When To Hire A Car Accident Lawyer
A car accident can leave you shaken, injured, and unsure of what to do next. Knowing when to hire a car accident lawyer is crucial to protecting your rights and ensuring you receive fair compensation. Contact an attorney right away if you suffered serious injuries, face costly medical bills, or lost income; if another driver or insurer disputes fault; if multiple vehicles or a commercial truck were involved; or if a death occurred. Even after a minor crash, a free case review can uncover hidden injuries or insurance tactics that reduce payouts.
Our Allentown car accident lawyers will walk you through each step, collect needed evidence, deal with insurance companies, and work to secure the full compensation you deserve.
Contact an Allentown Car Accident Lawyer
When Fault for the Accident Is Disputed
Disputes over fault are a major reason to hire a car accident lawyer after a crash. Insurers often blame each other, particularly when evidence is unclear. Under Pennsylvania’s comparative negligence law at 42 Pa.C.S. § 7102, compensation depends on each party’s portion of blame. You can still recover damages if your fault doesn’t exceed the other driver’s, but your award drops by your percentage of negligence.
Insurance companies use this law to slash settlements. Getting a car accident lawyer who can analyze reports, photos, and witness accounts becomes critical. For drivers in Allentown, where intersections and heavy traffic on I-78 or Tilghman Street create messy crash scenes, legal guidance helps protect your claim and get what you deserve.
Medical Expenses and Long-Term Care After an Accident
Crash-related medical bills add up faster than expected. Emergency room visits, surgery, physical therapy, and follow-ups usually cost more than early estimates. If your injuries mean ongoing treatment or keep you from working, a lawyer will push to include future expenses.
Unfortunately, adjusters want to settle based on current bills, but Pennsylvania law gives you the right to compensation for future medical costs and pain and suffering when your injury qualifies. An Allentown attorney documents symptoms, procedures, and impacts with doctors, strengthening your claim and preventing insurers from undervaluing losses.
For serious trauma like spinal or brain injuries, early legal help is essential since these cases require complex evidence and expert testimony. Munley Law coordinates with specialists to build a comprehensive picture of how the accident affected your health and finances.
Legal Help for Complicated Accident Claims
Some crashes are simple, but others involve commercial vehicles or multiple parties that complicate everything. You need legal help when your case involves:
- Commercial trucks or delivery vehicles governed by federal safety regulations
- Rideshare companies like Uber or Lyft with overlapping insurance policies
- Government vehicles requiring advance notice under Pennsylvania’s sovereign immunity laws
- Multi-vehicle pileups where fault is shared among drivers
These situations add legal layers that can delay or derail your claim. Truck crashes, for instance, often require collecting logbooks, black box data, and maintenance records that can be lost or altered without prompt action.
Pennsylvania gives you two years to file most injury claims, though exceptions exist. Government claims generally need written notice within six months, while cases involving minors or wrongful death follow different timelines. Given these variations, an Allentown car accident lawyer determines which rules apply, preserves evidence, handles insurer communications, and files documents on time to protect your right to compensation.
If Your Claim Gets Denied
Getting a claim denial doesn’t mean you’re completely out of options moving forward. Pennsylvania insurance regulations impose specific standards on how insurers must handle claims. Under 31 Pa. Code § 146.7, companies must send you written notice of acceptance or denial within 15 working days after receiving your properly executed proof of loss, and they must clearly identify the exact policy provision being used to justify their decision.
If your claim was rejected without explanation, delayed without reason, or based on a questionable exclusion, a lawyer can challenge the insurer’s position. Attorneys can present additional evidence, request independent evaluations, and file bad-faith claims when necessary, often leading to favorable reconsideration or settlement before litigation becomes necessary.
How Munley Law Can Help With Your Case
Recognizing when to hire a car accident lawyer is the turning point in recovering fair compensation, as quick action preserves evidence, documents injuries, and holds insurers accountable. A lawyer evaluates liability, negotiates with insurers, and identifies all recovery sources under Pennsylvania law, especially in Allentown’s complex crashes or multi-driver cases.
For experienced representation, Munley Law provides clear guidance and strong advocacy throughout Pennsylvania for those navigating accident claims. Call (610) 857-7424 or reach out online for a free consultation to learn how we can protect your future.
Marion Munley
Marion Munley is recognized for her compassionate representation of catastrophically injured clients and
her steadfast dedication to them and their families. Her advocacy has produced numerous multimillion-dollar recoveries, including one of the largest trucking accident settlements on record. Marion is Triple Board Certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy in Civil Trial, Civil Practice, and Truck Law, and since 2023 has been named one of Pennsylvania’s Top 10 Super Lawyers by Super Lawyers.
Posted in Car Accidents.
