You Are Not Alone
Most of us are aware that auto accidents account for millions of injuries each year in the United States as well as thousands of fatalities. If you or someone you know has been seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident, contact Liss & Marion for a free consultation about your case. In order to protect yourself and your loved ones, review the following information about the steps you should take if you are involved in a motor vehicle accident, as well as the important information concerning your right to sue for damages.
Over 2.3 million people are injured or disabled from car accidents every year in the United States.
What To Do After A Car Accident
Panic is a common response for anyone involved in a motor vehicle accident. Try to keep as calm as possible to obtain as much information about the circumstances of the accident as you can. By following these steps, you can reduce your risk of missing or forgetting important details about the accident, and you can increase your chances of receiving fair compensation for any injuries you’ve sustained.
Follow These Important Steps:
Call for an ambulance – Anyone seriously injured because of the accident should seek medical attention immediately.
Write down the name, address, phone and driver’s license numbers, and insurance information of the other driver(s) involved in the accident – This information is vital for both parties and their respective attorneys.
Write down the names, addresses, and phone numbers of all witnesses, including passengers in both cars – Recording this information immediately after the accident can help sort out any later disputes that may arise from different accounts of the accident.
Write down the other car’s make, year and license number.
Make notes on road conditions as well as where and when the accident happened – this information will be useful in determining who was at fault.
Don’t Lose Your Right To Sue In Pennsylvania
Tom was a passenger in a car which was owned and operated by his friend Joe. They were in a motor vehicle accident when stopped at a red light and struck in the rear, and both suffered similar injuries to their neck and back. Joe had car insurance with the full tort option. Joe recovered thousands of dollars for his injuries because he had full tort rights. Tom, the passenger, did not own a car but lived with his mother who owned a car with limited tort insurance. Tom, bound by his mother’s selection of limited tort insurance, was not entitled to any money to pay him for his pain and suffering. The court found that his injuries were not serious as defined by the limited tort law.
You and your family may lose the right to recover money for your pain and suffering if you do not have the proper car insurance. What an insurance company may call “full coverage” is not necessarily full protection for you. Accident victims are often shocked to learn that they will not recover any money for their injuries.
Do You Have Auto Insurance?
Full Tort
Full tort means the right to sue for pain and suffering if another driver is at fault in causing you an injury. Limited tort means that you will limit your right to sue. If you or a family member in your household select limited tort, then you often may not recover any money, even if another motorist is at fault and causes you to suffer injuries. Sometimes, there are exceptions to limited tort but do not take a chance: buy full tort!
Uninsured Motorist and Underinsured Motorist
This protects your right to receive compensation for your pain and suffering if you or your family member is involved in a collision with a driver who is not insured or is poorly insured. This insurance will also protect you if the accident is caused by someone operating a stolen vehicle, a hit and run vehicle or an unidentified motorist.
We strongly recommend that you have both full tort as well as uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. As a courtesy to its clients, the Liss & Marion law firm will conduct a complimentary review of insurance policies to be sure that its clients and clients’ families are fully protected.