Pennsylvania residents may be interested to know that the greater part of claims for personal injuries in the United States arise from automobile accidents. Whenever personal injury or wrongful death claims are filed in court, the plaintiff has to provide evidence that the defendant’s negligence contributed to the accident and injuries or fatalities that resulted. Proving negligence and determining who to name as defendants in claims following car accidents may prove challenging. However, the assistance of a personal injury attorney who deals with such matters on a regular basis may lead to recovery of damages.
Drivers who disobey basic traffic regulations such as traffic signs and speed limits may end up causing a traffic accident. Motorists who intentionally drive in a reckless manner and disregard the safety of other road users — including passengers in his or her own vehicle — may be deemed negligent under the law. Reckless driving may also include a combination of traveling at speeds that exceed speed limits, not adjusting vehicle speed to current weather conditions, improper lane changing and/or unsafe or illegal passing of other vehicles.
A form of recklessness that causes grave concern is drunk driving. The number of injuries and deaths on our roads that result from accidents where alcohol or drugs were involved is astronomical. Under certain circumstances, the person and/or the establishment that served the driver alcohol may also be named defendants in a lawsuit. There are, of course, accidents that do not necessarily involve driver error, such as auto defects or poorly maintained road surfaces, or that involve a combination of factors.
Pennsylvania motorists who have been injured — or families who have lost loved ones — in car accidents that resulted from another party’s negligence may elect to pursue recovery of damages incurred. They may benefit from a consultation with a professional to assess the underlying circumstances of the accident and assess the viability of a civil claim. Proper documentation and successful presentation may result in full and fair compensation for medical and/or end-of-life costs, as well as other applicable financial losses that resulted from the accident.
Source: FindLaw, “Car Accident Basics“, , Sept. 23, 2014