When you get behind the wheel of a vehicle, the last thing anyone should worry about is the possibility of being involved in an accident. However, these incidents do occur frequently, and it may be necessary for an injury victim to prove the other party’s liability in order to secure compensation, especially if the injured party does not have car insurance. In these situations, having a car accident attorney in Philadelphia,PA will be vital to understanding the Pennsylvania statutes concerning car accidents and to help properly approach these cases.
Pennsylvania is one of the few states that uses a type of the “no-fault” system when involving car accidents. This would mean that drivers will rely on their own insurance carrier for coverage of their medical bills and lost wages, despite which driver causes the accident.
However, the system in the Commonwealth is more complex than the majority of other no-fault methods, which is from the state being considered a “choice no-fault” region. There are two choices to choose from, limited tort or full tort, when drivers apply for insurance in Pennsylvania.
From choosing the limited tort system, a driver is not generally able to file a lawsuit to secure compensation from the party at fault for the crash. They would instead rely on their personal insurance carrier for medical expenses and lost income, whilst not receiving any compensation for emotional pain and suffering damages.
There are a few exceptions that would allow the victim of the car accident to file a claim against the driver at fault. Commonly, a lawsuit can be filed from a driver with limited tort if they sustain a significant loss of any bodily functions or disfigurement. However, if an uninsured driver is struck by someone who uses no-fault insurance, they may not be able to recover any compensation.
Full-tort means that a driver has decided on the traditional method of fault-based coverage for car accidents. If an uninsured driver is struck by someone with full-tort coverage, they could file a claim against the at-fault driver to cover their medical bills and lost wages. The injury victim can also recover compensation for pain and suffering damages.
Car accidents have had a significant impact on the Commonwealth according to the data provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. With the most recent reporting data, there has been the following:
If the negligent actions of another driver in a car accident have resulted in an injury to you or somebody you care about, seek an attorney as soon as possible. At the Dan Doyle Law Group, our team of knowledgeable and experienced Philadelphia car accident attorneys are prepared to work on your behalf and recover the maximum compensation you are entitled to, which may include the following:
If you need a Philadelphia car accident attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation of your case by clicking here or by calling us at 215-987-3730.