Should I Accept an Insurance Settlement After a Pedestrian Accident?

If you have been hit by a car, truck, or motorcycle while walking or running, you understand the shock that sets in following such a traumatic event. Compared to a vehicle occupant, a pedestrian is at a greater risk of experiencing catastrophic injuries, leaving you with permanent disabilities. While your injuries cannot be reversed, you deserve to be adequately compensated for your lost wages and medical expenses. While you may be eager to put the ordeal behind you, the first settlement offer rarely takes into account future medical expenses and loss of future earnings.

At HGSK Injury Lawyers, our Allentown pedestrian accident attorneys are dedicated to helping injured individuals recoup the entirety of their losses. If you have recently been involved in a pedestrian accident, do not hesitate to reach out to our team of professionals.

Never Accept the Insurance Company’s First Offer

Given the severity and extent of injuries, rehabilitation following a pedestrian accident may take several weeks or months. The insurance company may offer you a settlement a few weeks after your accident, although the complexity of your case may increase this timeline. Until the insurance company thoroughly investigates the accident claim, you may need to consider other options for paying your bills in the interim.

At HGSK Injury Lawyers, our Allentown pedestrian accident attorneys will evaluate your case and crunch the numbers to determine the true worth of your accident case. Although Pennsylvania offers two types of auto insurance coverage–full tort and limited tort–coverage, as a pedestrian struck by a vehicle, you are automatically entitled to full tort damages. This means that you may be able to recoup intangible losses as well as your out-of-pocket costs. While you may be eager to begin paying your medical bills and other accident-related expenses, it will not serve you if it does not cover the entirety of accident-incurred costs.

Pennsylvania Settlement Timeline

Although disputes over coverage can delay a settlement, Pennsylvania insurance companies typically only have 15 days to notify you if your claim has been accepted or rejected, with no law specifying how long you will need to wait for your settlement check. 

However, if you reach a settlement after pursuing litigation, the defendant (or the defendant’s insurance company) will only have 20 calendar days to deliver the funds to the plaintiff. Although this rule imposes a speedy resolution, settlement negotiations can be prolonged, requiring constant back-and-forth communication between both parties.

Since you only have two years to initiate legal action following an accident or injury in Pennsylvania, we recommend you begin the claims process immediately. If you wait, you risk having the statute of limitations expire by the time you consider taking your case to court.

Struck by a Vehicle? Contact Our Allentown Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Immediately

Sadly, motorists do not always see pedestrians crossing the road, even if they are within a marked crosswalk. If you have been hit as a pedestrian, you may find yourself with thousands of dollars in medical expenses, with no way to pay. If you have recently been injured in a pedestrian accident, the Allentown pedestrian accident attorneys at HGSK Injury Lawyers are here to help. If you are interested in learning how we can be of assistance to you, contact us online or by phone at (267) 551-8782. Let us help you obtain financial relief.