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Over the past 25 years, Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers has helped more than 25,000 crash victims, many of whom were injured on Pennsylvania highways. Some clients suffered the devastation of losing a loved one in a preventable vehicle collision. The firm’s attorneys know the ins and outs of the state’s vehicle accident law and have obtained million-dollar recoveries across Pennsylvania.
If you were injured in a highway crash in Pennsylvania, we can help. We welcome you to contact our firm to schedule a free, no-obligation meeting with an experienced attorney.
Highway Crashes in Pennsylvania
There were more than 128,000 traffic crashes reported in Pennsylvania in 2017 alone, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). These incidents led to 1,137 deaths and more than 80,000 injuries.
Common weather and road conditions that can lead to highway crashes include:
- Adverse weather conditions, such as rain, snow and ice, which impact visibility and vehicle handling
- Poor road conditions
- Work zones, as their conditions change and can be unexpected
- Roadside objects, debris and animals
Common driver error that can lead to highway crashes include:
- Speeding or driving aggressively
- Driving while distracted or drowsy
- Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Failing to obey traffic laws, such as proceeding without clearance and illegal passing
PennDOT has reported that the majority of crashes involve some form of poor driver performance. Speeding and driving under the influence commonly contribute to fatal crashes.
Common Injuries in a Highway Crash
Vehicle collisions can cause severe injuries, especially those that occur at highway speed. Motorists often sustain one or more of these common injuries in a highway crash:
- Traumatic brain Injury (TBI), including concussion, which can lead to balance problems, memory loss, vision problems, tinnitus (ringing in ears), dizziness, confusion or forgetfulness, and other lingering issues. TBI can also lead to:
- Brain damage
- Post-concussion syndrome
- Neck injuries and back injuries, including:
- Shoulder, collarbone and/or rib injuries, including:
- Rib fractures
- Sternum fractures
- Collarbone fractures
- Torn shoulder labrum
- Torn rotator cuff
- Shoulder/bicep joint injuries
- Thoracic outlet syndrome
- Face and/or jaw injuries, including:
- Fractures, lacerations, and scarring
- Nose or sinus injuries
- Ear or hearing injuries
- Jaw injuries, including:
- Lost or broken teeth
- Temporal mandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ)
- Eye injuries, including:
- Vision loss or damage
- Retinal detachment
- Corneal damage
- Glass in eye
- Double vision
- Hip and/or pelvic injuries, including:
- Fractures
- Hip dislocation
- Hip labrum tear or damage
- Injury to hip socket
- Injuries to feet, legs, knees, arms, wrists, or hands
If you were involved in a vehicle crash, seek professional medical attention right away. Injury symptoms may not appear at first, but a physician can perform tests that may identify them sooner. Appropriate treatment then can begin and give you the best chance of recovering. Failure to act immediately can lead to worsened pain and problems.
What is the Average Settlement for a Highway Crash?
Every case is different. Determining a possible payout depends on factors such as the severity of the victim’s injuries, physical limitations and prognosis, medical bills and time off work related to the crash, and other ways life changed as a result of the injury. These and other details will help determine a fair settlement for someone who was injured in a crash.
Below are a few case examples to show what others have obtained previously with our legal representation after a highway collision.
$21.3 Million+ in Verdict (with Delay Damages and Post-verdict Interest) and Settlements
This crash and lawsuit against Greyhound Bus Company led to a seven-week trial in Philadelphia. In 2013, a Greyhound Bus operator fell asleep while driving a bus full of passengers on I-80 in Union County. The verdict portion of this recovery was $5.05 million – the largest recorded verdict against Greyhound Bus Company in Pennsylvania.
$6.051 Million in Total Settlements
Seven Chester County residents were injured as occupants in a vehicular crash that occurred on a rural highway.
$5 Million for the Estate of a Woman Killed
A woman died as a result of injuries she sustained in a highway crash on Route 80 in Union County. She was ejected from the vehicle after her driver collided with a tractor trailer.
$3.075 Settlement
Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers’s client was severely injured in a snow storm crash on I-80 in Clarion County. More than 60 trucks and cars were involved in what was one of the worst highway pile-ups in PA history. The client, who was an interstate trucker, suffered a crushed pelvis.
$900,000 Settlement
Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers obtained this settlement just six months after this client from Lehigh County was struck in a car by a truck. She was exiting State Route 12 with a green light when a tractor trailer blew through a red light. The truck driver was on his cell phone when he slammed into her car. As a result of the crash, the client fractured both hips, her right wrist, and three ribs, and she suffered from a severe concussion. Despite having limited tort insurance, the client obtained a $900,000 settlement just six months after the crash.
Getting Legal Help After a Rear-End Collision
Contact our firm if you were injured in a highway crash –even if another lawyer said you do not have a case. It doesn’t matter to us what other lawyers told you. We have recovered millions of dollars for clients who initially thought they could not seek justice and compensation. Even if you have limited tort insurance coverage and heard you cannot file a claim, call us anyway. We may be able to find an exception so limited tort does not apply to you.
If you suffered injuries in a highway collision, we can help. Contact Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers today to speak with our Pennsylvania car crash lawyers about how we can help you.
