Each case is different and the amount of compensation you will receive depends on your unique circumstances. Some factors that will be used to determine the value of your case include the following:
What are Your Injuries?
What was your treatment and how long did you require treatment?
What are your Economic Damages?
What Insurance is Available?
In some cases, the value of an auto accident victims claim may be limited due to insufficient insurance available to cover your claim. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania only requires drivers to have liability insurance in the amount of $15,000 per person / $30,000 per accident. And a staggering number of Pennsylvania drivers are completely uninsured. This means that if you are seriously injured by a negligent driver, they may not have enough insurance to compensate you for your injuries.
It is important to know that you can protect yourself in the event you are injured an auto accident by purchasing Uninsured Motorist/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) Coverage. This insurance will pay for losses such as pain and suffering, medical bills and lost wages if the other driver has no insurance or is underinsured. Attorney Wieand recommends that all drivers carry at least 100,000/300,000 in UM/UIM coverage.
An experienced car accident lawyer in Philadelphia can offer guidance on the value of your claim; however, no lawyer has a Magic 8 ball or can tell you the exact amount you claim is worth. You should be skeptical of any lawyer who tells you otherwise.
Motor vehicle accidents can be a traumatic, life changing experience. If your life was turned upside by down by a negligent driver you deserve justice. This means holding the injured driver accountable for the damages he/she caused.
To recover compensation for injuries sustained in a car wreck, you will need to establish that the defendant acted negligently.
There are four elements to proving a personal injury case. To meet the first element you must show that the other driver owed you a duty of care. In the context of a motor vehicle collision, a driver owes other drivers and pedestrians a duty to operate their vehicle reasonably and safely. The second element of negligence requires you to show that the defendant breached the duty of care. This is usually done by proving the defendant violated the “rules of the road.” For example the defendant could have been speeding, ran a stop sign or committed some other traffic violation.
Third, you will need to show that your injuries or damages were directly caused by the accident. If you prove the first three elements, you are entitled to be compensated for your damages which is the fourth element. Damages include losses such as physical “pain and suffering” and mental distress, which are known as non-economic damages, and economic damages including medical bills, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, and long term medical care.
With limited exception, the Pennsylvania Statute of Limitations for personal injury claims is 2 years from the date of incident. This means that if you don’t settle your case or file a lawsuit within 2 years of your accident you will be precluded from filing a suit. Thus, you should contact a lawyer as soon as possible to protect your legal rights.
If you or someone you love has been harmed in a motor vehicle accident, or has suffered damages as the result of a car wreck in the Pennsylvania area, Brent Wieand can help you seek the compensation that you deserve. Brent offers a free consultation and he does not recover any fees unless he obtains a settlement or a judgment in your favor. To discuss your car accident injury claim call 1 (215) 666-7777 or contact Brent through the online contact form.
*Disclosure: This article is not legal advice and you should consult with an auto accident lawyer concerning your individual facts and circumstances following an accident.
