There are thousands of car crashes in the Pittsburgh metro area each year, many of which cause severe injury or even death. Being involved in a car accident can be a traumatic and life-changing experience that can leave long-lasting physical, mental, and emotional scars. Car accident injuries can also create massive financial pressure between medical bills and losing the ability to work.
If you have sustained an injury because of another driver’s negligence, the car accident attorneys at SMT Legal are ready to help. Our experienced team serving Murrysville and the surrounding Pittsburgh area dedicates itself to providing compassionate legal services to help our clients recover financial compensation and manage their difficult circumstances. Contact us today to speak to a car accident attorney about your legal options.
Murrysville sits right next to Highway 22 and I-76, so, unfortunately, the area is no stranger to car accidents. As such, our attorneys have experience handling a wide variety of car accident injury claims, including:
Head-on collisions
Rear-end collisions
Distracted driving accidents
Commercial truck accidents
Rideshare accidents
Construction zone accidents
Rollover accidents
Drivers in Pennsylvania have a legal responsibility to act with appropriate care and caution on the road. If a driver’s negligent or careless behavior has harmed you, the law should hold them accountable and grant you relief. SMT Legal has decades of experience working with clients to recover compensation for their car accident injuries. We know the right approach to maximize your chances of a successful claim.
Pennsylvania operates on a somewhat unique choice no-fault insurance system that allows drivers to choose between carrying no-fault car insurance and traditional fault-based car insurance. This distinction matters because your options for recovering financial compensation after a car accident depend in part on what kind of coverage you have.
Limited Tort Coverage
Limited tort coverage is the no-fault option, so your insurance company is responsible for covering any losses from a car accident, regardless of who caused it. No-fault insurance will pay for typical economic losses, such as medical bills and lost earnings.
Limited tort coverage comes with lower monthly premiums but also restricts your ability to recover compensation for non-economic losses like pain and suffering. You can only sue for non-economic damages if you sustain a severe injury or fall under an exception.
Full Tort Coverage
Full tort coverage is the fault-based option and provides much more latitude for recovering financial compensation for both economic and non-economic losses. Full tort coverage has higher monthly premiums than limited tort coverage, but the trade-off is a greater legal capacity to sue the at-fault party for compensation for a wider range of losses.
Navigating Pennsylvania’s insurance system requires a thorough understanding of your compensation rights. A car accident attorney from SMT Legal can help you understand your legal options and develop a strategy to pursue the maximum compensation possible.
Regardless of whether you choose limited or full tort coverage, the state requires all drivers to carry a minimum of:
$15,000 in bodily injury coverage
$30,000 for injury or death coverage for multiple people
$5,000 in property damage liability coverage
Drivers must also carry at least $5,000 in medical benefits coverage to pay for medical care they might need after sustaining an accident injury.
The statute of limitations in Pennsylvania for filing a car accident lawsuit is the same as for other personal injury cases, giving you two years from the date the accident occurred to sue an at-fault driver. If two years pass after the accident date and you haven’t initiated legal action, you will lose your chance to recover financial compensation for your injuries.
Usually, the statute of limitations starts counting from the accident date, but there are some exceptions. For example, if you suffered an injury in a car accident but it didn’t display symptoms until later, the clock can start from when you discover the injury or should have reasonably been able to discover it. Cases involving claims against a government entity or involving injured minors may also have different deadlines. Your attorney will determine the correct deadline based on the facts of your case.
Pennsylvania’s choice no-fault insurance system gives drivers more options but also makes navigating legal claims more difficult. The car accident attorneys at SMT Legal understand all the nuances of these rules and can work with you to find a viable solution.
Just because you have no-fault limited tort coverage doesn’t necessarily mean recovering compensation from your insurance company will be easy. Insurance companies are known for fighting claims, even for their own policyholders. Our car accident attorneys are not afraid to stand up to insurance tactics and will do everything in our power to fight for a full and fair settlement. To this end, we will:
Gather evidence and eyewitness testimony at the accident scene
Obtain police accident reports and medical documentation
Calculate your total losses
Negotiate with insurance companies
Send demand letters
Take steps to initiate a formal lawsuit
Represent your case in court
At SMT Legal, excellence is our highest aspiration, and we strive to be exceptional in everything we do. Our car accident lawyers believe we have an obligation to use the law to protect the vulnerable and hold accountable those who injure others through irresponsible behavior. We will use every tool at our disposal to fight for your right to financial compensation.
Over our long and successful history, we have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for car accident victims. Personal injury law is never one-size-fits-all, so we go to great lengths to provide every client with a unique case strategy that’s sensitive to their specific circumstances.
A car accident injury can drastically alter your life, but with the right legal representation, you can fight for justice, accountability, and fair compensation. You need an attorney who will prioritize your well-being and tirelessly fight for the financial resources to make you whole again. Contact SMT Legal today for a free consultation with a car accident lawyer serving Murrysville.
To visit our office at 114 Smithfield St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222:
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