Immediate Steps to Take After An Accident
When someone has been involved in an accident they may find themselves shocked and scared about what to do next. The first thing someone should do is check to see if anyone including themselves is injured. If so, call 911 and report the accident, if everyone involved in the accident seems to be stabilized, parties should call the police to make a report of the accident.
It is very important to not admit guilt for having responsibility for any part of the accident. What you say to a police officer will go into a police report that insurance companies may try to use against you later down the road.
Auto Accident Pennsylvania Attorney
If you have serious damage to your vehicle and/or yourself you need to speak with the knowledgeable attorney’s at the Ciccarelli Law Offices to protect yourself.
A primary goal of insurance companies is to get you to admit fault so that you have to pay for your own damages, although you may not be at fault for the accident.
If you have been involved in an accident in West Chester, Radnor, Plymouth Square, Malvern, Philadelphia, King of Prussia, Lancaster, or Kennett Square Pennsylvania, call the Ciccarelli Law Offices at (610) 719-3190 for a free consultation.
Steps to take after being involved in an accident
- Stay at the scene! If you flee from the scene and someone has been seriously injured, you can face criminal charges, no matter what your reason for leaving the scene is.
- Do not move the car until pictures have been taken and you are sure your vehicle is safe to drive. If the accident is obstructing traffic, move the vehicles involved out of traffic’s way as soon as possible to prevent further accidents from happening.
- Contact the Police to make an official report.
- If people are injured, contact 911 for an ambulance to be dispatched to the location of the accident.
- Exchange information with the other person involved in the accident (insurance information, name and phone number, driver’s license information, and driver’s license number).
- Talk to witnesses if anyone saw the accident happen and may be able to make a statement about what they saw.
- Inform your insurance company of the accident.
- Take pictures of the scene. This will be beneficial for insurance companies during their investigations.
- Keep track of medical treatment you received if you were injured. This includes hospital bills, ambulance rides, doctors’ visits and others. It is important to remember that some injuries are not immediately apparent, so seek medical attention just to get everything checked out unless you are absolutely sure you are not injured.
- Use caution when discussing the incident. Do not admit fault and or guilt.
- Protect your rights and contact our auto accident attorneys.
Who will pay for my medical expenses
In Pennsylvania, all drivers and pedestrians regardless if they are at-fault or not may receive at least $5,000 from their own auto insurance company to cover their medical expenses as required by law. This portion of your insurance coverage is called First-Party Medical Benefits, also known as Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage.
A driver who suffers serious injuries, however, will quickly exhaust the $5,000 of medical coverage. When the available First-Party Medical Benefits are exhausted, your medical bills should be submitted to your private health insurance for payment. If you have no private health insurance, those bills are your personal responsibility.
When payments for medical expenses exceed $5,000 but have not been paid by another source, an attorney may seek to file a claim to get you compensation for damages that arose from this accident.
When medical expenses have not exceeded $5,000 yet but may exceed $5,000 in the future, the plaintiff’s physician may be able to testify that the plaintiff will require medical services in the future which will exceed $5,000.
Pennsylvania Auto Accident and Personal Injury Attorney
If you or a loved one has been injured in West Chester, Radnor, Plymouth Square, Malvern, Philadelphia, King of Prussia, Lancaster, or Kennett Square Pennsylvania as a result of an accident, contact the Ciccarelli Law Offices at (610) 692-8700. Our Attorneys may be able to file a claim to get you compensation for medical bills, lost wages, car repairs and other things that arise as a result of being in an accident.
Our attorneys will protect your rights as you deal with insurance companies, police, and others after an accident, as well as make sure that important evidence is not destroyed. It is important to seek legal advice before providing statements to insurance companies who will typically contact you after either party has filed a claim or report. Call the Ciccarelli Law Offices today for a free evaluation of your accident.
Contact Our PA Personal Injury Lawyers
We are a team of Pennsylvania Personal Injury Lawyers our main offices located in West Chester, Chester County Pennsylvania and serving clients throughout the greater Philadelphia Metro Area including Lancaster County, Berks County, Bucks County, Delaware County and Montgomery County. If your family has been victimized by the negligence of another and you are seeking a free initial consult on you rights and possible claims, it is crucial you speak to an experienced Pennsylvania Injury lawyers in order to ensure your rights are protected and to review all of your legal options with you.
The Injury attorneys of Ciccarelli Law Offices have successfully represented individuals throughout the state of Pennsylvania that have been injured in accidents. Our Chester County based law firm is based at 304 North High Street, West Chester PA 19380 and serves clients throughout Pennsylvania including but not limited to in Kennett Square, Downingtown, West Chester, Coatesville, Exton, Chester Springs, Chadds Ford, Landenberg, Lancaster, Media, Harrisburg, Reading, Philadelphia, Honey Brook, Oxford, Malvern, Parkesburg, Phoenixville and Paoli. Contact us now at (610) 692-8700 or call toll free (877) 529-2422. Don’t wait—contact an attorney immediately.