FAQs

If You Have Been Involved In A Motor Vehicle Accident:

• Try to keep calm.
• Do not admit any responsibility at the accident scene.
• Do not leave the scene of the accident.
• Contact the police as soon as possible even if you don’t think that there is any visible property damage or injuries.
• Do not discuss the scope (amount and type) of your insurance coverage.  You should provide the name of your insurance company and your policy number to the police at the scene of the accident.
• Record names, addresses and phone numbers of all parties involved in the accident and any witnesses.
• Obtain the insurance information (name of company and policy number) from the other driver or from the police as well as the other driver’s license number and other information on the license.  Many times, the police will not provide you with a copy of any information at the accident scene, so you must be prepared to record it on your own.
• Note the date, time, and location of the accident including details like cross streets, lane configurations, vehicle descriptions, license plate numbers and other relevant information.
• If you feel any pain or discomfort, go to the hospital immediately from the scene of the accident.  Even if you do not feel pain or discomfort at the accident scene, you may feel differently the next day.  Consult with your physician as soon as possible just to ensure that you are not injured.
• In the event of any injury or property damage from the accident, contact an attorney.  An attorney will help you present your claim to your insurance company and the other driver’s insurance company to recover all benefits that are due to you.  DO NOT contact the other driver’s insurance company directly - leave it to your attorney.

FOR A LIST OF ATTORNEYS WITH WHOM TO CONSULT IF YOU HAVE BEEN IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT CLICK HERE

Does Your Automobile Insurance Protect You?

• If you are involved in an accident, what does your auto insurance cover?
• Were you asked to make a “Tort Election” when you renewed your insurance?
• When is “Full Coverage” not the same as “Full Tort?”
• How much medical coverage do you need on your auto policy?
• What is Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage and do you need it?
• Can you lose the right to sue the person responsible for your accident?

     Insurance coverage today is quite different than it was a few years ago.  In Pennsylvania, for example, to be fully covered under the law all one is required to do is purchase liability insurance (insurance if someone sues you) in the amount of $15,000.00/$30,000.00, property damage coverage for someone else’s vehicle you damage in the amount of $5,000.00 and medical coverage for injuries to you and occupants of your vehicle in the amount of $5,000.00.  It is no longer mandatory in Pennsylvania to insure your self against uninsured drivers.

     Insurance companies offer various discounts with policies.  One discount that is heavily presented today is the one offered for choosing Limited Tort as opposed to Full Tort.  A Tort, in civil law, is the equivalent of a crime in criminal law.  When a person injures you or causes damage to your property because he was negligent, he has committed a tort against you.  If you choose the less expensive Limited Tort option, you have limited your ability to bring a claim or a lawsuit against the person that injured you.  Except for circumstances involving death, serious permanent disfigurement amd serious impairment of a body function, you will have lost your right to sue if you chose the limited tort option.

FOR A LIST OF ATTORNEYS WITH WHOM TO CONSULT IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS INVOLVING YOUR INSURANCE COVERAGE CLICK HERE

What Do You Do About Your Injuries From An Accident?

• You may not feel pain immediately after an accident, what should you do?
• Is your family doctor familiar with the care of accident victims?
• How long can you expect to be in pain?
• How do you know if your pain is serious?

     Even motor vehicle accidents at low speeds that do not appear to cause much property damage can injure the occupants of a motor vehicle.  You should seek medical attention immediately after an accident if you are in pain.  Many times, you may feel anxious after an accident and not realize until the next morning that you are sore.  You should seek medical attention whenever you experience pain following an accident.

     Certain medical providers today spend a great deal of their time helping individuals that have been in accidents.  Pain Management, Physical Therapy and other forms of treatment offered by certain medical providers can greatly improve your chances of recovering more quickly and more fully.  Experienced medical providers that know how to deal with insurance companies can make your time of trouble more tolerable.

FOR A LIST OF ATTORNEYS WITH WHOM TO CONSULT IF YOU HAVE BEEN IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT CLICK HERE