If you have ever been in a car accident, you understand just how frightening the moments prior to impact are. While you know that you will be in an accident, you don’t yet realize quite how severe it may be. Thankfully, automobile safety advances including crumple zones, unit-body construction, and shatter-proof glass have helped many more people walk away safely from a car accident. However, even in these “success stories,” injury can occur.
There is almost always at least one party at fault for causing a car accident. The at-fault party will be liable for the damages that the victim incurs as a result of their physical injuries. These damages could include the cost of medical care, any lost income caused by setbacks at work, and the victim’s pain and suffering as a result of their experience. If you hope to recover, you must file your lawsuit within two years of the date of the accident.
While we hope that your injury is not serious or long-lasting, in many instances it unfortunately is. If you have been seriously injured in a car, truck or SUV accident, you can rely on the experienced legal guidance of the Reiff Law Firm to win you compensation for your injuries. To schedule a consultation with one of our experienced York County car accident lawyers, call us today at (215) 709-6940.
Attorneys Describe Typical Car Accident Injury Types
With more than 34 years of legal experience in representing accident victims in Pennsylvania, we have identified certain injuries common to vehicle collisions. Some of these common injuries include:
Back and Neck Injuries
Injuries to the back and neck are extremely common in car accidents. Herniated or slipped vertebrae disks can be extremely painful and require extensive therapy and surgery to correct. In some cases, the injury can even be permanent.
Whiplash
Whiplash is a back and neck injury and also perhaps the most common injury sustained in a car accident. Whiplash occurs due to the rapid acceleration and deceleration involved in a collision and the resulting hyperextension that occurs. While most people consider whiplash limited to aches and pains in one’s neck, whiplash can even impact cognitive functions. It can cause problems with concentration and mood swings.
Broken or Fractured Bones
Many times, occupants of the vehicle will strike their arms or hands against the steering wheel or dashboard resulting in broken or fractured bones. Additionally, while seatbelts have saved many lives by preventing vehicle ejection, broken ribs are not uncommon.
Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injuries are especially serious because damage to the brain can affect how we act, communicate, and even our ability to function on a daily basis. Those with TBIs often report difficulty with focus, mood swings, difficulty expressing oneself, and additional physical problems.
Airbag Injury
Though meant to protect you, airbags and other safety features on your car can malfunction because of defects in the computer system or improper installation. If these flaws are the cause of your injury, you may have a case against the manufacturer of the car or the airbag itself. Talk to your York County car accident lawyer about recent recalls and whether you may have a case against a third party.
Whether you suffered one of the above injuries or something else, the attorneys at The Reiff Law Firm handle your claim professionally and strategically.
Determining Fault in a York County Car Accident
All drivers owe a duty of care to behave responsibly behind the wheel. If they fail to meet this duty, they will be at fault for any accidents they create and liable for the consequences that follow. Below are just some of the most common accident causes that create liability for a driver.
Rear-End Collisions
In almost every instance of rear-end collision, the driver of the rear car will be found at fault for the accident. This is because drivers are obligated to keep a safe distance between their car and the car in front of them to allow for them to safely slow or stop if traffic patterns change for whatever reason.
Speeding
Any car moving at excessive speeds for the area put all other drivers, passengers, and pedestrians in danger. Further, any accident that occurs at excessive speed has even more potential to cause serious or even life-threatening injury.
Swerving
Some drivers may choose to weave dangerously through lanes in hopes that they might avoid traffic. The best-case scenario here is that they shave a couple of minutes off of their commute. At worst, they could cause a collision with the unsuspecting driver of another vehicle. Failing to properly utilize turn signals only heightens the danger and solidifies the liability for any resulting injuries.
Drunk Driving
Driving while inebriated is one of the most dangerous activities on the roads today. If you were injured in an accident caused by a drunk driver, you may be entitled to additional compensation through punitive damages. Punitive damages are substantial and meant to punish the most reckless and heinous types of conduct. Talk to your York County car accident attorney today to determine how you can get additional damages for a drunk driving accident.
Experienced Attorneys Explain Pennsylvania’s No-Fault Liability Insurance
In an effort to reduce insurance premiums, Pennsylvania has developed a no-fault liability insurance system. As one of 12 states with such a system, Pennsylvania’s is unique in that it allows its citizens to choose between participation in the no-fault system and under a traditional insurance regime.
If a Pennsylvanian decided to subscribe to a no-fault insurance policy, they would be unable to sue for most personal injuries. They will only be permitted to go forward with a suit if the injury is “serious” as defined by Pennsylvania law. To qualify, there must be an injury that caused serious impairment of a bodily function or disfigurement. In contrast, if one selects the traditional insurance regime, they may sue for any injury. However, that person is also open to claims if they were at fault for the accident.
Estimating Damages for a York County Car Accident
An important part of any decision regarding your recovery is the amount of compensation you stand to recover through a lawsuit. You can be compensated under a few different theories of damages. Estimating what you stand to recover is impossible without more information about you, your injuries, and the accident. Schedule a free consultation with one of our York County car accident lawyers to discuss your case in detail.
Medical Bills
The cost of your care can be claimed in damages in your lawsuit. Your injuries may require emergency procedures, ambulance rides, surgeries, and physical therapy. These and more are compensable in damages. Keep a record of all your medical expenses, even hospital parking, so that your attorney can help you estimate the cost of your treatment.
Loss of Income
It is entirely possible that your recovery keeps you out of work for an extended period of time. If someone else was responsible for causing your injuries, you deserve compensation for the wages that you missed out on while recovering. If your injuries affect your work abilities for a long term or indefinite period, you could also look to be compensated for your missed opportunities for promotion or decreased earning potential. Your lawyer can work with you to come up with a figure that represents what you lost in income as a result of the accident.
Pain and Suffering
Aside from all of the direct financial consequences, car accident injury victims in York County can seek compensation for the psychological and emotional toll that the victim’s injuries can take on them and their family. Chronic pain and the psychological conditions that may accompany them may make it difficult to enjoy life or maintain personal relationships as the victim once had. Because these are not tangible damages, you will need the help of our York County car accident attorneys to determine what a fair amount would be in your case.
Statute of Limitations for Car Accident Lawsuits in York County, PA
You will have to act quickly to secure your injury compensation after your car accident. This is because Pennsylvania law (known as the “statute of limitations”) gives car accident injury victims in York County two years from the date of the accident to file a civil claim. If you fail to file your official suit with the clerk of the appropriate county court within the two-year limit, the judge will likely dismiss your case and you will be barred from recovery.
The best way to avoid missing this critical deadline is to reach out to one of our York County car accident attorneys as soon as possible. You should be aware that the preparation process for filing a car accident lawsuit can take some time. Never delay the process of your recovery. The sooner you file, the sooner you will see the compensation that you deserve after a negligent or reckless driver injured you in an accident.
We Support You Throughout Your Auto Accident Lawsuit
With more than 34 years of experience representing injured people in York, Reading, Red Lion, and beyond, the York County car accident lawyers at the Reiff Law Firm guide you through your case each step of the way. For your free consultation, contact us online or call us at (215) 709-6940.