Bethlehem Car Accident Lawyer
- 30+ Years of Experience Helping Victims Across Pennsylvania
- We Will Never Stop Fighting For You
This page has been written and edited by a team of experienced legal writers . This page was approved by Managing Partner, Michael Saile who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney.
This page has been written and edited by a team of experienced legal writers . This page was approved by Managing Partner, Michael Saile who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney.
- Last Modified:
- September 28, 2024
When a negligent driver causes a car wreck that turns your life upside down, an experienced Bethlehem car accident lawyer with Cordisco & Saile LLC can help you take legal action. Our award-winning attorneys have the knowledge and experience to take your case the distance and demand the compensation you’re entitled to for your damages. Learn how we can help you by scheduling a free consultation today.
If you or someone you love has recently been injured in a motor vehicle accident caused by someone else’s negligence, a Bethlehem car accident lawyer from Cordisco & Saile LLC can help you recover the compensation you deserve. For decades, our firm has fought for the rights of accident victims and helped them collect money to cover their medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and a host of other accident-related damages.
Cordisco & Saile LLC is a client-first law firm that prioritizes communication and transparency. When you choose us to represent you for your car accident damages, you will never have to wonder about the status of your case or struggle to get your attorney on the phone. We keep you closely involved every step of the way. Contact us at 215-642-2335 for a free consultation.
- Why Hire Our Bethlehem Car Accident Attorneys?
- The Damages Available in a Car Accident Case
- How Much Is My Bethlehem Car Accident Case Worth?
- Who Is Liable for My Injuries After a Car Accident?
- Understanding PIP Insurance Coverage
- Can I Recover Compensation if I’m Blamed for A Car Accident in Pennsylvania?
- What Should I Do After a Car Crash in Bethlehem?
- Common Injuries in a Car Accident Case
- Most Common Causes of Car Accidents in Bethlehem
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Contact Cordisco & Saile for A Free Case Review on Your Car Accident Claim
- Meet Our Attorneys
Why Hire Our Bethlehem Car Accident Attorneys?
Financial difficulties and emotional stress can add up quickly after a serious car accident. Victims often find themselves unable to work and provide for their families while dealing with painful injuries and expensive medical bills. Hiring a Bethlehem car accident attorney means you have a legal professional on your side to help you fight for the compensation you deserve.
At Cordisco & Saile LLC, people come first. We have a passion for helping clients and taking on the stress of your legal struggles so you can focus on getting better. With more than 30 years in practice and millions of dollars recovered for our clients, you can trust that we will do what it takes to get results. Our legal services include the following:
- Investigating your Bethlehem car accident and gathering evidence
- Calculating the value of your damages
- Working with accident reconstructionists, medical professionals, and other experts to build your case
- Filing necessary documents with insurance companies and the local court
- Defending you against blame-the-victim strategies that could hurt your recovery
- Negotiating a settlement that reflects what your case is worth
- Representing you in court proceedings when necessary
We’re here to be your biggest advocate. Let an award-winning car crash attorney in Bethlehem help you through this trying time. Contact our Bethlehem personal injury law firm today to schedule a free case evaluation.
The Damages Available in a Car Accident Case
Generally speaking, two categories of damage are available to crash victims in Pennsylvania— economic and non-economic.
Economic damages offset the financial costs and consequences of a crash, which may include:
- Present and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and income
- Rehabilitation and therapy
- Vocational training
- Nursing assistance
- Property damage
- Out-of-pocket expenses
Non-economic damages compensate for the non-tangible trauma of a wreck, such as:
- Chronic physical pain
- Emotional distress
- Depression and anxiety
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Reduced quality of life
- Disfigurement
- Scarring
- Embarrassment
Insurance coverage is the primary source of compensation after a car accident in Bethlehem. Pennsylvania has unique insurance rules that will impact what types of compensation you can recover and from whom
How Insurance Plays a Role in Recovering Compensation
When you purchase car insurance, you are offered two options: limited and full tort coverage. Here’s how your choice could affect how much you recover after an accident.
- Full tort: With full tort coverage, the insured individual can recover any type of compensation, including economic and non-economic losses. This coverage does not restrict your ability to file a car accident lawsuit against a negligent third party to recover damages.
- Limited tort: While you can generally claim medical bills and other out-of-pocket expenses, limited tort coverage restricts your ability to recover compensation for pain and suffering and other non-monetary damages. Generally, you can only recover pain, suffering, or other non-economic damages if your injuries resulted in “death, serious impairment of bodily function, or permanent serious disfigurement.”
There are some other exceptions to the limited tort restrictions. For example, a person with limited tort coverage may qualify to claim pain and suffering damages if the at-fault driver is convicted of driving under the influence. Speak with a car wreck lawyer in Bethlehem to learn more.
