Allentown Car Accident Lawyer

Personal Injury Lawyers / Allentown Personal Injury Lawyer / Allentown Car Accident Lawyer

If you were hurt in a recent accident, Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys can help.

A severe car crash can be life-altering. In addition to physical and emotional trauma, you may face mounting medical bills, time missed from work, and other unexpected costs. As the injured victim, you may be legally entitled to reimbursement for these expenses, but you will need an experienced Allentown car accident attorney on your side.

As Pennsylvania’s third most populated city, Allentown is one of the fastest-growing areas in Pennsylvania. As a result, our roads are heavily congested with travelers heading to other parts of the state and country. Four major highways run through the Lehigh Valley — Interstate 78, U.S. Route 22, Pennsylvania Route 33, and the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Other busy roads in the Allentown area include Pennsylvania Route 309, Interstate 78, MacArthur Road, Cedar Crest Boulevard, Hamilton Boulevard, Lehigh Street, and Tilghman Street. This heavy volume of car and truck traffic on Allentown interstates and other roads increases the chance of car accidents resulting in serious injuries.

Since 1959, car accident victims in Allentown have put their trust in Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys. Our injury lawyers have consistently been ranked among the Best Lawyers in America. In addition, we have earned the highest possible client satisfaction and peer review ratings from Martindale Hubbell, the gold standard in the legal industry. When you or someone you love suffers a serious injury in a car crash, your choice of lawyer matters. At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, you can rest assured that your case is in the best possible hands.

To find out if you have a case, fill out our contact form, chat live, or call today. Our car accident lawyers will review the details of your situation at no charge. And, we do not collect a fee unless we win your case.

If I’ve Been in a Car Crash in Allentown, Do I Need a Lawyer?

After an accident, including a ridesharing accident with an Uber or Lyft, your car insurance may not cover all of the costs associated with your injuries. Along with your immediate medical bills, you might require long-term care or physical therapy. In addition, you may be unable to perform your job the way you used to.

An Allentown auto accident lawyer can help ensure that you receive fair and proper compensation for these losses. The at-fault party’s insurance may make a settlement offer. However, you’re unlikely to get everything you deserve without our car accident lawyers fighting on your behalf.

With over 60 years of experience handling these types of personal injury claim cases, we know exactly how complex and overwhelming it can be dealing with the insurance company. We urge you to let our Allentown personal injury attorneys handle the phone calls, the paperwork, and the negotiating process so that you can heal from your auto accident injury in peace. We will never accept a settlement offer without your consent, and we will keep you informed each step of the way. Our car accident attorneys will fight on your behalf in the courtroom if the insurance company refuses to offer an adequate settlement.

Never accept an offer of settlement from the insurance company without consulting our car accident attorneys. The first consultation is FREE.

How Often Do Car Accidents Occur in Allentown?

Car wrecks are on the rise nationwide. The National Safety Council states that more than 42,000 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2020, an 8 percent increase over 2019 numbers. In Allentown, the numbers are just as drastic. According to data collected by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Lehigh County was one of the top ten counties that reported the most traffic accidents in 2021. It was also one of the top ten counties to report the most traffic-related fatalities in that same year.

What Causes Car Accidents?

Whatever the cause of your accident, our car accident lawyers will perform a thorough investigation to ensure that you receive appropriate compensation from all responsible parties.

Distracted Driving: Drivers texting while driving have increased car accidents in PA and nationwide. Other forms of distracted driving include eating or drinking while driving, reaching for objects, changing music stations, operating or looking at a GPS or other electronic devices, and talking with other passengers in the vehicle.

Speeding: Failing to follow posted speed limits is one of the most common causes of traffic accidents in Allentown and nationwide. The higher your speed, the greater the risk of a car crash. Driving well above the speed limit reduces your ability to maintain control of the vehicle, as well as the time it takes the car to stop when braking in an emergency. In addition, a truck traveling at a high rate of speed that collides with another vehicle can cause devastating injuries to the driver and car occupants.

Reckless Driving: Running red lights, tailgating, unsafe passing or lane changes, frequent lane changes, failure to signal, improper turns, and wrong-way driving can all lead to auto accidents in Allentown. In addition, aggressive driving and aggressive tailgating have also become serious problems that lead to car crashes.

