Car Accidents

Turn to an Experienced Pittsburgh Car Accident Lawyer for Help Pursuing Compensation After a Crash

Car crashes are one of the leading causes of injury and death worldwide. The experience of a car accident can be terrifying, and the injuries caused by a crash can be devastating, life-altering, catastrophic, and even fatal.

If you have been injured in a car crash, you should contact a Pittsburgh injury lawyer as soon as possible, even before speaking to an insurance company. By speaking to a lawyer after a crash, you can ensure that you will be protected from private investigators and insurance adjusters who want to hurt your case. A lawyer will handle your case so that you can focus on your recovery by getting the right medical treatment and receiving the full monetary award or settlement that you deserve.

Contact a Pittsburgh automobile injury attorney if you suspect that the crash was caused by someone else’s negligence, an auto defect such as an airbag or seatbelt failure, poor road conditions, or through little to no fault of your own. Do not disclose the facts of your car crash to an insurance adjuster before seeking legal help from a lawyer who can review your case.

Attorney Randall H. McKinney has extensive experience handling car accident lawsuits and can provide the advocacy you need to ensure your rights are protected every step of the way. There is absolutely no fee to contact our office. The firm can be reached at 412-520-3301. Your initial consultation with a Pittsburgh car accident lawyer is always free and we never take money from you unless and until we are successful in getting money for you.

Our Process for Car Accident Victims 

When a car accident victim contacts us about a crash, we recognize that each case is unique and requires extensive care. How do we deliver the results to which our clients are entitled? We do it the McKinney Way.

1. Take Aggressive, Prompt Action.

Though this may be your first experience with a car accident case, we have dealt with numerous matters and have the experience to fight for your rights. We are committed to being prompt as time is essential in maximizing your compensation and recovery. Typically, we contact clients as soon as possible after they come to us for a consultation and schedule an intake interview. Though the police report can be useful, it may be incomplete and not give an accurate picture of the incident. We work quickly to get to the scene of the accident with any necessary experts. This ensures that the accident scene is preserved and witness accounts of the incident are as accurate as possible. We then use this to reconstruct the facts of each case to develop the narrative for the trial, ultimately driving it towards a verdict or resolution for the accident claim.

2. Master the Law

We want to serve our clients in the best way possible, so we make it a priority to know the laws as they apply to liability, admissible evidence, and recoverable damages.

3. Master the Science

Despite the fact that the science and medicine behind injuries is constantly evolving, we are dedicated to being “on top” of how the injury happened and how it can be remedied. Mastering the science is critical in our process and can benefit both us and the client through the claims process.

Pennsylvania Car Accident FAQs

What Are Some of the First Things You Should Do After a Car Crash?

First, if you are suffering from an injury after a car accident you should immediately call the police or 911 and tell them you need medical assistance. If you can, take pictures of the crash scene and the cars involved and keep them to yourself so that you can show your lawyer. Make sure everyone is safe and get all the medical assistance you need. Then, seek the help of a Pittsburgh auto-accident attorney before you even think of talking to an insurance adjuster or a private investigator hired by an insurance company.

How Do I Know If I Have a Personal Injury Case after a Car Crash?

If you were injured in a motor-vehicle crash, and the crash was caused by someone else’s negligence, you may have a legal claim. Even if the events of a crash seem unclear to you or if you are uncertain as to who caused the crash, if you are injured, call a Pittsburgh injury law firm for a free case evaluation to see if a car crash lawyer can help you.

Should I Contact a Car Crash Lawyer Before An Insurance Adjuster?

Insurance adjusters are professionally trained to deceive you by having you say the wrong things in a recorded statement after a car crash, or having you sign a false statement. Remember, the adjuster’s only goal is to pay you as little as possible to maximize their company’s profits.

At McKinney Law, we always offer a free consultation, so there is nothing to lose by explaining how you were injured and learning how the law applies in your specific situation.

Do I Need a Car Accident Attorney?

It is understandable for individuals to want to settle matters quickly and move on as soon as possible after a car crash. As a result, many people are tempted to try to take care of all issues – including legal issues - without getting help from a Pittsburgh car accident attorney with a focus on personal injury claims.

Before proceeding on your own, it is crucial to understand the pitfalls of trying to handle your case without legal representation.