“Number one secret insurance companies don't want you to know is that they often undervalue your claim to drive and maximize their profits. With that, they also frequently use delay tactics to deny valid claims. Be on the lookout because they are looking and they are checking your social media posts and videos to deny valid claims, to lower your claim and further undervalue and under compensate you at the end of the day. How do you avoid this? You enlist good, excellent, knowledgeable attorneys like Cordisco & Saile.”
How Much Is My Bethlehem Car Accident Case Worth?
Because every car accident case is unique, the value of your car accident injury claim will depend on several factors, including the following:
- The severity of your Bethlehem car crash
- The extent of your injuries
- Your earning capacity before the accident
- Your earning capacity after the accident
- Whether a full recovery is expected
- Whether the crash caused psychological trauma
- Whether you share some responsibility for the accident
- Your age at the time of the accident
If you suffer catastrophic injuries that have serious impacts on your lifestyle and future, your damages may be substantial. Working with a top-rated car accident lawyer in Bethlehem, PA, can help you maximize your recovery and claim the financial support you need. Our car accident law firm has experience handling complex cases and helping victims seek the full value of their damages.
In one notable case, our client was initially offered an $85,000 settlement from the insurance company after an auto accident. Because our client had undergone extensive medical treatment and suffered chronic pain, we rejected that offer. We tried the case before an arbitrator and secured a $1.377 million verdict.
Results Won for Our Car Accident Clients
- $1 million recovered for a client who was rear-ended at a traffic light.
- $285,000 recovered for a client injured as a result of the at fault driver running a red light and causing a t-bone collision.
- $230,000 recovered for a client involved in a head on collision due to the at fault driver running a stop sign.
- $200,000 recovered for a client injured in a t-bone car crash due to the at-fault driver running a stop sign.
- $185,000 recovered for a client injured in a t-bone accident.
Who Is Liable for My Injuries After a Car Accident?
Under Pennsylvania state law, anyone who contributes to an accident shares liability. Thus, a party may be liable if they are personally involved in the collision or their conduct somehow indirectly played a part in the wreck.
Once our car accident attorneys have carefully analyzed your crash and determined why it happened, we may discover that one or more of the following parties are liable:
- Negligent motorist
- Bethlehem truck driver
- Bus driver
- Uber or Lyft driver
- Motorcyclist
- Bicyclist
- Pedestrian
- Employer of a responsible party
- Vehicle manufacturer
- Government agency responsible for road design, maintenance, and repair
- Passenger
- Electric scooter operators
We will actively pursue damages from anyone who shares responsibility for your crash and your injuries.
Understanding PIP Insurance Coverage
Because Pennsylvania is a no-fault insurance state, drivers are legally required to have personal injury protection, or PIP, coverage. After suffering an injury in a car accident, you must file a claim with your own personal injury protection coverage first—no matter who was responsible for the crash.
While personal injury protection is meant to help car accident victims with their expenses, the benefits rarely cover the full extent of your damages. You may qualify to claim additional compensation by taking legal action against the at-fault party. Schedule a free consultation with a Bethlehem auto accident lawyer at Cordisco & Saile LLC to learn more about your legal options.
Can I Recover Compensation if I’m Blamed for A Car Accident in Pennsylvania?
Victim-blaming tactics are common in car accident cases. Insurance companies and responsible parties love to point fingers to shift liability. If you stand back and do nothing, you could watch your right to recover compensation disappear.
Under Pennsylvania Statute § 7102, Pennsylvania is a modified comparative fault state with a 51 percent bar to recovery. This means you lose the right to recover compensation if you were 51 percent or more responsible for a crash. Sharing some—but not most—of the blame will also impact your personal injury case. Your damages will be reduced in proportion to your fault for the accident.
How can you prove you’re not responsible for an accident or limit the impact of these blame-the-victim strategies? Our attorneys will defend you by introducing evidence that can disprove the claims or shift fault to other parties.
Evidence that might be helpful can include:
- Photographs of tire tracks, vehicle damage, traffic signals, and injuries
- Video footage of the collision from dashcams, surveillance cameras, and bystander recordings
- Accident reports
- Witness statements
- Expert testimony
- Medical records
- Physical evidence from the scene
We will work to counter claims that you contributed to the wreck and limit the fault assigned to you. The less fault you share, the more money you can walk away with from your case.
What Should I Do After a Car Crash in Bethlehem?
Did you know the decisions you make in the aftermath of a car crash can significantly impact your personal injury case? It’s true. Even minor missteps could seriously jeopardize your ability to recover the compensation you need and deserve.
Here’s what you should do after you’re involved in a motor vehicle accident in Bethlehem.
Remain at the Scene
Pennsylvania law requires all parties to remain at the scene of a crash causing property damage, injury, or death. It could be considered a hit-and-run if you leave.
