According to data from the state’s Department of Transportation, an average of over 65,000 car accident injuries per year occurred in Pennsylvania over a recent five-year period. The total cost of these crashes exceeds more than $30 billion per year, and many injured people get stuck with exorbitant medical bills.
If you have been injured in a car accident in Monroeville, contact DelVecchio & Miller, LLC, to discuss your options for recovering compensation. Recovering money after a car accident is often challenging, especially when you must deal with insurance companies.
Our attorneys have over 60 years of collective experience helping car accident victims like you with insurance claims and other legal matters. Our personalized services emphasize putting our clients’ interests first and foremost in everything we do.
Call us at (412) 434-1400 or contact us online today to discuss your case with a car accident attorney serving Monroeville.
The typical car traveling at highway speeds can generate hundreds of thousands of pounds of force during an accident. Crumple zones and airbags offer some protection, but even with all the safety features, car accidents routinely cause catastrophic damage. Even a minor accident at low speeds can cause debilitating injuries, such as:
Whiplash and neck injury
Fractures and broken bones
Bruises and soft-tissue injury
Concussion and traumatic brain injury
Cuts and lacerations
Spinal cord injury
Burns and abrasions
Internal injuries
Amputation
The severity of injuries after a car accident depends on several things, such as the impact location, car speed, and whether the occupant was wearing a seatbelt.
Car accidents can also cause significant psychological distress and emotional turmoil. One analysis estimates that over one in four (27.5 percent) car accident victims develop clinical symptoms of PTSD. More generally, an accident can drastically decrease a person’s quality of life. Injuries may make daily activities difficult, and victims may no longer be able to engage in activities they enjoy.
Regardless of the type, car accidents in Monroeville are always a serious matter. We have experience representing clients for a broad range of car accident claims, such as:
Rear-end collisions
Head-on collisions
Drunk driving accidents
T-bone accidents
Distracted driving accidents
Hit-and-run accidents
Fender benders
Commercial vehicle accidents
Pedestrian accidents
Most states utilize either a no-fault or at-fault system for car accidents. Pennsylvania, however, has a hybrid system that lets drivers choose between limited tort (no-fault) coverage and full tort (at-fault) coverage. 75 Pa.C.S. §1705 requires auto insurers to offer both types of policies.
With limited tort coverage, instead of filing a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurer, drivers file a claim with their own insurance company after an accident. This is like no-fault coverage in other states. Personal injury protection (PIP) from limited tort coverage will cover medical bills and lost income, but if you cannot use your PIP for pain and suffering.
Limited tort coverage is cheaper than the alternative but typically has lower coverage limits. The minimum required coverage for PIP in Pennsylvania is $5,000, which may cover minor injuries like whiplash but won’t cover catastrophic injuries.
Those with limited tort coverage can still recover damages for pain and suffering from the at-fault driver if the injuries are severe and cause significant impairment to bodily functioning. Limited tort coverage will also not apply if you are a pedestrian struck by a car or if the at-fault driver was driving under the influence.
With full tort coverage, drivers reserve the right to sue the at-fault party for pain and suffering compensation in addition to their medical expenses and lost wages. Full tort coverage gives you more options for recovering compensation after a car accident, but premiums are more expensive, and the onus is on the injured party to prove that the other driver was at fault.
It is impossible to determine beforehand how much one can receive from a car accident claim. Every claim is different, and your settlement will depend on various factors, such as:
Injury severity and location. More severe injuries incur higher medical bills and often have continuing medical costs.
Insurance coverage limits. Insurance policies will cover your expenses up to their coverage limit. To recover more than the at-fault party’s policy maximums, filing a formal lawsuit is the way to go.
Lost income from missing work. If your injuries kept you off work and you lost income as a result, this amount should be included in your settlement.
Reduction in lifetime earning capacity. A settlement can also compensate you for lost future earnings if you can no longer work at full capacity.
Degree of pain and suffering. Full tort coverage can also pay for your pain and suffering.
When you are in a Monroeville car accident, a car accident attorney from DelVecchio & Miller, LLC, will evaluate your expenses and calculate an adequate figure that would be a full and fair settlement for your claim.
Pennsylvania has some of the nation’s most complex auto insurance laws, which are difficult to understand. Moreover, insurance companies are notorious for disputing claims, and limited tort coverage might not be enough to cover your losses, especially if you have severe injuries.
In these cases, it is crucial to have an attorney to weigh your options. Depending on your insurance coverage type, an attorney can identify the best path forward to maximize the amount of compensation you can cover. An attorney can also represent you in a formal lawsuit if insurance companies refuse to pay or you decide to pursue compensation from the other driver for severe injuries.
Dealing with the fallout of a serious accident in Monroeville can disrupt your life and finances, leaving you anxious and afraid. You have options for relief, though. DelVecchio & Miller, LLC, has recovered millions for our clients and won’t rest until we have investigated every legal option available in your case.
Our small firm size allows us to provide a level of personalized representation larger firms cannot. When you work with us, you can count on compassionate counsel that respects your interests and rights. We also work on a contingency fee, so we won’t charge a fee unless we secure compensation for you.
If you need a car accident attorney in Monroeville, call us at (412) 434-1400 or contact us online for a free case consultation.
We’ll be happy to see you if you choose to visit our office at 428 Boulevard of the Allies in Pittsburgh. We’re on the first floor.
Take I-279 S towards Pittsburgh. Take exit 1B for I-376 E/US-22 E/US-30 E. Take exit 71A for Grant St. Turn right onto Grant St. Turn left onto Boulevard of the Allies. Destination will be on the right.
Take I-376 W towards Pittsburgh. Take exit 71A for Grant St. Turn left onto Grant St. Turn left onto Boulevard of the Allies. Destination will be on the right.
Take I-376 W towards Pittsburgh. Take exit 71A for Grant St. Turn left onto Grant St. Turn left onto Boulevard of the Allies. Destination will be on the right.
Take I-376 E towards Pittsburgh. Take exit 69C for Boulevard of the Allies. Merge onto Boulevard of the Allies. Destination will be on the right.
