Car Accidents

You hear it all the time – you are far more likely to be hurt in a car accident than in any other transportation accident. You also hear that most accidents happen near the home. It’s possible that you passed a car accident while driving around earlier today. But, when you or someone you know is hurt – or killed – in a car accident, there are things that should be done right away.

Enlisting the help of a qualified attorney should be done as soon as possible to ensure you are treated fairly by the insurance companies. Some things need to be done right away, such as an accident investigation or an examination of the vehicle if a product defect such as airbag deployment is in question. You also should not speak with the other driver’s insurance company. That should be left to the attorney to handle. You may contact Lepley, Engelman, Yaw, and Wilk, LLC for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney.

When you have been injured in an accident:

• Seek medical attention right away. Even if you don’t think you need medical attention, it’s important to start a medical record, as injuries can show up later. Be clear with medical providers that the injury was sustained in a car accident. If you tell first responders that you don’t need medical attention, it could hurt your case.
• If a police officer comes to the scene, get his or her name and badge number. Also obtain a copy of the police report.
• Collect the names and contact information of any witnesses to the accident. Once they leave, it may be hard to track them down again if they need to provide information for your case.
• Take photos with your cell phone, if physically able, while you’re still at the scene. Show the weather conditions, positions of the vehicles, the damage to both vehicles, and anything else that may be pertinent to the accident.
• Draw a diagram of the accident while the information is still fresh in your mind.
• Remember the things people say and do. Statements like “that was my fault” could be important down the road. You may also want to take video with your cell phone of any conversations with the other party.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, contact us today. You may be able to receive financial compensation for medical costs, lost wages, property loss, and pain and suffering due to the responsible party’s negligence.

We at Lepley, Engelman, Yaw, and Wilk, LLC have an excellent reputation of getting just compensation for our client’s injuries/damages. However, having the right insurance is important. Under Pennsylvania law, a person can drive a vehicle lawfully with only $15,000 per person, $30,000 per accident of liability insurance. And some drivers are on our roadways without insurance. That means if you have damages in excess of the other driver’s coverage, your only avenue to receive higher compensation is through your own insurance policy vis-a-vis underinsurance. If the other driver is uninsured, your only avenue of recovery is through your uninsured coverage under your policy. Lepley, Engelman, Yaw, and Wilk strongly encourages you to purchase as much uninsured and underinsured coverage as you can afford. We also recommend that you “stack” your uninsured and underinsured coverages by the number of vehicles within the household. If you have questions regarding your coverage, make an appointment at Lepley, Engelman, Yaw, and Wilk, LLC and we will review your insurance coverage for free. If you come in after the accident and don’t have the proper coverage, you may not be fully compensated for your injuries.