Why It’s Important to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer After a Crash

 

If you’ve suffered injuries and property damage in a car accident, you are due compensation from the insurance company. Chances are an insurance adjuster will contact you early on to offer you a settlement.

 

Don’t take it. First, insurance companies are known to make low-ball initial settlement offers to car crash survivors, who are distracted by the disruption to their lives, perhaps in pain and frustrated, and less able to make significant decisions like deciding how much compensation is enough for what they have suffered.

 

Second, you don’t know how much compensation you are due. Factors that affect a car accident settlement include the degree you were at fault for the accident, the amount of property damage you suffered, and severity and long-lasting impact of any injuries on you, your ability to work, and your family.

 

An experienced car accident lawyer works with experts to make these calculations and deals with the insurance company for you to make sure you get fair compensation for your injuries.

 

Why Choose the Chong Law Firm?

 

We Care About Our Clients 

When you work with the Chong Law Firm you can rest assured that your car accident case is in good hands. We keep you apprised of your case every step of the way and return phone calls and emails promptly. You never have to worry.

 

Free Consultations Offered

Come in and talk with our car accident lawyers about your case, free of charge! Meet us, find out how much your case is worth, and decide for yourself.

 

Damages Available After a Car Accident 

 

Compensation, called “damages” in a court case, takes various forms in Pennsylvania, and you may be due some or all of these types of damages from a car accident.

 

Economic Damages

Economic damages include property damage, medical bills, and lost wages, and can also include future medical costs and compensation for injuries affecting your ability to continue to do your job.

 

Non-Economic Damages

Non-Economic damages are more difficult to assess. They include emotional distress and pain and suffering. They may also include compensation for your family if your injuries affect your home life.

 

Punitive Damages

If someone’s conduct was particularly reckless or intentional, the court may choose to impose punitive damages intended to punish them and to deter others from engaging in that conduct. Punitive damages are usually a multiple of other damages awarded.

 

Common Causes of Auto Accidents

 

Lansdale has all types of roads, from major highways to narrow historic one-way alleys. Unfortunately, car accidents are common in Lansdale. Here are the most common causes of car accidents:

 

Distracted Driving 

Talking on the phone, texting, eating, or smoking while driving is generally considered to be the most common cause of car accidents.

 

Drunk Driving

Drinking alcohol impairs a driver’s ability to respond to road conditions and is also a frequent cause of car accidents in PA.

 

Reckless Driving 

Tailgating, speeding, unsafe merging, passing on the right, and unsignaled lane changes are a few of the acts of aggressive or reckless driving that cause car accidents.

 

What are Common Types of Car Accidents?

 

Single-vehicle accidents occur when a driver is distracted or fails to drive safely under challenging road conditions, including weather and traffic. Two-vehicle accidents are common when one driver rear-ends or side-swipes another. Multiple-vehicle accidents occur when other drivers cannot or do not avoid an accident they approach.

What to Do After Being Involved in a Car Accident

 

Take these steps to comply with the law, ensure your safety, and preserve your rights in a car accident.

 

Stay at the Scene

In Pennsylvania, it is illegal to leave the scene of a car accident. Remain at the scene and in your vehicle, if it is safe to do so.

 

Call the Police

Call 911. Dispatch will send the police and emergency medical services. The police will generate a police report of what they observe and EMS will be available for those who need immediate medical attention.

 

Document the Scene of the Car Accident

If you are able, use your phone to take pictures of all of the vehicles involved in the accident, your vehicle, other drivers, and the road and weather conditions. Get the other driver’s name, contact and insurance information as well as the names and cell phone numbers of bystanders.

 

Seek Medical Attention

Even if you do not feel you have been seriously hurt, get checked out. Many car accident injuries, such as head and neck trauma, only manifest later.

 

Contact an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer Immediately 

Once you have gotten the medical attention you need, call a car accident lawyer to discuss your case.

 

Compensation for Car Accident Victims in Lansdale, PA

 

The compensation you are due after a car accident depends upon several factors, including your degree of fault in causing the accident, the amount of property damage you suffered, and the severity of your injuries.

 

Our Lawyers Will Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Car Accident Injuries

We work with medical and forensic experts to ensure that we accurately calculate the compensation you deserve, and we use that evidence to negotiate a settlement with the insurance company. If the insurance company refuses to settle, we use this evidence to fight them in court and get you what you deserve.

 

Let Our Lawyers Help – Call Today to Find Out How Much Your Case is Worth

 

Call the Lansdale car accident lawyers at The Chong Law Firm to discuss your case in a free, no-obligation consultation. Call us today!

 

Frequently Asked Questions about Car Accidents

 

What is the Statute of Limitations for Car Accidents in Pennsylvania?

You have two (2) years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit for a car accident in PA.

 

Who is Generally Responsible for My Car Accident and Injuries?

It depends what type of car insurance you have and the circumstances of the accident. Pennsylvania is a “choice” state in that you can choose to have no-fault or fault car insurance. If you choose to purchase no-fault coverage, you must turn first to your own insurer to get compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other out-of-pocket losses after a crash regardless of who was at fault for causing the accident. A lawsuit against the at-fault driver is only possible in certain scenarios.

 

If you have no-fault insurance and have suffered injuries in a car accident, talk with an experienced car accident lawyer before accepting a settlement from your insurance company. You may be entitled to more than they are offering.

 

What if I was Involved in an Accident with an Uninsured Motorist?

If the driver who hit you is uninsured, you can rely on your no-fault policy to cover some of your medical care after an accident and you also have the option of filing a personal injury lawsuit against that driver.

 

What If the Uninsured Motorist was at Fault?

Your insurance policy should pay some of your expenses, but you should talk with an experienced car accident lawyer about filing a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver to be fully compensated.

 

How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?

It should cost you nothing upfront to work with a car accident lawyer. Typically, car accident lawyers work on contingency, meaning, they do not get paid unless and until you do. Call The Chong Law Firm to discuss your car accident case, free of charge, and find out how fees and costs work in a car accident case.

 

How Much is My Car Accident Case Worth? 

It depends upon the severity of the accident and your injuries.

 

You may be entitled to compensation for property damage, your medical bills, future medical treatment, lost wages, and loss of the ability to do your current job, if applicable. Your and your family may also be entitled to compensation for the emotional impact of your injuries. Last, you may be entitled to punitive damages, multiplying your compensation, if the party at fault acted recklessly or intentionally in causing the accident.

 

Talk with an experienced car accident lawyer in your jurisdiction to find out what your case is worth.

 

Can I Recover Compensation if I Share Some of the Blame for the Accident? 

Yes. Pennsylvania is a comparative fault state, which means you can recover damages as long as you were 50% or less at fault for causing the accident. Your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault, and because of this, degree of fault is a highly-litigated factor in car accident cases. Call an experienced car accident attorney to make sure you are getting every penny of the compensation you deserve, and no less.

 

Contact Our Lansdale Car Accident Attorneys Today for a Free Case Review

 

Car accident injuries can be serious, having a lasting impact on you, your ability to work, and your family relationships. Don’t take the insurance company’s initial low-ball settlement offer. Come in and talk with the car accident lawyers at The Chong Law Firm and find out what your potential case is really worth – free of charge!