Common Types of Car Accident Injuries: Legal Rights and Pursuing Compensation

If you are a resident of Pennsylvania, it is important to understand the legal implications of car accident injuries. Car accidents can be life-altering events, and the road to recovery, both physical and financial, can be long and challenging. This article explores common types of car accident injuries and how an accident lawyer, a personal injury law firm, or a car wreck attorney can assist you in navigating these complexities.

1. Whiplash and Soft Tissue Injuries. Whiplash is a very common injury that occurs in car accidents. It happens when the head is quickly thrown forward and then backward, causing damage to the neck's soft tissues. Symptoms may include neck pain, stiffness, and headaches. An experienced car wreck attorney can help you claim compensation for such injuries, especially if they lead to long-term discomfort or disability.

2. Broken Bones and Fractures. The impact of a car collision often results in broken bones or fractures, particularly in the limbs, ribs, or pelvis. These injuries can be severely debilitating, requiring surgery and lengthy rehabilitation. Working with a skilled personal injury law firm ensures that you receive the necessary compensation to cover medical expenses and loss of income during recovery.

3. Head and Brain Injuries. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are serious consequences of car accidents, ranging from mild concussions to severe brain damage. The effects of a TBI can be long-lasting, and may impact your ability to work or lead a normal life. Legal assistance is vital in securing adequate compensation for ongoing medical care, rehabilitation, and loss of quality of life.

4. Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis. Injuries to the spinal cord can have devastating consequences, including partial or full paralysis. These injuries often require extensive medical treatment, including surgeries, physical therapy, and long-term care. An experienced accident lawyer can help ensure that you are compensated for these life-altering injuries.

5. Emotional Trauma and Mental Health Issues. Car accidents do not just leave physical scars; they can also lead to emotional trauma and mental health issues like anxiety, depression, or PTSD. It is important to recognize these as legitimate injuries for which you can seek compensation.

Navigating Legal Rights and Compensation. Understanding your legal rights following a car accident in Pennsylvania is crucial. Compensation may cover medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. An experienced accident lawyer or personal injury law firm will guide you through the complex legal process, negotiate with insurance companies, and represent your best interests in court if necessary.

If you have been involved in a car accident in Delaware County, Chester County, or West Chester, it is important to seek legal advice as soon as possible. The right legal representation can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case.

For a 30-minute complimentary consultation, feel free to Contact Us.

This blog was originally posted on https://pa4law.com/common-types-of-car-accident-injuries-legal-rights-and-pursuing-compensation/

Read More

Standard of Care in Medicine: What It is and Why it Matters in Medical Malpractice Claims

Patients often have an expectation that their physician is looking out for their best interests and will provide the best care they possibly can. Sometimes, however, health care providers and hospitals make mistakes or fail to provide proper care, which can lead to serious injury, illness, and even death. Top medical malpractice attorneys help clients understand the standard of care in medicine and how it applies in different types of claims. 

What Is The Standard Of Care? 

Standard of care is defined as the level and type of care a sensible health care provider with similar education, experience, and training would provide under comparable circumstances, typically in the same community. Simply put, standards of medical care are common ‘best practices’ and protocols widely accepted by health care professionals in the same field and in the same geographic region.

In some cases, if a practitioner followed a different course of treatment than other professionals in the same purview, there is a rule called the Respectable Minority Rule, which may show that the difficult course of treatment is recognized by a respectable minority of physicians. However, before starting treatment with such a different course of treatment, a patient should be informed that the treatment recommended to them is not widely accepted by the majority of professionals in the same area of medicine. 

Why Is Standard Of Care In Medicine Important In Malpractice Cases?

The standard of care is a significant piece of the puzzle when proving whether a health care provider may be liable for a patient’s injuries. The main elements that must be demonstrated in most medical malpractice cases include:  

• The established standard of medical care that the provider owed to the injured party under the circumstances

• The health care provider is breach of that standard of care

• Injury or harm to the patient

• A causal connection between the health care provider’s negligence and the patient’s injury

The Right Expert Witness Testimony Is Essential

The standard of care in a specific case usually rests on the expert testimony of professionals in the field of medicine in which the physician in question is currently practicing. Determining the standard of care is often challenging. It may take multiple expert witnesses to show whether or not a patient was harmed by the action or inaction of a medical provider. 

First, an expert witness must establish what the standard of care is for a particular medical field. Then, the expert must testify as to how the patient’s course of treatment failed to meet that standard. Finally, the testimony should establish how the patient was harmed by treatment that did not meet the standard of care. 

This is why it is critical to hire the best personal injury lawyer who has a track record of success in winning complex medical malpractice cases.  Attorneys with a wide range of experience in this area of the law often have working relationships with widely-respected medical professionals who lend credibility to medical malpractice claims. After all, just as one would not ask their family doctor to perform brain surgery, too they should not hire a car wreck attorney to handle a medical malpractice case.

Establishing standard of medical care is just one facet of a possible medical malpractice claim. For a complimentary case evaluation, contact our medical malpractice lawyers in Chester County, PA.

This blog was originally posted on https://www.pa4law.com/standard-of-care-in-medicine-what-it-is-and-why-it-matters-in-medical-malpractice-claims/

Read More

Who Pays for Damages and Injuries After a Rental Car Accident?

Sorting out who will pay for your medical care and property damage after a car accident can be difficult, but when a crash occurs in a rental car it may be even more challenging. Most rental car companies offer supplemental insurance, but you may be able to recover compensation from your own auto insurer as well. Each situation is unique, and there is no way to know exactly how it will all shake out. A car wreck attorney can evaluate your case and determine who may be responsible for your medical bills, loss of income, pain and suffering, and other damages. 

Types of Rental Car Insurance Coverage

There are multiple ways to ensure you have enough coverage on a rental car, including:

Personal car insurance—Typically, your own auto insurance company will cover property damage and any injuries you or your passengers sustain in a rental car accident. However, you should read your policy or contact your insurance company before assuming that you are covered when renting a car.  

Pennsylvania drivers are required to have minimum Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage of $5,000 for medical benefits, $15,000 for bodily injury liability per person, and $5,000 for property damage. Most accident lawyers recommend that you purchase more PIP coverage, as the minimum amounts may barely be enough to cover a portion of your medical bills and other damages. 

Credit card coverage—Many financial institutions offer protection if you use their credit card when renting a car. If any of your cards offer this coverage, make sure to use one of them.

Rental car company— Doing your research before you book a rental car can help you save a lot of money. Most rental car companies push consumers to add on insurance at the time of the rental. Reviewing your own policy and the benefits you may have through the credit card you use to rent the car may provide plenty of coverage. 

When Someone Else is Responsible for an Accident

How liability is assigned in a car accident depends on the specific circumstances. If an accident in a rental car was caused by another motorist’s negligence, you will most likely need to file a claim with their auto insurance company. Depending on their levels of coverage or whether your claim is denied, you may end up using your own PIP policy as well. Consulting a Pennsylvania personal injury attorney who is well-versed in handling accident claims that involve multiple insurance companies is the best way to make sure all possible avenues of compensation are pursued to your benefit. A lawyer can investigate your case, determine who is at fault, and help you seek maximum compensation to protect your health and financial future. 

If you need assistance figuring-out who may be liable for damages after a rental car accident, contact a local injury attorney today.

This blog was originally posted on https://www.pa4law.com/who-pays-for-damages-and-injuries-after-a-rental-car-accident/

Read More