Philadelphia Auto Accident Lawyer
Chestnut Hill law firm Benedum Law provides aggressive, effective representation in automobile accident cases in Mount Airy, Germantown and throughout the greater Philadelphia area. See below for important facts about car accident claims in Pennsylvania, and contact Benedum Law for a free consultation with an auto accident lawyer regarding the compensation due to you after being hit by a negligent or distracted driver.
Car Accident Statistics in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania
In 2017, 128,188 crashes were reported in Pennsylvania, causing 80,612 injuries and 1,137 deaths. This figure comes out to 351 crashes very day and about 15 crashes every hour. Every day on average, three people are killed and another 221 injured in Pennsylvania car accidents. In Philadelphia alone, there were 11,160 crashes reported in 2017, including 7,977 injury accidents and 91 fatal accidents. Philadelphia and surrounding counties of Montgomery, Chester, Bucks and Delaware are all included in the top ten counties with the most crashes. Together these five counties saw around 30,000 automobile accidents in 2017.
The most tragic fact about these accident statistics is that the great majority of Pennsylvania car accidents could be prevented. Unfortunately, drivers continue to practice reckless and unsafe negligent driving behaviors, including speeding, drinking and driving and distracted driving. In fact, car accidents are on the rise in America, due in no small part to texting while driving and other distracted driving caused by smartphones and other technology pulling driver’s hands and attention off the road at critical moments.
Compensation is available to victims of another driver’s negligence, but the amount available differs considerably depending upon the nature of the injury and the type of insurance coverage involved, and your attorney’s ability to build and present a compelling case on your behalf.
Pennsylvania No-Fault, Full Tort and Limited Tort Insurance Coverage
Pennsylvania law contains a number of different insurance requirements that can drastically affect your ability to recover compensation for your injuries after an automobile accident. Normally, your first recourse is toward your own no-fault policy, which at a minimum provides up to $5,000 in medical benefits regardless of who was at fault in the accident. In some cases, this is the limit to what you can expect. However, if you suffered a “serious injury” within the meaning of your policy, you may be able to pursue a claim against the at-fault driver.
In a fault-based negligence claim, the burden will be on you to prove the serious nature of your injuries and that these injuries were caused by the other driver’s negligence, such as speeding, distracted driving, drinking and driving, failure to yield or use turn signals, etc. If you have “full tort” coverage, you can potentially recover the full range of legal damages, which includes compensation for harm such as:
- Present and future medical expenses
- Lost income
- Diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
However, if your insurance policy is only “limited tort,” then you are limited to only recovering “economic damages” such as medical bills and lost income. “Noneconomic damages” such as pain and suffering are excluded from limited tort coverage.
An Experienced Pennsylvania Automobile Accident Attorney can Help You with Your Claim
Getting a good settlement from the insurance company is not automatic. First, the claims adjustors will devalue the serious nature of your injuries to keep you from filing a claim. Next, they’ll assert that your own negligence caused the accident or at least contributed to it. If you are found to be more at fault than the other driver, you will not be allowed to recover any compensation. If you are found to be just partially to blame, then the amount of your recovery will still be negatively impacted.
When the insurance companies are dealing with an unrepresented person, they will offer a quick cash settlement that is far below what your claim is actually worth. However, when you are represented by an attorney with a proven track record of taking on the insurance companies and getting results, they won’t waste their time or yours with unreasonable “lowball” offers. Christine Benedum has litigated cases resulting in more than $20 million in settlements. She knows how to prepare your case and present it to the insurance company for a full and fair settlement of all your damages. Importantly, Ms. Benedum will uncover the facts of the case that prove the other driver’s negligence; she will not let you get saddled with blame for an accident that was not your fault.
Get Help from an Experienced and Successful Injury Attorney after a Chestnut Hill Car Accident
If you have been injured in a car accident in Chestnut Hill or greater Philadelphia, contact Benedum Law at 215-LAWSUIT (215-529-7848) for a free consultation with an experienced and successful Pennsylvania personal injury attorney. We are passionate about delivering strong results, and we won’t charge a fee if we can’t recover for you.
