Lancaster, PA Car Accident Lawyer

The thing about driving is that on a long enough timeline, everybody eventually gets into an accident. However, just because you were in an accident does not mean that it was your fault. If you were injured in a crash you did not cause, you may be able to recover compensation in Lancaster.

Whether you have suffered broken bones, a traumatic brain injury (TBI), whiplash or other serious injury in an auto accident you may need to pay for medical care and therapy does not change. To compensate for those losses, victims can file a lawsuit in Lancaster. Our attorneys can improve the success of your claim by investigating your accident to uncover evidence, filing a lawsuit before the deadline, proving a negligent driver’s fault, and calculating the damages you deserve. If another person’s negligence or recklessness caused your accident and injuries, you may be able to recover compensation to pay for your treatment and the pain and suffering you endured, depending on the type of insurance you have in Pennsylvania.

For a confidential and free case review with the Lancaster, PA car accident lawyers from The Reiff Law Firm, call our team today at (215) 709-6940.

Common Injuries Due to Auto Collisions in Lancaster, PA

Injuries due to a car accident, or any accident, are unique as they are produced by the varying circumstances of each particular accident. However, certain injuries are common in accidents of all kinds, while others are more likely to be produced by specific types of collisions. For instance, in accidents where the impact is near the fuel tank or front-end collisions where there is significant damage to the engine and the occupant is trapped or rendered unconscious, burn injuries are unfortunately not uncommon. Burn injuries are particularly painful, emotionally scarring and may require multiple procedures to correct. However, other injuries are common to all accident types, such as whiplash, brain injuries, and broken or fractured bones.

Whiplash

Perhaps the classic car or truck collision injury is whiplash. However, despite their prevalence, whiplash injuries can be extremely painful and debilitating. Usually experienced after the sudden deceleration experienced in a crash, the back and neck muscles expand and contract more rapidly than they can handle. This can cause neck pain, numbness, tingling, headaches, changes in mood and problems with maintaining focus. While whiplash is typically considered a minor car accident injury, it can worsen substantially if left untreated.

Brain injuries

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can impact how we think, act, feel, and communicate. Much has been said in the media regarding TBIs in relation to the NFL, and many of the same symptoms and consequences of a TBI also apply to those injured in a car accident. A TBI can cause trouble in maintaining focus, impair communication, cause mood swings, and generally make completing daily tasks more difficult or unmanageable. Recovering from traumatic brain injuries can be lengthy and, in some cases, impossible, which is why victims typically require compensation in Lancaster.

Broken or Fractured Bones

Bruises, breaks and fractures can happen in car accidents of all types. While seemingly routine injuries, they nevertheless can cause great pain, impair mobility, and make activities of daily living extremely difficult or impossible to complete. Any injury can cause significant pain and discomfort, but you should not have to pay any further for the negligence or reckless of another person. Victims with broken bones can file a lawsuit in Lancaster if they have full tort insurance. In some cases where broken bones are especially severe and debilitating, victims with limited tort insurance may be able to sue for economic and non-economic damages in Lancaster.

Be Careful What You Say Following a Lancaster, PA Car Accident

Many people assume that the insurance company, especially their own, is on their side following an auto accident. However, that is rarely the case. Because of Pennsylvania’s modified comparative fault laws, victims might see their damages reduced if they inadvertently accept fault for an accident in Lancaster.

The best course of action following a serious accident is to decline to make any statements or sign any documents. After all, you just suffered a traumatic event and may not be thinking clearly or, in your weakened state, you may be pressured into agreeing to something that does not protect your interests sufficiently. Instead, contact our experienced car accident lawyers who are familiar with both the no-fault liability and traditional insurance regimes in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania operates under a modified comparative fault system. This means that if you take your case to court, your involvement in an accident will be scrutinized. If you misspoke in conversations with a defendant or your insurance company and accepted a degree of fault for your damages, your compensation may be reduced. The best way to prevent this from happening is to only speak with involved parties or insurance companies through our lawyers.

What Our Attorneys Can Do for You After a Car Accident in Lancaster, PA

Because of Pennsylvania’s complex insurance laws, victims may be unsure whether or not they can file a lawsuit following a car accident in Lancaster or how to go about doing so. Our car accident attorneys can handle the aftermath of a collision by taking the initiative to gather evidence right away, file a claim within the state’s statute of limitations, prove a negligent driver’s fault, and calculate the damages you deserve for your injuries.

Gather Evidence

Without evidence, a lawsuit against a negligent driver will be unsuccessful. Typical evidence in a claim arising from an auto accident includes eyewitness statements, medical records, surveillance footage, and photographs of an accident scene. Our attorneys can contact eyewitnesses and subpoena them for testimony. We can also use your medical records to prove that your injuries meet Pennsylvania’s serious injury threshold, depending on the type of car accident insurance you have.

Some evidence might degrade over time, like witnesses’ recollections and your own memories of an event. Surveillance footage might be deleted as time passes, especially if it was filmed on private security cameras. Acting quickly and investigating an accident immediately is necessary for the success of your compensation claim.

Much of the evidence useful to car accident claims can be created by victims immediately after a crash. This is why it is crucial to report an accident to the police in Lancaster and seek medical attention. Victims can also speak with eyewitnesses to get their contact information to make getting compelling statements easier in the future.

File a Claim

In most cases, victims of car accidents in Lancaster are bound by a strict statute of limitations of two years. In order to meet the filing deadline, you must bring your case within two years of a collision in Lancaster. The procedures for filing a lawsuit in court can be complicated and involve many complex steps that will likely be challenging for victims without the necessary help. Not to mention, waiting too long to file a lawsuit typically does not bode well for victims, even if they bring a claim before the deadline in Lancaster.

We can file the initial claim, which involves naming a defendant and explaining the reasoning for your lawsuit, as soon as we have gathered enough evidence to support your case. Because our attorneys do not settle, we can take your case to court following the discovery period so that you have a better chance of claiming greater damages.

Prove Fault

Although the burden of proof in civil claims in Lancaster is lower than that of criminal cases, it is still challenging to meet. Our attorneys will be tasked with proving that it is more likely than not that a defendant caused your injuries in a collision. To do this, we will use the evidence we collected during our initial investigation, like your medical records, security camera footage, and photographs.

When a defendant’s fault is clear, they might try to settle a case instead of taking it to court. We advise against this, as greater damages may be available to victims when they go to trial and are awarded compensation by a judge or jury. A settlement might not result in sufficient damages that reflect your injuries, financial losses, and pain and suffering, which would be unfair to you.

Recover Compensation

Compensation may vary from case to case, depending on victims’ injuries and other damages. In Lancaster, drivers can choose between full or limited tort insurance. The former allows you to sue for all damages in a car accident claim. The latter, limited tort insurance, only lets you sue for economic damages unless your injuries surpass Pennsylvania’s serious injury threshold. Using your medical records, we can demonstrate the severity of your injuries, allowing you to recover compensation for pain and suffering even if you have limited tort insurance.

Compensation in car accident lawsuits is based on losses incurred by a victim. To calculate economic damages, our car accident lawyers will gather all evidence of financial losses caused by a negligent driver, such as medical bills and lost wages. Adding up all of these damages will allow our attorneys to pinpoint your exact financial losses due to an accident. Calculating non-economic damages is a bit more challenging as they do not have a monetary value. To achieve this, victims can seek help from therapists or keep a journal that details their pain and suffering following a crash in Lancaster.

Trusted Representation for Accident Victims in Pennsylvania

For a free case review with the Lancaster, PA car accident lawyers from The Reiff Law Firm, call us today at (215) 709-6940.