Report the Car Accident
Call 911 or the local police department and explain what happened. An officer and emergency medical assistance will be dispatched to the scene.
Seek Medical Treatment
Get to the closest emergency room in Bethlehem or see your physician immediately after your accident. Prompt care will reduce the likelihood of complications, infection, and death. Your visit will also formally document your injury, which can help to establish a causal link between the accident and your trauma.
Resist the Urge To Say You’re Sorry
Apologizing might seem like a nice or appropriate gesture at the moment. However, your words can be twisted, taken out of context, and used against you. You’ll never know exactly why the crash happened until it’s thoroughly investigated.
Don’t Offer a Recorded Statement
The insurance adjuster will seem like they genuinely care about helping you. However, the questions are designed to elicit information that can be used to deny your claim or reduce its value. Don’t answer anything other than basic questions, such as name, address, and occupation, and certainly don’t allow them to record your statement. Save any conversations for after you’ve hired a car accident lawyer.
Resist the Urge To Accept an Early Settlement
An insurance company might offer you cash shortly after your accident, hoping you’ll accept it without giving it a second thought. After all, you need money to offset the serious financial consequences of the collision. However, once you settle your car accident claim, you give up the right to receive additional compensation in the future. Accepting money before you know what your case is truly worth could do more harm than good.
Hire an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer in Bethlehem
Handling the insurance claims process, communicating with insurance adjusters, and trying to understand your rights on your own can be overwhelming. If you’re wondering if and when to get an attorney for a car accident, it’s never too early to hire a lawyer.
Our car accident lawyers will be by your side every step of the way to help you reach the best possible outcome in your case. We handle all types of motor vehicle accident cases from Bethlehem truck accidents to pedestrian accidents.
"After an accident, not only are people in pain, but they're fearful. They don't know what to do next. At Cordisco and Saile, we know how to fight, we take cases to trial from beginning to end and we never give up on our clients."
Common Injuries in a Car Accident Case
Motor vehicle collisions cause injuries that range from minor physical trauma to long-term or permanent consequences. In Pennsylvania in 2022, an average of 184 individuals were injured in car crashes every day, which translates to about eight injuries every hour.
According to the National Safety Council, there were 5.4 million injuries caused by auto accidents in the United States in 2021. The World Health Organization estimates that between 20 million and 50 million people suffer non-fatal injuries in car wrecks worldwide.
Cordisco & Saile LLC works with clients who have suffered many different types of injuries after a car accident, including:
- Concussion
- Brain injury
- Whiplash
- Spinal cord injury
- Back injury
- Neck injury
- Nerve damage
- Paralysis
- Broken bones
- Crushing injury
- Burns
- Amputation
- Soft tissue injury
- Chest injury
- Internal organ damage
- Lacerations and cuts
- Eye injury
- Hearing loss
- Wrongful death of a family member
Most Common Causes of Car Accidents in Bethlehem
Although some motor vehicle collisions are unavoidable, most car accidents and injuries are preventable. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation found that driver error led to many car wrecks. Some contributing factors include:
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Proceeding without clearance
- Illegal passing
- Tailgating
- Drowsy driving
- Improper turning
- Poor road conditions
In 2022, there were 26,848 vehicle crashes related to speeding, and 404 ended in fatalities. High speed was, by far, the most significant driver error that led to wrecks in Pennsylvania. Also, at 4.2 percent of the state’s reported traffic crashes, Lehigh County made the list of the top 10 Pennsylvania counties for auto accidents. Northampton County was not far behind at 2.6 percent of the state’s reported crashes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Does It Cost To Hire a Car Accident Attorney?
Hiring a car accident lawyer in Bethlehem costs nothing out of pocket. We work on contingency, meaning there’s no fee until we win your case. If we take your case, it means we’re confident we’ll win. We will front the costs of litigation and assume the risks. You only pay us if we get you a settlement or win a verdict for you at trial.
There’s no risk involved in hiring an experienced car accident lawyer from Cordisco & Saile LLC to help you after a wreck. Contact our law firm to learn more.
Is There a Time Limit for Filing a Lawsuit After a Car Crash in Pennsylvania?
Under Pennsylvania Statute § 5524, a two-year statute of limitations applies to most car accident lawsuits. Thus, the deadline for filing a claim is generally the second anniversary of your accident or loved one’s death.
If you don’t file suit before the statute of limitations expires, you give up the right to recover the compensation you need and deserve.
Contact Cordisco & Saile for A Free Case Review on Your Car Accident Claim
Don’t let the people who caused your crash walk away without consequences. Let a Bethlehem car accident attorney with Cordisco & Saile LLC seek financial justice for you. We have experience handling all types of auto accidents from Bethlehem motorcycle accidents to hit and run accidents. Call 215-642-2335 or contact us online to schedule your free case review today.
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