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Been in a car accident in Pennsylvania?
Managing insurance claims following a car accident creates a stressful experience for most people. The combination of paperwork, phone calls, and legal language will likely make you feel overwhelmed and angry.
Here’s the thing…
Insurance companies aren’t your friends. They’re businesses trying to minimize their payouts. That’s where a skilled Pennsylvania car accident lawyer comes in – they level the playing field and fight for what you deserve.
This article will guide you through the exact ways a car accident attorney assists you with Pennsylvania’s intricate insurance claim procedures.
What You’ll Discover:
- Understanding Pennsylvania’s Insurance Laws
- When to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer
- How Lawyers Deal with Insurance Companies
- Maximizing Your Compensation
- Common Insurance Company Tactics to Watch Out For
Understanding Pennsylvania’s Insurance Laws
The auto insurance regulations in Pennsylvania differ from other states and may cause confusion. Pennsylvania operates under a “choice no-fault” system allowing drivers to select either no-fault insurance or traditional tort liability insurance options.
What does this mean for you?
Under no-fault insurance coverage your insurer will cover your medical costs no matter who was responsible for the accident. Your ability to file a lawsuit for pain and suffering remains restricted unless your injuries surpass specific severity limits.
Choosing the full tort option allows you to seek compensation from the at-fault driver for all damages including pain and suffering.
Pennsylvania experiences a staggering 115,938 car accidents per year which translates to about 318 accidents each day based on current statistics. The state experiences approximately twelve crashes each hour which requires the insurance system to continuously handle claim submissions.
The intricacy of these situations makes it essential to employ the services of a car accident lawyer.
When to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer
Some fender benders don’t need lawyers yet many situations require legal representation. You need to talk to a Pennsylvania car accident lawyer when your situation involves serious injuries or fatalities.
- Your injuries are serious or long-term
- The accident resulted in fatalities
- Fault is disputed
- Multiple parties are involved
- You should consider hiring a lawyer because the insurance company has presented you with a low settlement offer.
- Your claim has been denied
Here’s something many people don’t realize…
The point in time when you engage a lawyer has important implications. You should have legal representation before giving any recorded statements to insurance companies. Why? Insurance companies will use your statements against you to lower the value of your claim.
Due to Pennsylvania’s high annual rate of more than 1,100 deaths and tens of thousands of injuries from car accidents, insurance companies have developed effective methods to minimize their financial commitments.
How Lawyers Deal with Insurance Companies
A Pennsylvania car accident attorney will become your main point of contact with insurance companies after you hire them. Insurance adjusters undergo training to make you express statements that could damage your claim.
Here’s what a good lawyer will do:
- A legal professional will draft an official letter to detail your damages to the insurance company.
- A competent attorney pulls together all relevant evidence needed to strengthen your legal claim.
- Handle all paperwork and meet deadlines
- Negotiate aggressively for a fair settlement
- A lawyer will ready your case for trial when settlement negotiations fail to produce fair results.
Consider this…
Insurance companies employ legal teams to defend their interests. Wouldn’t it make sense to have someone who fights with equal intensity to protect your interests?
Pennsylvania recorded approximately 15.5 million healthcare claims in 2023 of which about 13.8% were denied. Legal representation helps to lower the risk of your claim being denied.
Maximizing Your Compensation
Many individuals injured in car accidents are unaware of the complete range of compensation they have a right to claim. A proficient car accident attorney understands the specific damages that should be claimed.
The following are compensation types you may be eligible to receive:
- Medical expenses (current and future)
- Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
But here’s the catch…
It is essential to learn proper documentation methods to demonstrate each type of damage. Every year in the United States approximately 4.6 million injuries from motor vehicle accidents require medical consultation. Proper documentation of each injury must be completed to guarantee fair compensation.
Common Insurance Company Tactics to Watch Out For
Do you believe insurance companies want to pay you what you deserve?
Think again.
Insurance companies are for-profit businesses with one main goal: maximizing profits by minimizing payouts. Here are some common tactics they use:
- They understand that the longer their claims process takes you will become more desperate.
- The tactic of asking for extra paperwork serves to exhaust you while searching for discrepancies.
- Insurance companies might assert that your injuries predated the accident.
- They pressure you to accept a quick low settlement without allowing you time to understand all your damages.
- Insurance companies track your online activity to find posts that dispute your injury claims.
A skilled Pennsylvania car accident attorney has previous experience with these methods and understands how to effectively counter them.
How the Claims Process Works with a Lawyer
Having a car accident lawyer on your side makes the handling of insurance claims much easier. Here’s what you can expect:
- Initial consultation: Free consultations from car accident lawyers allow you to assess your case before proceeding.
- Investigation phase: Your legal representative will obtain evidence through police reports and witness accounts as well as medical documentation and additional sources.
- Documentation of damages: Your attorney will collect every piece of evidence to document your injuries and losses.
- Negotiation: Your attorney will work with the insurance company to secure a reasonable settlement.
- Settlement or trial: Should negotiations fail to produce an acceptable settlement your lawyer will begin trial preparations.
What many people don’t understand…
Distinct stages throughout this process present risks which can greatly affect your final compensation. A competent Pennsylvania car accident lawyer can turn your denied claim into a substantial settlement by guiding you through these steps.
Choosing the Right Car Accident Lawyer
Not all attorneys are created equal. These factors will guide you in selecting the right Pennsylvania car accident lawyer.
- Choose a legal professional who focuses specifically on car accident claims.
- Ask them to provide details about their previous settlements and trial outcomes to evaluate their success history.
- What feedback have previous clients given about their experience with this attorney?
- Car accident lawyers typically use a contingency fee structure which means payment is only required when you receive a favorable outcome.
Final Road Map
These are the immediate steps you should take after experiencing a car accident in Pennsylvania:
- Visit a healthcare professional since certain injuries may appear after an accident even though you feel okay.
- Document your entire experience from the accident by photographing the scene and acquiring witness details and keeping every record.
- Inform your insurance provider about the accident but make sure your report stays concise and factual.
- Seek advice from a car accident attorney since they frequently provide free first-time consultations.
- You should avoid agreeing to any settlement offers before your lawyer reviews them.
Your choices following the accident play a crucial role in determining the amount of compensation you’ll receive. The correct legal advice helps you successfully navigate insurance claims so you can prioritize your recovery.
