How a Car Accident Lawyer Can Help You
A car accident lawyer can help you if you are injured by a car crash. The law allows you to seek damages from a negligent party if you have been hurt in an auto accident. But, you have to make sure that you do it right, and you have to know where to start. You need to gather information from other drivers and witnesses, and you need to file a claim within a reasonable amount of time.
Gather information from other motorists and witnesses after the accident
One of the most important aspects of getting the facts in a car crash is obtaining the information of other motorists and witnesses. Not only can they help you determine who was at fault, they can also provide useful testimony. However, it’s not always easy to gather this information from people who weren’t involved in the accident. Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to get it.
Read: What information does my car accident lawyer need from me?
The first step is to call 9-1-1. This is to let law enforcement know about the accident, and to give them vital information. They may ask if anyone is bleeding, and they might need to know where the nearest on-ramp is. You must also provide them with the number of people in need.
Next, you should gather all of the important facts you can. This includes the date and time of the accident, the weather conditions, and the location of the scene. You should also write down the name of the driver, the make and model of the vehicle, and the owner’s name.
File a claim within a reasonable amount of time
One of the most challenging parts of insurance coverage is knowing whether or not your claim will be paid out. In the event of a claim dispute, it is advisable to consult a skilled and experienced personal injury attorney to see if you have a good case to begin with. It is also prudent to learn about the types of deductibles and premiums before the insurance carrier tacks on the extra padding. Luckily, many companies have an online resource library where you can find all the pertinent information on a single page. To help, you can use the company’s online claim form to provide your insurer with all of your pertinent insurance claim information. You may also want to keep a notebook of all of your pertinent insurance documents at all times as well. This will serve you well should the unthinkable event occur. You might also be interested in learning more about the best ways to keep your claim information private and off the record.
Get punitive damages
Punitive damages are an additional compensation that may be awarded to victims in a car accident case. This amount is meant to deter future bad behavior by the other party. If you have been involved in a car accident and you are unsure of whether or not you can receive punitive damages, you should speak with an experienced car accident lawyer.
In Pennsylvania, a victim has the right to recover from the other driver’s expenses and injuries in a personal injury lawsuit. You can also claim for property damage and related expenses.
Generally, the insurance company does not offer to pay for punitive damages. However, you have the right to request that they do. You can even include it in your settlement. But if you accept the settlement, you are likely to lose your ability to seek further compensation.
In order to win a lawsuit for punitive damages, you must prove that the other driver was reckless and/or deliberately indifferent. This means that you must prove that the other party intentionally ignored the safety of others and drove at a high speed. The court will consider the details of your accident and the defendant’s conduct.
