Considering how often the average person is on the road, it is no wonder that car accidents are so frequent. While some are lucky enough to walk away mostly unharmed, others are a lot less lucky. If you were hurt in a car crash, a lawyer can help you get fair compensation.
After an auto accident, someone should call 911 and get help immediately. While waiting for the police to arrive, take photos and document the scene as much as you can. Photos, videos, and even notes about the crash may come in handy later. While insurance may cover your accident, insurance claims tend to be limited by policy terms. A lawsuit, on the other hand, may net you the full extent of your damages.
Call The Reiff Law Firm at (215) 709-6940 to request a free, confidential legal assessment from our car accident attorneys.
What Should You Do After a Car Accident in Tamaqua, PA?
Car accidents often catch drivers by surprise, making it difficult to remain calm. Even so, it is crucial that you do not panic and take steps to protect yourself.
Get Urgent Help
First, call 911 and report the accident. The 911 dispatcher should ask you about any injuries and the details of the accident. They may then send emergency medical personnel and the police to your location.
If you are unsure whether to call 911 or get the police involved, it is a good idea to do it anyway. Even if no one is seriously injured, the police may still review the scene, gather evidence, and determine who caused the crash.
Document the Crash Scene
While you wait for help to arrive, exchange information with the other driver and anyone else at the scene. Getting names and phone numbers may help us when we file insurance claims, file a lawsuit, and contact witnesses.
You should also take photos and record videos of the crash scene, if possible. The authorities will probably clear away the accident scene quickly to keep the road safe for other drivers. Unfortunately, this means evidence could be lost. Your photos and videos may help preserve information about the scene.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer
Your main priority immediately after a car accident should be getting emergency help. However, that does not mean that your legal interests are unimportant.
Contact an attorney about your accident as soon as possible. If your injuries are severe, you may need to have a friend or family member call a lawyer for you while you are still in the hospital. The sooner an attorney can review your case and start putting together your lawsuit, the better.
How to Get Fair Financial Compensation After a Car Accident
You likely have more than one option for getting financial compensation after a car accident. While options such as insurance or private settlement may be available, a lawsuit is often the best way to get the full extent of your damages covered. Do not settle for less.
Auto Insurance Claims
How you file an insurance claim in Pennsylvania depends on whether you have full-tort or limited-tort insurance.
Limited tort insurance requires that you prove you have a “serious injury” to file a lawsuit. Otherwise, you are limited to no-fault insurance, where you do not need to offer proof of fault.
If you have full-tort insurance, you do not need to prove serious injuries, and you may file a lawsuit without having to jump through additional legal hoops.
While insurance can be helpful, especially when you do not need to prove fault, it is often limited. If your damages exceed insurance policy limits, a lawsuit might be the way to go.
Personal Injury Lawsuits
A personal injury lawsuit allows you to claim the full extent of your damages, not just damages covered by insurance. This includes, but is not limited to, medical bills, lost earnings, property damage, physical pain, emotional suffering, and various other losses and injuries.
If successful, you may be awarded the full extent of these damages, and things like policy terms do not limit your damages award.
Settlements
When suing for damages, defendants and their insurers often try to offer settlements to make the lawsuit go away. In some cases, the settlement is more than what a plaintiff would get through insurance, but it might still be less than the full value of their claims.
Settlements are often the result of negotiations, and plaintiffs often must give up some damages to secure others. While this is worth considering, a lawsuit is more likely to get you the full value of your claims without having to settle for less.
How Do You Prepare a Car Accident Lawsuit?
Preparing a car accident lawsuit takes time, and you should contact an attorney for help as soon as possible so they can begin building your case from the ground up.
Obtain Copies of Medical Records
We need some proof of your injuries, and a great place to start is at the hospital where you were treated. Doctors and nurses must document everything about your injuries and treatment and include it all in your medical records. Our car accident lawyers should get copies of these records as soon as possible, as they may take some time to fully compile.
Find Witnesses
We must also try to find people who witnessed your accident or have other personal knowledge of it or of crucial details related to it. In many cases, the police will talk to witnesses during their investigation, and we can get their names from the police report. You might have also met people and exchanged information at the accident scene while waiting for help.
Review Police Reports
While police reports are not admissible as evidence because they are considered hearsay, they may still lead us to other admissible evidence. As such, we should obtain copies of the police reports and review them to see whether they contain any information we do not yet have.
FAQs About Tamaqua, PA Car Accident Cases
How Do Car Accidents Usually Happen?
Many car accidents result from ordinary traffic violations, like speeding or running red lights. Still others occur because drivers are distracted, often by a cell phone. We may need to work with the police to determine the exact cause of your accident.
Do You Have to File an Insurance Claim Before Filing a Lawsuit for a Car Accident?
You do not have to file an insurance claim after a car accident, but doing so may be a good idea. Exhausting your legal options, including insurance, can help strengthen your claims in court. Many people file lawsuits even after filing insurance claims because insurance is too limited.
How Soon After a Car Accident Should You File a Lawsuit?
You must file your car accident lawsuit in court no later than 2 years after the accident. You may be time-barred from filing your case if you do not file within this limitation period.
What is the Best Way to Get Compensation After a Car Accident?
The best way to get compensation depends on the specific factors surrounding your case, your needs, and what you want to do. Even so, many car accident victims find that a lawsuit is a great way to get the full extent of their damages covered.
Get Help Today from Our Tamaqua, PA Car Accident Lawyers
Call The Reiff Law Firm at (215) 709-6940 to request a free, confidential legal assessment from our car accident attorneys.
