Pittsburgh Passengers In A Car Accident Lawyers
Pennsylvania Personal Injury Lawyers Fight For Your Rights After An Accident
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, millions of passenger vehicle occupants are injured in accidents every year. Many motor vehicle accidents are fatal as well, with an estimated 30,000 people losing their lives in traffic accidents of different kinds every year. If you or a loved one was involved in a vehicle accident as a passenger, you may have grounds for seeking compensation for your losses and damages. Contact our skilled Pittsburgh lawyers for passengers in a car accident at Goodrich & Geist, P.C. to learn more.
Pittsburgh Lawyers For Passengers In A Car Accident Can Help You Understand Your Rights And Evaluate Your Losses
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has found that more passenger vehicle occupants are killed in motor vehicle accidents than occupants of any other type of vehicle involved in a crash. Passenger vehicles include cars, pickups, SUVs, and minivans. These vehicles tend to provide less protection than larger vehicles such as trucks and big rigs. Studies have found that, in fatal accidents involving trucks, passenger vehicle occupants are disproportionately affected.
There are many ways you can be hurt as a passenger in an accident, and accidents can be caused in several ways. Consider the following categories of motor vehicle accidents:
- Rollovers
- Frontal and rear-end collisions
- Undercarriage/underride accidents
- Intersection accidents
- Blindspot accidents
- Wrong-way collisions
- Speeding, reckless, and distracted driving accidents
- Accidents caused by driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Drowsy or fatigued driving accidents
For each of these accident types, passengers can suffer a wide range of injuries and damages, such as:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal Cord Injuries (SCIs)
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
- Facial injuries
- Broken bones
- Cuts, lacerations, and bruises
- Amputation or loss of a body part
- Paralysis or loss of a bodily function
- Head, neck, back, or nerve damage
- Wrongful death
The long-term treatment costs for these injuries can be substantial, and it is not uncommon for accident injuries to cost tens of thousands of dollars to treat. These costs are in addition to other losses you may suffer, such as:
- Lost income
- Lost ability to work
- Mental, emotional, or psychological trauma
- Property damage
- Vehicle damage
- Burial/funeral costs
- Loss of companionship/consortium of a loved one
The Pittsburgh lawyers for passengers in a car accident at Goodrich & Geist, P.C. can help you quantify your losses so that you can file an insurance claim or a lawsuit to recover whatever compensation the law entitles you to. We have extensive experience handling personal injury cases and auto accidents of every type. Before quantifying your losses, however, you must determine the cause of your accident.
Pittsburgh Lawyers For Passengers In A Car Accident Can Investigate Your Accident
You must understand the cause or causes of the accident in question before you file a claim or lawsuit. The first step is identifying the at-fault party whose actions led to the accident and gathering evidence to substantiate your claims.
Passenger vehicle accidents are often caused by:
- Driver errors: These include speeding, drowsy driving, reckless driving, a lack of expPittsburghnce, a lack of proper licensing, intoxicated driving, and distracted driving.
- Vehicle issues: Road damage, poor lighting, and slippery surfaces can lead to an accident.
- Other issues: Traffic control device malfunctions and the actions of other drivers can also lead to an accident and injuries to passengers in your vehicle, as can narrow roadways and poor road design.
Pittsburgh Lawyers For Passengers In A Car Accident Will Gather Evidence To Support Your Claim
The Pittsburgh lawyers for passengers in a car accident with Goodrich & Geist, P.C. can help you file a claim by obtaining evidence of the cause of your accident and your associated losses using:
- The official police report of your accident
- Medical treatment reports that can prove the extent of your injuries
- Eyewitness statements that corroborate your version of how the accident occurred
- Vehicle repair bills to prove vehicle and/or property damage
- Proof of lost wages or salary to prove lost income
Contact The Pittsburgh Lawyers For Passengers In A Car Accident With Goodrich & Geist, P.C. Today
Our team of experienced and compassionate attorneys is just a call away. We are here to help you navigate the complexities of passenger vehicle accident law and we will help you gather evidence, quantify your losses, and file a claim or lawsuit for the compensation you deserve. Contact us for a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Passenger Car Accident Cases
Yes. Pennsylvania is a no-fault state, and you must seek compensation for accident-related losses from your insurer. You can only sue for damages if your injuries meet a minimum threshold, and certain losses such as pain and suffering may entitle you to compensation via a lawsuit as well. An attorney can walk you through the specifics of these laws as they apply to your case.
Remember that claims and lawsuits are different. You must comply with your insurer’s filing schedule when filing a claim with your insurer. In most cases, you have 30 days after an accident within which to file a claim with your insurer. A lawsuit must be filed within the statutes of limitations that apply to your case. In Pennsylvania, for car accident cases, the statutes of limitations are two years from when the accident in question occurred.
Yes, but only if you have an uninsured/underinsured motorist policy. Basic coverage, bodily injury liability, medical coverage, and property damage coverage are required by Pennsylvania law, but uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is optional. If you have such a policy, it can be used to cover some of your losses from an accident involving an uninsured, underinsured, or hit-and-run motorist.
