Areas Served
A motor vehicle accident in Jeannette can create pain and disruption in every area of your life. Whether you’re traveling through downtown on Clay Avenue or commuting along the busy corridors that connect Jeannette to Greensburg and Pittsburgh, even the most responsible drivers are at risk of a severe collision. When another driver’s carelessness injures you, you need experienced legal representation to secure fair compensation.
A Jeannette motor vehicle accident lawyer from Stine & Associates, P.C., will fight for your rights while you focus on healing. Attorney Cindy Stine brings over three decades of experience helping injured drivers and passengers throughout Westmoreland County recover the compensation they deserve.
What Should You Do After a Motor Vehicle Accident in Jeannette?
The moments following a crash can feel overwhelming, but the steps you take immediately afterward will affect your ability to recover compensation.
- Call 911 to report the accident and request medical attention, even if your injuries seem minor. Some serious injuries, particularly those involving the head or spine, may not show symptoms right away.
- Exchange information with the other driver, including names, contact details, insurance information, and license plate numbers. If witnesses are present, ask for their contact information as well.
- Take photographs of all vehicles involved, as well as the accident scene, road conditions, and any visible injuries.
- Seek medical treatment as soon as possible, even if paramedics cleared you at the scene. Visit an emergency room or urgent care center to document your injuries properly.
- Follow all treatment recommendations and attend every follow-up appointment, as gaps in treatment can hurt your case.
- Contact a Jeannette motor vehicle accident attorney before speaking with insurance companies. Having legal representation ensures you won’t accidentally say something that could reduce your compensation.
How Can a Jeannette Attorney Help With Your Motor Vehicle Accident Case?
An experienced motor vehicle accident lawyer provides essential support throughout the claims process. Your attorney will take care of all communication with insurers, preventing you from falling into common traps that reduce compensation. They understand the tactics insurers use and know how to counter lowball settlement offers effectively.
Your lawyer will also thoroughly investigate the accident to build a strong case. This investigation typically includes:
- Obtaining police reports: These official documents provide crucial details about the accident, including officer observations and any citations issued to the drivers involved.
- Interviewing witnesses: Your attorney will contact witnesses quickly to record their statements while memories remain fresh and accurate.
- Reviewing medical records: Your lawyer will compile all medical documentation to demonstrate the full extent of your injuries and treatment needs.
- Consulting with experts: Accident reconstruction specialists, medical professionals, and economic experts can provide testimony that significantly strengthens your case.
- Gathering surveillance footage: Your attorney will search for traffic cameras, business security cameras, or doorbell cameras that may have captured the collision.
Your motor vehicle accident attorney will calculate your claim’s actual value, considering current and future expenses alike. They will negotiate aggressively with insurance companies to pursue maximum compensation. If the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement, your lawyer will be prepared to take your case to trial.
What Types of Compensation Can You Recover After a Jeannette Crash?
Pennsylvania law allows accident victims to seek various forms of compensation when another driver’s negligence causes injuries. The compensation you receive should cover all the ways the accident has affected your life, taking both financial and personal factors into consideration. This includes:
- Current and future medical expenses, such as emergency treatment, surgeries, medication, physical therapy, and medical equipment
- Lost wages for time missed from work
- Reduced earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous job
- Property damage to your vehicle
- The cost of hiring help for household tasks you can no longer perform
- Physical pain
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of activities you once loved
- Permanent scars or disability
What Are the Time Limits for Filing a Motor Vehicle Accident Claim in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations gives you two years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit. Missing this deadline typically means losing your right to seek compensation through the courts forever.
While two years might seem like plenty of time, building a strong case takes months of preparation. Evidence can disappear quickly after an accident. Witnesses move away or forget important details. Security camera footage gets deleted. Skid marks fade from the road surface.
Starting your case early gives your attorney time to preserve evidence and build the strongest possible claim. Insurance companies often delay settlement negotiations, hoping you’ll accept less money as the deadline approaches. Having an attorney involved from the beginning prevents these stalling tactics from succeeding.
How Does Pennsylvania’s Insurance System Affect Your Jeannette Accident Claim?
Pennsylvania’s choice no-fault insurance system creates unique challenges for accident victims. When you purchase auto insurance, you choose between limited tort and full tort coverage. This choice affects your ability to seek compensation after an accident, regardless of who caused the crash.
With limited tort coverage, you can recover compensation for economic losses like medical bills and lost wages through your own insurance. However, you generally cannot sue for non-economic, intangible losses unless you suffered a serious injury. Pennsylvania law defines serious injuries as those resulting in death, permanent serious disfigurement, or significant impairment of a bodily function.
Full tort coverage costs more but preserves your complete right to sue the at-fault driver for all losses, including pain and suffering. Even with limited tort coverage, certain exceptions may allow you to seek full compensation:
- Drunk driving accidents: If the at-fault driver was convicted of DUI or accepted ARD for drunk driving, you can seek full compensation regardless of your tort election.
- Out-of-state vehicles: When the at-fault driver’s vehicle is registered outside Pennsylvania, limited tort restrictions don’t apply to your claim.
- Commercial vehicles: Accidents involving commercial trucks, buses, or taxis may allow you to pursue full compensation despite having limited tort coverage.
- Pedestrian or bicycle accidents: If you were walking or cycling when struck by a vehicle, limited tort restrictions don’t limit your recovery.
Why Choose Stine & Associates, P.C., for Your Jeannette Motor Vehicle Accident Case?
Stine & Associates, P.C., brings a unique combination of experience, dedication, and personal attention to every motor vehicle accident case. Attorney Cindy Stine has spent over 30 years fighting for injured victims throughout Western Pennsylvania, earning membership in the prestigious Million Dollar Advocates Forum for her success in securing substantial settlements and verdicts.
Located in downtown Greensburg, just a short drive from Jeannette, our firm understands the local roads, traffic patterns, and common accident locations that affect our community. We know that the intersection of Route 30 and Clay Avenue sees frequent collisions, and that speeding on Route 130 contributes to many serious crashes.
Our small firm atmosphere means you’ll work directly with Attorney Stine, not get passed between junior associates or paralegals. We provide compassionate, personalized service. We offer free consultations to discuss your case, and we work on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay nothing up front and owe no attorney fees unless we win compensation for you.
Contact Stine & Associates, P.C., today to schedule your free consultation and learn how we can help you pursue the compensation you deserve.