If you were hurt in a car accident, you should get help from an experienced attorney. Not only can we help you understand what your case is truly worth so that you do not get taken advantage of by greedy insurance companies, but we can fight the case at trial if they refuse to pay you.
In any car accident injury claim, you typically need compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and your vehicle damage. We have experience analyzing claims, negotiating with insurance companies, and taking cases to trial to get justice for our clients.
For your free case review, call The Reiff Law Firm’s car accident lawyers at (215) 709-6940 today.
Do I Have a Case?
Some of the first questions most car accident victims want answered are whether they have a case, how strong it is, and what it is worth.
To tell if you have a case in the first place, we check to see if the defendant’s conduct meets these four elements of a “negligence” claim:
- The defendant owed you a legal duty, often supplied by traffic laws or standards of reasonableness.
- They breached that duty, often through violations of traffic laws, unsafe driving, or other errors.
- That breach caused your crash.
- You suffered damages – injuries and economic harms – that can be compensated with monetary payments.
If you have all of these met, and the evidence to prove it, then you have a case.
How Strong is My Case?
Car accident injury cases are stronger when these features are present:
- There is plenty of evidence to prove the other driver was at fault – security/dash cam footage, other witnesses, etc.
- Your injuries are serious, and it would be easy to get a jury to sympathize with you.
- You were totally innocent.
If there are issues with these – such as having weak evidence or partial fault on your part – then the case might be weaker. However, you should always have our car accident lawyers review your specific case. Even weak cases can be bolstered by experienced lawyers, strong arguments, accident reconstruction evidence, and good settlement negotiations.
What is My Case Worth?
We cannot determine the value of your injury case without examining the specific facts of your case. However, we can discuss the areas of damages you can claim, and you can begin calculating a ballpark range for your case.
Once our attorneys examine the details, we can give you a better estimate of your damages.
Medical Bills
All care costs to treat your injury should be claimed as damages, from emergency hospital visits to surgical costs to physical therapy/rehabilitation. Even medication, mental health therapy, and ongoing treatment should be covered in full.
Keep your medical bills and any records you receive so we can track your medical expenses as they arise.
Your insurance should cover at least $5,000 of these expenses, but we can see if the rest can be claimed against the defendant.
Lost Wages
If you miss any time at work because of your injury, you should claim damages for it. This can include a few weeks away for medical treatment and your initial recovery as much as it can include ongoing lost earning capacity from serious disabilities.
If your injury keeps you from returning to work or requires you to take a lower-paying job with less physical demands, we can account for the value of lost future earnings, as well.
Pain and Suffering
Your injuries come with inherent damages that have no monetary value. Nonetheless, we can claim compensation for these “non-economic damages,” and more:
- Pain
- Discomfort
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
- Embarrassment
- Scarring/disfigurement
- Lost ability.
Always work with a lawyer when calculating these damages.
Vehicle Repairs
The cost of replacing or repairing your vehicle should also be accounted for. If your vehicle would cost more to repair than the remaining value of the vehicle, that remaining value is often cashed-out – i.e., “totaled” – instead of paying for repairs.
Your insurance might have collision coverage to pay for some of this, but you can claim the rest from the defendant.
FAQs for Car Accidents in Broomall
What Should I Do After an Accident?
In the immediate aftermath of the accident, take the following steps:
- Get to a safe place and call 911. Ask for both police and an ambulance.
- Get any medical care you require. If this means leaving in the ambulance, focus on your injuries over any evidence collection.
- If you can stay, collect evidence at the scene, such as driver contact info, insurance info, vehicle info, and photos of the damage.
- Call a Lawyer. Do not talk to insurance or file claims on your own.
Should I Accept a Settlement Offer?
Even if you are tempted to take the money and end your case after a settlement offer, wait instead. Always consult with an attorney first to see what your case is truly worth, then have us negotiate for a better settlement if the defense’s offer is too low.
In many cases, we need to file a lawsuit in court before the insurance company will even take your case seriously. In some cases, we cannot get fair damages unless we go to trial and let the judge and jury decide your case.
Who Determines Fault?
Insurance companies will run their own investigation to determine fault, but their word is not the final word. If we accept money from the insurance company in a settlement, then there usually is no final determination of fault; the case just ends.
If the case goes to trial, then the jury decides fault. This takes the power away from the insurance companies and gives you a fair chance before a neutral jury.
What Evidence Do I Need?
Car accident claims can be based on the bare minimum evidence of your testimony, your medical records, and your vehicle damage appraisals. However, cases are much stronger when you have other witness statements to back you up, photos of the damage, and potentially even footage of the accident (from dash cams or security video).
Bring us whatever you have when you call us, and we can search for additional evidence, consult with accident reconstruction experts, etc.
Call Our Car Accident Attorneys in Broomall Today
For your free case review with our car accident lawyers, call The Reiff Law Firm today at (215) 709-6940.
