Our Personal Injury Attorneys Have the Answers You Need

After a catastrophic injury, you have a lot of questions on your mind. You can get in touch with us at Phillips Froetschel, LLC to receive informative answers backed by over 40 collective years of experience. Please read on to get a few answers about personal injury claims.

How do I know if I have a case?

Not every injury means that you can sue to recover compensation. However, you may have an actionable personal injury claim on your hands if:

• Someone else acted recklessly or negligently
• Their recklessness or negligence caused your injury or illness
• As a result, you have damages such as medical bills or permanent impairment

You need to prove all three elements to recover compensation.

The best way to know if you have a case is to talk to our personal injury lawyers.  Phillips Froetschel provides a free consultation and case evaluation. There are no upfront costs to explore your possible claim. We get paid only if we take your case and recover compensation.

What is the difference between an insurance claim and a lawsuit?

An insurance claim is the paperwork that you file with your insurance company to have them cover your damages. A lawsuit involves you suing the other party’s insurance company to recover compensation for your damages. In some cases, you may need to sue your own provider if they act in bad faith and refuse to honor your insurance policy.

How long does a personal injury lawsuit take?

The duration of a personal injury claim varies depending on the injury and many other factors. Most claims take a few months to one year. Others may take several years to resolve.

Who is responsible for paying my medical bills?

In a car accident, your own auto policy covers medical bills if you have no-fault insurance. In other personal injury cases, your health insurance should cover initial medical treatment. When your medical bills and ongoing medical care exceed those coverages, you may have to bring a suit against the at-fault driver or liable party to have their insurance cover your expenses and future medicals.

What is no-fault insurance?

No-fault insurance, also known as limited tort, is auto insurance that you buy. If you are hurt are in a motor vehicle collision, it covers your medical bills and lost wages up to the limits of your policy. As the name implies, your no-fault insurance pays even if the other driver was to blame, or even if the crash was 100% your fault. Limited tort means that you cannot sue the other party unless your injuries and losses meet certain thresholds.

Pennsylvania has a choice no-fault system. When purchasing an auto policy, drivers can choose limited tort (no-fault) or full tort. If you chose full tort, you would have to sue the other driver to cover your losses. No-fault only covers medical treatment and wage loss. It does not pay for pain and suffering or emotional damages.

What is the statute of limitations?

Pennsylvania has a two-year deadline to file claims for wrongful death accidents or other types of personal injury accidents. If you fail to meet this statute of limitations, you cannot recover compensation for your damages.

What should I do if I am in a car accident?

Your actions after an auto collision can help or harm your personal injury case.

Do’s

• Exchange insurance information and contact information with the other driver.
• Take photos of the damage to the vehicles. Take photos of your immediate injuries such as cuts or bruises. Take photos of the accident scene.
• Get witnesses’ info is possible.
• Write down everything you can remember about the accident.
• Seek medical treatment promptly, even if you think your injuries are minor.
• Follow through with all doctor’s orders, medical appointments and physical therapy.
• Inform your insurance agent but give them “just the facts.”
• Talk to a lawyer if you have any lasting injuries.

Don’ts

• Do not admit fault or discuss fault with the other driver.
• Do not give a written or recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company. Refer them to your attorney.
• Do not post anything about your accident on social media or post pictures that could be used to downplay your injuries.
• Do not wait two weeks to see a doctor. It will be harder to prove a causal connection or to prove that your injuries are serious.
• Do not sign any waivers or agree to any settlement offer without advice of any attorney. You could be selling away your rights.

Ask More in a Free Consultation With a Pittsburgh Lawyer

We know that these questions are probably the tip of the iceberg for you. You can speak with a knowledgeable in person when you make a free consultation. Please contact us today to get started. Call our Pittsburgh office at 412-643-0682 or send us an email. We work on a contingency fee basis.