The following are only a few among the many cases of motor vehicle accidents occurring along busy streets like those in Philadelphia. Most of these life-changing incidents leave the individual victims dazed or unclear on the next step to take. A Philadelphia motor vehicle accident lawyer can show the way and explain some critical things to you about how the process of the law works.
Why you need a vehicle accident lawyer in Philadelphia?
The headache and heartache of an accident-with physical and emotional pain combined with insurance companies, medical bills, and lost wages-only serve to add insult to injury. Again, that would add so much more stress to an already overwhelming situation, which is not really needed. This problem will be taken off your shoulder as learned lawyers will be by your side. Hence, a Philadelphia motor vehicle accident lawyer would be able to lead you through the local laws, show you the way to reach the insurance company, and even negotiate the compensation due to you.
However, most of their worst life mistakes are made through attempts to handle the claim themselves, hence ending up with low settlements or even denial of compensation. In fact, too often an insurance firm will be out in search of your profit and loss rather than your recovery and hence try to cut down on the payout.
Common Causes of Motor Vehicle Accidents in Philadelphia
There can be a variety of reasons that motor vehicle accidents occur. Being aware of some of the more common ones may illustrate how to prevent them and maybe also give your insight as to how an attorney might assist you as well.
Distracted Driving
I would say that amongst leading causes, here in Philadelphia, it is distracted driving. This can take the least on the driver’s part and veer off the road and into an accident-whether this be from texting, eating, or trying to handle a GPS. Should you be involved in one where the other driver was at fault due to his or her distraction, then your attorney may then focus on gathering every important evidence in case of proving his or her negligence.
Speeding
Operating a vehicle at this phenomenal speed is dangerous, but most seriously, the complication involved in this act is the fact that when an accident does occur, one is much more liable to be seriously injured. This is because most of the time; while trying to avoid the accident, one cannot stop the car in time.
Driving Under the Influence
Accidents are also among the leading causes brought by substance use, such as alcohol and drugs, which impairs judgment and reaction times. Victims of such accidents from DUI often sustain serious injuries. A lawyer will be able to help you seek compensation, not only from the driver’s insurance but also possibly punitive damages.
Poor Road Conditions
Other road conditions such as potholes, construction, and poor signage make travel in Philadelphia hazardous. An attorney would want to investigate the possibility of liability on the part of the city or another party in any accident which may occur due to dangerous road conditions.
Weather Conditions
When the road might be icy, or it is raining so heavy and foggy. One may not do anything about the weather; however, from the drivers are the ones expected to drive according to the conditions of the road. A lawyer may research whether the other driver has failed in his duty to use due care while driving under bad weather and is thus liable for the accident.
What to Do If You Are Involved in a Motor Vehicle Accident
Knowing what your next step should be right after an accident will go a long way in determining how successful your claim may turn out. Herein lies what you are to do:
Look for Injuries
First, you need to assess yourself and others involved to see if anyone is injured in any way. If the injuries are grave, then call 911 immediately.
Move to Safety
If possible and your accident is minor, if safe to do so, move your vehicle to a safe place off the road. This may save you from other secondary accidents and keep you safe while waiting for services.
Call the Police
After an accident has occurred, no matter how slight the damages, do call the police and fill out a copy report. These can come in handy as evidence for your case.
Take Pictures of the Scene
Take photos of the damage to both vehicles and to the road condition if it’s possible. If there were any onlookers who witnessed the accident, get his/her name and any other contact information also.
See A Doctor
That is what you should do, well and good, even if you don’t feel hurt following an accident. In any case, there is a certain kind of injury that you may fail to feel right away, for example, whiplash, or even interior ones. This will also create a medical report which may be used in proving your case.
Contact a Lawyer Today
The sooner you seek out a Philadelphia motor vehicle accident lawyer, the better. At such time, the attorney may advise on certain do’s and don’ts which may compromise one’s potential claim.
Types of Compensation Available after an Accident
This will mean that once an accident occurs with a car, the involved person will be entitled to various compensations to be expected to deal with all these.
Medical Expenses
All these vary from emergency treatment to continued medical treatment, surgeries, rehabilitative expenses, and medicine expenses.
Lost Wages
If the nature of your injury prohibits one from attending to work, then one is entitled to recovery of lost wages. The worse the injury, one can recover compensation for future lost earnings.
Suffering and Pain
These are damages recovered for pain and suffering caused by such an accident. This normally will include chronic pain, depression, anxiety, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Property Damage
You may be entitled to receive damages for your vehicle and other personal property damaged during your accident.
Punitive Damages
It can also provide punitive damages if it was egregious negligence, such as driving drunk. Damages like these serve to punish the liable party and hopefully dissuade the same negligence from occurring in the future by that party.
How a Lawyer Can Help You Prove Liability
One big job that a car accident attorney in Philadelphia can do is establish liability on the other party. For this, they will assemble evidence such as:
Police Reports
The police report will be the prime evidence of liability, though.
Witness Statements
In any accident, whether there had been any witnesses, their statements might go a long way towards proving your claim.
Expert Testimony
Of course, this may require professional testimony in some instances to prove; it can be anything from accident reconstructionist to medical experts.
Security Camera Footage
In other parts of Philadelphia, this accident would squarely fall into a camera view-either traffic cameras or those of surrounding businesses. That alone can make all the difference an attorney needs in attempting to establish liability against the other driver. How Insurance Companies Work: The carriers are not your friend. They would want to close the claim as quickly as possible, for the minimum dollar amount they could make them for. That would mean trying to push an early settlement out of you, perhaps with threats to compel a minuscule claim for money or perhaps dismiss your claim altogether. He would handle the contact with the insurance company so that you do not inadvertently get caught saying something that could be used against you.
It is your lawyer who can best confirm whether any offer of settlement will in fact cover all your expenses both present and future. If the insurance company does not make proper settlement, your attorney may take your case before the court.
How to Choose the Right Lawyer
This means that all attorneys are equal, and you would want to know your rights, which the Philadelphia car accident lawyer whom you hire can take up a case just like yours. What this means in other words is that you would want an attorney in such a position whereby he may represent you through the following:
- Practice in motor vehicle accidents
- Have proved results in court
- Free consultation
- Contingent fees-meaning they take no money unless they win your case
That means being able to ask questions and be updated about where your case currently stands.
Final Words
While this may be so, a car accident does not require you to go all out in making much sense of all your rights and building evidence to fight on your behalf for compensation, as far as changing one’s life upside down is concerned. A Philadelphia motor vehicle accident lawyer leaves nothing to chance but makes as much sense of your rights and builds evidence to fight on your behalf for compensation. Agreed, it would have been great if it were acted upon right now that may have placed you in a better position to focus on your recovery while the technical handling is being done by an efficient lawyer.
Above all, perhaps it’s just the confidence of going forward, knowing your case is in capable hands. Or maybe knowing what to do immediately after a motor vehicle accident will take that first very important step in assuring compensation for your injuries and losses.