The trauma a person experiences as a result of car accident injuries can significantly and negatively impact their physical and financial well-being. If you were involved in a vehicle crash, you might face challenging circumstances due to injuries, unpaid medical costs, and time lost from employment.
If someone’s careless behavior on the road caused your injuries, you might be eligible to file a lawsuit against them.
Contact the Philadelphia legal team at Simon & Simon, PC. We are available to help you build a claim for your injuries and damages and the suffering and pain caused by your accident. Call us today for a free consultation.
Car Accidents Are Unfortunately Common in the U.S.
Car accidents are one of the leading causes of death among young people. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 40,000 people die each year in car crashes.
The most common types of car accidents are rear-ended collisions, which account for nearly half of all auto accident fatalities. Other common types of accidents include head-on collisions, rollovers, and sideswipes.
In addition, the NHTSA estimates about 2 million non-fatal injuries related to motor vehicle crashes in 2020. However, these statistics do not account for the number of serious injuries that occur but go unreported.
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What to Do Following a Philadelphia Automobile Accident
When you are involved in a car accident, your priority should be to ensure that everyone involved receives proper medical care immediately following the incident.
Your next concern is to ensure that no one else is injured. If anyone has been hurt or if there is property damage, it is important to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer right away.
A Philadelphia car accident attorney can help you determine whether or not you have a case and what steps need to be taken to protect your rights. The following information will provide you with some basic guidelines on how to proceed after a car accident:
- Contact the police: You may want to wait until you speak with a qualified auto accident attorney before contacting the police. The police report will contain valuable information about the accident and any injuries sustained by others.
- Take photographs of the scene: Photographs can prove to be invaluable evidence later on. They can also help you document the damage caused by the accident.
- Get names and contact information for witnesses: Witnesses who saw the accident happen may be able to shed light on exactly what happened. It is best to get their contact information at this time so that you or your attorney can contact them later.
- Obtain copies of all insurance policies: This includes liability coverage from both parties’ vehicles.
- Make a note of the other driver’s license number: This information could prove useful when filing a claim against the other party’s insurance company.
- File a written statement describing the accident: A detailed account of the accident will help you establish the facts surrounding the incident.
- Keep records of all doctor visits and prescriptions related to the accident: These documents can be used to support your claim against the other driver’s insurance carrier.
- Call your insurance agent: Your agent will be able to tell you whether or not you have sufficient liability coverage. Your insurer will likely also require you to file a formal claim within a certain time. If you do not file a timely claim, you may lose your ability to recover damages.
- Contact the other driver’s subrogation carrier: Subrogation refers to the process by which the insurance company responsible for paying claims pays those claims out of its pocket. In most cases, subrogation carriers will pay up to 100% of the total loss suffered by the victim.
- Consult with an experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney: An attorney can advise you regarding the legal aspects of your case. They can also guide you through the entire process of filing a claim.
If you are involved in a car accident, call our personal injury law firm today for more information on how we can help. We offer free consultations and accept all major credit cards.
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GoSimon.Should I Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer for a Potential Auto Accident Claim?
An experienced personal injury lawyer will help you navigate the legal process and maximize your recovery.
Here are some reasons why hiring a personal injury lawyer is important:
- An experienced personal injury attorney has experience dealing with insurance companies. Insurance companies often try to avoid compensating victims. They may attempt to deny your claim, delay payment, or refuse to settle. They also try to settle cases quickly and without involving lawyers. However, if you hire a personal injury lawyer, they can negotiate a settlement on your behalf.
- An experienced personal injury lawyer knows how to negotiate settlements. Negotiating a settlement requires knowledge of the laws governing these types of cases.
- Many people do not realize that there are different types of personal injury lawsuits. For example, if you were injured due to medical malpractice, you might have a medical malpractice lawsuit. You would need to consult with a medical malpractice lawyer to determine if you have a valid case.
- Many people do not realize they have a right to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other expenses incurred due to a car accident.
- You should never sign any papers without first consulting with an attorney. The paperwork required to make a claim may contain important details about your rights and obligations.
- An experienced personal injury attorney can help you obtain the evidence needed to prove your case. For example, they may be able to get copies of police reports, hospital records, photographs, and witness statements.
- An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you prepare for trial if necessary. This includes gathering evidence, preparing witnesses, and planning a strategy.
- At trial, the opposing party’s attorney will present their side of the story. You must have an advocate who can effectively cross-examine the opposing attorney and present your side of the story.
- An experienced personal injury lawyer is familiar with the rules of civil procedure. These rules govern the conduct of court proceedings, including mandatory court deadlines. If you miss a deadline, your case could be dismissed.
- An experienced personal injury attorney should be knowledgeable regarding state statutes. Statutes set forth the requirements for bringing lawsuits; therefore, if you violate the statute, your case may be dismissed.
How Much Compensation Can I Receive for Damages?
The amount of money you receive depends on several factors, such as the severity of your injuries, whether you were at fault, and what type of damages you suffered.
