If you or a loved one are involved in a car accident in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., you may ask, what can I do to protect my rights? Unfortunately, car accidents such as hit-and-runs and pedestrian accidents are all too common in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area. But you have options.
Here is how to best protect yourself and your loved ones after a car crash.
How Do I Protect My Rights After a Car Accident in Wilkes-Barre, PA?
Following a car accident in Wilkes-Barre, you are likely stressed, emotional, and unsure what your next move should be–especially if you were not at fault. The Wilkes-Barre car accident lawyer of Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys is here to help you protect your rights and process a car accident claim or personal injury lawsuit.
Seek Medical Treatment
Even though adrenaline has likely taken over, making you feel as though you are perfectly fine following a car accident, it is always best to seek medical attention as soon as possible.
This also means keeping a log of any medical treatment you receive as a result of the collision and any long-term ailments you may have.
This will all become important in building your claim and calculating damages.
File a Police Report
Even if no one suffered severe injuries from the car crash, you will want to file a formal police report, especially if local law enforcement does not come to the scene.
The Wilkes-Barre Township Police Department offers emergency and non-emergency contacts for those involved in an incident. Further, you can access your police report from the accident online or by requesting a physical copy. This can be critical to establishing negligence should your case go to court.
Gather the Contact Information of the Other Driver
Once you have evaluated your well-being and those of other drivers involved, you’ll want to share contact and insurance information. At this point, do not admit fault or make any statements that would later be used against you. Additionally, do not take the driver’s settlement or cash offer to make the incident disappear.
It is best to give yourself time to process the accident, file a claim with the insurance companies, and lawyer up if needed.
Gather Evidence at the Accident
Even though the accident scene will likely be chaotic, you’ll want to document as much of it as possible. This includes taking photos of the vehicles and resulting damage, looking for evidence on the roadways (such as skid marks, leaking fluid, etc., but only if safe), etc.
In addition, you may want to speak with local business owners about the potential of security camera footage that may have caught the collision.
Gather Witness Testimony
If some other drivers or pedestrians witnessed the accident, gather their statements and contact information to ensure you can reach out to them should you need statements for your claim.
Do not ask them if they believe you were to blame or if the other driver is at fault–this should be left up to the authorities and/or a car accident attorney.
Calculate Your Losses
In addition to the damage sustained to your vehicle, you will want to calculate any other losses you may have incurred due to the collision. This may include:
- Medical treatment
- Personal property damage
- Lost wages
A car accident lawyer will also be able to look at your losses and come to a better conclusion about how much compensation you may be entitled to.
What Can A Lawyer Do After My Wilkes-Barre Car Accident?
If you have done all the above steps, you have already made great strides in protecting your rights following a car accident in Wilkes-Barre.
However, a car accident lawyer will help you understand your rights and legal responsibilities and strengthen your case.
A Car Accident Lawyer Can Strengthen Evidence
Even if you are confident you were not at fault for the car accident, a lawyer can strengthen your evidence by establishing negligence against the other driver.
This can increase the value of your settlement, but if your case goes to court, it can help negate any fault the other party may try to place on you.
Calculate The Maximum Compensation
At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, we have helped car accident victims recover millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for their losses. This includes securing the maximum compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Long-term care
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Wrongful death
A lawyer will be able to evaluate the big picture of your car accident to ensure that the compensation you receive will help you move forward from the wreck. However, accepting a settlement too soon or without the help of a lawyer can leave you unable to recover future losses or pay for the damage already done.
Further, our team will negotiate with the insurance companies to ensure you get what you deserve.
Represent You in Court
Roughly five percent of car accidents go to court, which means while the likelihood you will have to face a judge is low, it isn’t entirely impossible.
While you are never required to secure legal representation, you will find it advantageous to do so, as a lawyer is well-versed in personal injury law, and can ensure you are not taken advantage of by the at-fault party.
Let Our Wilkes-Barre Car Accident Lawyers Represent You
Car accidents can be a traumatizing experience for those involved. However, it does not mean you have to take it on alone. If you or a loved one were involved in a car accident in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., the Wilkes-Barre personal injury lawyers of Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys are here to help.
Regardless of the type of insurance you or the other driver have, you need to protect yourself by securing a copy of the police report, getting a quote from the insurance company about the damage your car endured, keeping a record of all medical-related expenses, keep documentation about lost wages, and link up with an attorney before you accept a settlement from the insurance adjusters.
We know how much you want the accident to go away, but with the help of Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, you can move forward comfortably knowing you may seek compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Time missed from work
- Pain and suffering
- Diminished quality of life
- Lost earning power
Our Wilkes-Barre Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
Never handle a legal battle alone when you don’t have to. For more than 60 years, the car accident lawyers of Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys have fought for Northeast Pennsylvania drivers, and we will do the same for you.
We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing until we secure a settlement or reach a verdict. You have nothing to lose and only physical and financial recovery to gain.
For a no-obligation, free consultation, contact the car accident attorneys from Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys by calling or using our online form to meet with an attorney.
Wilkes-Barre Practice Areas
Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys
1170 PA-315
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702
(570) 399-0406
