Every year, thousands of Pennsylvania residents are involved in motor vehicle collisions. These accidents often lead to injuries that require expensive medical treatment and numerous other financial and personal losses.
Pursuing a fair financial recovery after a traffic wreck is not straightforward. Retaining a personal injury attorney with extensive experience handling situations like this can be crucial to the success of your case.
Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers has won millions of dollars on behalf of clients injured in vehicle collisions. In one case, we won over $6 million for seven people injured in a rural highway collision near Berks County. With a Reading car accident lawyer by your side, you stand a much better chance of maximizing the compensation you recover for your harm and losses.
Insurance Issues with Car Accident Claims
PIP and “No-Fault” Insurance in PA
Every car or truck owner in PA must purchase personal injury protection (PIP) insurance, which provides benefits to injured accident victims regardless of who is at blame for a crash. PIP insurance should cover all expenses for necessary medical care, car repairs, and certain other economic losses up to the applicable policy limits.
Limited Tort and Full Tort Insurance
PA State residents must also purchase “limited tort” or “full tort” insurance. If you have full tort coverage, you may file a lawsuit against the other party for all your non-economic losses, such as pain and suffering. However, if you have limited tort insurance, you may not be able to recover compensation for some of your non-economic losses, like pain and suffering.
For example, you can seek compensation for pain and suffering if you sustained a “serious injury.” These are typically understood as injuries that result in permanent consequences. A car wreck attorney in Reading can explain how these laws apply to your claim.
How Comparative Negligence Could Impact Recovery
Even if you have the right to pursue a lawsuit against the person responsible for causing the wreck, you may still run into other legal issues. Under 42 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes §7102, any person who bears a portion of the total blame for an accident that caused their injury may only recover partial compensation. For example, if the court finds you 25% at fault, you will only recover 75% of your total damages award.
If you are deemed more at fault than all other people involved in the accident, you will be barred from recovering any money. A knowledgeable Reading accident lawyer can be especially helpful when it comes to overcoming accusations of comparative fault in a car accident case.
Seek Help from a Reading Car Accident Attorney
That amount of weight hitting another vehicle can have devastating consequences at virtually any speed. If you or a loved one were in a crash, it is crucial that you retain a seasoned attorney.
A Reading car accident lawyer from Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers can support you throughout insurance negotiations, private settlement talks, and civil court cases. Call today to set up a free consultation.
