Areas Served
If you’re in a motor vehicle accident in Crabtree, Pennsylvania, it’s crucial to understand what your options are for recovering compensation for your injuries. After a minor accident, an auto insurance claim may be enough to cover your expenses. But if you’re in a more severe accident, you may also need to file a personal injury lawsuit.
Contact Stine & Associates, P.C. for a free consultation with an experienced car accident attorney serving Crabtree and Westmoreland County. Attorney Cindy Stine will review your case, explain your legal options for seeking compensation, and answer any questions you have about the insurance claim or injury lawsuit process.
Common Types and Causes of Car Accidents in Crabtree and Westmoreland County
The most common types of car accidents experienced in Westmoreland County include:
- Head-on collisions
- Rear-end collisions
- Sideswipe accidents
- T-bone collisions
- Left-turn accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
These accidents can occur for a wide variety of reasons. However, the most common causes of car accidents in Pennsylvania are:
- Drivers are distracted by their phones, other items, or passengers in their vehicles
- Poor road conditions, including potholes and adverse weather like rain and ice
- Any drivers who are drowsy or fatigued
- Drivers who speed, swerve in and out of traffic, and engage in other dangerous behaviors
- Vehicle malfunctions, such as tire blowouts, brake failures, or suspension issues
- Drivers who are under the influence of alcohol or other controlled substances
Common Injuries Suffered in Crabtree, PA Car Accidents
The injuries suffered by car accident victims can range from mild to severe, with more severe injuries typically requiring lengthier and costlier treatments. Some of the most common injuries are:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries – TBIs occur when the brain strikes the inside of the skull during a collision and may result in permanent physical and cognitive impairment.
- Spinal Cord Injuries – Collisions can cause the spinal discs to slip and pinch or sever the spinal cord, leading to paralysis.
- Soft Tissue Injuries – Pulled, strained, and torn ligaments, muscles, and tendons can lead to chronic pain. Whiplash is one of the most common soft tissue injuries experienced in car accidents.
- Broken Bones – The forces experienced in a car wreck can easily fracture and break bones, especially in the wrists and ribs.
- Lacerations – Broken glass and other sharp debris can cause deep cuts that require stitches.
- Internal Injuries – The force of the impact can lead to life-threatening internal injuries that require immediate treatment after the accident.
If you suffered an injury in a car accident, it’s crucial that you not only seek immediate medical treatment but also ongoing medical treatment. Following up with your treatment will benefit your health and your case.
How Pennsylvania’s No-Fault Auto Insurance Works
Pennsylvania is a no-fault auto insurance state. That means you file your claim with your own insurance provider regardless of who’s at fault for an accident. Your auto insurance’s personal injury protection policy will generally cover your medical expenses, and you can pay extra for other types of coverage.
If your insurance doesn’t cover all your expenses, you may need to file a personal injury lawsuit against the party responsible for the accident.
Who Could Be Liable for Car Crash Injuries in Crabtree, PA?
Many different parties could be liable or partly liable for your injuries after a car crash. Some of the parties most frequently liable for injuries include:
- Other Motorists – Most car accidents are caused by other motorists’ negligent actions, such as distracted driving or speeding.
- Motorist Employers – If another driver causes an accident while the driver is working, the employer may be liable.
- Vehicle Manufacturers – The manufacturer could be liable if a vehicle defect contributed to the accident or the severity of your injuries.
- Maintenance Providers – If poor vehicle maintenance, such as a poorly fitted tire, contributed to the accident, the maintenance provider could be liable.
- Government Entities – If poor road conditions, such as potholes or missing traffic signs, contributed to the accident, the government could be liable. However, additional rules apply when suing the government, making the help of an experienced attorney necessary.
Compensation Available for Motor Vehicle Accident Victims
After an accident in Crabtree, victims can seek a variety of compensation through a personal injury lawsuit, including:
- Medical Expenses – Compensation for hospital stays, surgeries, medical treatments, prescription medications, medical devices, and physical therapy.
- Lost Wages – Compensation for your injury’s impact on your ability to work, including loss of future earning capacity if you cannot return to work.
- Pain and Suffering – Compensation for the physical pain and emotional suffering you experienced due to your injuries.
- Permanent Disability – Compensation for accommodating your disability caused by the crash, such as installing ramps or lifts in your home or vehicle, or hiring in-home care.
- Property Damage – Compensation for replacing or repairing your lost or damaged property, including your vehicle, resulting from the accident.
How to Prove Liability in a Car Accident Lawsuit
Pennsylvania follows a modified comparative negligence rule, which means that the compensation you could receive is reduced by your degree of fault for the accident. Additionally, if you are 50% or more at fault, you’ll be ineligible to get any compensation at all. Because of this rule, it’s crucial that you prove the other party was primarily at fault and reduce the fault apportioned to you. Some of the evidence your attorney can use to do this includes:
- Traffic Camera Footage – Nearby traffic or security cameras may have captured the accident.
- Eyewitness Statements – Eyewitnesses can corroborate your version of events with their statements.
- Expert Witness Testimony – Medical, financial, and crash reconstruction experts may provide testimony about specific aspects of your case.
- Accident Scene Evidence – Photographs and videos taken at the accident scene can indicate which party was primarily at fault for the crash.
Deadline for Filing a Car Accident Lawsuit in PA
Under Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations for personal injury, car accident victims have two years to file their lawsuit against the party responsible for their injuries. Failure to file your lawsuit within this period will likely result in the courts barring you from seeking compensation.
Contact a Car Accident Attorney Serving Crabtree, Pennsylvania
If you were injured in a car accident in Crabtree or elsewhere in Westmoreland County, contact us online for a free consultation. Attorney Stine will show you how her decades of experience can help you seek the compensation you deserve.