Pittsburgh’s car accident attorneys: Robert Peirce & Associates, P.C.
Auto insurance choices make all the difference if you are in an accident.
In the aftermath of an auto accident, people can find themselves in an overwhelming situation. This traumatic experience can leave you upset and confused. Making sure that you are safe, contacting the authorities and taking the crucial steps to get medical help if you are injured takes precedence over everything else.
Once the commotion of the accident settles, you are then faced with working out the details of your insurance coverage and the coverage of the other driver. Many times, if you are hit from behind or if you are hit when you are going through a green light, you may have a claim against the other driver. However, there are many other important facts about insurance coverage that must be considered.
For more than 40 years, the attorneys at Robert Peirce & Associates, P.C. have successfully handled car accident cases. They are experienced in working through all the legal intricacies of insurance claims. Through that experience, they have a keen understanding of how important it is to make the right choices when choosing your insurance coverage.
Robert F. Daley, a partner at Robert Peirce & Associates, has worked on personal injury and auto accident claims for almost 30 years.
“We work every day to help people who have been injured in a car accident and we know firsthand why making the right insurance coverage decisions upfront is so critical,” said Daley. “If we can impart one crucial point, it is to make sure you are selecting the best possible protection. And the most important thing you can do is to always select the full tort option. The state of Pennsylvania offers a limited tort option which can save you 15% to 20% on your policy, but if you choose this option you must give up the ability to pursue claims for pain and suffering if you are injured in an accident.
“We can’t stress enough the distinction between full and limited tort because every case we handle, whether small or large, always comes with pain and suffering. If you choose limited tort coverage and you are injured in a car accident, you may not get compensated for pain and suffering or other non-monetary damages. Another important point is that many cases are turned down because of limited tort coverage which makes the full tort option an absolute must,” cautions Daley.
“You will also be offered limits of liability coverage. You need to determine how much liability coverage you want to have in case you are at fault in an accident. Liability coverage can range from a minimum of $15,000 all the way up to $500,000 or a million dollars. Beyond that, you will have a choice to select Uninsured (UM)/Underinsured (UIM) coverage and you can only select as much as you have in liability coverage. The purpose of UM and UIM is to cover you if you are injured by a driver who is uninsured or doesn’t have enough insurance.
“For example, if you suffer $110,000 in damages and the other driver only has the minimum $15,000 in coverage you can only recover $15,000 from that driver’s insurance policy. Once you have exhausted the other driver’s insurance policy limits, the next step is to look at your own UM and UIM coverage. This is why you want to have as much insurance as possible because that will stack on top of the responsible driver’s insurance. It is in your best interest to select at least $100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident option to at least guarantee yourself that amount if you are injured,” said Daley.
“We also recommend that if you own more than one car that you always stack your coverage. If you have three cars and you stack your insurance, your coverage will triple because you are insuring three cars. The bottom line is we recommend always selecting the full tort option, do not select the minimum coverage and always stack your coverage.”
If you have been severely injured in a car accident that was the fault of another driver, you will need significant legal compensation to account for your losses. Even when you think your injuries are minor, they may become more serious over time.
The legal professionals at Robert Peirce & Associates can help you navigate through the complex legal issues associated with insurance claims and to help you recover compensation or monetary damages.
Monetary damages include:
• Medical bills/future medical care
• Current/future lost earnings
• Reduced earning ability
• Property repair/replacement
Examples of non-monetary damages that can only be recovered with full tort coverage:
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Physical impairment or disfigurement
• Loss of enjoyment of life’s pleasures
When dealing with insurance companies, you may not get adequate compensation for your losses without legal representation. An insurance adjuster, on behalf of the other driver, may reach out to encourage you to settle your claim without a lawyer. To make matters more complicated, insurers often reject the first claims or significantly lower your first estimate. This is a negotiation strategy, as insurers know injury victims are desperate for help and may accept the first offer they get.
By working with an experienced car accident lawyer from the start of your case, you will signal to both the insurance company and the other driver that you are serious. In most cases, you will always receive more money when you consult an attorney.
“It is most likely we have dealt with the type of case you are involved in and have a sense of how much should be paid to you. Most importantly, if the insurance company disagrees, as your lawyers we can file a lawsuit on your behalf,” said Daley. “Also, we want to hear from you even if your actions caused the accident. We will review all the facts of your case to see if it is solely your fault or if there are other factors involved.”
You can trust the legal experts at Robert Peirce & Associates, P.C. to help you explore your legal options with the professionalism, care, and sensitivity you deserve.
For over 40 years, Robert Peirce & Associates has been providing supportive and compassionate legal representation to people who have been injured in automobile accidents. It is important to work with a team of legal professionals that can help determine how to be compensated if an injury was sustained.
There are no fees or costs unless we win your case. In other words, you will never pay a fee unless there is a successful outcome. To make a no-obligation appointment, contact attorney Robert Daley at Robert Peirce & Associates at 412-281-7229 or visit peircelaw.com.
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