Lancaster Automobile Accident Lawyers
Automobile Accident Injuries in Lancaster County
When you are involved in an automobile accident, your entire world can change in an instant. You could be left with life-altering injuries, perhaps even permanent disabilities. You could be unable to return to work for months, or even years. Even while you are injured, you must still try to deal with an insurance company who will do everything in their power to avoid paying you what you are entitled to for your injuries and other damages. When you find yourself in such an untenable position, you need an experienced Lancaster automobile accident attorney in your corner.
You need someone who truly cares about the outcome of your claim, and who has the resources necessary to help you through this difficult time. If you are injured, in pain, and wondering how you will pay your normal monthly bills and mounting pile of medical expenses, you would benefit from calling Ciccarelli Law Offices. Our Lancaster team of personal injury attorneys has the necessary knowledge, experience, and resources you so desperately need. We work hard to achieve the best outcome to your Lancaster automobile accident claim—and we have compassion for the situation you find yourself in. Contact us today at (717) 291-9400 or (877) 529-2422. Our Lancaster Office is located at 313 West Liberty Place, Lancaster PA 17603. We also offer help for those injured in Philly, you can reach our Philadelphia car accident attorneys by calling (215) 228-0100.
Seeking Top Lancaster PA Accident Attorneys
Often referred to as Pennsylvania Dutch Country or Amish Country, Lancaster County has some of the most scenic back-country roads you could imagine. A leisurely drive will show you some beautiful, scenic areas, as well as acquaint you with a way of life which has stayed relatively unchanged for centuries. The city of Lancaster is in the heart of Amish Country, and home to one of the largest Amish communities in the nation. When visiting, however, it is important to know that the Amish do not appreciate having their photographs taken, therefore, you should respect those beliefs.
Lancaster was established as a wilderness trading post in 1730, becoming an industrial center once the construction of the railroad was completed in the 1800s. Eventually, Lancaster became the second-largest tobacco seed leaf market in the country. Lancaster was the capital of Pennsylvania until 1812, almost becoming the Nation’s capital. Beginning on PA-462 east to PA-340, the Old Philadelphia Pike, you will pass miles and miles of farmland as well as Amish farms, arriving at the village of Bird In Hand, which was once a welcome rest stop for weary travelers. Quaint shops with beautifully hand-crafted items await you in Bird In Hand.
At the Junction of PA-340 and PA-772, you will find the town of Intercourse which was founded in 1754 and now contains a variety of unique shops as well as an abundance of Pennsylvania Dutch food. If you happen to be driving through Intercourse at the “right” time, you might happen upon the Seven Sweets and Sours Festival, the Berry Jam Festival or the Rhubarb Festival. As you continue on PA-340, you will travel through White Horse, Compass Gap and Wagontown, where you will turn left to continue on PA-82, north to Elverson.
Lancaster Automobile Accidents
Unfortunately, as you travel through Lancaster County, enjoying the rich beauty of the area, you could potentially end up in an automobile accident. According to City Data, in the city of Lancaster in 2014, there were two fatal automobile accidents with six vehicles involved in those accidents and two fatalities. Between 1975 and 2017, there were more automobile accidents occurring in August than any other month, followed by February, September, and December.
August tends to be the month when more auto accidents happen across the nation, probably due to more vacationers on the roadways and back-to-school happenings. Lancaster reported no drunk driving accidents in 2016 or 2017. In 2015, one of the fatal accidents in Lancaster occurred on Lemon Street, while the other took place on US-222 Queen Street, Constoga Road. In 2014, one of the fatal accidents occurred on Lemon Street and Water Street, and the other on Fairview Avenue.
According to a 2017 penndot.gov report:
- Pennsylvania has more than 120,000 miles of roads and highways; 33 percent of those are state highways, while the remainder are maintained by local municipalities and other entities.
- In 2017, there were 128,188 reportable traffic collisions in Pennsylvania.
- These traffic collisions claimed 1,137 lives, injuring another 80,612.
- In 2017, there were 101.1 billion vehicle-miles of travel on Pennsylvania’s roads and highways, with the 1.12 fatalities per hundred-million vehicle-miles of travel being the lowest recorded in Pennsylvania since records began being kept in 1935.
- Each day in the state, there are 351 reportable traffic collisions or about 15 collisions per hour.
- Each day in Pennsylvania, three people are fatally injured in an automobile accident.
- Based on the population in the state, one out of every 44 people was involved in a reportable traffic crash in 2017.
Lancaster Auto Accident Injuries
At Ciccarelli Law Offices, our Lancaster automobile accident attorneys have extensive experience helping victims of automobile accidents recover the money they need to put their lives back together again. Even seemingly minor injuries can quickly become chronic injuries, resulting in a lifetime of pain and suffering. What may start out as a simple herniated disc, could turn into an injury requiring spinal cord surgery and extensive rehabiliation. We have the resources needed to tackle even the most complex injury cases, including:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Burns
- Fractures
- Disfigurement and amputation
- Internal organ damage
- Soft tissue injuries
- Back Injuries
- Whiplash
Navigating the Lancaster Insurance Claim Process after an Auto Accident
If you’ve been in an automobile accident you may be overwhelmed by the claim process insurance companies require of you. There are a few ways to make this entire procedure less stressful, however, the main requirement is to be organized and know what needs to be done and when. If your auto accident was relatively minor, you may not have made up your mind yet whether you should actually file a claim. You may be worried about your insurance rates going up if you do file a claim, or even that you could be dropped from your insurance group.
What you need to know is that if you call your insurance company with a question regarding the mere possibility of filing a claim, this call could be recorded on your insurance record. Since you want to keep your insurance records as spotless as possible, don’t call until you are absolutely certain you should file an insurance claim. The litmus test which can most effectively answer this question is simple—if you can pay for the damages yourself without undue financial hardship, then don’t file the claim. Otherwise, pick up the phone and dial your insurance company’s number.
If your claim is relatively simple, meaning fault was not an issue, little or no medical treatment was necessary and there was little damage to the vehicle, then the adjuster will probably ask you to get three estimates, and before you know it a check will be on its way to cover the damages. If your claim is not so clear-cut, then there will be a longer negotiation process. This could happen if you are underinsured and don’t have enough coverage in your policy, if the question of liability is not clear, or if you disagree with the claims adjuster’s settlement offer.
If there is any dispute involved in the auto accident insurance process, you could potentially receive a phone call from the other driver’s insurance company. They may ask for your version of what happened at the scene or may even offer you a quick settlement offer. In an accident which involves any dispute about the facts or the extent of injuries or damages, it is better not to talk to the other person’s insurance company without consulting an experienced Lancaster automobile accident attorney first.
Our Lancaster Injury Lawyers Are There When You Need Us
At Ciccarelli Law Offices, our Lancaster County automobile accident attorneys are here to help you following your automobile accident. We understand that your injuries could be so severe that you are unable to return to work, therefore unable to pay your normal, monthly expenses. We work diligently for our automobile accident injury clients who have been injured through the negligence of another.
Our injury attorneys are proud to represent all injured Lancaster County residents, including those living in Lancaster, Ephrata, Elizabethtown, Columbia, Lititz, Millersville, Willow Street, Mount Joy, Leola, New Holland, Manheim, East Petersburg, Akron, Denver, Maytown, and Reamstown. We offer a free initial consultation and review of your case, and we take the time to listen to you and your concerns before offering any legal advice. Contact us today at (717) 291-9400 or (877) 529-2422. Our Lancaster Office is located at 313 West Liberty Place, Lancaster PA 17603. We are ready to help you during this difficult time.