Common Auto Accident Injuries
Which can occur when the head violently strikes an object during an accident and can include eye injuries and skull fractures.
Which result when the head is subject to rapid, violent forces, leading to conditions ranging from concussion to brain bleeds and coma.
Which can occur when parts of the body forcefully strike parts of a vehicle interior, or if enough force is put on the body by the collision.
Which may result if organs suffer from blunt force trauma, or if a victim’s body is penetrated by a sharp object.
Which can occur from internal organ damage or general blunt force trauma to the body.
Including temporary injuries caused by strains or irritation from injuries to nearby tissue, or permanent injuries caused by severed nerves, can result in numbness, weakness, bladder and bowel control issues, sexual dysfunction, and in severe cases, paralysis
Which may be required if a victim’s extremity is too severely damaged to repair, or may be caused when enough force is imparted to sever an extremity
Causes of Car Accidents in Philadelphia
The negligence that causes most motor vehicle accidents can take many forms. Sometimes drivers willfully disobey the law, putting those around them at risk. At other times, drivers may grow unintentionally complacent or distracted. However, these drivers are still responsible for any car accident injuries or deaths they cause.
Some of the leading causes of car accidents include:
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Distracted driving, including texting while driving
- Drowsy driving
- Speeding or ignoring traffic lights and signs
- Reckless or aggressive driving
- Unsafe turning or lane changes, including failure to signal
- Driver inexperience
- Vehicle defects, including tire and airbag failure
- Road defects, including potholes or defective guardrails
- Bad weather such a heavy rain, fog, or ice and snow, especially if a driver neglects safety precautions for inclement weather
Some car accidents, such as those caused by a road defect or a defective auto part, are not the fault of either driver. In these cases, the automotive company, part manufacturer, seller, or even the city responsible for road maintenance could be liable for the car accident injuries and other damages.
In handling car accident cases, our Philadelphia personal injury attorneys carefully investigate the circumstances leading to the crash. We work with experts like car designers and reconstructionists to find out how the accident happened to identify the responsible parties.
Compensation You Can Demand in a Car Accident Claim
When you are the victim of a car accident that was someone else’s fault, you may be entitled to various kinds of compensation for your injuries and other losses. Most car accident claims center around compensation or monetary damages for personal injuries. Personal injury damages cover both economic and non-economic payments.
Economic damages are specific financial losses that can be determined from records that include:
- Bills
- Invoices
- Paystubs; including losses like medical expenses, lost wages, and lost earning potential.
Non-economic damages cover more subjective losses, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of quality of life
- Loss of consortium –compensation to an injured person’s family for loss of companionship
In addition to compensation for personal injuries, you may also be able to claim compensation for property damage you suffer in a car accident. This could include repairs to your vehicle – or its replacement value if totaled – and damage to property in your vehicle at the time of the accident.
Fatal car accident injuries in Philadelphia:
If a loved one was tragically killed in a car accident, surviving family members may be able to pursue wrongful death damages. A wrongful death claim can provide compensation for your deceased loved one’s losses, including medical expenses incurred prior to their death, funeral and burial expenses, estate administration expenses, and compensation for the conscious pain and suffering experienced before death. Your family can also receive compensation for your losses, including the loss of income and benefits your loved one would have been expected to contribute to the family, along with the loss of your loved one’s companionship, society, guidance, and household services.
In rare car crash cases, you may be entitled to claim punitive damages. Punitive damages do not provide compensation for any losses, but instead are meant to punish a responsible party for especially egregious conduct that “shocks the conscience.”
Let the experienced Philadelphia car accident attorneys at Eisenberg, Rothweiler, Winkler, Eisenberg & Jeck, P.C., review your case and explain the kinds of compensation that you and your family may be entitled to.
Statute of Limitations on Pennsylvania Car Accident Lawsuits
State law imposes a time limit on filing a lawsuit for damages and injuries that you suffer in a car accident. This time limit is called the statute of limitations. Under Pennsylvania law, the statute of limitations for claims for personal injuries and property damage arising from a car accident is two years from the date of the accident. If you do not file a lawsuit before the expiration of the statute of limitations, the court will almost certainly permanently dismiss your case.
There are certain narrow circumstances under which courts may extend or “toll” the statute of limitations. For example, if a minor is injured in a car accident, the statute of limitations does not begin to run until their 18th birthday. That means a minor has until their 20th birthday to file a lawsuit for injuries suffered in a car accident.
The discovery rule is another reason for tolling the statute of limitations. The rule holds that the statute of limitations does not begin to run until a plaintiff knows, or should know through reasonable diligence, the facts and circumstances about the claim. For example, the statute of limitations might be tolled if you have been the victim of a hit-and-run car accident by an initially unknown offender.
Be advised that there is no guarantee that a court will accept any attempt to extend the statute of limitations, so it is important to seek legal counsel promptly after an accident.
Our accomplished Philadelphia car accident attorneys can help you understand the deadline for filing a lawsuit for your car accident to ensure that your claim is filed in a timely manner without risking your right to pursue compensation.
Talk to a Philadelphia Auto Accident Lawyer Now
If you have been injured due to the careless or negligent actions of another driver, we are here to help. Please call us to arrange a consultation with a trustworthy car accident lawyer. You can also contact our law firm online.
We offer free initial consultations and handle cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you will not have to pay us unless and until we get results for you.