When Just in Case Turns Into Now What

We explained yesterday what a phantom driver accident is, and what kind of coverage you should have on your insurance policy to protect yourself just in case you are ever the victim of a phantom driver. In this post we are going to go a little more in depth on what you should do when a phantom driver accident occurs.

In order to file a claim with your insurance company about a phantom driver you must report that another vehicle caused you to wreck, then fled the scene, to the police as well as your insurance company within 24 hours, or soon thereafter if 24 hours is not possible due to injury or other extenuating circumstances.

After reporting the accident, as well as the cause of the accident, to the police and your insurance company you should immediately call our experienced accident attorneys at The Pisanchyn Law Firm to help you with your claim.

There are many exceptions and technicalities in this area of law, especially with phantom driver accidents, and if you are not aware of them it could cost you thousands of dollars. Our accident attorneys are experts when it comes to dealing with insurance companies and will fight aggressively on your behalf to get you or your loved one the compensation you deserve.

Hit and Run...Minus the Hit?

Did you know in Pennsylvania another vehicle does not have to physically touch your vehicle to be treated the same as a hit and run?

Are you wondering how that's possible? Doesn't hit and run mean, someone hit you causing you to crash, then fled the scene? Yes, however if someone, for example, cuts you off in traffic, causing you to lose control and wreck, then flees after the fact, this is handled in the same manner as a hit and run. This type of accident is called a phantom driver accident.

We'll post more about phantom driver accidents as the week continues, but first we want to cover the insurance aspect of these accidents. If you don't have the right coverage on your insurance policy you could be left with all the bills resulting from a hit and run or phantom driver accident. Uninsured Motorist Coverage doesn't only protect you if an uninsured driver causes your crash, it also protects you in the event of a hit and run or phantom driver accident. Hit and run drivers and phantom drivers are  considered to be uninsured.

By having uninsured motorist coverage if you are ever the victim of a hit and run, phantom driver, or uninsured motorist, your insurance company then steps in to take the place of the uninsured/unknown driver. While this sounds cut and dry, there is a lot more to it. You should never handle any type of accident claim without the help of an experienced attorney. There are many things about this area of law that if you don't know, could cost you thousands which is why it is of the utmost importance to contact an attorney as soon as possible after an accident.

Call our accident attorneys at The Pisanchyn Law Firm as soon as you or a loved one are injured in an accident so we can help you obtain the compensation you deserve. For more information about accidents, insurance, and all other injury matters please be sure to visit our website.

Are You Covered?

Too often people come to us thinking they have "full coverage" on their insurance policies only to find out too late that they have the basic coverage required by law, or not enough coverage to pay for the hospital bills and damages.

Insurance policies can be tricky to configure, and when you see the monthly payments add up with the more you add to your policy it's easy to be discouraged into lowering your coverage. This month we're going to inform you on the different types of coverage and why it's important to have them all on your insurance policy.
Already we've posted a link on our twitter (@pisanchynlaw) explaining why you should always contact an attorney when you're involved in an accident whether you have insurance or not. As mentioned in the link, we were able to obtain $850,000 more than the insurance company offered one of our clients; that's just one of the many reasons contacting an attorney after an accident can be beneficial to you.

Remember, if you or a loved are unfortunately the victim of an accident, please call The Pisanchyn Law Firm. A car accident in traumatizing enough, fighting with your insurance company or stressing over how you're going to pay your bills shouldn't be your focus; your focus should be on recovering and putting your life back together.

Biker Safety- Week 3

Our motorcycle safety tip this week (see our motorcycle safety post for more information) is to know your surroundings as well as the obstacles and risks motorcyclists face.

When riding, be sure to watch out for and keep in mind these common causes for motorcycle accidents.

Remember, if you or a loved are unfortunately the victim of a motorcycle accident, please call the The Pisanchyn Law Firm. Having an experienced motorcycle accident attorney on your side will protect you from the bias assumptions made against motorcyclists. We will work around the clock to ensure that you are not only compensated for your injuries but that you are treated without bias throughout your claim.

Biker Safety- Week 2

Our motorcycle safety tip this week (see our motorcycle safety post for more information) is to keep up with bike maintenance.

If you live in Pennsylvania chances are you do not have your bike out year round due to weather conditions. Many of us will be taking our bikes out for the first time in the coming weeks or months. Before taking it on that first ride, it’s a good idea to check over your bike, or have a trained mechanic check it out for you, to ensure that all the bells, whistles, and tires are functioning properly and are in good condition.

Check out this video we found about  10 important maintenance checks you should do before riding. http://youtu.be/-JSM3MTINTs

Remember, if you or a loved are unfortunately the victim of a motorcycle accident, please call the The Pisanchyn Law Firm. Having an experienced motorcycle accident attorney on your side will protect you from the bias assumptions made against motorcyclists. We will work around the clock to ensure that you are not only compensated for your injuries but that you are treated without bias throughout your claim.

