Car Accidents

Lawsuits arising from motor vehicle accidents are based on the law of negligence. Anyone who carelessly operates his or her motor vehicle and, as a result, causes injury to another person is responsible for all property damage and physical injuries which arise from the car accident.

Personal injury cases involving a car accident usually move through several stages. A personal injury case handled by accident lawyer Peter Hart or Stephen Karp usually begins by us gathering all the medical records; conducting an accident investigation and then attempting to negotiate a fair settlement with the insurance company. If the motor vehicle accident case is not settled, we often try to mediate the case or demand a binding arbitration. If all this fails to achieve the result we will try the case before a jury. Motor vehicle accidents including car accidents, Toyota sudden acceleration accident cases, cell phone and texting auto accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, school bus accidents and even bicycle accidents are handled this way.

Car Accident Locations

Karp and Hart handle motor vehicle accidents throughout the Philadelphia metropolitan area. We handle cases in Philadelphia County, Chester County, Delaware County, Montgomery County, Berks County and Lancaster County in Pennsylvania including West Chester, King of Prussia, Honey Brook, Coatesville, Thorndale, Downingtown, Lionville, Exton, Frazer, Malvern, Paoli, Phoenixville, Devon, Berwyn, West Goshen, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Avondale, West Grove, Oxford, Parkesburg and all surrounding areas. Accident Attorneys Peter Hart and Steve Karp have tried hundreds of cases in these Pennsylvania jurisdictions and have secured large awards for their clients.

Anyone who has been injured in an automobile accident is entitled to be compensated for both economic and non-economic losses. Economic losses include compensation for medical bills, wage loss, and other out of pocket expenses. Deducted from these amounts are any medical bills or wage loss payments paid or payable by the victim’s insurance company. Non-economic losses include a person’s actual physical pain and suffering, loss of the pleasures of life, disfigurement, mental anguish, emotional distress and loss of companionship of a spouse.

What is Covered by Insurance? Full Tort vs Limited Tort.

In Chester County, Pennsylvania an injured victim’s recovery can be limited by the type of insurance that he or she purchases. In Pennsylvania, including Chester County, motor vehicle operators have the choice between selecting limited tort and full tort coverage. If you choose limited tort coverage however, you give up significant rights. For example, you are unable to sue for non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, emotional distress and disfigurement. Oftentimes these are the biggest financial part of your case. There are few exceptions to this harsh rule. For example, you would only be exempt from the limited tort exclusion if you were struck by a drunk driver; by an out of state driver or if you suffered a “serious injury” as a result of the motor vehicle collision. For more information please contact us for a full explanation of your insurance coverage and the differences between full tort and limited tort in Pennsylvania.