You can be sure that those representing the negligent party – usually an insurance company – will have investigators, adjusters, and lawyers working to pay out as little as possible. Insurance companies and their attorneys will often calculate the value of your claim based on how aggressive they feel the injured party will fight for full compensation. When you retain a Pittsburgh car accident lawyer to fight for you, you are essentially ensuring that you will not be taken advantage of by the other side.

You should seek the help of an accident attorney with vast experience handling car accident cases that can stand up to insurance companies. If the other side is not cooperating and your case requires litigation, the attorney must be prepared to take the case to trial for full and fair recovery.

If the opposing side sees that you are willing to go as far as necessary to ensure justice, they will often deal more reasonably right from the start. Obtaining experienced legal counsel with a focus on car accident claims will show the defending insurance company that you are serious about your case.

How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Claim in Pennsylvania?

The statute of limitations applies to every potential car accident lawsuit. Even if you hope to resolve your case through a negotiated settlement without the need for legal action, missing this deadline could prevent you from negotiating a settlement in your case – even if the facts are on your side.

The consequences of non-compliance with the statute of limitations are the same everywhere. If you wait too long to pursue your personal injury claim, you could miss out entirely on your chance for compensation. In addition, the law bars you from filing a lawsuit, which means the other side has no reason to negotiate a settlement in your case.

In Pennsylvania, the statute of limitations typically expires after two years. This two-year window begins on the day of the accident. However, there are instances when you could have even less time to pursue a personal injury lawsuit following a car crash. If you intend to sue a government entity in your case, you are required to provide written notice within six months following the collision.

How Much Will It Cost Me to File a Car Crash Injury Claim?

We take personal injury claims on a contingency fee basis. This means that we will only get paid following a successful monetary recovery for you.

Should I Accept the Insurance Company’s Settlement After My Auto Accident Injury?

Adjusters often come ready to make payments immediately to convince you to accept less than what you actually deserve. Typically, insurance agents’ settlement offers are less than 5% of the value of your car accident case!

For this reason, an insurance adjuster will contact you immediately after your car accident and may even visit you in the hospital after an auto accident injury to get information from you.

There is no reason to rush into accepting a settlement offer from an insurance company without first seeking the help of a Pittsburgh personal injury lawyer. A lawyer can help you through your case to get you the highest compensation you deserve. Your lawyer will make sure that you never sign away your legal rights without being fully informed of the consequences.

Do not deal with the insurance company alone. Seek help from experienced and successful personal injury lawyers.

What Kind of Compensation Can I Get After a Car Crash?

The law allows recovery for a wide range of situations. A lawyer can help you get money for past medical bills, future medical bills, rehabilitation costs, therapy, lost wages, future lost income, and often, most importantly, pain and suffering. Pain and suffering after a crash can include the loss of enjoyment of your life and the mental anxiety of dealing with pain, trauma, and/or a disability caused by a crash.

A Pittsburgh car crash attorney may also help you obtain compensation for your family members who were adversely affected by the crash. Harm to spouses or children can often be recovered separately from the damages awarded to the injured individual. Your car accident attorney will explain whether damage awards to your spouse or children apply in your case.

What are Some of the Most Common Car Accident Injuries?

When you are involved in an auto accident, it is extremely important to be evaluated by medical personnel to ensure you are injury-free as internal damage may not be apparent immediately following the incident. It could take days for symptoms to begin to show, if they even show at all. There is no limit to what type of physical injuries may be sustained from a car crash, but some of the most common include:

• Soft tissue injuries including damage to tendons, ligaments, or muscles.
• Scrapes and cuts
• Neck and back injuries
• Head and brain injuries including concussions, traumatic brain injuries, or internal bleeding
• Burns
• Broken bones
• Spinal injuries

It is important to see a health care provider as soon as you begin to experience symptoms so you can be sure to make a claim and get your medical costs paid. Regardless of your insurance coverage, if you didn’t immediately seek medical attention, insurance companies can and will dispute your claim.

Contact a Pittsburgh Car Accident Lawyer Today

If you have been in a car accident and think you have sustained an injury, contact us as soon as possible so we can provide a free case evaluation and help you determine how much you may be owed.