Were you injured in a car accident in York, Pennsylvania? Marzzacco Niven & Associates can help you understand your rights and pursue compensation for your losses. Call (717) 995-8998 today for a free consultation with our York car accident attorneys.
A crash can leave you with painful injuries, medical bills, lost income, and questions about what comes next. Whether you were hurt in a rear-end collision, intersection crash, or another type of accident, our legal team can investigate what happened, deal with the insurance companies, and help you pursue the compensation available under Pennsylvania law.
Why Choose Marzzacco Niven & Associates for Help After a Car Accident in York, PA?
After a serious crash in York, PA, choosing the right legal team can make the claims process easier to manage. A York personal injury lawyer at Marzzacco Niven & Associates can protect your rights, gather evidence, and handle negotiations while you focus on your health.
Clients choose our firm because we offer:
- Over 120 years of combined experience in personal injury, workers’ compensation, and employment law
- Tens of millions recovered on behalf of accident victims in Pennsylvania
- Attorneys recognized by Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers of America
- Recognition by the National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40
- A Certified Workers’ Compensation Specialist
Our team brings this background to every case we handle. Contact us today for a free consultation with a York car accident lawyer and learn how we can help with your claim.
What Is My York Car Accident Case Worth?
There is no standard amount that every car accident claim is worth. The value of your case depends on the facts of the collision, the available evidence, and how your injuries have affected your life.
Factors that can influence the value of your claim include:
- The severity and permanence of your injuries
- The strength of the evidence showing who caused the crash
- Whether you share any responsibility for the accident
- How long your recovery is expected to take
- Whether you can return to work
- Whether your injuries affect your future earning ability
- The number of responsible parties
- The amount of available insurance coverage
Every claim must be evaluated on its own facts. Understanding these factors before accepting a settlement can help you avoid resolving your case for less than it may be worth.
What Damages Can I Recover After a Car Accident in York, PA?
If someone else caused your crash, you may be able to recover compensation for the financial and personal losses you suffered. These losses are generally divided into economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages may include:
- Medical bills
- Future medical treatment
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Property damage
- Funeral and burial costs in wrongful death cases
- Other accident-related expenses
Non-economic damages address losses that do not have a fixed dollar amount. Examples include pain and suffering, emotional distress, disability, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life.
The compensation available will depend on your circumstances. Medical records, wage information, bills, expert opinions, and other evidence can help document the full effect of the accident.
How Does Pennsylvania Car Insurance Affect My Accident Claim?
Pennsylvania has insurance rules that can affect how you recover compensation after a crash. State law generally requires auto insurance policies to provide at least $5,000 in medical benefits. These first-party benefits can pay qualifying medical expenses without first determining who caused the collision.
Pennsylvania drivers may also choose between full tort and limited tort coverage. Full tort generally preserves an injured person’s unrestricted right to seek non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, from an at-fault driver.
Limited tort can restrict a person’s ability to recover non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, unless the person suffers a serious injury or another statutory exception applies.
Your policy, the policies covering other involved vehicles, and the circumstances of the accident can all affect your options for recovery.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a York Car Accident Attorney?
Car accident lawyers commonly work on a contingency fee basis. This means you generally do not pay attorney’s fees upfront. Instead, the lawyer receives an agreed-upon percentage of the compensation recovered through a settlement or verdict.
If no compensation is recovered, you generally do not owe attorney’s fees. Your fee agreement should explain the specific terms and any potential case expenses.
Can I Recover Compensation if I’m Being Blamed for a Car Accident?
Yes, depending on how much responsibility you share for the crash. Pennsylvania follows a modified comparative negligence rule.
Under Pennsylvania law, you can generally recover damages when your negligence was not greater than the negligence of the defendant or defendants from whom you seek compensation. However, your award is reduced based on your percentage of fault.
For example, suppose you have $100,000 in damages but are found 20% responsible for the collision. Your recovery could be reduced to $80,000.
Insurance companies may try to place more blame on you to reduce what they must pay. Evidence from the crash can be important when responding to disputed allegations of fault.
What Causes Most Car Accidents?
Car accidents can happen for many reasons, but driver mistakes are a common factor. Determining the cause can help identify who may be legally responsible for your injuries.
Common causes of collisions include:
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Following too closely
- Drunk or drug-impaired driving
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Failure to yield the right-of-way to motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists
- Unsafe lane changes
- Hit-and-run accidents
- Rear-end collisions
- Fatigued driving
- Aggressive or reckless driving
Some accidents involve more than one cause or responsible party. For example, a driver may cause a collision while working for an employer, or defective brakes may contribute to a crash. A careful investigation can help uncover each factor that played a role.
Common Car Accident Injuries in York, PA
Even a crash that appears minor can cause injuries that interfere with your work and daily activities. Some symptoms also develop hours or days after the collision.
Car accident injuries may include:
- Whiplash
- Concussions
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Herniated discs
- Broken bones
- Shoulder and knee injuries
- Internal organ injuries
- Cuts and scarring
- Permanent disabilities
Some victims need surgery, rehabilitation, or long-term medical care. Others may be unable to return to the same job or activities they enjoyed before the crash.
Seeking medical attention promptly can protect your health and create records of your injuries and treatment.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for a York Car Accident?
The driver who caused a collision is often primarily responsible, but liability does not always stop there. The facts of the accident may show that another person or business also played a role.
Potentially responsible parties can include:
- A negligent driver
- An employer whose employee caused a crash while working
- A vehicle owner
- A company responsible for loading or maintaining a commercial vehicle
- A manufacturer of a defective vehicle or part
- A government entity responsible for certain unsafe roadway conditions
Cases involving multiple defendants can become more complicated because each party may deny responsibility or blame someone else.
Identifying all potentially liable parties is also important because there may be more than one source of insurance coverage available for your losses.
How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania generally gives injured people two years to file a lawsuit seeking damages for personal injuries caused by another person’s negligence. The two-year deadline also applies to certain claims involving damage to personal property.
However, the deadline that applies to a particular case can depend on the facts. Different requirements may apply in some circumstances, so you should not assume you have the full two years to take action.
Speaking with a York personal injury attorney early gives your legal team more time to preserve evidence and determine the deadlines that apply to your case.
What Should I Do After a Car Accident in York?
What you do after a collision can affect your health and your ability to pursue a claim. Your first priority should always be getting yourself and others to safety.
After an accident, you should try to:
- Call 911 and report the crash.
- Seek medical care for your injuries.
- Exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver.
- Take photographs and videos of the vehicles and the scene.
- Get names and contact information from witnesses.
- Keep copies of medical bills and accident-related expenses.
- Follow your doctor’s treatment instructions.
- Avoid discussing fault at the scene or on social media.
- Be careful before accepting an insurance settlement.
You should also keep important documents in one place. Organized records can make it easier to show how the collision affected your health and finances.
Contact Our York Car Accident Attorneys for a Free Consultation
The days and weeks after a car accident can be difficult, especially when you are trying to recover from injuries while dealing with insurance companies and unexpected expenses. You deserve clear information about your rights before making decisions that could affect your claim.
Marzzacco Niven & Associates represents injured people in York, PA, and throughout Pennsylvania. We can review the circumstances of your collision, explain your options, and determine what steps may be appropriate for your case.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced York auto accident lawyer.
Car Accidents Infographic
