Penn Hills Car Accident Lawyers

To you, your car accident is a once-in-a-lifetime event that will likely define your entire year, if not your entire decade. But car accidents are an incredibly common occurrence on Pennsylvania roads, happening at a rate of about 12 per hour.

If your accident has left you with property damage and injuries, you may be worried about the financial side of it. Let us help. The team at Caroselli, Beachler & Coleman is here to help you understand your legal options, create a plan for your injury claim, and get started. Call us at 866-565-4949 to set up a consultation.

Car Crashes in Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation releases a book of crash stats and statistics every year to help legislators understand worrying trends and help drivers make safe choices regarding their driving habits. There were 286 new crashes per day on average in 2020, with nearly 170 of those resulting in injuries. Of the over 100,000 accidents that occur in Pennsylvania every year, over 1,000 are fatal.

2020 saw an unusual trend. Overall crashes were considerably lower than in previous years, likely due to the COVID-19 pandemic that had many people working from home. Although total crashes were down, fatalities were up. Furthermore, motorcycle fatalities, bicyclist fatalities, and alcohol-related fatalities were all higher than in previous years.

While crashes may be the result of vehicle malfunctions or unsafe roads, they are almost always due to human error. Per the Pennsylvania DOT, some of the most common causes of collisions include:

• Speeding
• Driving while impaired
• Turning unsafely
• Unsafe passing
• Driving while distracted
• Failure to check for obstacles
• Driving while fatigued
• Following too closely

Know the Role of Your Car Insurance

Car insurance laws vary from state to state, and as a Pennsylvania driver, you should know that the state does require personal injury protection coverage. Since Pennsylvania is a no-fault state, drivers must have some coverage that pays for their injuries and lost wages after a crash—no matter who caused the accident. However, state insurance requirements are incredibly low, and those who carry minimum coverage are likely to hit the limits fairly early after a serious crash.

When purchasing insurance, drivers do have the option of either limited tort coverage or full tort coverage. Limited tort coverage does not typically allow you to recover expenses for pain and suffering or other types of losses. Full tort coverage does allow you to sue for pain and suffering. Limited tort insurance is less expensive but involves giving up your right to seek compensation for pain and suffering.

Protecting Yourself After a Crash

Taking care of just a few simple tasks after a Penn Hills car accident can help you protect your health and your right to a personal injury claim. After a collision, make time to:

• Report the accident. Call the Penn Hills Police Department to report the crash. If it is a serious accident, call emergency services. Report any immediately identifiable injuries so they know if they need to send an ambulance.
• Follow emergency services’ instructions. This may involve moving your vehicle to avoid causing additional crashes.
• Talk to the police. The police report will contain information provided by both drivers and the police officers’ observations. If you don’t talk to them, the other driver gets to control the narrative.
• Gather evidence and eyewitness information. Photos of the crash scene, video footage of the crash scene, and eyewitness testimony contact information can all be very helpful to your attorney if you decide to pursue a personal injury claim. Take a few minutes to get these photos immediately—crash scenes are cleaned up very quickly, and there will be little evidence left if you try to go back later.
• Get the other driver’s contact and insurance information. This is necessary for your insurance company and your attorney. If the other driver is belligerent, exchange information via the police officer.
• Seek medical attention. Go to a local facility like West Penn Hospital, UPMC Presbyterian, or MedExpress Urgent Care to get checked out by a physician. Keep copies of any paperwork or bills you receive.
• Talk to a Penn Hills car accident attorney. Your next call should a personal injury lawyer. You want to find out if you are entitled to compensation and what your next steps should be.

Fighting for the Compensation You Deserve

If you file a personal injury claim, be ready for a challenge. Insurance companies do not make it easy for accident victims to get the compensation they deserve. With the right evidence and an aggressive attorney, you may receive money for:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering

Remember that the amount of compensation you may be able to collect is partially dependent on what type of insurance coverage you have, so talk to an attorney right away.

How Caroselli, Beachler & Coleman Can Help

At Caroselli, Beachler & Coleman, we are committed to helping car accident victims get the fair compensation they deserve after a crash. We know that an auto collision can leave you traumatized, out of work, and with no way to pay your resulting medical bills. We also know how car insurance companies use these moments to pad their bottom lines instead of doing what is right for victims.

We refuse to let insurance companies take advantage of our clients. With thorough investigations of crashes, in-depth evidence analysis, and careful case building, we set our clients up for success.

By the time we enter negotiations with the car insurance company, we are confident that we have what we need to secure the settlement you deserve. Although most cases are settled out of court, should yours go to trial, we are ready to represent you there. No matter what, you can feel safe knowing your case is in good hands.

Contact Us Today to Start Your Claim

Let’s sit down and talk more about your accident and what comes next. Schedule your consultation right now by calling us at 866-565-4949 or sending us a message online.