Car accidents can produce a wide range of debilitating and painful injuries. These injuries may require costly and long-lasting medical treatments in order to heal properly. Accordingly, crash victims regularly incur a substantial amount of medical expenses during their recoveries.
Thankfully, if you were hurt as the result of a car crash, you may be entitled to payment for the harm you endured. In general, there are two potential routes to payment. You may be able to file a claim seeking benefits from your own insurance company. Furthermore, you may also have grounds to file a case against the party who caused your collision.
After suffering a harmful crash in Pennsylvania, seek guidance from our experienced Philadelphia car accident attorneys by calling The Reiff Law Firm at (215) 709-6940 for a free case review.
Pursuing Payment for Medical Bills After Your Collision in Pennsylvania
Generally, car accident victims in Pennsylvania have two potential routes to obtain payment for their medical bills. After assessing your case, our car accident lawyers can determine which of the following options may be available to you:
Filing a Claim with Your Own Insurance Company
If you’re involved in a car accident in Pennsylvania, you may be able to acquire compensation for your medical bills by filing a claim with your own insurance company. In this scenario, you will utilize your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage, which is a mandatory part of auto insurance in our state. Thankfully, when seeking compensation for medical bills through PIP, you do not need to prove that another party is to blame for your crash.
In order to file a PIP claim, you must quickly notify your insurance company about your accident and the injuries you sustained. When reporting your accident, you will need to provide your insurer with a detailed description of how your collision happened and the injuries it caused.
Unfortunately, PIP coverage is not always sufficient to cover the damages caused by an accident. In such cases, victims may explore other options for pursuing monetary damages.
Filing a Claim Against the At-Fault Party
You may also obtain payment for medical bills after a car accident by filing a claim against the at-fault party and their insurance company. Typically, this type of claim is filed when a victim’s injuries are severe, and their medical expenses surpass the limits of PIP coverage.
In order to recover compensation from another party after your car accident, you must be able to prove that your crash happened as a result of their negligent behavior. There are several types of evidence that may be used to establish this causal link. However, such evidence may become hard to collect and preserve as time goes on. The sooner you get in touch with our legal team, the more efficiently we can gather the information required to recover damages from another party. We can help build your case and fight for the full range of financial compensation you are owed.
Time Limit for Filing a Car Accident Case Against Another Driver in Pennsylvania
Time limits for filing certain types of cases are set forth by specific statutes of limitations. In Pennsylvania, the time window for filing a car accident lawsuit is established by 42 Pa.C.S. § 5524.
Generally, you will have two years from the date of your accident to file your claim against another party. If you wait too long to file, then you may miss out on your opportunity to recover important compensation.
Furthermore, in addition to filing your case on time, there are several other conditions that you must satisfy. For instance, you must file in the correct jurisdiction, pay filing fees, attach supporting documents, serve defendants, and ensure that you are filing a complete claim. Fortunately, the team at our law firm can help ensure you meet these requirements when bringing your lawsuit against another driver.
Evidence Used to Recover Medical Bills in Pennsylvania Car Accident Lawsuits
In order to recover medical bills in a car accident lawsuit, you must be able to prove that your crash happened because of the defendant’s negligence. Furthermore, you must demonstrate that your accident was the actual cause of your injuries. The following are examples of evidence that may be used to establish these connections in your case:
Eyewitness Testimony
Eyewitnesses who saw the accident occur can provide crucial evidence to establish fault. Their accounts of the events leading up to the collision and the actions of the drivers involved can carry significant weight in court.
Accident Reconstruction Analysis
In complex cases, accident reconstruction experts may be employed. They use physical evidence, such as skid marks and vehicle damage, to recreate the sequence of events and determine fault based on scientific analysis.
Medical Records
You need to obtain official documentation of your car accident injuries in order to establish the damages caused by your crash. Accordingly, you should see a doctor as soon as possible after your collision.
If you wait for injuries to heal on their own, then you may seriously complicate the settlement process. Furthermore, the defendant’s insurer may assert that a delay in medical treatment means that you were not badly injured.
Photographic Evidence
Photographs taken at the scene of the accident, as well as of injuries and property damage, can vividly illustrate the impact of the crash and serve as compelling evidence of the damages caused.
Expert Medical Testimony
Medical experts can provide professional opinions about the injuries sustained, their severity, and the long-term effects on the victim’s health and well-being. Their testimony can help the jury understand the medical aspects of the case.
Personal Journals or Diaries
If the injured party kept a journal documenting their recovery, pain, and limitations post-accident, these entries can be used as evidence to demonstrate the impact of the accident on their daily life.
Call Our Car Accident Attorneys Today for Help with Your Case in Pennsylvania
Get assistance from our experienced Allentown car accident lawyers by calling The Reiff Law Firm at (215) 709-6940.