In most states, you can recover damages for past and future medical costs, loss of earnings, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and other non-economic damages. In addition, you may be entitled to punitive damages if the person responsible for your injuries acted maliciously or intentionally harmed you.
Pennsylvania does not impose a cap on the compensation a victim can cover in the event of a personal injury lawsuit. Most recoveries for personal injuries are not subject to a cap unless the lawsuit was brought against the Commonwealth.
If you are involved in a serious car accident, you must immediately contact an experienced personal injury lawyer. A skilled attorney can help you protect your legal rights and ensure that you receive fair compensation for your injuries.
Types of Damages for Which You Can Receive Compensation
Pennsylvania has no limit on how much money you can receive as compensation for your injuries.
However, the law requires that you prove that the defendant’s negligence caused your injuries before you can recover.
The most common types of damages you may be able to collect compensation for include:
- Past medical expenses: Past medical expenses include all medical care you received after your accident. They also include charges for diagnostic tests, treatment, and medications prescribed by doctors.
- Lost earnings: Lost earnings refer to income you would have earned if you were not injured. Your employer must pay you for this income during the time you cannot work.
- Future medical costs: Future medical costs include any medical bills you incur in the future because of your injury. You may incur future medical costs such as surgeries, physical therapy, and prescription drugs. Dependent on the severity of your injuries, these medical bills can range from $1,000-$10,000 per month.
- Property damage: Damaged property can be expensive. For example, if your vehicle is totaled, you may be eligible to receive reimbursement for its replacement value. This includes the cost of buying a new vehicle plus any additional repairs needed to make the vehicle roadworthy.
- Punitive damages: Punitive damages are awarded when the defendant acts maliciously or intentionally harms the plaintiff.
- Pain and suffering: Pain and suffering refer to the physical and mental anguish you experience due to your injuries.
- Emotional distress: Emotional distress occurs when someone experiences severe anxiety or depression over a long period.
- Punitive damages: Punitive damages are awarded only in cases where the defendant has acted maliciously or intentionally caused harm. They are meant to punish the defendant and deter others from committing similar actions.
- Loss of enjoyment of life: Loss of enjoyment of life can also be hard to measure. However, some experts believe it is possible to assign a monetary value to this type of damage.
Types of Vehicle Injury Cases We Handle
Some of the types of auto accident injury cases we handle at Simon and Simon include:
- Car accidents: We are experienced in handling all aspects of car accidents, including rear-end collisions, rollovers, pedestrian accidents, and drunk driving accidents. Our attorneys will fight aggressively on your behalf to recover damages for pain and suffering, lost wages, medical bills, and other losses from your auto accident.
- Motorcycle accidents: If you were involved in a motorcycle accident, our Philadelphia personal injury lawyers can help you recover damages for pain and suffering, lost wages, medical expenses, and other losses sustained after being injured in a motorcycle accident.
- Pedestrian accidents: If you were hit by a negligent driver while walking or jogging, our Philadelphia personal injury attorneys can help you recover damages that may include pain and suffering, lost income, medical bills, and funeral expenses.
- Drunk driving victims: If you were involved with a drunk driver, our Philadelphia personal injury attorneys take action against the drunk driver’s employer to recover damages for pain, suffering, loss of earnings, and medical expenses.
- Bicycle accidents: If you were injured in a bicycle accident, our Philadelphia personal injury attorneys can help you recover pain and suffering costs, loss of income, medical expenses, and funeral expenses.
- Truck accidents: If you were hurt in a truck accident, our Philadelphia personal injury lawyers take action against the trucking company to recover damages for pain, suffering, lost income, and medical expenses.
- Mass transit/SEPTA accidents: If you were seriously injured in a SEPTA train accident, our Philadelphia personal injuries lawyers could help you recover from medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
- Limited tort: In limited tort cases, we represent clients who have been injured due to another person’s negligence but cannot prove full liability. Limited tort is often used when an individual has suffered a serious injury due to someone else’s negligence.
We Fight for Maximum Compensation
The motor vehicle accident lawyers at Simon & Simon have extensive expertise in representing clients who have been injured due to a motor vehicle collision. We will do everything in our power to ensure that you receive the greatest amount of compensation to which the law entitles you.
Call the car accident lawyers at Simon & Simon to schedule a no-cost initial consultation about your case if you or someone you know has been hurt in a motor vehicle collision. Those who have been injured in a car accident or have been the victim of another type of personal injury can come to Simon & Simon for a consultation that is completely free of charge.
Simon & Simon, PC is well-known in Philadelphia as the auto accident litigation company for injured individuals with limited tort insurance coverage. Simon & Simon has evolved into a full-service vehicle accident law office over the years.
Learn Your Rights After a Motor Vehicle Crash
Our Philadelphia motor vehicle injury lawyers represent clients who have suffered injuries in an auto accident caused by the neglect of others. Simon & Simon have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for medical expenses, lost pay, pain and suffering, and other costs resulting from auto accident injuries.
Give Simon & Simon, PC a call so we can talk to you about your legal choices and rights following an auto accident. During the free initial appointment, you will have the opportunity to speak with a personal injury attorney in Philadelphia.
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