Erie, PA Motor Vehicle Accident Lawyers

Top-Rated Accident Lawyers Advocate for Motor Vehicle Accident Victims in Erie and Across Western Pennsylvania

A motor vehicle accident can wreak havoc on your life in an instant.  Even when you drive carefully, you can soon find yourself facing sky-high medical bills.  You might even be unable to work, which only adds more stress at a time when you are already struggling to recover from your injuries.  Getting legal help to win fair compensation from the driver who caused your accident can help ease the stress so that you can move forward.

At Purchase, George & Murphey, P.C., our top-rated injury lawyers go above and beyond for victims of motor vehicle accidents in Erie, PA.  We combine smart, effective legal advocacy with compassion and personal attention.

Our team also has over two decades’ experience working in the insurance industry.  Most motor vehicle accident cases are resolved with an insurance company—not the at-fault driver.  Having an insurance expert on our side gives us behind-the-scenes insight into the strategies that insurance companies use to minimize, delay or deny your compensation award so that we can effectively counter those strategies.

We have already recovered millions in compensation for our injured neighbors in Western Pennsylvania.  Call our office or contact us online today to see how we can make a difference in maximizing your compensation award.

Common Types of Motor Vehicle Accident Cases Handled by Our Erie, PA Injury Lawyers

Although car accidents are the most common type of motor vehicle accident in Western Pennsylvania, our accident lawyers handle accidents involving all types of motor vehicles.  The type of vehicle involved can be important for a number of reasons, including:

• Establishing who is ultimately liable for compensating the victims,
• Insurance requirements,
• The level of damage and extent of the injuries that will be involved,
• Evidence that will become important in determining the actual cause of the accidents.

Common types of motor vehicle accidents that our injury lawyers handle include:

• Car accidents,
• Truck accidents,
• Motorcycle accidents,
• Bicycle accidents,
• Pedestrian accidents,
• Bus accidents,
• Rideshare accidents, including Uber accidents and Lyft accidents,
• Commercial vehicle accidents,
• Work vehicle accidents,
• And more.

How do Motor Vehicle Accidents Happen?

Even though motor vehicles are theoretically becoming safer with technological advances, car accidents and other crashes cause injuries and even fatalities on an alarmingly frequent basis.

Some of the common causes of motor vehicle accidents in Erie and Western Pennsylvania include:

• Speeding,
• Driver aggression,
• Distracted driving,
• Texting or cell phone use while driving,
• Fatigued driving,
• Bad weather,
• Poor road conditions,
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol (DUI),
• Traffic violations,
• Vehicle malfunction.

Accomplished Erie, PA Motor Vehicle Accident Lawyers Dedicated to Getting Results in the Form of Financial Compensation for Victims

In most motor vehicle accident cases, the goal of our experienced injury lawyers at Purchase, George & Murphey, P.C. is twofold.  We want to help our clients:

• Hold the responsible party accountable for your injuries, and
• Get the full and fair compensation necessary to help you recover and move forward.

Most insurance companies will take steps to minimize their own financial liability.  The insurance company might:

• Challenge the cause of the accident,
• Question the extent and impact of your injuries,
• Try to blame your injuries on something other than the accident,
• Claim that you failed to satisfy their procedural requirements for making a motor vehicle accident claim.

Regardless of the tactics the insurance company may use, our talented lawyers know how to counter them.  We work with the best medical, accident reconstruction and financial experts in the business so that we can put forward the strongest evidence to support your claim.  We work tirelessly to obtain full compensation for your:

• Medical bills, including emergency room costs, hospital stays, surgeries, post-injury doctor visits, rehabilitative care and more,
• Both your current lost wages and future lost wages if you are unable to work after your accident,
• Physical therapy,
• The cost of in-home modifications or in-home care if needed,
• Pain and suffering,
• Permanent disfigurement or disability,
• Emotional distress,
• And more.

Accident victims who retain an experienced accident lawyer are likely to recover an average of three times more than victims who negotiate with the insurance companies on their own.  At Purchase, George & Murphey, P.C., our experienced accident lawyers work on a contingency basis—meaning that we only recover our attorneys’ fees if we win compensation for you. Call us today to see how we can help maximize your compensation entitlement.

Schedule Your Free Initial Consultation with the Trusted Erie, PA Motor Vehicle Accident Lawyers at Purchase, George & Murphey, P.C.

If you have been injured in a car accident, truck accident or other motor vehicle accident in Western Pennsylvania, our injury lawyers are here to help.  Your initial consultation with our team is free. We will provide you with our honest opinion about options for pursuing compensation in your case—without any obligation on your part.

To schedule your free case review, call our office or submit our convenient online contact form.  You can also use our online chat option.

Frequently Asked Questions About Motor Vehicle Accidents in Erie, PA

Motor vehicle accidents are one of the most common causes of personal injury in Pennsylvania.  For decades, the experienced accident lawyers at Purchase, George & Murphey, P.C. have successfully helped motor vehicle accident victims get the compensation that is rightfully theirs.

Motor vehicle accident victims are often unsure where to begin in order to protect their legal rights.  Our dedicated injury lawyers are here to help. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about motor vehicle accident claims in Erie, PA.  For more specific information about how we can help you recover compensation after a motor vehicle accident in Western Pennsylvania, call or contact our office for a free case review today.

