According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), the average weight of a standard car is 1.5 tons. When drivers of these cars are in motor vehicle accidents, motorists can face financial and physical damages. If you have been involved in a car accident in Washington, PA, an attorney may be able to help you pursue compensation from a negligent driver.
You may find it difficult or confusing to negotiate a fair settlement to pay for all the damages. Additionally, you may be looking to file a personal injury lawsuit if an insurance settlement is unsuccessful.
At Berger and Green, a Washington car accident lawyer may be able to fight to obtain fair compensation on your behalf. Our law firm will aim to protect your rights while managing your entire legal battle. If you are struggling after a car accident in Washington, PA, call Berger and Green today at (412) 661-1400 to request a free consultation.
Evidence that Can Support Your Car Accident Case in Washington
To build a car accident case, you may require evidence that can hold the defendant (person or party you sue) responsible for your accident and subsequent damages. To prove someone’s responsibility, or liability, for this incident, you must come up with evidence of negligence.
Medical Evidence
After your accident, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. This protects your health, but it also serves as evidence for your accident. Medical documentation is an important part of car accident claims, as it can link your injuries to the other driver’s negligent behavior.
Police Reports
Police reports may help you prove the opposing driver was at-fault in causing the accident. This is because a police report will typically include a section in which the on-scene officers determine fault at the scene of the accident.
Photographs and Surveillance Video
Photographs can be used to document your property damage, injury, and the scene of the accident. In some cases, a Washington car accident lawyer may be able to uncover surveillance video or traffic camera sequences that document the moment your accident took place.
Liability and Negligence
Your case will also likely require evidence of negligence and liability. A party can be liable if it is proven that they acted with negligence. The Legal Information Institute (LII) defines negligence as a defendant’s failure to provide a plaintiff (you) with a “level of care that someone of ordinary prudence would have exercised under the same circumstances.”
Negligence can be proven by establishing:
- The defendant owed the plaintiff a legal duty of care
- The defendant breached this duty of care
- The plaintiff suffered an injury or other related damages
- The defendant’s breach of care caused the plaintiff’s injury
For a free legal consultation with a car accidents lawyer serving Washington, call (412) 661-1400
Recoverable Damages from a Washington Car Accident Claim
When pursuing a car accident claim, your Washington car accident attorney can help you identify any recoverable damages. The damages can have a monetary value associated with them, and this would include medical expenses. The damages could be non-economic, which means lawyers must determine the value of concepts like pain and suffering.
To determine fair compensation for your claim, your car accident lawyer must review all of your damages that are related to the accident. Once the value of your damages has been established, your lawyer can combine their values to determine the total value of your case. From here, a lawyer can base insurance settlement negotiations for your car accident around this figure.
Depending on the unique nature of your car accident, your insurance claim may include any or all of the following types of recoverable damages:
- All medical expenses (current and future)
- Prescription medications
- Emergency room transportation
- Transportation to doctor’s appointments
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitation
- Auto repair expenses
- Property damages
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium and/or wrongful death, if you lost a loved one in the crash
There also may be ways for you to increase your compensation from an insurance settlement. For instance, a car accident lawyer serving Washington, PA may be able to help you find out if you qualify for full tort coverage. As explained by 75 Pa. C.S.A. § 1705, you may qualify for full tort coverage if you opted to include this coverage in your car insurance policy or if you are suffering from a “serious injury.”
To learn more about recovering compensation following a car accident in Washington, PA, call Berger and Green at (412) 661-1400.
Washington Car Accident Lawyer Near Me (412) 661-1400
What a Washington Car Accident Lawyer Can Do for Your Case
At Berger and Green, a car accident lawyer can handle your claim from the moment you complete a free consultation until we have reached a settlement or judgment. During that stretch of time, our law firm can:
- Answer your car accident legal questions
- Determine how much compensation you are entitled to
- Learn more about your personal account of the car accident
- Review any evidence you have gathered
- Conduct a full investigation into your car accident
- Learn more about your injuries from your attending medical professionals
- Advise additional medical treatments if necessary
- Negotiate an insurance settlement on your behalf
- Manage all communications with insurance companies after you have reported the car accident
- File a personal injury lawsuit within the two-year statute of limitations set by 42 Pa. C.S.A. § 5524
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Request a Free Consultation with Berger and Green Following a Car Accident in Washington
No matter the type of accident you were involved in, your Washington car accident lawyer from Berger and Green will defend your rights. Our firm will stand up to a negligent driver and their insurance or legal teams on your behalf. Call us today at (412) 661-1400 to learn more about requesting a free consultation.
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