Drunk Driving: When a drunk or intoxicated driver causes a crash and injures another person, they should be held accountable for their blatant disregard for human life. In 2020, PennDOT reported 7,700 alcohol-related crashes with 293 fatalities. On average, each day in Pennsylvania, 21 alcohol-related crashes occur. Lehigh County has seen a dramatic increase in alcohol-related fatalities in the past five years.

Driver Fatigue: Drowsy driving is a growing cause of car accidents. Sleep deprivation can impair a driver’s reaction time, judgment, and vision as much as alcohol. Be sure to pull off the road into a safe spot and rest if you feel tired.

Recalled Vehicle Crashes and Defective Auto Parts: Defective auto parts can cause crashes resulting in severe injuries and fatalities. Many car accidents result from malfunctions or defects in the vehicle itself. Equipment failure or malfunction can cause something to go wrong in a car, causing a tragic accident. Once an auto manufacturer knows of a problem, they should alert consumers to the danger. If an auto company fails to provide and safe product, then they may be liable for injuries that were caused as a result of their auto defects.

Dangerous Roads: Defects in roadway design or maintenance can contribute to a pedestrian accident or car crash. Roadway defects include:

• Poorly maintained roadways
• Inadequate road and highway signage
• Dangerously designed intersections
• Construction hazards
• Malfunctioning traffic signals
• Lack of crosswalks

Poor Weather Conditions: Inclement weather, including snow and ice on Allentown roads, can impair driving and cause accidents. Winters in the Lehigh Valley can be extreme, with a heavy accumulation of ice and snow. Wintry conditions have led to many multi-vehicle chain-reaction crashes on Allentown interstates and other highways. When trucks and cars are involved in high-speed collisions, serious injuries occur. In addition to winter driving dangers, rain and fog throughout the year can cause poor visibility, slick roads, and other hazards on Allentown highways.

What Injuries Can I Receive Compensation For Following a Car Accident?

Nothing can prepare you for the pain and trauma of a car accident. Injuries suffered in a car wreck in Allentown can be debilitating and lead to long-term pain and suffering. In addition to the pain of immediate injuries, car accident victims often experience ongoing anxiety, mental anguish, and fear of driving. A car accident can completely change a person’s quality of life.

With an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side, you can focus on your health and well-being, and we can focus on getting you the results you deserve.

Some of the physical injuries associated with car accidents include:

• Whiplash
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Internal injuries
• Broken bones
• Lacerations
• Wrongful death
• Disfigurements and amputations

Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys can help you obtain compensation for your current and future medical bills. We work with board-certified medical experts to calculate the full extent of your damages.

What Other Compensation Might I Be Entitled to Following My Allentown Car Accident?

After your accident, you might be focused on recovery from your injuries or helping a loved one recover. You should know that you might be entitled to compensation for other losses following your accident for economic and non-economic losses caused by the accident such as:

• Repairs to your vehicle or a vehicle replacement
• Compensation for any loss of income due to the accident such as lost time at work for injury, pain, or doctors’ visits
• Direct medical costs including physical therapy for injuries related to the accident
• Pain and suffering resulting from the accident
• Loss of or damage to property as a result of the accident
• Cost of mental health treatment
• Contact an Allentown Car Accident Attorney for a Free Consultation

An insurance company may contact you after a car accident in Allentown to offer a settlement. Don’t sign anything without first consulting a car accident lawyer. An Allentown car accident attorney at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys will guide you through the legal process and make sure that you get the maximum compensation.

At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, we believe every client deserves fair compensation for their injuries. We believe that cost should never stand in the way of justice. Therefore, we operate on a contingent fee basis — we do not get paid unless we win your case. If our Allentown car accident lawyers cannot recover damages for you, you owe us nothing. That’s our no-fee promise.

Chat live, fill out our contact form, or call today for a free consultation.

How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Car Accident?

To file a successful claim in Allentown, you will need to submit your complaint to the court within the statute of limitations from the date of your accident. Each state has different guidelines on how long you have to file a claim. In Pennsylvania, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of your accident.

Although this may seem like a long time, it can go quickly. And since evidence can disappear soon after an accident, it’s advisable to speak with a lawyer right away following a car crash.

What Happens if You’re the Passenger?

If you were a passenger in a car accident and received an injury, you do have the right to pursue compensation. This is true whether you were a passenger in a car hit by someone else, or if you were a passenger in the car whose driver was at fault. Because many injured passengers hesitate to take legal action when the driver at fault is a family member or friend, it’s important to note that you will not be going after the driver; you will be seeking compensation from the driver’s insurance company.

