Accidents Can Be Devastating
Car accidents can be devastating physically and emotionally, and it is important in this difficult time for you to retain a top-notch personal injury attorney to help you obtain a fair recovery. At the Law Office of Dallas W. Hartman, P.C., you will find an automobile accident lawyer who will aggressively pursue your claim. Dallas and his associates have experience getting optimal results for their clients for injuries that occurred in car wrecks and auto accidents throughout Pennsylvania and Ohio. Contact Dallas today to find out if you have a case or dial 1-866-586-1910 to speak to a Pennsylvania or Ohio personal injury lawyer who handles car crash cases. The initial consultation is free and if is unable to obtain a recovery for you, there will be no fee or costs.
Know Your Rights
After an accident, you are usually contacted by the other driver's insurance company. Do not sign anything! Contact an attorney to review your rights. Signing a waiver could limit your ability to obtain a fair financial recovery. In some cases, you may also have a claim against your very own insurance company. Your own underinsured or uninsured policy may compensate you for your injuries. Even though you may trust your own insurance company, it is in your best interest to not sign anything from your own insurance company without having an attorney review your claim.
Determining Fault in A car Accident
As with other types of accidents, figuring out who is at fault in a traffic accident is a matter of deciding who was negligent. In many cases, your instincts will tell you that a driver, cyclist or pedestrian acted carelessly, but not what rule or rules that person violated. Fault issues can be complicated, and an experienced Pennsylvania or Ohio personal injury attorney will look to a number of sources, such as police reports, state traffic laws, and witnesses, to help you determine who was at fault for your accident.
Causes of Automobile Accidents
A driver may also be liable for an accident due to his or her intentional or reckless conduct. A reckless driver is one who drives unsafely, with "willful and wanton disregard" for the probability that such driving may cause an accident. A driver could be found reckless, for example, if he or she drives in a threatening or harassing manner out of "road rage" and causes an accident. (Criminal charges can also stem from such behavior). Road rage is defined as "an assault with a motor vehicle or other dangerous weapon by the operator or passenger on another motor vehicle, or an assault precipitated by an incident that occurred on a roadway."
Damages
In automobile accident cases, as in all negligence cases, the injured party may recover for:
- physical pain and suffering
- mental pain and suffering
- medical and rehabilitative expenses
- past and future lost income
- permanent impairment
- permanent disfigurement
Other damages may also include future medical bills that are reasonably certain, loss of enjoyment of life, and physical property damage.
Pennsylvania and Ohio Auto Insurance
Typically, an insurance policy will cover the victim's damages. If the other driver has insufficient insurance or is not insured at all, the victim may be entitled to compensation from his or her own insurance company under an "uninsured" or "underinsured motorist" provision. Also, other insurance policies, such as the policies of other family members or employers, may provide benefits to the injured person. Even if the injured person was partially at fault, the law may permit a recovery. To protect yourself and your family in the event of an accident, contact an experienced attorney to review your insurance policies and to inform you of your legal rights under your policies.
No Recovery - No Fee
The value of an automobile accident case depends on a number of factors, including how the particular state looks at fault, how easily the other party's fault can be established, the type and seriousness of the injuries, the type of medical treatment required, and the amount of insurance coverage available. Other relevant factors may include how the accident happened, the extent of vehicle damage involved, whether the injuries are permanent or involve significant scarring, whether the other driver was drinking, the amount of your past and expected future medical bills, and the effect of the accident on your income. Every personal injury case is different. Therefore, the assistance of an attorney experienced in handling automobile accident cases, is vital to determine the fair value of your personal injury claim.
To contact an automobile accidents lawyer or a truck accident attorney in Pennsylvania and Ohio, email or call us at 1-866-586-1910 to speak to an experienced auto accident attorney immediately. The initial consultation is free and if we are unable to obtain a recovery for you, there will be no fee or costs.
