While you may not have as many responsibilities after a car accident as a motor vehicle driver in Pennsylvania, you should still take certain steps to protect yourself as an injured passenger. Depending on the circumstances, you may need to hire a car accident attorney in Pittsburgh to help you seek fair financial compensation for your medical bills and various other losses.
Get Immediate Medical Attention
Check yourself and others in the accident for injuries. Render aid to the driver of your car and other injured parties, as necessary. Then, get medical care for your injuries. Never delay in seeking treatment after an auto accident. If you are injured as a vehicle passenger, you may have bone fractures, soft-tissue damage, or a serious injury involving the brain or spine. You could also suffer seat belt or airbag injuries.
Prompt medical care can ensure that you receive the treatment you need to make the best possible physical recovery. It also serves as proof to an insurer that you were injured in the automobile accident. If you wait to see a doctor, on the other hand, this could give an insurer a reason to reject your claim or reduce the settlement offer based on your “failure to mitigate your losses.”
Gather Information About the Crash
Collect information about the auto accident so that you can build a strong insurance claim. While you generally do not have to prove fault to recover financial compensation as an injured passenger – one or both drivers will have to pay for your losses since you were an innocent victim – you do need evidence of your injuries and related bills.
You also need proof that you suffered the injuries in the car accident and not in an unrelated incident. Collect evidence such as photographs of the scene of the crash, a copy of the police accident report, statements from eyewitnesses, video footage, the contact information of both drivers and all of your medical records.
File a Claim Against the At-Fault Driver
Once you have seen a doctor and understand the extent of your injuries, begin the car insurance claims process by contacting the at-fault driver’s provider. If you are not sure who is at fault, file a claim with the insurer of the driver of your vehicle.
If the driver’s insurer believes that someone else is to blame, it can pursue financial compensation from that party on your behalf. Otherwise, you can recover compensation from the driver of your vehicle up to the coverage limit under his or her policy.
Seek Coverage From Your Own Insurer
If you own a motor vehicle and have your own auto insurance policy, it may be possible to file a personal injury protection (PIP) claim for additional coverage for your costs and losses. PIP insurance is available regardless of who caused the car accident; it is also known as “no-fault coverage.” When speaking to your car insurance company, avoid discussing fault. This is a complex issue that should be left to investigators.
Consult With a Car Accident Lawyer
Pennsylvania’s car accident laws can be difficult to navigate even if you weren’t one of the drivers. Unfortunately, car insurance companies put their own best interests first – not the interests of claimants. This can result in lowball settlement offers and wrongfully rejected claims.
Before accepting a fast insurance settlement for your injuries as a motor vehicle passenger, contact a car accident attorney in Pittsburgh to determine the potential value of your case. Your lawyer will help you consider the long-term implications of a severe injury and fight for maximum compensation from all available sources for you as a passenger.
Consulting with a car accident attorney before accepting a fast insurance settlement is important for injury victims because if the victim accepts less than he or she deserves, the case cannot be reopened.
If you or a loved one sustained a catastrophic injury, for example, an experienced personal injury lawyer in Pittsburgh can ensure you are treated fairly by an insurer and recover a reasonable amount in financial damages. To learn more about how to handle a head-on collision claim in Pennsylvania, contact Dallas W. Hartman P.C., Attorneys at Law for a free case evaluation.