Based on recent statistics, there are roughly 27 car accidents every single day in Philadelphia, PA, on average. While many car crashes only result in minor property damage, others can cause severe, life-altering injuries. Knowing what to do when injured in a car accident in Philly can help you protect your legal rights regarding any claims for compensation.
Zavodnick & Lasky Personal Injury Lawyers is a premier personal injury law firm in the Philadelphia area. Our Philadelphia car accident attorneys have over 80 years of combined experience, and we’ve secured more than $50 million for our deserving clients. You’ll be in good hands if you choose us to represent you.
We offer a free initial consultation to offer some preliminary legal advice and review your case. Call today at (215) 875-7030 if you’d like to get started.
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How Zavodnick & Lasky Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Car Accident in Philly
Most often, you’ll need to deal with an insurance company after a car accident in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Depending on the case, it might be yours or the at-fault driver’s. But in either event, it’s critical to remember that the insurance company is not on your side. In fact, these businesses stay afloat by denying or limiting liability whenever possible.
Without an experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer on your side, you might walk away with less compensation than you’re entitled to receive. Instead, hire Zavodnick & Lasky Personal Injury Lawyers. We provide comprehensive legal services throughout the entirety of your case. Since we work on a contingency fee basis, we’re incentivized to increase the value of your claim as much as possible. If you hire us, we can:
- Internally investigate your accident to determine what your best legal course of action is
- Evaluate all of your damages and demand fair compensation from the opposing party
- Take care of all the necessary procedures, paperwork, and communications
- File a lawsuit and bring your case to court if the at-fault party refuses to offer an adequate settlement
Contact our law office in Philadelphia today to learn more about what we can do to help with your car accident case.
What Should I Do if I’ve Been Hurt in a Philadelphia Car Accident?
There’s a lot to consider following an injury-causing car accident in Philadelphia. For better or worse, the steps you take immediately after the crash could significantly impact how any legal claims play out down the line. Keeping the following information in mind will work to maintain your interests.
Seek Medical Attention
Your health and well-being are what’s most important after a car accident. If you’ve sustained any type of injury, seeking out prompt medical attention is critical.
Sometimes, it’s more than obvious that you need medical care. But in other cases, your injury might present as minor at the scene of the crash – only to become more serious later on. And yet still, certain types of injuries, including some traumatic brain injuries, do not reveal themselves until substantial time has passed.
It is best to err on the side of caution and see a doctor in any of these scenarios. Medical evidence may prove vital to the success of your claim, and any delays in seeking care could allow the other party to reduce its liability.
Review Your Insurance Coverage
Pennsylvania has unique car insurance rules. It is considered a “choice no-fault” state, and drivers may elect either “limited tort” or “full tort” coverage. Limited tort coverage is cheaper but does offer benefits after a crash without regard to fault. However, full tort coverage allows drivers to pursue claims for full damages against drivers who cause them harm. In many cases, limited tort coverage is not enough to compensate for an injury-causing accident.
Your chosen insurance policy will likely play a significant role in your legal options following a car accident. If you’ve selected limited tort coverage, you can only pursue a lawsuit against the at-fault driver in rare circumstances. But if you have full tort insurance, you will have the right to file a claim against the opposing party in almost any case.
Pennsylvania car insurance law is complex, but our legal team understands it well. Reach out to us if you have any questions about your coverage and how best to proceed.
Do Not Apologize or Accept Blame for the Crash
Contributory fault is often a key issue in Pennsylvania personal injury cases. The state has a “modified comparative negligence” standard in place to allocate fault. If you are assessed 51% or more of the blame, you cannot recover compensation for your injuries.
However, so long as you weren’t mostly to blame, you can still recover compensation – but it may be reduced based on your assigned percentage. For instance, if you were 30% responsible for the crash, your damages can be reduced by 30%.
If you apologize for the accident or make any statements that indicate you are accepting blame, your compensation could be reduced drastically – or even eliminated completely.
Contact a Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyer
You should aim to contact a Philadelphia car accident attorney as soon as possible after a crash. Ideally, you would speak with a lawyer prior to any insurance companies. A lawyer can provide you with guidance on how to proceed, given the facts and circumstances of your case.
Since it can take time to build a case and formulate a plan of action, getting an attorney involved early on can preserve the value and validity of your claim.
How Much Time Do I Have To File a Car Accident Lawsuit in Pennsylvania?
In most cases, you’ll have two years from the date of the car accident to file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver. This deadline is established by Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations for personal injury. If you file your lawsuit too late, you’ll lose your right to recover compensation.
However, there are exceptions to the statute of limitations in some instances. We recommend contacting our law office for help confirming the deadline for your specific case.
Set Up a Free Case Review With a Qualified Philadelphia Car Accident Attorney
If you were injured in a Philadelphia car accident, you may have legal options for recovering compensation from the other driver. Zavodnick & Lasky Personal Injury Lawyers can help you every step of the way.
Call us today to set up your free case review with one of our trusted Philadelphia car accident attorneys.
