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Schedule Your Free ConsultationHead On Collision Lawyers in Philadelphia, PA, Assisting With Claims Processing
You might have seen the other car cross the center line. You had maybe two seconds to react before impact. As a Philadelphia head-on collision lawyer, we know how devastating these crashes can be.
The sound of metal crushing. Airbags exploding. Then everything went quiet. Now you're likely dealing with broken bones, a traumatic brain injury, or spinal damage that might change your life forever.
The bills are piling up. You can't work. The insurance company is already calling with questions that feel more like accusations. You shouldn't have to face this alone.
We're here to help you pursue the maximum compensation available for your injuries and losses after a car accident. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Find Out What Your Case is Worth
We invite you to reach out to us today to schedule a free consultation with a member of our team. Call (215) 486-0123 or contact us online to learn more.
Your Options to Recover Damages After a Head-On Collision in Philadelphia
Let's start with what you can actually do to get compensated for what happened to you.
Tap Into Your Own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Coverage
Pennsylvania law requires drivers to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage.
This is your own insurance, and it pays for immediate medical expenses regardless of who caused the crash. You can use your PIP coverage right now to cover medical expenses up to your policy limits, which may include emergency room visits, surgery, hospital stays, prescription medications, and follow-up care.
PIP doesn't require you to prove fault or wait for the other driver's insurance company to finish investigating. You need treatment now. Your PIP coverage makes that possible.
File a Claim Against the At-Fault Driver's Insurance
This is where you pursue full compensation from the driver who crossed into your lane and caused the collision.
You're filing against their liability coverage to recover all your damages:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering (when permitted under your insurance policy)
- Any long-term care you'll need
This claim takes longer to resolve because it requires proving fault and documenting the full extent of your injuries. But it's also where you recover the real compensation that can cover the catastrophic losses head-on collisions typically cause.
Both paths are important. Your PIP coverage gets you treated immediately. The liability claim gets you fully compensated.
Your Insurance Policy Affects Your Head-On Collision Claim
Pennsylvania gives you a choice when you buy auto insurance:
- Full tort
- Limited tort
That choice directly affects what you can recover after a head-on collision.
If you have a limited tort policy, you've agreed to limit your right to sue for non-economic damages like pain and suffering in exchange for a lower insurance premium.
You can still recover your medical bills and lost wages, but you can't pursue compensation for the physical pain, emotional trauma, and permanent changes to your quality of life unless your injuries meet Pennsylvania's threshold for "serious injury."
If you have a full tort policy, you keep your complete right to sue for all damages, including pain and suffering. There's no threshold to meet. If you're hurt, you can pursue full compensation for every way the crash has affected your life.
But here's the thing with head-on collisions. They frequently result in serious injuries. Even if you have limited tort coverage, your injuries may qualify as "serious" under Pennsylvania law.
Limited tort has several exceptions that can restore your full rights, including:
- You suffered a serious injury, such as permanent disfigurement, serious impairment of bodily function, or other qualifying injuries.
- The at-fault driver was convicted of DUI.
- The at-fault driver was operating a vehicle registered outside of Pennsylvania.
Our Philadelphia head-on collision lawyer can review your policy and your injuries to tell you exactly where you stand.
What Happens If You Share Fault for the Head-On Crash?
Pennsylvania follows a comparative negligence rule. This means your compensation gets reduced by your percentage of fault, but you can still recover as long as you're not more than 50% responsible for the collision.
Here's how it works.
Let's say the other driver crossed the center line because they were texting, but you were also driving slightly over the speed limit. A jury might decide the other driver is 90% at fault and you're 10% at fault. If your total damages are $500,000, you would recover $450,000 (your damages minus your 10% share of fault).
But if you're found to be 51% or more at fault, you can't recover anything. The rule is designed to allow recovery when you share minor responsibility, but it cuts you off completely if you're mostly to blame.
Insurance companies will try to shift as much fault onto you as possible to reduce what they have to pay. They'll argue you were speeding, distracted, or failed to take evasive action. They'll look for any reason to increase your percentage of fault.
That's why the evidence matters so much. We need to prove exactly what happened and who's responsible.
The Deadline to File Your Head-On Collision Claim
Pennsylvania gives you two years from the date of the collision to file a personal injury lawsuit. Miss that deadline, and you likely lose your right to pursue compensation permanently.
Two years sounds like plenty of time, but it goes faster than you think. You're focused on recovering from catastrophic injuries, going through surgeries, attending physical therapy, and trying to figure out how to pay your bills. The legal deadline isn't on your radar until suddenly it's too late.
And here's what most people don't realize. Building a strong case takes time. We need to gather evidence, obtain medical records, consult with experts, and document the full extent of your injuries before we can negotiate effectively or file a lawsuit. Waiting until the last minute weakens your case and limits your options.
Don't let the clock run out on your right to compensation.
What Compensation You Can Recover After a Head-On Collision
Head-on collisions cause catastrophic injuries. The compensation you can recover needs to match the severity of what you're dealing with. Our Philadelphia car accident lawyer can help.
Economic Damages
Economic damages cover the financial losses you can calculate.
