Coatesville, PA Car Accident Lawyers

Car accidents are traumatizing events that affect far too many people. Despite advances in technology, accident rates have continued to increase over the years, resulting in preventable deaths and injuries. In Coatesville, victims of car accidents may be faced with mounting medical bills, unpaid time away from work, and vehicle damages.

If you know that someone else caused your car accident, you may be able to hold them accountable via a personal injury claim. This allows you to recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and more. Find out more now by calling Kingbird Legal at 484-289-4880.

Car Accident Statistics in Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania Crash Facts and Statistics, you can find data about Pennsylvania car accidents and fatalities. The most recent publication looks at 2022 crashes. On average, there are 13 crashes per hour on Pennsylvania roads, resulting in an average of three fatalities per day. In total, there were over 115,000 car crashes in 2022. Almost 50,000 of those led to injuries, and over 1,000 resulted in fatalities.

Data indicates that crashes peaked between 2:00 and 6:00 P.M. However, accidents occurring at night were more likely to be fatal or severe. Holiday crashes are another significant problem in Pennsylvania, with New Years Eve/Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Memorial Day all seeing huge spikes in collisions. The holidays with the highest numbers of fatal accidents were Thanksgiving, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day.

Common Causes of Collisions

The most common cause of car accidents, both in Coatesville and everywhere else in the United States, is driver error. This is frustrating and baffling to researchers, since technology has done a lot to eliminate common sources of driver error. For examples, many vehicles have sideview mirror lights and alarms that tell drivers if they are about to merge when someone is in their blind spot. 

Backup cameras have prevented many parking lot and pedestrian collisions. Eye-tracking technology sounds an alarm if a driver falls asleep or looks away from the road for too long. Despite these and other advancements, driver error continues to be the leading cause of accidents. These errors include:

• Speeding
• Driving while impaired
• Ignoring right of way laws
• Making an unsafe turn
• Driving while distracted
• Driving while drowsy
• Following too closely

Although driver error is the most common cause of accidents, there are accidents caused by unsafe technology or other factors. Unsafe vehicles may cause collisions when critical safety features fail, and poorly designed or maintained roads have caused their fair share of accidents. Weather is another factor in many Pennsylvania collisions.

Types of Compensation After a Crash

If you have a successful car accident claim, you may be entitled to significant compensation. In Pennsylvania, compensation is divided into several categories.

The first category is compensatory damages, which is further divided into economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are your measurable financial losses resulting from an accident. For example, medical bills can be directly calculated and shown to the court. Other types of economic damages include lost wages, lost earning capacity, assistive devices, ongoing care costs, and property damage. If there is a direct cost associated with an accident-related loss, it is likely under the umbrella of economic damages.

Non-economic damages are those that are harder to quantify. They do not have a specific amount or financial value, but they do still represent a loss that should be compensated. Common types of non-economic damages include pain and suffering, mental trauma, loss of enjoyment of life, and disfigurement.

Finally, there are punitive damages. Punitive damages are rarely awarded, and they are only ordered when a case goes to court. They are awarded in cases where a party’s conduct is so outrageous and reckless that the court sees fit to punish them. Note that punitive damages are paid to the victim, but that is not their sole goal. The main goals of punitive damages are to punish the at-fault party and discourage similar behavior from them and others in the future.

Important Evidence in Car Accident Claims

The success of your car accident claim in Coatesville hinges largely on how much evidence you have. This is one reason you should work with an attorney from the very beginning—they can collect and preserve important evidence before it is degraded by the elements or lost completely. The more evidence you have to support your claim and injuries, the greater chance you have of getting a full and fair settlement. Important pieces of evidence include:

• Police report
• Dashcam footage
• Photos and videos of the crash scene
• Eyewitness statements
• Repair estimates
• Medical reports
• Medical bills
• Documentation of time spent away from work
• Proof of home tasks that have been outsourced due to injury

When you meet with an attorney for the first time, bring your evidence so they can assess the strength and value of your claim.

Why You Need the Team at Kingbird Legal

Fighting for compensation after a car accident can be mentally and emotionally draining. You’re already working to recover physically from your accident, and the thought of negotiating with insurance companies may be too much. Additionally, you know you can’t trust the other party’s insurance company to give you what you rightfully deserve. They make a good portion of their money from paying out as little as possible on claims where their client is at fault. 

This means that every time you talk to them, they are looking for something they can use to weaken your case. They may attempt to pin your injuries on a preexisting condition, downplay the severity of your pain, or even claim that you may have caused the accident.

When you choose Kingbird Legal, you can avoid these tactics and focus on your recovery. We know what it takes to hold negligent drivers accountable, and we are determined to fight for the money you deserve.

Set Up Your Consultation Today

The sooner you connect with Kingbird Legal, the sooner we can begin building your case. Schedule a consultation right away by reaching out online or calling us at 484-289-4880.