Bethlehem Car Accident Lawyer

What to Do After a Car Accident

If you are reading this, chances are some time has passed since your accident. Whether it’s been a few hours or a few days, there are a few important things you should do to protect your rights, including your right to file a car accident claim.

If possible, immediately after the accident, make sure to do the following:

• Check yourself and others for injuries. Call 911 if anyone needs emergency medical attention and wait for paramedics to arrive. Do not move anyone who appears severely injured.
• Contact police and have them come out to the scene. Provide a statement to the police of what happened; be honest, but do not admit fault.
• Get the name, insurance information, and contact information of the other driver(s) involved in the accident. Share your information with them, as well, but do not admit fault or downplay your injuries.
• Take pictures of the scene of the accident, including your vehicle and the other person’s vehicle, your injuries, and any other clear and obvious damage to your person or property.
• If there are any witnesses and you are able to speak with them, get a brief statement of what happened from their point of view, as well as their name and contact information.

Additionally, in the hours and days following the accident, do the following:

• Seek medical attention. Even if you do not believe you were seriously injured (or injured at all), it’s important to see a doctor after the accident. You could have underlying injuries that may not become apparent for hours or even days after the crash.
• Follow all of your doctor’s orders, including attending follow-up appointments, taking prescribed medications (or recommended over-the-counter medications), participating in physical therapy, resting, taking time off work, etc.
• Inform your own insurance provider of the accident but refrain from speaking to anyone from the other driver’s insurance company. These adjusters will often utilize any tactic they can to get you to admit fault or downplay your injuries, which they can later use to deny your claim.
• Keep track of your medical records, medical bills, lost wages, and other damages, including vehicle repair estimates. It’s also a good idea to record your intangible losses, as well, by making note of any emotional distress or pain and suffering you are enduring as a result of the accident.
• Contact a personal injury attorney. If you were injured in any way in the accident, it is in your best interest to speak to an experienced Bethlehem car accident lawyer, like those at Knafo Law Offices, about your legal rights and options.

Remember, there are no upfront fees when you work with our firm. Instead, we charge contingency fees, meaning we only get paid if you do. There is no risk in calling our attorneys to learn how we can help you fight for the fair recovery you are owed.

Fault & Damages in Your Car Accident Claim

After a car accident, you are likely to experience certain financial and non-financial losses, such as medical expenses, lost wages from time taken off work, and pain and suffering. These are known as “damages.” Because Pennsylvania is a “choice” no-fault state, you may be able to recover compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance provider or your own insurance company if you have selected “limited tort” coverage. If you do have no-fault coverage, you are entitled to receive compensation for your damages through your own personal injury protection (PIP) coverage, regardless of who was at fault for the crash.

If, however, you have opted out of no-fault coverage, you will need to prove that someone else was at least partially at fault for the accident. Pennsylvania’s rule of modified comparative negligence makes it so that you have to prove the other person was more at fault than you, meaning you do not share more than 50% of the blame for the accident.

If you are seeking compensation outside of the no-fault system and you are found to be partially at fault for the accident, your total recovery will be reduced according to your at-fault percentage. For example, if you are found to be 30% to blame, your recovery will be reduced by 30% of the total amount you would have otherwise received if you were not at fault.

Additionally, if you have limited tort coverage (which is how Pennsylvania refers to no-fault coverage), you will be required to prove that your injuries are “serious” (according to the state’s definition, which usually involves significant impairment or permanent and serious disfigurement) in order to recover compensation for non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering.

How an Attorney Can Help

Filing a car accident claim in Pennsylvania can be a complicated, confusing process. When you’re already dealing with serious injuries and other losses, taking legal action can be the last thing on your mind. But with our legal team on your side, you can rest assured that we will handle the details of your case so you can focus on healing.

For nearly 40 years, Knafo Law Offices has been aggressively representing the rights of injured Pennsylvanians. At our Bethlehem office, our car accident attorneys have earned numerous awards and accolades for their commitment to the highest ethical standards and their impressive record of success. We offer our clients a high level of trust and service and are ready to assist you at any time of day or night.

Call (610) 756-1098 or contact us online today to get started with a complimentary case evaluation.