Car Accident Lawyers Serving Pittsburgh

A minor accident with no injuries and no dispute about fault may not require an attorney. More serious accidents can raise questions that are difficult to resolve through an insurance claim alone. Consider talking with a lawyer if you suffered significant injuries, need ongoing medical treatment, cannot work, are being blamed for the accident, were hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver, or are having difficulty with an insurance company. You also don’t have to wait until an insurance claim has been denied. Speaking with an attorney early can help you understand what evidence should be preserved, what insurance may be available, and what deadlines may apply. your legal options.

Pennsylvania follows a modified comparative negligence rule, so your share of responsibility for a crash can affect whether and how much you can recover. For people injured in Pittsburg or elsewhere in Western Pennsylvania, an attorney familiar with Pennsylvania law can identify which laws, insurance policies, and deadlines apply. A lawyer can investigate what happened, help preserve evidence, identify available insurance coverage and responsible parties, document your losses, communicate with insurance companies, negotiate a settlement, and file a lawsuit when necessary.

Being partially responsible for an accident does not necessarily prevent you from recovering compensation in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania follows a modified comparative negligence rule. If your negligence was not greater than the negligence of the defendant or defendants from whom you are seeking recovery, you may still recover damages. Your compensation can be reduced according to your percentage of fault. For example, if you were found 20% responsible for a crash and your recoverable damages were $100,000, your recovery could be reduced by 20%. Fault is not always straightforward. A Pittsburgh car accident attorney can investigate the crash, gather and preserve evidence, and challenge allegations of fault when appropriate.

You may still have options, but the answer depends heavily on your own auto insurance coverage. Pennsylvania insurers are required to offer uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage, but Pennsylvania drivers may reject those coverages in writing. UM coverage may provide compensation when an at-fault driver has no applicable liability insurance. UIM coverage may apply when an at-fault driver’s available liability coverage is not enough to compensate you for your injuries. Because UM and UIM coverage can be rejected and policy choices can affect the amount of coverage available, it is important to review the actual policy and declarations page rather than assume coverage exists. An uninsured or underinsured driver does not necessarily mean there is no potential source of compensation. An attorney can review the available policies, determine what coverage may apply, and identify other potentially responsible parties or sources of recovery. A Pittsburgh car accident lawyer can review the available insurance policies and determine what potential sources of recovery may apply.

The first step is usually a phone call or contact-form submission explaining what happened and how to reach you. You don’t need to have every detail or document before contacting the firm. The team may ask when and where the accident occurred, who was involved, what injuries resulted, what medical care you have received, and whether insurance companies or other attorneys are involved. Depending on the matter, the firm may schedule a free consultation, request additional information, refer you to another attorney, or explain that the firm cannot take the case. The consultation carries no obligation to hire the firm. Contacting Bordas & Bordas alone does not create an attorney-client relationship. Representation begins only after you and the firm enter into a written agreement.

The insurance coverage available after a Pennsylvania car accident depends in part on the policies involved and the coverage choices that were made. For example, Pennsylvania insurers must offer uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage, but drivers can reject those coverages in writing. Other Pennsylvania insurance choices can also affect the rights and compensation available after an accident. Because policies and circumstances vary, it is important to review the actual insurance coverage rather than assume what is available. A Pittsburgh car accident attorney can review the applicable policies and explain how Pennsylvania insurance law may affect your claim.