If you’re suffering injury pain after a car accident, you might be wondering which lawyer can handle your accident case. Let’s review the process of choosing a lawyer to deal with a car accident.
Personal Injury Lawyers Handle Car Accident Cases
Personal injury lawyers will handle car accident cases involving the negligence of another person, entity, or company.
Personal injury lawyers apply tort law to car accident cases. If you or someone you love is hurt in an accident where someone else is responsible, you can turn to personal injury lawyers for help with compensation.
Injury lawyers who secure compensation for car accident cases are car accident lawyers. Those with experience in local accident laws can help apply tort law to your case and win a car accident injury settlement.
Injured in a Car Accident? Call (215) 771-0430
How Car Accident Lawyers Help
When you’re hurt in a car accident, and prove another person is at fault, you may be entitled to compensation for your costs. Under Pennsylvania law, you have the right to file a personal injury claim and seek compensation from the at-fault driver and their insurance for accident-related costs.
Car accident attorneys help you in navigating the insurance process. They deal with the insurance company adjuster and their negotiation tactics. The insurance company will work to protect their bottom line and try to reduce your settlement. Your lawyer can respond to tactics such as:
- Delays in responding to your claim
- Attempts to blame you for the car accident
- Low-balling your settlement knowing you’re desperate due to medical costs
- Claiming your injury is due to a pre-existing condition and not the accident
When the insurance adjuster tries the above tactics, a car accident attorney steps in on your behalf. They will fight these negotiating strategies to ensure the insurance firm doesn’t take advantage of you. Their primary and only goal is to get the highest car accident settlement for you.
When to Hire an Attorney Who Deals with Car Accidents
Some car accident victims try to represent themselves, with limited success. Car insurance adjusters are skilled negotiators and laypeople will find it difficult to handle an injury claim alone. Hire an experienced car accident attorney for the following cases:
Severe Injuries or Fatalities
Hiring a lawyer is crucial If an accident causes serious injuries, long-term disability, or death. Medical treatment for severe injuries can result in overwhelming expenses, including hospital bills, rehabilitation costs, and ongoing care. Additionally, lost wages from time off work and the emotional impact of an injury can add to the overall burden.
A lawyer ensures you obtain compensation for both immediate and long-term damages, rather than settling for a low offer that fails to account for future medical needs.
Disputed Liability
In many car accidents, determining fault is not always straightforward. Insurance companies may deny liability or argue that the injured party is partially to blame, reducing the potential settlement amount.
A lawyer gathers evidence, such as police reports, traffic camera footage, and witness statements, to establish fault. In some cases, attorneys also work with accident reconstruction experts to create a detailed analysis of how the collision occurred, strengthening the client’s claim.
Unfair Settlement Offers
Insurance companies often attempt to settle claims quickly for less than they are worth. Victims who accept an early settlement may later discover that it does not fully cover their medical bills, lost wages, or other damages.
Lawyers protect their clients by reviewing settlement offers and negotiating for higher compensation. If an insurer refuses to offer a fair amount, an attorney can escalate the case and prepare for litigation.
Accidents Involving Commercial Vehicles
Collisions involving trucks, delivery vans, or rideshare vehicles tend to be more complicated than regular car accidents. Multiple parties may be liable, including the driver, the employer, the vehicle manufacturer, or government agencies responsible for road maintenance. These cases often involve corporate insurance policies with aggressive legal teams trying to minimize payouts.
A car accident lawyer ensures that victims are not pressured into unfair settlements and that all responsible parties are held accountable.
Hit-and-run or Uninsured Motorist Accidents
When a driver flees the scene or does not have insurance, recovering compensation becomes more challenging. You may need to file an uninsured motorist claim with your insurer, but insurance companies often try to minimize these payouts.
Attorneys can guide you through the claims process, ensuring the compensation you deserve and exploring additional legal options, such as filing a lawsuit against the at-fault party.
How Lawyers Increase Car Accident Settlements
The data shows victims who hire car accident lawyers receive higher settlements than those who don’t. Recent research from NOLO also found that 9 out of 10 victims who hired a car accident attorney received a settlement for their injuries. Only 5 out of 10 victims who did not engage a lawyer received a settlement.
The studies indicate hiring a lawyer helps enhance your chance of winning a settlement for your injuries.
Actions Your Attorney Will Take
Conducting an Investigation
The strength of a car accident claim often depends on the quality of evidence gathered. Attorneys conduct in-depth investigations by obtaining police reports, medical records, and witness statements. They may also request traffic camera footage, review dashcam videos, and analyze accident scene photos to reconstruct the incident.
In cases where liability is contested, lawyers bring in accident reconstruction specialists who use scientific methods to determine how the crash occurred and who was at fault.
Calculating the Full Value of the Claim
Many car accident victims underestimate the total cost of their injuries. Insurance companies may offer settlements that cover only immediate medical expenses, ignoring long-term costs such as future medical treatments, rehabilitation, and reduced earning capacity. Attorneys carefully assess both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages include medical bills, lost wages, and property damage, while non-economic damages cover pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of quality of life. By accurately calculating the true financial impact of the accident, lawyers ensure you don’t settle for less than you deserve.
Negotiating with Insurance Companies
Insurance adjusters train to minimize payouts. They use tactics such as downplaying injuries or shifting blame onto the victim.
Lawyers handle all communication with insurers to prevent clients from making damaging statements. They present clear evidence of damages, using medical records, financial statements, and expert testimony to justify higher compensation. Because attorneys understand insurance company tactics, they can push back against lowball offers and negotiate for fair settlements.
Filing a Lawsuit if Necessary
If negotiations fail, an attorney can file a personal injury lawsuit to pursue compensation through the courts. The threat of litigation often forces insurance companies to offer higher settlements to avoid the expense and uncertainty of a trial.
If a case goes to court, an experienced lawyer presents evidence, questions witnesses, and argues your behalf to secure the best possible outcome.
Leveraging Medical and Economic Experts
Attorneys collaborate with medical specialists who can provide expert opinions on the long-term effects of an accident.
Economists and vocational experts may also be brought in to calculate the future financial losses a victim may experience due to reduced earning capacity. By presenting expert testimony, lawyers strengthen your case and justify higher compensation.
Get Compensation After a Car Accident. Call (215) 771-0430.
Choosing the Best Attorney for Your Accident Claim
In your search for a car accident lawyer, review local firms with exceptional reviews on platforms such as Google. Find a lawyer with:
- Proven experience winning car accident claims
- Local knowledge of tort law in your state
- Strong communication skills
- Exceptional feedback from previous clients
Talk to a Pennsylvania Car Accident Lawyer
Jeffrey Penneys deals with car accident claims and insurance companies daily. He will use his 30 years of experience winning car accident compensation to fight for you. He can help you get the settlement you deserve after an injury due to another person’s negligence. The consultation is free. Jeffrey Penneys does not get paid unless you win a settlement.
To schedule your free consultation, call the law offices of Jeffrey Penneys, Philly Personal Injury Lawyer at (215) 771-0430.