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Car Accident Lawyer in Pennsylvania

Finding the right car accident lawyer in Pennsylvania just got easier.

Decide for yourself with a no obligation free consultation with a car accident lawyer at Kitay Law Offices. For over 25 years, we continue to represent thousands of drivers who have been in car accidents. There are several types of car accident cases we handle, some of which include:

  • Head-on collision
  • Texting and driving
  • Truck accidents
  • Hit and run
  • Drunk driving accidents
  • Single-vehicle and multi-vehicle
  • T-Bone accidents
  • Rear-ended
  • Sideswiped

First, see a doctor or go to the hospital emergency room if you have been injured in a car accident. Next, you should contact an experienced car accident lawyer in Pennsylvania at Kitay Law Offices.

Person taking a photo of a car accident for their Car Accident Lawyer in Pennsylvania

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Car Accidents in Pennsylvania

While car accidents include collisions that involve a car, they also can include motor vehicles such as a tractor trailer, 18-wheeler, motorcycle, train, bus, boat, or ATV. In fact, most of us will experience an accident during our lives and may suffer an injury like a broken leg or whiplash. As a result, you’ll want to have an experienced car accident lawyer in Pennsylvania. For example, determining who is at fault for an car accident usually requires the investigation and determination of damages by a professional. Sometimes, a car accident may be caused by a negligent driver, a defect in the car, bad weather conditions, a missing or defective street sign, faulty maintenance, or a number of other factors.

What is the Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Law?

You should be aware that in Pennsylvania, the Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Law requires insurance companies to give the insured the option of selecting “Limited Tort” or “Full Tort,” with the full tort option being only slightly more expensive than the limited tort option. If you select limited tort, you are usually unable to sue for pain and suffering unless you sustain a serious injury, which has been defined as “death, serious impairment of body function or permanent serious disfigurement.”

What are Full Tort vs. Limited Tort insurance policies?

You can read our full article on full tort vs. limited tort insurance policies here. In the meantime, here is a quick summary:

Although auto-insurance companies market limited tort policies as a way for you to reduce auto-insurance premiums, the limited tort option severely reduces your ability to receive compensation for your injuries while only marginally reducing the premium expense. Therefore, it’s very important that you choose the “full tort” option on your car insurance. And if you are not sure whether you have it, call your insurance company and ask.

In some situations, you can receive compensation for pain and suffering even if you have the limited tort option selected on your car insurance policy. You can download a full copy of the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Responsibility Law for your reference. In addition, some examples where you can get money for pain and suffering even if you have the limited tort option on your policy include:

  • Your accident was caused by a drunk driver who is convicted of a DUI offense
  • The at-fault driver was operative a car that is registered in another state besides Pennsylvania
  • You were a passenger in a commercial vehicle, like a bus or a taxi
  • At the time of the accident, you were a pedestrian

Have you or someone you know been injured or incurred financial damages as the result of a car accident? Call Kitay Law Offices at 1-888-KITAY-LAW for a free consultation with our experienced car accident lawyers in Pennsylvania.

RECENT SETTLEMENTS:

$1.4 MILLION - DEFECTIVE PRODUCT

$310,000 - WORKERS’ COMP

$287,500 - CAR ACCIDENT

$200,000 - WORKERS’ COMP

$285,000 - CAR ACCIDENT

Common Causes of Car Accidents

Car accidents can have many causes, from a distracted driver who just got their license, to an experienced driver who just got lazy following the rules of the road. Car accidents are also caused by failure to exercise caution during bad weather conditions and other problems like poor road design and maintenance. Additionally, the PA Department of Transportation (PennDOT) provides a helpful mapping system for the entire state of Pennsylvania. You can check this map prior to a drive for things like bad weather road conditions, closures, and construction. You can find the mapping system here: https://www.511pa.com.

If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident, it is important to know exactly what happened so you can understand the cause and your rights. Furthermore, you will want to speak with a car accident lawyer in Pennsylvania to make sense of it all.

Was a car accident the driver’s fault?

The driver is to blame for many car accidents. For instance, such errors or mistakes might be caused by the driver:

  • Being high on drugs or drunk on alcohol
  • Texting and driving
  • Taking their eyes off of the road to change the radio station
  • Falling asleep at the wheel
  • Speeding or driving too fast in bad weather
  • Blowing through red lights and stop signs
  • Disregarding traffic signs and signals

As a result, it’s important to always follow the rules of the road. Therefore, limit distractions and take a break if you are too tired to concentrate. Remember, one mistake can change lives forever.

Did a problem on the road cause the car accident?

If the driver is not at fault, the road itself might have caused the accident. Problems with the road can include:

  • Signs or signals hidden by trees, snow, or ice
  • Slippery roads caused by ice, rain, oil, snow or trash
  • Missing, broken, or poorly placed signs or signals
  • Bad road design
  • Poor road maintenance
  • Cracks and potholes
  • Road or lane construction

City, state, and county government agencies are responsible for designing roads as well as maintaining the roads so they are safe. Therefore, if your accident results from one the these problems you might be able to sue.

However, these kinds of car accident cases are complicated. You can’t just sue the government because a big pothole caused an accident. Your car accident lawyer will have to complete a detailed investigation. Further, special rules apply when suing a government agency. Therefore, ensure your attorney has experience in these types of accidents.