If you have car insurance, it will cover your medical expenses following a car accident as a passenger in someone else’s vehicle. But if you don’t have car insurance, you should be covered by the driver’s insurance.

There may be a situation where a passenger can sue both drivers for the accident. If this occurs, speak with an experienced Allentown car accident attorney right away.

How Long Does it Take to Receive a Car Accident Settlement?

A: After a car accident in Allentown, you may want to know what is the average time for a car accident settlement. And the answer is, it depends on the accident. Each case is different, and therefore the timeline can range from a few weeks to a few years.

During your first meeting with our Allentown car crash attorney at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, your Munley representative will review the details of your unique situation. If you choose to have us represent you, we will get to work right away. As we evaluate the extent of your damages and the circumstances of your accident, then we can give a better estimate of how long your case will take and how much you should expect to receive.

The Insurance Company Offered Me a Settlement. What Should I Do Next?

If the insurance company makes you an offer of settlement, do not accept it without speaking to a  lawyer first. If your injuries are serious, the insurance company’s initial offer is unlikely to be sufficient to cover your medical bills, future treatment, lost wages, and other losses. It’s easy to be tempted by a quick payout, but be aware: if you accept an offer of settlement, you waive your right to seek additional compensation, even if your injuries worsen or your bills increase. We always recommend that you do not give the other party’s insurance company any recorded statements as this can later be used against you. An Allentown car accident lawyer will deal with the insurance company on your behalf, and fight to make sure you receive maximum compensation including payment for pain and suffering.

How Do I Protect My Claim Following a Car Accident?

Your car accident case is strengthened by having complete and timely data and reports. What can you do to help protect your claim before it goes to court?

Contact your own insurance company. Even if you weren’t at fault or if it’s minor, you must contact your insurance company to let it know you were in a car accident that involved injuries.

Don’t accept a settlement offer without speaking to us. Almost immediately following your accident, you will find the other party’s car insurance company will call you with an offer. The first settlement offer is usually the lowest amount the insurance company is willing to go. Never accept a settlement offer from an insurance carrier unless you have consulted with a car accident lawyer at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys.

Request a copy of the accident report. The police report will have all the information you need about the car crash. The police report will also give the opinions of the police as to what happened and who may be at fault. Your insurance company will use this information when assigning who is at fault.

Keep all your medical appointments. It’s very important for you to get healthy which means you have to follow up with your doctor after a car accident. Not only will you get the medical treatment that you need to recover but you will get a better sense of how long it will take to get over your injuries. This will help when determining how much your auto accident claim is worth.

Keep a record of all expenses after the accident. Not only should you keep track of medical expenses but also time off from work and property damage resulting from the accident and any auxiliary costs such as car rentals.

If you get into a car accident with an uninsured motorist, how you get compensation for your injuries depends on your insurance coverage. If you have underinsured/uninsured coverage, you may seek compensation through this coverage. However, if you do not have underinsured/uninsured coverage, it’s best to speak with an Allentown auto accident lawyer to learn your next steps.

What is the Difference Between Full Tort and Limited Tort?

Insurance terms can be confusing. To make matters more complex, insurance requirements can vary from state to state. In Pennsylvania, you have the option to choose a “tort” option on your insurance policy. Tort determines your ability to sue an at-fault party following a car accident. So what is the difference between full tort vs. limited tort?

If you have full tort, you may pursue pain and suffering compensation regardless of the severity of your injuries. Limited tort, on the other hand, limits your right to sue. If you have limited tort, you may only sue the at-fault party for the cost of your medical bills, but not for pain and suffering.

However, there are some exceptions:

• If you are hit by a drunk driver
• If you are a pedestrian who has been struck by a vehicle
• If the defendant’s vehicle is registered out of state
• If you were riding in a commercial vehicle
• If you were riding with a resident relative or spouse who has full tort and you were injured as a passenger in their vehicle
• If the defendant is uninsured
• If your accident resulted in death, permanent severe impairment of a bodily function, or disfigurement

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in Allentown or anywhere the Lehigh Valley, you need an experienced professional on your side. Chat live, fill out our contact form, or call today for a free consultation with one of our attorneys

Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys

1275 Glenlivet Dr
Suite 100-599,
Allentown, PA 18106
(610) 232-7006