What to Do After a Car Accident in Pennsylvania: A Step-by-Step Legal Guide
Each year, over six million car accidents take place in the U.S. Between lost wages, medical expenses, and the costs to repair your vehicle, you may feel overwhelmed. If you have been in a car accident, protecting your rights is key to recovering the compensation you deserve. In this blog, our Allentown car accident attorneys provide a step-by-step guide to help preserve your right to file a claim following a crash.
Seek Medical Care
Following a car accident, adrenaline may be pumping through your veins. This can make it difficult to determine if you suffered any injuries. So, even if you don’t feel any pain or have any noticeable injuries, it is important that you be evaluated by a medical professional. Be sure to seek medical attention immediately since an underlying injury can prove fatal if not treated promptly. By seeking medical care soon after your collision (or within at least three days of the incident), you preserve your right to file an insurance claim.
Cooperate with the Police
Under Pennsylvania law, if anyone is injured, killed, or if any vehicle is damaged to the extent that it must be towed, you must call the police. The officer who responds to the accident scene will ask for the names of all drivers involved, as well as other identifying information. The officer will also ask you to provide your version of events. Be sure to cooperate with the officer since this information can help them more accurately complete a vehicle accident report. This report will be available to you 15 days after the accident. You will want to request a copy of it to submit with your insurance claim package.
Document the Accident Scene
If possible, take as many pictures as you can of the accident scene. This may include the final resting position of any vehicles involved, debris such as shredded tires or vehicle wreckage, and any nearby intersections or identifying landmarks. It is often helpful to get different angles of the vehicles, being sure to clearly document the location of damage on each. Additionally, you should take photos of your injuries. Be sure to use flash and no flash when taking pictures to ensure that there are no lighting issues.
Any evidence you gather can provide further information to determine liability. Car accident lawyers often work with accident reconstructionists who will recreate the events leading up to the accident. If your accident took place near a business or a business district, a car accident attorney can investigate to see if the business has a surveillance camera. This may provide a video of the crash itself, helping to fill in any missing pieces of information.
Get Eyewitness Information
An eyewitness can provide an impartial account of what occurred. This perspective will not be clouded by emotion, but rather by what the individual saw or heard during the crash. If any bystanders saw the accident unfold, be sure to get their name and phone number. Your attorney may call on them later on to testify on your behalf.
Consult an Allentown Car Accident Lawyer
Even taking all the above steps, we still recommend working with a car accident attorney who can further assist you with your claim. The benefits of working with a lawyer cannot be denied, since a legal professional can help you submit the appropriate paperwork to insurance. This will help streamline your claim. Besides assisting in submitting your claim, a car accident attorney will negotiate with a claims adjuster to ensure that you receive the settlement that is rightfully owed to you.
Car Accident Attorneys Serving Allentown, PA
A car accident can place you in financial distress, making it difficult to tend to your needs. This is unjust, especially when another person is responsible for your injuries. At HGSK Injury Lawyers, we are committed to helping our clients recoup the full worth of their accident case. To learn more about our process or to arrange your free consultation, contact our Allentown car accident lawyers online or by phone at (267) 551-8782.