Getting compensation after a car accident may seem like a simple enough task if you let your insurance handle it for you. However, there are damages your insurance does not pay, and you can only get them paid by the at-fault party. Getting them to pay can be an uphill battle without a lawyer.
Our attorneys represent victims in their claims and fight to get them the full compensation they are entitled to. If we have to take your case to court, we are ready to stand up and represent you no matter how serious your injuries are.
Call The Reiff Law Firm’s car accident attorneys for a free case evaluation today at (215) 709-6940.
Common Car Accidents in Ardmore
Ardmore is mostly made up of backroads and tight in-town streets. Whether you are rear-ended while waiting to turn left toward Suburban Square from Lancaster Avenue or you are clipped while trying to find the right side street off Montgomery Avenue, your accident is likely to involve one of these common causes:
- Tailgating
- Speeding
- Failure to yield
- Drunk driving
- Distracted driving.
There are also a large number of food delivery drivers, Amazon delivery drivers, Uber and Lyft drivers, and commuters through Ardmore and throughout the Main Line, many of whom are in far more of a hurry than they should be.
What to Do After a Crash in Ardmore
After an accident, make sure to call 911 and ask for a police and ambulance response. If you need it, ask for the fire department, too.
From there, follow the police officer’s instructions and the ambulance crew’s medical advice. If you need to answer some questions from the officer, just stick to the facts and do not admit fault. You can potentially use their report later to help build your case. The EMTs can also take you to the hospital if needed.
Get treatment at a hospital right away. Urgent care clinics and private doctors can often turn you away if your injuries are too serious or they cannot handle billing for car accident injuries. Going to a nearby hospital like Bryn Mawr Hospital or Lankenau Medical Center is probably your best bet for immediate treatment. If you need specialists or more acute care, you may be transported to Philly.
Collect additional evidence if you are able to stay at the scene of the accident. Take photos, and get contact info for anyone involved and any witnesses.
After you have begun treatment, call a lawyer.
Does My Insurance Pay for a Car Accident?
In Pennsylvania, your auto insurance likely has some benefits to cover you, but that cannot pay for everything. Policies must have at least $5,000 of medical benefits, but you can opt for additional coverage. This does not pay for pain and suffering and requires a deductible payment before it covers you, meaning you will always leave damages on the table by relying on your own insurance.
To get the rest of your damages covered – which can be extensive – your car accident lawyers may need to file a lawsuit. With that, we can claim the rest of your unpaid damages, your deductible cost, and pain and suffering damages from the defendant’s insurance.
Pain and suffering often covers 2-5 times the rest of your damages in serious car accident cases, making it a vital area of compensation to get. While insurance companies may be willing to settle, they often undercut damages and make low-dollar offers that will not cover your damages in full.
Should I Handle Insurance on My Own or Wait for My Lawyer?
You should avoid talking to insurance entirely if you can. Our lawyers can file your claims and send demand letters detailing the full damages you need. We can supply them with the bills and evidence in support of these costs and negotiate with them on your behalf.
If they want to talk to you, it usually means they are looking for a recorded statement they can use against you. Let our attorneys instruct you on a case-by-case basis how to respond to the insurance company.
In any case, if we are planning on taking them to court, we often do not have to comply with their requests and measures, and anything you say to them on the record could be used later to try to say your story was inconsistent or that you were lying about injuries or damages.
What is the Statute of Limitations for a Car Accident Case?
In Ardmore and throughout Pennsylvania, the law gives victims 2 years to file injury cases. Deadlines may be shorter if you are suing a government agency, e.g., if you were hit by a SEPTA bus.
What Evidence and Records Should I Save for My Car Accident Lawyer?
Our attorneys will need access to any and all records, bills, financial records, and communications you have pertaining to your car accident case. If you have any of the following, keep them in a safe place together in one folder labeled “For My Attorney” or something to that effect. Our lawyers can also seek out additional records to supplement these:
- Any medical records you already have
- Medical bills
- Pay stubs before, during, and after your recovery
- Financial records
- Other bills and receipts
- Vehicle repair estimates or damage appraisals
- Letters or emails from insurance companies or other drivers
- Calls, text, emails, and other communications about the accident.
At the same time, avoid creating additional records and statements the defense might want to get access to. Do not post on social media or text friends or family about the accident.
We can get the rest of your medical records for you, as well as police reports and other evidence you may need. We can also look for security footage of the accident and other evidence the police officer might have referenced in the report.
Call Our Ardmore Car Accident Attorneys Today
If you were involved in a crash, call the car accident lawyers at The Reiff Law Firm at (215) 709-6940.
