the accident.
An injury attorney can help you prove your case following a car crash. Here are the types of damages available in Pennsylvania’s civil courts:
- Medical bills: Includes past and future medical expenses relating to your car accident injuries. These may cover surgeries, treatments, doctor’s office visits, rehabilitation, therapy, live-in care, disability costs, and more.
- Pain and suffering: Car accident survivors can seek non-economic damages for intangible losses, such as physical pain and emotional suffering.
- Lost wages: If you had to miss work after your car accident, you could seek recovery for your lost wages.
- Loss of future earnings: You can request payment for loss of earnings if a disability makes you lose income.
- Property damage repairs: You could recover the full value of your vehicle before the accident if totaled.
- Punitive damages: A judge may order these damages in a car accident case involving criminal activity or gross negligence, such as a DUI case or hit-and-run. They provide additional compensation to victims as well as punish the defendant.
Comparative Negligence
This means you are compensated according to the amount of damage that was not your fault. For instance, if you are found to be 10% at fault, and your award is $10,000, you can only receive $9,000.
A modified comparative state allows damages up to a certain point – 50%. After that, the plaintiff forfeits all damages. This means, that if the courts assign more than 50% of the fault to you for your injuries, you will not be able to recover any damages from a car accident.
Car Accident Claims Against Local And State Government
Claims against the local government are capped at $500,000.
Claims against the Commonwealth are capped at $250,000.
Injury Claims for pain and suffering are not available against the government unless the victim has died or has suffered permanent disfigurement, dismemberment, or permanent loss of bodily function.
How Much Money Is Your Car Accident Claim Worth?
We are often asked, ‘How much money can I get from a car accident claim?‘ Every car accident is different. Depending on the case, some settlement amounts can total millions of dollars, while others may be in the tens of thousands.
In order to help you recover the max amount of compensation you may be entitled to, our car accident attorneys will need to evaluate the circumstances of your case in a quick consultation, completely free.
The damages you may be entitled to recover will depend on the following factors:
- The severity of your injuries
- Who was at fault for the accident
- Your health condition and circumstances at the time of the accident. i.e., your job and career prospects.
- The availability of insurance to cover your expenses
- The difficulty in proving your case
- Your compliance with medical treatment plans
You can count on a car accident lawyer to fight to secure the maximum compensation you deserve under Pennsylvania state law. Call us today to set up a case evaluation call, free of charge, to discuss what your case is worth and understand the types of damages you may be able to recover.
In the state of Pennsylvania, you generally have two years from the date of your car accident to file a personal injury claim. Pennsylvania courts take statutes of limitations very seriously. It is imperative that you contact our injury attorneys as soon as possible after your car crash.
However, there may be different deadlines depending on the nature of the accident. For instance, if you’ve lost a loved one, you have two years from the person’s date of death to file a wrongful death claim. If a child is involved in a car accident, the statute of limitations does not start until they turn 18. This means an injured minor has two years to file a lawsuit after they turn 18. If a drunk driver caused the accident, they could be extended until the criminal DUI case is resolved.
If you believe the case qualifies for an extension, speak to a lawyer about the specifics during your free consultation.
How To Prove Fault In A Car Accident Claim
One of the most critical elements in an auto accident case is understanding who was at fault. Under Pennsylvania law, who was at fault for the car accident determines who pays for damages.
Fault is essentially how police and insurance companies determine who caused the accident. Fault may be easily determined where there is overwhelming evidence to support a case, such as a left-turn crash or rear-end accident. Cases like these will generally always put fault on one driver unless there is substantial evidence showing otherwise.
However, car accidents are rarely this simple. In order to determine fault, here are some of the types of evidence that may be used:
- Police Reports
- Driving records
- Cell Phone records
- Witness statements
- Photos from the scene of the accident – position of vehicles, skid marks, damage, traffic signals, etc.
- Surveillance videos
- Expert analysis of crash reconstruction
One of the simplest ways to establish who is at fault is to get a police report filed at the accident. It is imperative that you call 911 after an accident to ensure that the proper paperwork is filed.
Police will interview both parties at a crash scene to understand what happened and will use that as a basis for their understanding of who is at fault.
Additionally, they may also inspect the vehicles for any signs of how the accident occurred so they can see what really happened. Lastly, reports will also use witnesses or cameras to determine what happened.
What To Do If The Insurance Company Is Trying To Blame You?
There can be certain circumstances where your insurance company does not want to pay you what you are owed.
Insurance companies are not in the business of making policyholders feel like lottery winners. They are always looking at their bottom line and are notorious for making lowball offers to minimize the amounts they pay or assign fault in order to avoid having to pay you anything at all
As touched on above, never accept a settlement without discussing it with your car accident lawyer first. Never give recorded statements to your insurance company without discussing it with your lawyer first. Insurance companies can and will use your own words against you.
When insurance companies act in bad faith, you need to contact a car accident attorney. It doesn’t matter if you have Limited Tort coverageor are underinsured, we’ll help you understand your policy documents and what you may be entitled to. Set up a free consultation to discuss your claim. Let us handle the insurance companies. We know their tactics and we know how to fight back.