Pittsburgh
Car Accidents Uninsured Motorist Accidents Lawyer

On This Page

1. Pittsburgh Personal Injury Lawsuit Attorneys
2. What Type of Damages Can I Recover After a Car Crash?
3. What Are My Options for Getting Compensation If the At-Fault Driver Does Not Have Insurance?
4. How Can a Lawyer Help Me With My Case?
5. How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit?
6. Talk to an Uninsured Motorist Accident Lawyer in Pittsburgh

REVIEWED BY

C. William Kenny

January 01, 2024

Board certified by National Board of Trial Advocacy

Pittsburgh Personal Injury Lawsuit Attorneys

If the motorist who caused your car accident did not have liability insurance—or if they left the scene and police cannot identify them—you may still have options to collect money to cover your damages. You may be able to obtain medical benefits coverage or uninsured motorist coverage, or you may even file a personal injury lawsuit if you know the identity of the driver. An uninsured motorist accident attorney in Pittsburgh, PA, can help.

The Pittsburgh car accident lawyer team from Berger and Green can help you understand your options for compensation if the at-fault motorist does not carry the legally required insurance coverage. Call us today at 412-661-1400 for a free consultation and case review with one of our Pittsburgh car accident lawyers.

What Type of Damages Can I Recover After a Car Crash?

Under the state’s choice no-fault auto insurance law, every driver must carry medical benefits coverage to pay for at least $5,000 of their medical care after an accident—no matter who caused the wreck.

If the other driver caused the accident, you should be able to recover damages based on their required bodily injury liability insurance, as well. This will pay the medical bills your own no-fault policy does not cover. The at-fault driver should also carry property damages liability insurance to help you pay for repair or replacement of your car.

In all, the law allows you to recover money for the economic damages you suffered because of the crash. These include:

• Ambulance transportation costs;
• Hospitalization;
• Treatment;
• Rehabilitation or physical therapy;
• Prescription medications;
• Wages lost because of missed time at work; and
• Related out of pocket costs.

If you opt for full tort coverage, meet the state’s serious injury threshold, or meet another exception to the limited tort law, you can even file for non-economic losses. These include pain and suffering and emotional distress.

Much of this depends on the driver who caused the crash to carry the mandatory liability insurance. If the other driver does not have this policy, we may need to pursue other options to get you the money you need.

What Are My Options for Getting Compensation If the At-Fault Driver Does Not Have Insurance?

If you suffer injuries in a car accident in Pennsylvania, the first place you will turn for help paying your bills is your own insurance company. However, the limits to these policies are usually low. You may need to file a claim against the at-fault driver’s liability policy to cover the rest of your losses and expenses.

A problem arises when you learn an uninsured motorist caused your accident. If they do not have insurance, how can you file a claim to get the money you need and deserve?

Often the best option is to file a claim based on your uninsured motorist coverage. Pennsylvania law requires all insurance companies to offer this coverage, and you must opt out in writing. If you did not sign a waiver to reject it, you likely have uninsured motorist protection as a part of your liability insurance policy. In fact, many of our clients do not realize they have this coverage until we take a look at their policy.

Alternatively, we can attempt to hold the at-fault driver liable in another way. This often comes down to filing a personal injury lawsuit against them. However, unless they have significant assets, this may not allow you to recover the compensation you need.

How Can a Lawyer Help Me With My Case?

When a car accident victim trusts us to handle their case, we take this responsibility seriously. From our first meeting, we listen carefully and offer thoughtful, aggressive legal representation. We can explain your legal options for compensation based on the specific details of your case and help you file an uninsured motorist insurance claim or take another action to get you the money you need.

We will fully investigate your accident, including collecting evidence to prove the value of your claim. We may work with accident reconstruction specialists to get the best understanding possible of your crash. We can even work with police to try to identify the liable motorist if they left the scene of the accident.

We will manage the claims process for you by filing a claim based on your own medical benefits and your uninsured motorist policy, if you have one. We can provide the proof of your damages to your insurer and negotiate a fair payout.

If you do not have uninsured motorist coverage, qualify for pain and suffering damages, or otherwise need an alternative option for getting the money you need, we can look into the financial standing of the at-fault driver. If we find they have significant assets and the ability to pay for your accident-related expenses, we can file a lawsuit on your behalf.

If we file a lawsuit, we will represent you in court. We present your case to the judge and ask them to award you benefits based on the evidence we collected. You pay no legal fees unless we win the compensation you deserve.

How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit?

The state’s statute of limitations generally gives accident victims two years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit. Because of the complexities that occur when a driver does not have insurance, it is important to contact us much sooner. Investigating and preparing these cases takes time.

At the same time, your insurance policy may have certain deadlines on how long you have to file a claim. This is especially important if you need to file a claim based on your uninsured motorist policy. We recommend giving us a call as soon as possible after your accident so we can get started immediately.

Talk to an Uninsured Motorist Accident Lawyer in Pittsburgh

Berger and Green can help you understand your options for compensation after an uninsured driver causes a car crash in Pittsburgh. We can help you fight for the money you deserve after your accident. We will not charge you fees for our services unless you receive a payout. Call us today at 412-661-1400 for your free case evaluation.