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Car Accident Lawyers in Luzerne County

Car Accident Claims

A car crash injures someone about every 14 seconds, resulting in 2.31 million people being injured annually. Located in Hazleton, Slusser Law Firm represents clients throughout Eastern Pennsylvania.

Our car accident lawyers in Luzerne County are committed to protecting the rights of clients who have been injured in car accidents.

Injured in a car accident? Call (570) 405-9953or contact us onlinefor seasoned legal representation. Providing Strong Representation across Schuylkill & Carbon Counties.

Road hazard sign in front of a car accident

Should You Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?

Being involved in a car accident can be overwhelming and stressful, particularly when you are left injured or with property damage. In such cases, it is important to consider the services of a car accident lawyer to protect your rights.

Our Luzerne car accident lawyer has the expertise and experience to handle the legal complexity of car accident cases, from gathering evidence to negotiating a settlement or representing you in court.

Our attorneys are familiar with the insurance companies, local authorities and filing deadlines. We will work diligently on your behalf for the best outcome possible in your case. Don't wait, it is never too early to contact a car accident lawyer after an accident. We can provide peace of mind reliable guidance to help you through this difficult time.

What Are the Common Causes of Car Accidents?

Car accidents happen for a variety of reasons. Some of the most common causes include:

  • Distracted Driving
  • Texting While Driving
  • Speeding
  • Reckless Driving
  • Poor Weather Conditions
  • Drunk Drivers

If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident that was caused by another person's negligence, contact Slusser Law Firm today to learn more about your options.

What Should You Do After a Car Accident?

If you ever find yourself involved in a collision, it’s good to stay prepared and know what you should do after a car accident.

Check for Injuries: Before anything else, check yourself and your passengers for injuries. If something is damaged or broken, you don’t want to risk further injury. Identify sources of pain, any loss of feeling, or bleeds. If the injury looks bad, try to stay calm. If you or someone else suffered broken bones or serious bleeding, call 911 immediately.

Call for Help: Getting emergency response professionals on the scene helps everyone get the care they need as soon as possible. If someone is seriously hurt, urgent treatment can prevent additional damage and can improve the chances of a successful recovery. While shock and confusion hold a powerful influence on accident victims, someone must call emergency services. You should also call the police to get an officer on the scene. Pennsylvania law requires a police report after a car accident if the crash resulted in an injury of any kind, including death. You must also file a report if either vehicle cannot drive away from the scene.

Create a Record: Filing a police report begins a paper trail documenting a car crash. Having a police officer on the scene creates an unbiased statement regarding the damage and the physical state of those involved in the accident. It’s better to file a report sooner than later. Although you have five days to file a report, Pennsylvania law requires drivers to help anyone injured in a crash. Failure to do so could result in a criminal hit-and-run charge, even if you were not at fault for the crash. It’s safer to file a report from the scene.

Exchange Information: After a crash, you need to collect the other driver’s insurance information so you can file a claim. This includes:

  • Their name
  • Home address
  • Phone number
  • Insurance provider
  • Policy number
  • Driver’s license number
  • License plate number

Take Pictures: After exchanging information, make an effort to take photos of the crash. These pictures will help the insurance company’s forensic investigators determine who was at fault for the accident. Take pictures of the full damage:

  • A picture of each car
  • A picture with both cars
  • A picture of the surrounding area if possible

Go to the Doctor: Although a crash already disrupted your day, you should go straight from the scene to your healthcare provider, assuming your injuries did not warrant a hospital visit. Going to the doctor immediately after a car accident can help identify internal injuries or other ailments that may have gone unnoticed. It also tells the insurance companies that the injuries were severe enough to warrant immediate medical attention.

  • Call Insurance: After leaving the doctor, you should call your insurance company. Most policies require you to report an accident with 24 hours. However, you only need to provide basic information at this time. If the insurance company requests a recorded statement, you have every right to refuse, no matter how hard they push.
  • Contact an Attorney: After you’ve managed your health and fulfilled your obligation to the insurance company, you should consult an experienced auto injury attorney. If there’s any doubt about who caused the accident, an attorney can examine all of the evidence you collected and fight for your justice. Hiring an attorney can make an enormous difference when it comes to settling your injury case as they will take care of all the paperwork and negotiating while you rest and recover.

