If a collision with another driver left you injured and your vehicle damaged, you should contact a Blair County car accident lawyer as soon as possible. You could be entitled to damages that compensate you for medical expenses, auto repairs and other losses related to the wreck.
The shock of a vehicle accident can leave anyone reeling. An accomplished personal injury attorney with experience in car accidents and other civil cases could provide calm, collected guidance to help you determine the best way to proceed. A legal professional could review your case in light of your insurance policy, obtain testimony from witnesses, gather other applicable evidence, and represent you in settlement or trial.
People involved in vehicle collisions can suffer many different types of injuries, ranging from minor cuts to severe trauma. Some of the more common examples include:
These injuries can occur due to a shattered windshield, the head and neck being jolted, or contact with parts of the vehicle, such as the steering wheel. An experienced lawyer in Blair County could review a person’s car crash injuries to determine a fair compensation.
Plaintiffs have two years from the date of the accident to file lawsuits pursuant to42 P.S. § 5524. Lawsuits filed after the two-year limit typically get dismissed by the court.
When a car crash lawsuit gets filed within the two-year timeframe, the plaintiff and his or her local attorney must prove that the collision was the fault of the other driver. Pennsylvania uses a modified comparative negligence approach to determine blame between the parties. A plaintiff can make a recovery as long as he or she was not more than 50 percent at fault in causing the crash, and a plaintiff’s recovery will be reduced by the portion of his or her own fault. For example, if the claimant is found 30 percent responsible for the accident and requests $100,000 in damages, he or she can only recover $70,000. A plaintiff found more than 50 percent responsible for the accident will not receive compensation.
Drivers in Pennsylvania have no-fault medical coverage on their car insurance policies, that provides compensation for medical expenses and other monetary losses, such as lost wages and ongoing physical therapy, regardless of who caused the accident. That is, your own insurance company will pay the first portion of your medical bills, up to the limits of the policy, even if the other driver was at fault. However, your medical coverage does not cover non-monetary losses, such as pain and suffering, mental anguish, and other damages. Further, if you have selected the limited tort option on your policy, you may be ineligible to pursue a claim for pain and suffering unless one of a limited number of exceptions applies.
Drivers can also select full tort on their auto policy, which allows them to request unlimited monetary and non-monetary damages for accidents that were caused by someone else. Insurance companies must review both auto coverage options with their clients according to state laws. The type of insurance the plaintiff has directly affects how a Blair County lawyer will navigate the car collision case.
If you sustained severe injuries from an auto accident or a loved was killed by another driver’s negligence or aggressive behavior, speak with a Blair County car accident lawyer immediately. The sooner you discuss your case with a legal professional, the sooner you will know what your options are for recovering damages. Contact Marcus & Mack today to speak with our compassionate attorneys.
By: JoAnn N
Marcus & Mack