Who will pay my compensation if I was injured in a motor vehicle accident?

In most cases, either your insurance company or the at-fault party’s insurance company will pay. First-party insurance benefits, which are available from your insurance carrier, vary depending upon the type of policy you have purchased. While most insurance companies have to provide at least $5,000 in medical benefits, they do not always provide for collision coverage or lost wages. First-party benefits are available regardless of whether you were at fault. You can also recover third-party benefits upon showing that another driver was at-fault from the accident. Those benefits are paid by the at-fault driver’s insurance company.

Are there any complications that can arise when recovering compensation for pain and suffering after a motor vehicle accident?

Yes. Pennsylvania allows drivers the choice between “full tort” and “limited tort” car insurance. Many drivers choose limited tort because it is less expensive. However, with limited tort insurance, you must establish that you sustained a “serious injury” in the motor vehicle accident before you can recover damages for pain and suffering. Our lawyers are here to evaluate your claim and can often make a strong case that your injuries cross the serious injury threshold. Further, there are exceptions to this rule, such as when the at-fault driver was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

What should I do if I have just been involved in a motor vehicle accident?

First, call the police so that you can file an accident report. After law enforcement has been notified and emergency responders are on their way if necessary, check to see if anyone requires immediate medical attention. Remembering that getting prompt medical care is your number one priority, it can then be useful to photograph/videotape the accident scene if you are able. Take down the contact information of any witnesses, the responding police officers and the other driver, including insurance information. Then speak with an experienced accident lawyer to make sure your legal rights are protected.

What if I was partially to blame for the motor vehicle accident? Do I still have a case?

You may still be entitled to recover compensation under Pennsylvania law even if you were partially at fault. Under the comparative negligence rule, your compensation will be reduced by the amount you are found to be at fault (in other words, if you are 20% at fault and a $100,000 award is given, you can receive $80,000).

I was injured in a multi-vehicle motor vehicle accident. What if more than one other driver caused my accident?

You can recover compensation from each of the at-fault drivers. The total amount of compensation that you win will be divided among the at-fault drivers in proportion to the fault assigned to each driver. For example, if each driver was found to be 50% responsible, each driver will be responsible for half the settlement.

What is negligence? How is that relevant to my motor vehicle accident claim?

Motor vehicle accidents are called accidents because no one intentionally set out to cause the accident (in the vast majority of cases). However, someone’s careless driving did cause the accident. Negligence is essentially a legal theory that allows you to recover compensation from a careless driver. To prove negligence in the legal context, our lawyers will compile evidence to show:

• A duty of care existed (the third party had a duty to exercise caution while driving to keep others safe—this duty is implied, meaning it is assumed that all drivers have a duty to drive safely),
• The third party breached that duty by driving carelessly,
• The breach caused your accident and injury, and
• You suffered damages as a result of the injury (such as medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering).

What types of compensation can I recover after an accident?

You can recover compensation for your bills related to the accident, including medical bills, bills for rehab or physical therapy and bills to repair your vehicle. You can also recover compensation for the wages or salary you lost if you had to miss work because of your injuries. You may also have the right to more subjective compensation, including compensation for pain and suffering and emotional distress.

What are punitive damages? Can I recover punitive damages in Pennsylvania?

Punitive damages are awarded only to punish the person who caused your accident. They are different from other compensation because they don’t reimburse the victim for anything. Under Pennsylvania law, punitive damages are only available in rare cases. If the at-fault driver who caused your motor vehicle accident was driving while drunk or otherwise acted in a shocking manner, punitive damages may be awarded.

What is Pennsylvania’s “choice” no-fault insurance law?

Unlike most states, Pennsylvania is a choice no-fault insurance state. That means that drivers have the choice between electing no-fault coverage or opting out of the no-fault system. Drivers that do not opt out of the no-fault system first look to their own insurance coverage after a motor vehicle accident regardless of who caused the accident.

Who will actually pay the compensation in my motor vehicle accident case?

An insurance company almost always pays the final settlement award. However, which party’s insurance company will pay depends upon a number of factors. Motor vehicle accidents can be complicated by a number of factors—including the type of vehicle involved. For example, if you were struck by a commercial vehicle and the driver was at fault, but on the job at the time, the at-fault driver’s employer might actually be responsible financially. If a defect in the vehicle caused the accident, the manufacturer’s insurance company might pay.

The at-fault driver’s insurance company called and asked that I give a recorded statement. Do I have to say yes?

No. Insurance companies commonly ask motor vehicle accident victims for a recorded statement, where they ask various questions about the accident and your injuries. You do not have to give a recorded statement to the at-fault driver’s insurance company without first talking to a lawyer. In fact, you should talk to a lawyer before making statements to any insurance company. Your lawyer can explain the different obligations depending upon whether it is your insurance company or the at-fault driver’s insurance company.

Schedule a Free Initial Consultation to Discuss Options in Your Erie, PA Motor Vehicle Accident Case

Although you have two years to decide whether to file an accident claim, the more quickly we can get to work in your case, the greater our chances of reaching a fair outcome.  For more answers to your questions about motor vehicle accident injury cases in Western Pennsylvania, call or contact us online today.