Dealing with Injuries After an Accident

foot in a cast next to crutches

Car accidents result in serious and catastrophic injuries, leaving people to deal with a long recovery period or permanent injuries.

A severe injury impacts every area of your life, leaving you in need of expensive medical care, in pain, and unable to work or lead your normal life.

Our car accident attorneys in Luzerne County work to obtain compensation for clients when the accident was caused by another driver’s negligence.

What Compensation Is Available for Car Accident Injuries?

Serious injuries can leave you unable to work, to pay your bills, or cover the costs of your medical care. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and the related costs.

The specific compensation available depends on the extent of your injuries and impact on your ability to work now and in the future.

You may be entitled to financial compensation for:

  • Medical expenses
  • Lost wages
  • Loss of earning capacity
  • Permanent disability
  • Disfigurement
  • Physical and mental pain and suffering
  • Punitive damages

Can You Sue An Uninsured Driver For Damages?

What if the driver who hit you didn't have insurance? How are you supposed to obtain compensation for your injuries? The best way to ensure you are covered in the event of an accident with an uninsured driver is to obtain uninsured or underinsured coverage through your insurance company.

However, if you did not have these policies at the time of your accident, you still may be able to obtain compensation by filing a lawsuit directly against the individual responsible for the accident. However, it is always wise to discuss your accident with a professional car accident lawyer first to ensure that this is the best course of action for you.

Car Accident FAQ:

How long after a car accident can you sue in PA?

According to Pennsylvania Code title 42, section 5524, victims of car accidents are permitted to file a personal injury or wrongful death claim up to 2 years after the date of their accident or the date of the victim's death (in the case of wrongful death claims).

Is Pennsylvania a no fault state for car accidents?

Yes. Pennsylvania follows a modified comparative fault rule, which means that if you are found to be over 50% responsible for the accident you will not be able to recover damages from the other at-fault party.

In cases where you are less than 50% responsible for the accident you may be able to recover a percentage of your damages equal to the percent the other party was at fault.

For example, if you were 30% responsible for the accident, you may recover up to 70% of your total damages.

How do you prove negligence in a car accident?

When it comes to proving negligence contributed to a car accident, you will need to demonstrate the following:

  • The other driver had a duty (according to the law) to be careful and pay attention while driving
  • The other driver did not exercise the caution they should have (whether by driving while distracted, driving recklessly, driving while intoxicated or on drugs, speeding, etc.)
  • The other driver caused the accident and your injuries by failing to exercise caution
  • You suffered specific monetary or non-monetary damages as a result of the accident

What is Drowsy Driving?

You may often hear about the different problems that exist on the road and how they can cause significant injuries in the event of a crash. Three of the most common are speeding, drunk driving, and distracted driving. However, many people dismiss one big issue: drowsy driving.

Drowsy driving can result in many of the same symptoms that exist with other acts of negligence such as driving while intoxicated and texting while driving.

A recent study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety talked about the potential dangers of drowsy driving. Before the study, federal estimates indicated that drowsy driving was responsible for anywhere from 1-2% of accidents. According to the study, however, those numbers are actually around 9.5%, making it roughly four times more dangerous than originally thought.

What should you not say to an insurance adjuster after an accident?

After an accident you will most likely receive a call from either your insurance company, or the other party's insurance company, and sometimes both.

Before you speak with either insurance company, there are a few things you should keep in mind:

  • Do not admit fault
  • Do not give specific details about the accident or your injuries
  • Do not say you are uninjured or that you are "fine"
  • Do not give an official statement
  • Do not accept their first settlement offer
  • Do not speculate about the events leading up to or following the accident

Contact Slusser Law Firm Today!

Our car accident attorneys fight to help clients secure the compensation needed to heal and regain their lives. Don’t wait to get the legal advice you need. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When you call our office after normal business hours, a lawyer will return your call within an hour to discuss your case.

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