After getting injured in a motor vehicle accident, you might wonder what your legal options are and how to get compensation. While every case is different, car accident settlements in Reading can include payment for a wide range of injuries and losses you have suffered.
Your skilled attorney can assess your potential case and explain what types of compensation you may be entitled to. Working with a winning lawyer from the beginning of your legal claim is crucial to getting the payments you deserve. Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers can take the lead in your case and ensure nothing falls through the cracks.
How do Car Accident Settlements Work?
Auto accidents can cause various injuries in addition to property damage. Common injuries include muscle strains and sprains, broken bones, internal injuries and bleeding, spinal damage, brain injuries, and neck injuries.
When a negligent driver injures you in a motor vehicle accident, you may be able to recover compensation for pain and suffering, medical bills, lost wages, and more. The types of compensation available will depend on multiple factors, including the details of the accident, the severity of the injuries, and the party or parties responsible for the crash. Another important determinant of your auto accident settlement in Reading is what type of insurance policy you hold.
However, Pennsylvania only allows you two years from the date of the car crash to get a claim started, so it’s crucial to speak with our Reading attorneys about pursuing a lawsuit or settlement as soon as possible.
Important Laws that Impact Auto Collision Settlements
Unlike many states where the at-fault party’s insurance company pays out compensation after an assessment of liability, things work a bit differently in Pennsylvania. When a motorist is injured by a negligent driver, they must first turn to their own insurance policy’s personal injury protection (PIP) coverage to pay economic damages like medical expenses and lost wages. PIP applies no matter whose actions caused the underlying accident.
Of course, PIP has limits and can be quickly exhausted by the costs of serious auto accident injuries. When you exhaust your PIP limits and want to seek a monetary settlement from the at-fault driver, your ability to do so depends on multiple factors. These include the severity of your injuries and the type of insurance policy you previously purchased: limited or full tort insurance.
Limited Tort Policy
Suppose you purchased what is known as a limited tort policy, an option that many choose because it’s slightly more affordable than a full tort policy. In that case, you can seek compensation from the at-fault party for economic damages that PIP did not cover. However, limited tort does not allow recovery of non-economic damages like pain and suffering.
Full Tort Policy
With a full tort policy, you can seek economic damages (i.e., medical bills) and non-economic damages (pain and suffering) you sustained in the accident. Our attorneys can evaluate your insurance policy after a car crash in Reading to determine your legal options for seeking a settlement award.
Call a Reading Attorney to Learn More About Car Accident Settlements
If you were involved in a car accident recently and believe you may be entitled to compensation, you should speak with one of our seasoned attorneys. Car accident settlements in Reading involve various factors, including the details of the collision and the extent of the injuries involved. As one example, we obtained nearly $1 million in settlements after our client was injured by a distracted tractor-trailer driver who ran a red light while exiting SR-12/ Warren Street Bypass in Reading.
Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers can give you a better understanding of your legal rights and help you take the next step in seeking justice. Call now to discuss your case in a free, no-obligation consultation.
