Every day people are injured in car accidents in Pennsylvania due to the pure carelessness and recklessness of other drivers on the road. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, there are roughly 125,000 traffic crashes each year which result in over 76,000 injuries and almost 1,100 fatalities. Even minor injuries can have a profound effect on a family, and all catastrophic injuries or wrongful deaths have a permanent and lasting effect. Individuals injured in auto accidents may suffer long-term consequences of the accident, thus requiring compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and lost future wages. Our know firsthand how devastating it can be for a victim and his or her family.
Our experienced lawyers at Silver & Silver have over four decades of experience handling car accident cases against many of the largest trucking companies, insurance carriers, and other defense law firms throughout the state and country. We know the true impact that a motor vehicle accident can have to a family, and we fight hard to protect the rights of innocent people harmed by the negligence of another.
This is why we offer FREE consultations to evaluate your claim and advise you of your rights. If we accept your case, we will conduct a full investigation and work with leading experts to prove liability against a defendant. We will also work with your treating physicians and may hire other medical experts or other professionals to prove your damages, lost wages, and lost future earning capacity. We also pay all upfront court costs, expert fees, and other disbursements in your case which is only reimbursed if we win your case. Our attorney’s fees are also paid after we recover your compensation in a settlement, verdict, or another award. This means there is no upfront cost or financial risk to work with our experienced auto accident attorneys in Media, PA.
Personal Injuries From an Automobile Accident
As mentioned above, the amount of people injured or killed in automobile accidents every day is staggering. While many people are fortunate enough to suffer only minor harm, other people are not as fortunate. Some people injured in car accidents suffer life-altering personal injuries while others suffer life-threatening injuries.
Examples of common injuries sustained in car accidents that Silver & Silver can handle for you include the following:
- Fractures and broken bones
- Amputations or loss of a limb
- Loss of vision
- Loss of hearing
- Paralysis such as paraplegia or quadriplegia
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Organ damage or loss (i.e. kidney, lung, liver, heart, etc.)
- Other spinal cord injuries (annular tears, cord compression, disc herniations)
- Mouth or tooth injuries
- Nerve damage like brachial plexus injuries
- Neck injuries or back injuries (i.e. slipped disks, impingement and herniations)
- Burns
- Wrongful death, and
- Any other injuries sustained in a motor vehicle crash.
Fatal Car Crashes in Pennsylvania
Sadly, there are some individuals who are killed in car accidents. This is referred to as wrongful death. This is the most serious and severe type of personal injury as death is permanent and irreversible. It not only impacts the person whose life has now ended, but the family that is left to grieve and go on without their loved one.
According to the PA DOT, almost 1,100 people lose their lives in motor vehicle crashes each year. This is an unacceptably high amount of individuals whose lives were ended due to the actions of another driver. If you lost a loved one in a motor vehicle wreck, ask our auto accident attorneys in Media, PA for help with your case.
Causes of Auto Accidents in Media, PA
There are many different causes of motor vehicle crashes. While not all accidents are caused by reckless driving, sadly most causes of car accidents are due to preventable or avoidable mistakes, errors, or other causes. If a defendant fails to exercise reasonable care in the use or operation of a motor vehicle leading to a car accident, they are likely negligent under Pennsylvania law.
Some of the most common causes of car collisions include the following:
- Road rage
- Drunk driving
- Failure to yield
- Failure to stop at a stop sign or red light
- Drugged driving
- Failure to properly change lanes or merge
- Distracted driving (i.e. texting, talking on a cell phone, eating, drinking, applying makeup, using a GPS, etc.)
- Mechanical defects
- Improper left turn
- Unsafe backing
- Improper U-turn
- Speeding, and
- Many other common and avoidable mistakes that our auto accident attorneys in Media, PA could prove for you in order to recover compensation.
Partial Fault for Automobile Accidents
Sometimes, a driver injured in an automobile accident may be partially at fault for the accident that occurred. Even though an insurance adjuster may tell you that you are not entitled to compensation if it was partially your fault, that is not true. Pennsylvania is a comparative fault state which means that a victim may still be eligible to receive compensation even if they are partially at fault.
An example of this is if an individual were to recover $10,000 in a court verdict but is 40% at fault, they would receive $60,000. However, if a victim in a car accident is injured but is considered to be 51% or more at fault, compensation is usually barred. This is why it is essential to hire an experienced auto accident lawyer in Media, PA who can fight for the maximum compensation you may be entitled to while minimizing your comparative fault.
Car Accident Compensation
If you’ve been in a car accident, you may be entitled to compensation beyond just your vehicle repairs. Pennsylvania law allows you to recover damages for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. The key is showing that someone else’s negligence caused the accident.
Compensation depends on the severity of your injuries and how the car accident has disrupted your life. Insurance companies may offer a quick settlement, but it’s rarely the full amount you deserve. Before accepting anything, make sure you understand the full value of your claim. In Media, PA, courts also consider things like future medical needs or permanent limitations.
Every car accident case is different, but knowing your rights—and what compensation you may be eligible for—can make a huge difference in how you move forward. We also can provide insight from our bike accident lawyer in Media, PA.
The Steps Involved in a Car Accident Lawsuit
Filing a lawsuit after a car accident in Media, PA, isn’t just about getting compensation—it’s about holding the other party accountable. The process starts with a consultation. That’s where you’ll sit down with a lawyer to go over what happened, what evidence exists, and whether you have a strong claim.
Next comes the investigation. Your legal team will gather medical records, police reports, eyewitness accounts, and any available footage of the accident. From there, they’ll file a formal complaint and serve it to the defendant. Once the case is filed, the discovery process begins. This step includes depositions, written questions, and document sharing between both sides.
At any point, the insurance company might try to settle. If that happens, your lawyer will walk you through the pros and cons. Some cases settle early, while others go all the way to trial. If the case goes to court, your lawyer will present evidence, call witnesses, and argue your case in front of a judge or jury.
Each step builds on the last. The legal process takes time, but with the right team guiding you, you’re not in it alone.
How Silver & Silver Can Help Auto Accident Victims
At Silver & Silver, our firm has represented numerous victims of personal injury accidents such as automobile accidents and trucking accidents throughout Pennsylvania. Our skill and experience has allowed us to learn the best way to establish liability while proving damages in front of a judge or jury. Additionally, we have extensive anatomical and medical knowledge which greatly benefits you by having well-informed attorneys who can help a jury or court to understand your injuries and your needs.
If you or a loved one were injured in an automobile collision, we encourage you to call our experienced auto accident lawyers in Media, PA at Silver & Silver for a FREE consultation by dialing 610-638-7255, or by sending us a messaging on our website.