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When is the Other Driver at Fault? Can I Get Compensation for my Car Accident Injury?

First and foremost, you are always compensated for your injury. The first source of compensation is your insurance company. In Pennsylvania, every driver is required to have insurance. Pennsylvania is what is called a “no fault state” for car insurance coverage meaning that you are compensated by the insurance company whether or not you or the other driver caused the crash.

Usually, your insurance company will cover up to $15,000 worth of damages.

If your injuries are more severe and go beyond this, the question becomes who is at fault? The best way to answer this question is to contact the car accident lawyers at TopDog Law or CALL  (800)-215-7211 Below are the most common scenarios where the other driver is at fault:

• Driver Error – this is the most common cause of Philadelphia car accidents. Examples of driver error include speeding, driving under the influence, following too closely, failing to yield to the right of way and disregard of traffic control devices.
• Rear-End Collisions – the second most common reason why the other driver may be at fault, and you are entitled to additional compensation from a Philadelphia car accident, is because he or she rear-ended your vehicle. Rear-end collisions occur when the front-end of a car crashes into the back-end of another vehicle. Frequently, rear end collisions are caused by intoxication or cell phone use. On Interstate 76 and Interstate 95 in particular, rear-end collisions are far too common resulting in serious injuries or death. Even if you believe your symptoms are less serious, it is best to seek medical treatment immediately after the accident.
• Texting and Other Driver Distractions – In 2015, 391,000 injuries were caused by distracted driving related accidents. Driver distraction is the cause of 58% of accidents involving teens. While the biggest problem is texting, other distractions include: GPS, music, makeup, reading, and many more.

If the other driver is at fault, usually you can go after his insurance company for another $15,000. If $30,000 is still not enough, you may need to fight to prove your injuries.

What Kind of Injury Will I Need to Prove for Additional Compensation?

It is easy to dismiss a car accident as a fender-bender. Particularly when a car is traveling at a slow rate of speed, many mistakenly assume he or she will walk away from the accident with no injuries. Far too often, however, symptoms like whiplash present themselves days after the accident. While whiplash may seem insignificant at first, it can cause permanent neck injuries that impact you for the rest of your life.

More serious injuries that often occur following a Philadelphia car accident are brain injuries and spinal cord injuries. A Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) occurs following a car accident far more frequently than most people realize. The same is true for a spinal cord injury (SCI). Importantly, the symptoms of these more serious injuries may take weeks to set in following a car accident.

If you have suffered any sort of injury as a result of a car accident and think you may be entitled to compensation, fill out the free case evaluation below or CALL (800)-215-7211

How Do I Get the Most Money Possible in a Compensation or Settlement?

1. Call the Police Even if the other driver urges you not to do so, the first step to securing maximum compensation is calling the police. You want to call the police for a couple reasons. First, you want to contact the police because you want an accident report on file. Second, the officer will take notes and photos which will be beneficial in proving fault. Finally, there is the possibility that the other driver gets charged with reckless driving or even DUI. Those charges can be beneficial in your case.
2. Take Pictures & Collect Info from the Other Driver One problem we’ve encountered is missing information in the accident report taken by police. For that reason, we urge you to write down the following:
   • The name of everyone in either vehicle including passengers.
   • The other driver’s name, phone number, address, and driver’s license info.
   • The other driver’s insurance info including the license plate number.
   • The name and phone number of any witnesses at the scene of the accident. The location of the accident & current road conditions (wet, icy, etc). The extent of damage to the vehicles including pictures of the Injuries.

3. Seek Medical Care Due to the sudden impact of a car accident, it is important to be cautious. Injuries like whiplash can take days to manifest. Thus, you may feel ok immediately after the accident only for symptoms to arise in the days following. Other, more serious injuries, like brain injuries (TBI) or spinal cord injuries may take even longer for you to notice. Therefore, we strongly advise scheduling an appointment with your doctor even if you do not feel that it is necessary. Often, the longer you wait to get medical care, the more difficult it is for us to get you maximum compensation. 

4. Call a Car Accident Lawyer The most important piece of advice is to never talk to the other driver’s insurance company until you have consulted a lawyer. Insurance companies manipulate. They intentionally utilize strategies to force you to admit fault. This will hinder your ability to collect maximum compensation from them.

5. Contact Your Insurance Company After contacting your attorney, the lawyer should be helpful in guiding you through the remainder of the process. That includes speaking with your insurance company. A percentage of your driver’s insurance is dedicated towards medical expenses in the event of an accident. A lawyer can help you get as much as possible from your insurance company before you file a lawsuit against the other driver.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Philadelphia Auto Accident Lawyer at TopDog Law?

The short answer is nothing. Our Philadelphia auto accident lawyers work on a contingency basis meaning they do not get paid unless you get paid. We also cover all the up-front costs for expenses like experts who we will use to testify on your behalf. Therefore, we have every incentive to ensure that we win and get you the most compensation possible for your injury. CALL (800)-215-7211 and tell us your story today.

Car Accident Lawyers Near Me

TopDog Law services all 67 counties in Pennsylvania and has easy-to-access offices across the Philadelphia region. We also pride ourselves in being a text message away. Our lawyers routinely travel to meet clients in their home or close to their home. Do not hesitate to reach out if you are unable to travel to one of our locations.