The Pisanchyn Law Firm does not endorse, support, or sanction any information or organization found either directly or indirectly on or via links from its websites, blog posts, or e-letters, unless clearly stated otherwise. The Pisanchyn Law Firm also has no affiliation with any of the organizations mentioned or described on their website, blog, or e-letters and it makes no representations or warranties with regard to those organizations unless clearly stated otherwise.

Motorcycle Safety

As many motorcyclists may know, April is official “Get Out and Ride!” month sponsored by the American Motorcyclist Association. As the weather clears here in Pennsylvania we anticipate many of our clients, friends, and loved ones will participate, knowingly or not, in this event. Each week in April has a “Get Out and Ride!” theme, to see the full list, visit americanmotorcyclist.com

 

The week we’re most interested in and want to bring attention to is the last week in April. The theme is “Get Out and Ride Smart!” This week, according to the AMA’s website, “promotes rider training and awareness skills needed to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience on every ride.”  The safety of our clients, friends, and loved ones is very important to us so we will be sending out weekly emails with tips, links, and safety advice we’ve come across over the years and sharing them with you in an effort to keep you safe throughout the riding season.  Sign up to receive these tips at pisanchyn.com.

The first tip we offer is in the form of a website and video. Check out the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s new video on safety gear for riders. While there you can see numerous links to tips, training, and news about biking.

Remember, if you or a loved are unfortunately the victim of a motorcycle accident, please call the The Pisanchyn Law Firm. Having an experienced motorcycle accident attorney on your side will protect you from the bias assumptions made against motorcyclists. We will work around the clock to ensure that you are not only compensated for your injuries but that you are treated without bias throughout your claim. For more information about motorcycle accidents, please visit www.pisanchyn.com

Slip, Trip, and Fall Into the Season

As mentioned in our newsletter, fall is upon us. While the season has a lot to offer in terms of enjoyment, the spoils of autumn also come with a few downfalls; literally. With the weather changing here in Northeastern Pennsylvania wet and slippery conditions are going to be ever present in the upcoming months; not just on the roads, but on sidewalks and tracked inside businesses and restaurants making it all too easy to slip, trip, or fall, and possibly injure yourself. 

Of all the injuries slips, trips, or falls result in, sprains are the most common. A sprained ankle is a very common injury that most people don’t give a lot of attention to. It brings some back to their high school sports coach telling them to “walk it off.” It may have not been so serious then, but a sprained ankle, wrist, knee, spine, or other extremity has the potential to be very serious and cause lifelong suffering. There are three types, of sprains. 

  

•  Grade 1 is the type your high school coach tells you to walk off; it’s a momentary overstretching of the ligament which, if given proper healing time, will fix itself. With a grade 1 sprain there is minimal swelling. 
•  Grade 2 is an actual tear in the ligament, though only a small tear. This will also heal itself but leaves scar tissue on the ligament, also known as adhesions. These adhesions are permanent changes in the tissue which causes the joint of the sprained area to be unstable. With grade 2 sprains there is noticeable swelling as well as some loss in functionality of the sprained area. Holding weight can aggravate the sprain causing more pain or more instability.
•  Grade 3 is the worst type of sprain and is also permanent. This is a complete tear of the ligament and results in immediate severe swelling, loss in functionality of the sprained area, and holding weight is not possible without severe pain. Most often grade 3 sprains require a surgical procedure to correct. 

It’s common after a trip, slip, or fall for someone to get right back up and claim that he or she is alright due to shock and embarrassment over the situation. Once the shock and embarrassment surpasses and the pain has really had time to settle in is when that person realizes they have a more severe problem than they originally thought. 

It’s always a good idea to get witnesses’ contact information after you fall, just in case. Once you have any and all witnesses’ contact information you should report your fall to the owner of whatever establishment you fell at. You should also go to the hospital after a slip, trip, or fall. You don’t know what kind of damage that fall could have done to you internally; you may think you’ll just have a nasty bruise in the morning, or a “walk it off” sprain, but as we explained it can be much more serious. If after a fall you are diagnosed with a sprain, be sure to get all the facts on what grade the sprain is so you know if this is a lifelong issue you will be dealing with.

Calling an attorney experienced in slip, trip, and fall cases immediately after you seek medical treatment for your injuries is imperative. Fall cases are more difficult to recover damages for your injuries than other types of personal injury cases. Visit our website or call one of our experienced slip, trip, and fall attorneys here at The Pisanchyn Law Firm for a free consultation and more information about slip, trip, and fall cases.