Car accidents are always stressful and frightening, but back-end collisions can be especially vexing. Although rear-end car accidents in Blair County can cause debilitating injuries, the process of proving they were a direct result of the accident can be challenging. Insurance companies sometimes dispute that an injury caused significant symptoms, or they might deny the claimant suffered any injury at all.
If you suffered harm in a backside crash, you need an experienced auto wreck attorney to represent you. A seasoned legal professional knows how to present the evidence of your injury to ensure that you receive appropriate compensation.
The driver at-fault for a rear-end crash in Blair County is responsible for paying compensation to anyone who suffered losses in the accident. The law requires each driver to have personal injury protection (PIP) that covers medical bills up to $5,000. If the medical costs exceed the PIP coverage limit, the injured person can seek financial recovery from the at-fault driver’s insurance. In almost all circumstances, the driver in the rear vehicle is responsible for a back-end collision.
Pennsylvania has a unique automobile insurance system that governs whether someone injured in a car accident could sue for his or her damages. 75 P.S. §1705(a)(1) requires a driver to choose between full and limited tort coverage. Someone with full tort may sue an at-fault driver for both economic and non-economic damages, including:
A person with limited tort coverage who was in a rear-end crash may bring a lawsuit against an at-fault driver only if the at-fault driver was:
A person with limited tort may also sue if he or she suffered catastrophic injuries, which the law defines as an injury that could be fatal or cause impairment of a bodily system or permanent disfigurement.
The occupants of the lead car might suffer severe injuries in a rear-end accident, particularly if the force of the collision propelled the lead vehicle into an obstruction or another vehicle. However, most back-end collisions occur at low speed, and the only contact is between the lead and rear vehicles. In such cases, occupants of the lead vehicle often suffer soft tissue injuries, which could have painful and disabling symptoms but do not appear on imaging tests.
When a vehicle strikes another’s rear, the occupants’ heads might snap forward and back sharply. The violent jerk could cause the neck to hyperextend. A neck hyperextension, commonly called whiplash, can produce various symptoms, including:
In most cases, symptoms improve over a few days or weeks, but sometimes people suffer lingering effects for months. A person with whiplash might experience considerable pain, embarrassment, and inconvenience. Someone with active whiplash symptoms might need significant medical intervention and may be unable to work or engage in activities he or she enjoys.
Anyone in a car accident should get medical care immediately, even if symptoms are not evident. Some injuries may not produce symptoms until hours or even days after the event. However, it is vital to inform a doctor of the crash so he or she can generate a medical record soon after the incident and draw a connection if symptoms appear later. In addition, a doctor could look for signs of skeletal injury that require immediate treatment.
Many backside accident injuries that cause significant disruption and distress do not appear on imaging examinations. The proof of the injury is in the patient’s description of symptoms and the doctor’s observations documented in the medical record. The at-fault driver’s insurance company could deny coverage if the injured person did not seek medical attention immediately and strictly comply with the doctor’s advice and treatment plan—which is why it is crucial to seek guidance from a skilled lawyer as soon as possible after a rear-end automobile accident in Blair County.
Seeking compensation after a motor vehicle wreck is complicated. When the injury does not show up on an X-ray, it could be even more challenging.
If you suffered injuries in a rear-end car accident in Blair County, reach out to a qualified legal professional at Marcus & Mack as soon as possible. With our guidance, you could prove your injury and receive the compensation you deserve.
Marcus & Mack