For most cases, you have two years to sue for your injuries in Pennsylvania. This is the official statute of limitations for car accidents in Pennsylvania. Yes, that may sound like a long time, but it goes by quickly after an accident occurs. So, don’t wait to have your case evaluated. Call Kitay Law Offices today for a free consultation at 888-KITAYLAW.

What is the timeline to resolve a car accident case in Pennsylvania?

Many car accident cases follow the personal injury timeline, but if your case goes to court then it will follow the personal injury litigation timeline instead. Please note, however, the timeline may differ for any given case.

You should always contact an attorney if you have questions about your case, the timeline, or any of the related logistics. Car accident cases are complex and often require long negotiations (and sometimes litigation) before reaching a resolution.

Finally, you can read this article to learn more about what qualifies as a personal injury in Pennsylvania.

Where are our car accident lawyers in Pennsylvania located?

Contact Us:

1-888-KITAY-LAW

Call or message us today for a free consultation today!

    KITAY LAW OFFICES HAS BEEN FEATURED IN:

    Kitay Law Offices Legal Elite Award 2022

    RECENT CASES:

    $1.4 MILLION DOLLARS - DEFECTIVE PRODUCT CASE

    $310,000 DOLLARS - WORKERS’ COMPENSATION SETTLEMENT

    $287,500 DOLLARS - CAR ACCIDENT IN ALLENTOWN

    $200,000 DOLLARS - WORKERS’ COMPENSATION SETTLEMENT

    $285,000 DOLLARS - HORRIBLE CAR ACCIDENT SETTLEMENT

    Practice Areas

    Workers’ Compensation
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    Accidents & Personal Injury
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    Criminal Defense & DUI
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    Immigration Law
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    Frequently Asked Questions

    Get answers to your questions about car accident law.

    How many people are injured in a car accident each year?

    The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) keeps track of all injuries due to car accidents. The NHTSA publishes its report with this data each year. Importantly, their most recent statistics show that over 30,000 people have died in a car accident each year since 2010. In addition, over 2 million people are injured in car accidents each year.  You can download a copy of the report, as well.

    What’s the first thing I should do if I am injured in a car accident?

    The most important thing is your health, so go to an emergency room or urgent care center as soon as possible. Next, you should seek legal advice because Personal Injury cases must be investigated quickly. If you wait, important evidence may disappear forever. Unfortunately, this could have a very negative effect on your case. You should always call the police and have an accident report filled out.

    Here is a quick list of actions you can take to help protect your car accident case:

    • Obtain the police report incident number from the police officer investigating your accident
    • Call your insurance company to notify them of the accident
    • Tell your insurance company about your injuries
    • Make note of each of your injuries, symptoms, and doctor’s appointments
    • Keep receipts from all of your expenses related to the accident
    • Track your missed time from work
    • Don’t discuss any settlement offers without first speaking with an experienced car accident attorney

    Are there things I should not do after a car accident?

    In order to protect you, your rights, and your case, there are definitely things you should not do after a car accident.  After a car accident, you should not:

    • Threaten or insult the other driver
    • Argue with the police officer who comes to the scene of the accident
    • Assume your injuries will get better without seeing a doctor
    • Provide a recorded statement to the other driver’s car insurance company
    • Engage in settlement negotiations with the at-fault driver’s insurance company without an attorney

    While it can be difficult to think clearly right after you are involved in a car accident, it is important to slow down and take a moment to regain composure. Understandably, your emotions may run high and you may have lots of adrenaline running through your veins after a car accident. However, as best you can, it is important to remain calm, think clearly, and ensure you don’t do any of the things listed above. If you do, you may harm any potential car accident settlement in the future.

    I was in a car accident while on the job.  What can I do about it?

    Amazingly, if you are involved in a car accident while on the job, you may actually have two cases.  On the one hand, you may have a claim for damages against the person or company driving the car that caused your accident and injuries.  On the other hand, you may also have a claim for workers’ compensation benefits.  We have plenty of information you can read for an introduction to the benefits you can obtain from workers’ compensation in Pennsylvania.

    Want to know more about what can cause a car accident in Pennsylvania?

    Hazardous Road Conditions
    Severe weather in Pennsylvania can wreak havoc on the roadways. It is possible for your car to spin out of control when you suddenly hit a pothole. You might even hit other vehicles. If this case, the state or government agency like PennDOT may be held liable. It is their responsibility to make sure that the roads are clear of things like potholes, sinkholes and cracks in the road.

    Drunk Drivers
    Every person should know that drunk driving is irresponsible and dangerous. Even still, drunk drivers continue to crash into other cars and send innocent people to the hospital. Often time causing serious injuries, permanent disabilities or even death.

    Aggressive Driving
    Some drivers allow their anger, frustration and impatience to turn into aggressive driving. They might intentionally cause harm to others on the road by tailgating, weaving in and out of traffic, or by intimidating other drivers into getting out of the way. Unfortunately, AAA estimates that about 80% of drivers experience some form of road rage at least once in the previous year. They have also put together some useful tips for avoiding aggressive driving and road rage.

    Distracted Driving
    Even though there are rules against texting and hold a cell phone in your hand while driving in Pennsylvania, people still do it. This type of distracted driving continues to be a major problem on the roadways. Unfortunately, many people do not realize just how dangerous texting while driving can be until it is too late and they have caused serious damage, injuries or even death.

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