After a Williamsport, PA, car accident, you must prioritize your health and physical recovery. You should get the care you need to ensure you are on the path to healing. Only then should you consider your next steps.
As soon as your injuries are stable, though, contact a Williamsport car accident attorney about your legal rights.
Contact a Car Accident Attorney to Learn About Your Next Steps
We urge you to contact a car accident attorney as soon as possible after your accident. If your injuries allow, discuss your case with a lawyer in the first few days after a collision. This puts you in the best position to fight for justice.
There are several benefits to hiring an attorney as soon as possible.
They include:
- Preservation of Key Evidence: Evidence often disappears quickly. A lawyer who investigates a case promptly can often preserve crucial evidence such as crash video and detailed witness statements.
- Statute of Limitations: Statutes of limitations set time limits for filing lawsuits. By contacting a lawyer early, you ensure that you will not miss any deadlines in your case.
- Protection of Rights: Hiring a lawyer early ensures your rights are protected. They will manage all communication about your case, including with the insurance companies.
- Handling Your Claim: Your lawyer will navigate the claims process, build a compelling case, negotiate with insurance adjusters, and ensure you receive fair compensation for your injuries. You can focus on treatment and recovery with peace of mind.
From the day you hire them to manage your Williamsport car accident case, your lawyer will provide you with advice and guidance. This includes dealing with the insurance company, developing an effective legal strategy to win your case, obtaining necessary medical treatment, and fighting for the compensation you deserve.
Your Health and Rehabilitation Should Remain Your Focus
Continuing medical care and focusing on recovery is essential following a collision. You should follow all doctor’s orders and ensure you make every appointment. This is vital for your health and well-being but also important for your legal case.
Your Medical Records Are Evidence in Your Car Accident Case
Seeking medical care immediately after your accident documents any injuries you suffered. Your medical records and other reports from healthcare professionals will serve as crucial evidence for proving liability and recovering fair compensation in your case.
Whether you file a no-fault claim, a claim against the at-fault driver’s auto liability provider, or a lawsuit in civil court, you will need to show the severity of your injuries, document your current and future treatment costs, and demonstrate the effect the accident had on your health. Your medical records provide this evidence.
Your Care Plays a Central Role in Reaching Maximum Medical Improvement
The goal of treatment and rehabilitation for car accident injuries is maximum medical improvement. For many, this is complete recovery with no lasting effects. For others, this is not possible. However, getting medical care and continuing care ensures you receive proper treatment and enables you to recover as fully as possible.
Discuss your options with your lawyer if you do not have health insurance or have other concerns about paying for medical care after a crash. Recovering compensation to cover these costs is a primary objective of an insurance claim or lawsuit.
What Do I Need to Prove to Recover Compensation for My Injuries?
Pennsylvania has complex car accident and insurance laws. Understanding your rights after a crash can be challenging. Consulting with an experienced car accident lawyer allows you to assess your options and better understand liability.
When you pursue a fault-based car accident case in Williamsport, PA, you must have evidence to show:
- Duty of Care: The other driver owed you a duty of care to operate their vehicle safely and follow all applicable traffic laws.
- Breach of Duty: The other driver breached their duty of care, usually by violating a traffic law.
- Causation: Their breach of duty directly caused the accident and your injuries.
- Harm: You suffered damages as a result of the accident, often including physical, emotional, and financial harm.
To support your claim, you—or your attorney—may need to gather evidence such as:
- The police accident report
- Eyewitness statements
- Video of the crash
- Photographs of the accident scene
- An accident scene survey
- Accident reconstruction data
- Medical records documenting your injuries
- Bills and receipts related to medical treatment and vehicle repairs
- Expert testimony
Understanding the Recoverable Damages in My Williamsport Auto Accident
The damages recoverable in a Williamsport, PA, auto accident case vary widely. Those with more serious or permanent injuries will likely recover more than those who have relatively minor or moderate injuries. Generally, two types of damages are available in these cases:
Economic Damages
Economic damages are the current and future costs and financial losses you experience because of the accident. Examples include medical bills, lost income, vehicle repair or replacement, and other related costs.
Your attorney will help you estimate the value of your future care and any ongoing expenses. This usually relies on help from medical doctors, economists, and other expert witnesses.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are the intangible losses you experienced because of your accident. Examples include physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, and emotional distress. Your attorney will know how to value these damages.
Benefits of Working With a Williamsport, PA, Car Accident Lawyer
Building a compelling case to support your insurance claim is difficult, even under the best circumstances. When you are undergoing treatment and recovering from serious injuries, it is almost impossible to manage on your own.
When you hire a knowledgeable and skilled car accident lawyer to handle the process, you can focus on regaining your health. This makes your free case consultation with an attorney one of the most important things you can do after a crash.
Discuss Your Williamsport Injury Accident With Our Team for Free
Waffenschmidt Law Firm, LLC, provides free consultations for victims hurt in a Williamsport, PA, collision. We have team members available to assess your rights and discuss how our personal injury lawyer in Williamsport can help you pursue compensation and hold the at-fault driver responsible.
Call (570) 505-3015 to learn more.
Thomas Waffenschmidt
Attorney
Thomas Waffenschmidt has served on the Pennsylvania Association for Justice since 1990 and has been a board member from 1999 through 2014. He has also served on the board of the Lycoming Law Association since 2008 and served as president in 2014.
Author's Bio