A side-impact crash involves a vehicle colliding with the doors or side paneling of another. Whether in a busy intersection or on a highway off-ramp, these collisions can cause severe harm to everyone involved. Even with modern safety features like side airbags, the average commuter car isn’t built for impacts from the side. People struck by negligent drivers are highly likely to suffer life-altering injuries.
Your actions after a side-impact car accident in Bethlehem can impact your quality of life in the months and years to come. You likely need significant compensation to pay your medical bills and live comfortably while you recover from your injuries. Bringing a legal claim with help from a skilled lawyer at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers may be your best option for getting the payments you need.
Getting Compensation for a Sideswipe Crash
Pennsylvania courts follow a “no-fault” approach to car accident lawsuits. This means you might not have an unlimited right to file a lawsuit after a side-impact car crash unless you have a specific type of auto insurance (called “full tort” coverage) or suffered a “serious injury.” However, your Bethlehem T-bone accident attorney can still help ensure that your personal injury protection (PIP) car insurance policy covers your medical expenses, car repair costs, and other economic losses under your specific policy.
If you do have the right to file suit, you can demand fair compensation for all your economic and non-economic losses stemming from the collision, including:
- Physical pain and discomfort from injuries
- Loss of life’s pleasures
- Emotional and psychological trauma
- Expected costs of future medical care
- Lost work wages or ability to work
- Property damage not covered by insurance, like home modifications to account for a physical disability
The seasoned lawyers at our firm can discuss what types of compensation you can recover for a side-impact crash during a free, no-obligation consultation.
Common Issues in T-Bone Accident Claims
If you have grounds to sue someone over a side-impact car accident in Bethlehem or elsewhere in Pennsylvania, you may need to prove that you are not partially at fault. Otherwise, a court might assign you a percentage of “comparative fault” based on your own negligence. The court can then reduce the total compensation you’re eligible to receive or even throw your case out altogether.
Pennsylvania law typically gives you two years after your accident to begin the personal injury litigation process. The longer you wait to contact a Bethlehem lawyer after a side-impact crash, the harder it may be to get the payments you deserve.
Consult a Bethlehem Attorney After a Side-Impact Car Accident
Getting T-boned or sideswiped can be a traumatic experience, especially at high speeds. When you suffer injuries because another driver acted carelessly, you have the right to hold them accountable for your losses.
Speaking with a skilled lawyer about your legal options should be a priority after a side-impact car accident in Bethlehem. Managing Partner Rich Godshall and the rest of the Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers team have decades of experience helping injured victims after serious crashes. Call us today to learn how we can fight and win for you.