Should I Call My Own Insurance Company After A Car Accident?

You should call your own insurance company right away to tell them about the accident and how it happened to assist the company in beginning its own investigation of the property damage. This becomes particularly important if you do not have comprehensive coverage or collision coverage on your vehicle. If you do not have collision coverage on your vehicle, you will have to go through the at-fault party’s insurance company in order to get your vehicle fixed. This can be a time-consuming process, as the at-fault party is typically not in much of a rush to fix your vehicle.

It is very important that you let your insurance company know how the accident happened, so that they can deny the claim and demand that the other side fix the vehicle. When you speak with your own insurance company, do not give them any details regarding your injuries. Simply tell them that you were injured and that you will be seeking medical attention; you don’t have to be specific. If you insurance company pushes you or asks you what part of your body hurts you can give a general response an tell them that you are going to a doctor. For example you might tell them: “My back hurts. I’m going to go get check out by a doctor.”

Are Future Surgeries And Treatments Included In Car Accident Settlements?

Future surgeries and treatments should be included in car accident settlements. A settlement is for all past, current, and future treatments, plus pain and suffering. You only get one shot at settling your case. It is very important that all your current pain and suffering and medical treatments and all your future medical treatments and pain and suffering are taken into account. For example, if you are in a vehicle accident and tear your ACL, despite months of rehab, you may require surgery. If you require surgery, you may require additional treatments in the future. In developing the cost and requirement of future surgeries, your attorney would contact your treating physician or another expert witness. This expert physician or surgeon would testify as to the diagnosis of your injury, how to treat that injury, and which treatments could be reasonably anticipated in the future. They would also testify as to how much those treatments would cost.

If your ACL is torn in a car accident, then your future economic damages would include the cost of the surgery, the cost of rehabilitation after the surgery, and your future pain and suffering, depending on your age. You can be sure your knee is going to turn arthritic and you are going to have more difficulty with that knee as you age and even possibly requiring a future surgery. It is very important that all these things are taken into consideration when you settle your case because you only get one chance. You cannot open up a settlement later; settlements are final and you only get one shot at it.

I Was In A Car Accident And Was A Rideshare Passenger. What Are My Options For Filing A Personal Injury Suit?

If you are a passenger in a rideshare vehicle, you cannot be liable. The accident was not your fault, no matter how it occurred. Either it was the rideshare driver’s fault or a third party’s fault. If you have been injured in a rideshare accident, it is very important that you contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible to determine who is at fault. If a third party is at fault, that driver’s car insurance will cover the damages. The minimum state coverage in Pennsylvania is $15,000/30,000, so if your injuries are severe, you may require additional insurance coverage. The good news is that all rideshare companies provide uninsured and underinsured motorist benefits. The two most popular rideshare companies, Lyft and Uber, both provide up to one million dollars in coverage. Regardless of who is at fault in your accident, you should be able to recover financially.

Under Pennsylvania law, you are considered a full tort claimant, meaning that there is no limitation on your ability to recover for pain and suffering. There will also be insurance coverage because if the third-party motorist is uninsured or doesn’t have enough insurance, you can recover with the claim against the rideshare company. The only thing you need to worry about during an accident, as a passenger in a rideshare vehicle, is ensuring that you get the proper treatment you need.

For more information on Car Accidents In Pennsylvania, an initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (267) 225-3317 today.