No matter how, when, or where it happens, an accident that results in serious injuries can have a consequential and long-lasting effect on your life. Even if you are able to make a full physical recovery, you may face substantial financial and personal losses.
If you were injured due to another person’s negligence, you might have grounds to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party. With a qualified lawyer’s help, you can pursue compensation to cover all your losses and minimize the impact of the at-fault party’s careless actions.
Jon Ostroff, Founding Partner at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers, has helped tens of thousands of injured people recover substantial awards in accident cases. For example, Jon and his team have won:
- Over $21m in settlements and verdicts for clients injured in a Greyhound bus crash. This case went to a jury trial in Philadelphia.
- $10 million settlement for a client that was seriously injured in a highway truck vs car crash. He ran out of gas on a PA interstate and was blocking the right lane. Moments later, a tractor-trailer slammed into his car.
- Over $6 million in total settlements for seven injured people after a catastrophic car crash on a rural highway.
- $5 million for the estate of a woman who died after being ejected from the vehicle she occupied.
Past results don’t guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different.
If you or a loved one was injured in an accident, speak with one of our Bensalem personal injury lawyers to find out what we can do for you.
Determining Fault for an Accident in Bensalem
“Negligence” is the basic principle that forms the foundation of almost every successful personal injury claim. This legal theory allows people to be held responsible for any harm they did not intentionally cause.
If a person owes you a “duty” to act reasonably under specific circumstances and violates that duty, they can be considered legally negligent. When that negligence results in your injuries, they can be held liable for the losses you suffered.
Notably, a physical injury stemming from an accident must be severe enough to warrant professional medical attention. Additionally, the nature of a “duty of care” can vary significantly depending on the circumstances. Working with a skilled Bensalem attorney can be crucial to understanding how personal injury law works and what is necessary to recover compensation.
Pursuing Financial Recovery in a Personal Injury Claim
Through a successful personal injury claim, you can demand restitution for both economic and non-economic damages—in other words, losses with both objective and subjective monetary values. Common types of damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Medical expenses
- Property damage
- Lost income, including lost professional opportunities
- Loss of life’s pleasures
- Permanent disability and disfigurement
It is important to note that there are certain PA laws that restrict or eliminate an accident victim’s right to compensation.
Legal Deadline for Pursuing Compensation
All personal injury claims in Pennsylvania are subject to a statute of limitations, the legal deadline for filing a lawsuit. Under 42 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes §5524, you likely have only two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit in Pennsylvania, or you may be barred from pursuing compensation.
Partial Fault in Accident Cases
42 PA Con. Stat. §7102 states that a court may reduce your damages award if you are deemed partially at fault for your accident injuries. For example, if the court determines you are 10% at fault, and your damages award is $100,000, you may only receive $90,000 in compensation. If you are found more than 50% at fault, you can’t recover damages from the other party. An experienced Bensalem lawyer at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers can help you avoid these (and many other) potential roadblocks to being fairly compensated in your personal injury case.
Injury Cases We Handle in Bensalem
Our lawyers represent people hurt in many kinds of accidents in Bensalem and across Bucks County, including:
Accidents in Bensalem and Lower Bucks County
Bensalem sits where several of the busiest roads in the region meet. I-95, the Pennsylvania Turnpike, Route 1 (Lincoln Highway), Route 13 (Bristol Pike) and Street Road all carry heavy commuter and truck traffic through the township, and crashes at their interchanges and busy intersections are common. Shopping centers, warehouses and Parx Casino add more traffic and more parking lot accidents.
If you were hurt in Bensalem, the crash report is usually taken by the Bensalem Township Police Department, or by the Pennsylvania State Police on I-95 and the Turnpike. A lawsuit for an accident here is generally filed in the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas in Doylestown. Our lawyers handle cases throughout Bucks County, and we will come to you if you can’t get to us.
Pennsylvania Car Insurance After a Bensalem Crash
Pennsylvania drivers choose either full tort or limited tort coverage. With full tort, you can recover for pain and suffering after any crash someone else caused. With limited tort, you usually can’t recover pain and suffering unless your injury is “serious” under the law, though there are important exceptions, such as when the at-fault driver was drunk or driving a car registered out of state. Limited tort doesn’t always end your case, so have a lawyer look at it before you give up.
Your own auto policy also pays first-party medical benefits no matter who caused the crash. Every Pennsylvania policy must include at least $5,000 in medical benefits, and many people carry more.
Bensalem Personal Injury FAQs
How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit?
In most cases, two years from the date of the accident. If a government agency or vehicle was involved, such as a SEPTA bus or a township truck, you generally must give written notice within six months. Don’t wait to call a lawyer.
What if I was partly at fault?
You can still recover as long as you were not more at fault than the people you are suing. Your compensation is reduced by your share of the fault. If you were found more than 50% at fault, you can’t recover.
Should I talk to the other driver’s insurance company?
Be careful. The other driver’s insurer may ask for a recorded statement and use what you say to reduce your claim. You don’t have to give one, and it’s best to talk to a lawyer first.
Do I have to go to Doylestown for my case?
Most injury cases settle without a trial, and many clients never set foot in a courtroom. If your case does go to court, we’ll prepare you and be with you at every step.
How much does it cost to hire your firm?
Nothing up front. We handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee, so you pay no attorney fee unless we recover money for you.
Get in Touch with a Bensalem Personal Injury Attorney Today
There are many ways that someone else’s reckless or careless actions could lead to a preventable accident. If you were injured in this type of incident, you should speak with a Bensalem personal injury lawyer right away to discuss your legal options. Contact Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers to get started with a free consultation.