This includes all your medical expenses:
- Emergency transport
- Emergency room treatment
- Surgery
- Hospital stays
- Prescription medications
- Home modifications if you need wheelchair access
- Future medical care for the rest of your life if your injuries are permanent
Your economic damages also include lost wages for the income you've already missed out on and the reduced earning capacity you'll face if you can't return to your previous job. Property damage compensation needed to repair or replace your vehicle is also a form of economic damages. So are any out-of-pocket expenses directly related to the collision and your injuries.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages compensate you for losses that don't come with receipts but are just as real, including:
- Physical pain that won't go away
- Emotional trauma from reliving the crash every time you get in a car
- The loss of activities you loved but can't do anymore because of your injuries
- Disfigurement from scars that change how you look and how you feel about yourself
- Loss of companionship if your injuries have damaged your relationship with your spouse
- The psychological impact of knowing your life will never be the same
The insurance company will never offer you what your case is actually worth. They'll lowball you and hope you're desperate enough to accept. That's why you need someone who knows how to calculate the true value of catastrophic injury cases and fight for every dollar.
Discuss your case with our Philadelphia head-on collision lawyer today.
How Our Philadelphia Head-On Collision Lawyer Fights for Every Dollar You Deserve
Insurance companies have teams of lawyers working to minimize what they pay you. You need experienced attorneys on your side who know how to push back.
We handle every piece of the legal process so you can focus on healing. We prepare and file all the paperwork, making sure every form is completed correctly and every deadline is met. Pennsylvania insurance claims and personal injury lawsuits involve dozens of technical requirements. One missed deadline or incomplete form can tank your case.
We investigate the collision thoroughly. We obtain the police report, interview witnesses, review traffic camera footage if available, hire accident reconstruction experts to prove exactly how the crash happened, and collect evidence that establishes fault beyond any doubt.
We document your injuries with the help of medical experts who can explain the severity of your condition and the long-term impact on your life. Insurance companies rely on their own doctors to downplay injuries. We make sure your doctors' voices are heard.
We negotiate aggressively with insurance companies. We don't accept their first offer, or their second offer, or even their fifth offer if it doesn't fully compensate you. We use the evidence we've gathered to show them exactly what they're up against if they refuse to settle fairly.
And if they won't settle, we take your case to trial. We've been in courtrooms across Pennsylvania for over 50 years. We know how to present your case to a jury and win the verdict you deserve.
You're dealing with life-altering injuries. We make sure you're not also dealing with a life-altering financial disaster.
Insurance companies will try to settle your catastrophic injuries for pennies on the dollar. Let us fight for the full compensation your life-changing injuries demand. Talk to our head-on collision lawyers in Philadelphia, PA, now.
"Greatest firm I’ve ever dealt with. I’ll inform all my friends. Was very informative throughout the case!"
— Darren Baugh, Former Client
Why Injured People in Philadelphia Choose Our Head-On Collision Lawyer
We started this firm to represent people who've been hurt by someone else's careless or reckless actions. Families trying to rebuild after tragedy. People facing medical bills they'll never be able to pay without help.
When you walk into our office, the first thing we do is listen. We ask about your life before the collision:
- Your job
- Your family
- What you did for fun
- What a normal day looked like
We need to understand who you were before the crash so we can show the insurance company and the jury what's been taken from you.
You're coming to us on one of the worst days of your life. You're hurt, scared, and completely overwhelmed by a legal process you've never dealt with before. Our job is to educate you about what's happening at every stage and make sure you never feel lost or confused about your own case.
The people who work here genuinely care about our clients. We've built a team that treats your case like it matters because it does matter. You'll never feel like just another file number.
When you call us after hours or on the weekend because you're worried about something, you don't get voicemail. You talk to one of our lawyers. We don't operate like a nine-to-five business because catastrophic injuries don't respect business hours. You need access to your attorney when questions come up, and we make sure you have it.
Winning your case is what drives us. We want you to finish on top of this fight with the insurance company, fully compensated and able to move forward with your life.
We've spent over 50 years representing injured people across Pennsylvania.
- We've recovered more than $100 million in compensation for our clients.
- We've been named Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, recognized in America's Top 1000 Personal Injury Attorneys, selected for The National Trial Lawyers Top 100, and ranked among the Top 25 Motor Vehicle Trial Lawyers.
Head-on collision cases are too complex and valuable to handle alone. Discuss your case with our experienced head-on collision lawyers in Philadelphia, PA, to protect your rights.
Contact Our Philadelphia Head-On Collision Lawyer at van der Veen, Hartshorn, Levin & Lindheim Today for a Free Case Evaluation
You're facing catastrophic injuries, mounting medical bills, and an insurance company that's already looking for ways to pay you less than you deserve. The situation is overwhelming.
We've helped hundreds of people in your exact position. We know how to fight for full compensation in head-on collision cases, and we know how to win.
We review what happened, explain your legal options, and give you an honest assessment of what your case is worth. No pressure. No obligation. Just straightforward answers from attorneys who've been doing this for decades.
For help from a head-on collision lawyer in Philadelphia, reach out to van der Veen, Hartshorn, Levin & Lindheim online or call today.
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