Pittsburgh Car Accident Lawyers

Car Accidents Basic Moments

Car accidents are unfortunate events that can change the way you live your life in just a few seconds. Repairing or replacing a car, treatment, and rehabilitation after injuries – all this may become your concern shortly after an accident. Another important issue will be obtaining fair compensation. It is best to entrust this issue to professionals. Pittsburgh car accident lawyers have the knowledge and experience to get their clients fair settlements and fair compensation.

Number and Category of Car Accidents

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), there were 115,938 car accidents in the entire state in 2022:

Total Fatalities	1,179
Suspected Serious Injury	4,751
Suspected Minor Injury	34,894
Possible Injury	11,629
Unknown Severity	15,738
Pedestrian Fatalities	184
Pedestrian Injuries	3,160
Motorcyclist Fatalities	217
Motorcyclist Injuries	3,148
Bicyclist Fatalities	15
Bicyclist Injuries	801

Crashes by motor vehicle type:

	Fatal Crashes	Injury Crashes	PDO Crashes
Passenger Car	486	29,988	41,181
Lt Truck/Van/SUV	584	28,647	37,078
Heavy Truck	145	2,962	4,415
Bicycle	15	794	0
Motorcycle	213	2,918	238
School Bus	1	146	124
Commercial Bus	7	307	144
Other	35	1,228	854

Types of Car Accidents and Their Causes

According to PennDOT’s 2022 report, the following types of accidents were reported in the state:

Crash Type	Crashes	Fatalities
Angle	33,320	254
Backing Up	377	1
Head On	4,586	153
Hit Fixed Object	34,685	361
Hit Pedestrian	3,129	171
Non-Collision	3,605	81
Rear End	22,465	89
Sideswipe	8,400	55
Other	5,371	14

The main causes of accidents were:

Contributing Factor	Crashes	Fatal Crashes
Speed-Related	26,848	404
Drinking Driver	7,724	140
Proceeded Without Clearance	8,656	64
Improper Turning-Related	13,079	63
Distracted Driver	11,484	62
Careless/Illegal Passing	5,328	57
Drowsy Drivers	2,396	12
Tailgating	5,797	11

Common Car Accident Injuries

Whiplash
It is the most common neck injury in road accidents. Sudden movements of the head during a collision lead to overstrain of the soft tissues of the neck and injury to them. This injury is insidious in that it may not appear immediately, but even after several days. Depending on the extent of the damage, rehabilitation can last from a week to six months.

Traumatic brain injuries
Some of the most dangerous injuries that can be sustained in an accident. Hitting your head on interior objects or car parts leads to a concussion, skull fracture, paralysis, and, in some cases, can be fatal.

Limb injuries
This is a whole group of injuries that includes muscle sprains, ligaments, joint dislocations, bone fractures, and even amputation. It all depends on the type of collision, for example, in a frontal impact, parts of the car from the engine compartment can damage the legs of the driver and front passenger.

Lacerations
Such injuries can occur quite often. As a result of an accident, some parts of the car are damaged and form sharp edges. Contact with such surfaces or glass shards will result in lacerations. They are rarely serious, except in deep wounds with damage to blood vessels.

Features of Car Accident Insurance

Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh’s home state, has a no-fault law in car accidents. This means that all drivers must have car insurance. There are two types of coverage to choose from: full and limited.

Limited:

• the cost of the policy is cheaper compared to a full one
• covers only economic damage
• it is possible to file a claim for non-economic damages under certain conditions:

1. seriously injured as a result of an accident
2. the driver at fault was driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
3. the at-fault driver deliberately caused an accident
4. the at-fault driver was driving a vehicle registered out of state.

Full:

• the cost of the policy is more expensive than the limited one
• there are no restrictions on filing a claim for economic and non-economic damages.

Minimum car insurance limits in Pittsburgh:
for personal injury: $15,000 per person/$30,000 per accident
for property damage: $5,000.

Why Hire Car Accident Lawyers in Pittsburgh

The process of settling a car accident case can be complex and time-consuming. Trying to resolve issues on your own may not achieve the desired level of compensation. Getting help from experienced Pittsburgh car accident lawyers will increase the chances of a successful resolution of your case. Car accident lawyers in Pittsburgh have the necessary knowledge and experience to resolve various issues related to road accidents.

They investigate the causes of the accident and determine the cause and degree of guilt of each party. They collect the necessary evidence, study the police report, and interview witnesses. Receive reports from medical experts. They prepare claims and develop tactics for conducting your case.

Negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf. Very often, insurance companies try to place as much blame on the client as possible to reduce payments. An experienced car accident lawyers in Pittsburgh can counter these attempts and guide the insurance company to an acceptable level of compensation. Most cases end in a successful settlement at the stage of negotiations with the insurance company.

Cases in which negotiations reach an impasse and it is not possible to settle in this way are sent to court. In court, lawyers will represent your interests. Based on the evidence collected and knowledge of local laws, they will try to convey to the jury your right to receive adequate compensation.

Helpful Skills for Pittsburgh Car Accident Lawyers

Conducting any case regarding an accident can be divided into three parts: preparation of materials, negotiations with the insurance company, and trial. The third part may not always be in action. For each stage, we will highlight a main skill.

Ability to analyze
When investigating a car accident, it is necessary to identify the true cause of the accident and identify the parties at fault. Gathering evidence will be equally important. It is necessary to carefully analyze the police report, possible videos from various CCTV cameras, and witness statements. In such a situation, Pittsburgh car accident lawyers with the ability to analyze will be able to prepare an excellent evidence base for conducting the case.

Ability to persuade
Insurance companies care about their interests, so they try to offer clients minimal compensation in case of an accident. The lawyer’s task is to conduct quality negotiations with the insurance company. It is necessary to convince representatives of the insurance company that your position is correct and that your compensation claims are fair. It is the ability to persuade that can serve as a key factor in achieving the desired result.

Creativity
If the case goes to trial, the Pittsburgh car accident lawyer not only needs to know local laws and court procedures. It will not be enough to simply state the facts and provide evidence. This must be done in such a way that the jury will feel all the experiences of the client. This will help tip the scales in favor of the client and obtain compensation.

Where Can I Find the Pittsburgh Car Accident Lawyers?

Recommendations: Ask friends, family, or co-workers about car accident lawyers they have hired and been satisfied with. Surely one of them was in the same situation and used the services of Pittsburgh car accident lawyers.

Specialized directories: use search sites such as Avvo or FindLaw. There you can find lawyers in your area who handle car accident cases.

Bar Association: Contact the Pittsburgh Bar Association. They should have information on the lawyers you are interested in.

Social Media: Harness the power of social media. Visit legal forums and groups. View recommendations and ask your questions. You can get enough information about Pittsburgh car accident lawyers in your region.

Local Advertising: Look out for local publications and billboards. Law firms often advertise on them. Use contacts and get in touch with them.

Consultations: Take advantage of the initial consultations that most car accident lawyers offer in Pittsburgh. They are most often free. At them, discuss the issues that interest you with lawyers and pay attention to the qualities of the lawyer. This will help in making the right choice.

Recommendations for Actions After a Car Accident

All participants in an accident who are injured should seek medical help.

Move to a safer location to avoid another accident.

Notify the police and wait for their accident report.

Save all the necessary information about the accident: photos of vehicle damage,
contacts of witnesses, and information about those involved in the accident.

Notify your insurance company of the accident.

Consult a car accident lawyer.

Don’t Do this After a Car Accident

There are recommendations on actions that are not advisable to do after a car accident:

Guilty plea
This may weaken your legal position and result in less compensation being awarded. Do not admit fault when giving statements to police, notifying your insurance company, or communicating with others involved in the accident.

Late seeking of medical help
To receive compensation for injuries, you must prove the connection of these injuries with the accident. Therefore, it is important to seek medical attention immediately if you have an injury or even suspect an injury, because some injuries may take time to manifest themselves.

Agree to a quick settlement
Insurance companies may take advantage of clients’ stress and offer low compensation. Consult with a car accident lawyer in Pittsburgh about your case. He will be able to assess the required level of compensation and based on this you can decide on settlement.

List of Typical Car Accident Compensations

Road accident victims may be entitled to compensation for economic and non-economic damages caused by the accident, such as:

• car repair or replacement
• restoration of other damaged property
• death of a relative
• lost wages
• medical expenses
• pain and suffering
• rehabilitation costs
• other related expenses, such as rental vehicles.

Tips to Prevent Getting Involved in a Car Accident

Follow the traffic rules: do not ignore traffic lights, and maintain the speed limit.

Drive responsibly: Do not make phone calls, text messages, or eat or drink while driving.

Consider weather conditions: reduce speed, turn on fog lights, and increase distance when weather conditions worsen.

Do not drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol: it is better to use public transport or call a taxi.

Avoid aggressive driving: use turn signals to indicate your maneuvers in advance, maintain a safe distance, and do not brake suddenly.

FAQs