Fishtown Car Accident Lawyer

Fishtown is a hub of culture, food and entertainment just northeast of Philadelphia’s busy Center City. Along with exponential growth in popularity in recent years has come an increase in traffic, and unfortunately, car accidents. If you or a loved one were injured or killed in an accident in Fishtown, you want an attorney who can help you recover the damages to which you are entitled. 

MyPhillyLawyer can help you get your life back after a car accident. We understand how hard it can be to do this. Our car accident lawyers are ready to protect your best interests in and out of the courtroom to get you the compensation you deserve. 

Causes of Car Accidents 

Driving in a metropolitan area can be tricky. Crowded roads, frequent stops, changes in traffic patterns, distractions and more, are some of the many challenges of driving in cities. Additionally, many drivers worry about other drivers who may or may not be experienced with city driving. Stress makes people more prone to making mistakes behind the wheel. Speeding and driving aggressively are common causes of accidents on city streets, especially during peak traffic times and on major traffic routes. 

Other top causes of accidents include:

• Reckless driving
• Driving too fast
• Distracted driving
• Aggressive driving
• Striking a fixed object
• Driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol
• Road conditions
• Driver errors
• Weather
• Vehicle malfunction

Potential Damages in a Car Accident Case

People involved in car accidents can recover financial restitution for the damages they have incurred from the crash. Pennsylvania is a choice no-fault accident state, so both parties can be compensated from their own insurance company in some cases, regardless of who caused the accident. This may limit a driver’s ability to sue another party for damages but not always.

Some of the damages that can potentially be recovered after a car crash include:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Lost benefits
• Future care costs
• Property damage
• Wrongful death
• Pain and suffering

Before accepting a settlement from an insurance company, contact a Fishtown car accident attorney. They can determine if this is the best course of action for you and your family. It is important to remember that insurance companies pay as little as possible to increase profits and might use the stressful nature of recovering from a car accident against you. 

Common Injuries Caused by Car Accidents

Injuries from car accidents can be instantly life-changing. Pain, paralysis, disability, and mental and emotional distress endure long after the accident itself for some. These can easily affect a person’s ability to earn a living and enjoy the things they love. Common injuries include:

• Impact injuries — These occur when a body part hits a surface in the car, like the steering wheel or dashboard. Head injuries, neck injuries, broken bones, broken ribs, sprains, fractures, internal bleeding, organ damage and other blunt-force traumas to the body are possible.
• Penetrating injuries — These occur when a foreign object enters the body or cuts and scrapes the skin. Glass from the windshield and side windows and metal are major culprits of these injuries. Loose objects from around the vehicle are hazardous when the force of impact turns them into projectiles. 
• Soft tissue injuries — These are sustained in car accidents more than any other injury. They include any injuries to the muscles, tendons, nerves, connective tissue and ligaments. Common forms include whiplash, herniated discs, contusions, nerve damage, muscle sprains and spinal cord injuries. Spinal injuries are prevalent and dangerous as they can cause permanent paralysis.
• Physical and emotional injuries — These injuriescan dramatically impact the quality of life. Some victims live with constant pain and disability after their accident. An experienced Fishtown car accident lawyer can help someone who has been hurt or lost a loved one in a crash to get the compensation they deserve from the parties who acted carelessly. 

Pennsylvania Car Accident Laws 

Pennsylvania grants two years from the date of the accident for a personal injury case to be filed. This includes car accidents. Two years seems like plenty of time to act; however, work must be done before filing that can take a while. Failure to abide by the statute of limitations will result in the case being dismissed and missing out on compensation for their damages. 

There are also comparative negligence rules that apply to some car accident cases in Pennsylvania. This means that you might be assigned a portion of the blame for the accident if your behavior contributed to it as well. It generally applies to cases that make it to court, but many insurance companies follow similar rules in negotiations. 

For example, if you are seriously injured when rear-ended by a car on Frankford Avenue and it is determined that you had a broken taillight at the time of the accident, you might be given 20 percent of the responsibility while the person who hit you gets 80 percent. Any settlement awarded to you in a court case will be reduced by 20 percent (so if you get $30,000, you will ultimately receive $24,000). 

What to Do After a Car Accident

After a car accident, you might feel overwhelmed by stress and emotion. To get the best outcome in your favor, though, there are some things you will want to do in the aftermath of an accident. 

Most important is to get medical attention and care you need immediately after the accident, even if you think your injuries are minor. Adrenaline and other stress hormones in the body will mask pain, making the true extent of an injury unknown for hours to days after the crash. 

After your accident, seeing a medical professional will help establish the evidence you might need to support your claim for damages. Waiting to seek care because you feel your injuries are not severe enough or because you feel OK can hurt your chances of being fully compensated for your injuries if they eventually worsen. 

You may also want to contact a skilled car accident attorney to discuss the details of your accident. They can determine if you have a claim against another party for causing your accident and give you an idea of your case’s potential value.

How a Fishtown Car Accident Lawyer Can Help

A lawyer will use their legal skills to get you the most compensation possible. They will gather relevant evidence to support your claim, handle insurance adjusters and even negotiate on your behalf. If your case needs to go to court, they will also represent you there.

Evidence is a critical component of a successful accident settlement. An attorney will be able to establish liability for your accident, so the person or parties who acted negligently can be held accountable. Medical evidence is important, too, as it shows the seriousness of the injuries you or your loved one suffered. A lawyer can help you get the medical care you need to feel better. 

Insurance companies are not known for their generosity to accident victims. Many will go to extraordinary lengths to pay out as little as possible to increase their bottom line, and they have teams of employees trained in how to help them achieve this. Having an attorney on your side levels the playing field and shows insurance companies that you are serious and cannot be taken advantage of by underhanded tactics. 

Car accident lawyers, including those at MyPhillyLawyer, typically work on a contingency fee basis. This means that you will pay no up-front fees. If your case is settled favorably and you receive compensation, the attorney will take a previously agreed-upon percentage from it. If you do not win, you pay nothing. This allows you to get top-notch legal representation after your accident with absolutely no financial risk. 

Contact MyPhillyLawyer 

If you or a loved one have had a car accident in Fishtown, experienced legal representation is available from MyPhillyLawyer. Our car accident attorneys understand the intricacies of the law and how insurance companies work. We fight for your rights both inside and outside the courtroom. 

You only have a certain amount of time to act in a car accident case. Pennsylvania grants two years to file a claim. Failure to meet this deadline can disqualify you from receiving compensation to which you are entitled, so reach out to MyPhillyLawyer as soon as possible. 

MyPhillyLawyer offers free consultations to discuss your case. Call 215-227-2727 to see how we can help you and your family as you recover from your car accident.