Easton Car Accident Lawyer
How a person goes about recovering compensation after a car accident is largely dictated by whether the state in which they are driving adheres to a fault-based or no-fault liability standard. In fault-based states, accident victims can seek compensation directly from the person who caused their accident, while no-fault states require injured parties to go through their own insurers to recover damages for their losses, regardless of fault. Pennsylvania, however, is unique in that it allows drivers to choose which standard applies when they purchase car insurance. To learn more about how this and other Pennsylvania laws could affect your own car accident claim, reach out to our dedicated Easton car accident lawyer today.
Pennsylvania’s “Choice” Standard
In Pennsylvania, all drivers are required to purchase car insurance to cover them in the event of a collision. At the time of this purchase, drivers can choose whether they want to file any eventual claims under a fault-based or no-fault standard. Those who choose the former will have the option of filing a lawsuit against anyone who causes an accident in which they are involved, seeking compensation for medical bills, property damage, and lost wages directly from the at-fault driver. Drivers, on the other hand, who choose to purchase a policy under a no-fault standard will be required to file a claim under their own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance policy if they are involved in a crash, even if someone else caused the accident. In either case, the driver is required under Pennsylvania law, to purchase at least:
- $15,000 in coverage for the bodily injury or death of one person;
- $30,000 in coverage for total bodily injury or death in an accident; and
- $5,000 for property damage per accident.
For help determining what your own legal options are based on your insurance coverage, reach out to our dedicated Easton car accident legal team today.
Car Accident Damages
The types of damages that a person can recover after a car accident will depend on his or her insurance coverage. Successful claimants can, however, generally expect to recover reimbursement for:
- Past and future medical expenses;
- Lost wages; and
- The cost of property repair or replacement.
These are known as economic damages and they are relatively simple to calculate. Claimants who file personal injury lawsuits, on the other hand, could also be entitled to non-economic damages, which are a bit more difficult to quantify and include losses like pain and suffering and emotional distress.
Modified Comparative Fault
In Pennsylvania, just because someone contributes to an accident in some way does not mean that he or she will be barred from recovery. This is because the state adheres to the modified comparative fault standard, under which plaintiffs can still recover compensation for their accident-related losses, but only if they were less than 50 percent responsible for the accident. Furthermore, injured parties can expect their final damages award to be reduced in proportion to their degree of fault in causing the accident.
Set Up a Free Consultation Today
For help filing your own car accident claim, reach out to the dedicated Easton car accident attorneys at O’Donnell Law Offices today. We can be reached at 570-821-5717 or via online message.
