Pennsylvania Local Accident Resources

Have you or somebody close to you been involved in a serious Pennsylvania accident? Accidents can be extremely traumatic under certain circumstances and completely change huge aspects of your life. If you have sustained life-altering injuries on a physical or emotional level, need the legal help of an experienced attorney, or have been faced with the fact that you will not be able to return to work, you might wonder where you can turn. Many other people find themselves in your same situation every year, which is why it is important to have helpful resources on your side so that you will be able to move forward with the support you deserve. No matter what issue you are facing regarding your accident at this time, you have a variety of community resources and professionals who will stand by your side.

If Your Recent Accident Took Away Your Ability to Work

You might find that your accident was so severe that you will not be able to return to work for quite some time. If so, you are entitled to legal recovery to help keep you afloat during this difficult time. Here are some resources that can guide you in the right direction when it comes to receiving helpful compensation.

• Social Security Disability Benefits: If you have become disabled due to an accident, you have a right to file for special benefits as a result. You can access this website to guide you in the right direction as you apply.
• Supplemental Security Income: In Pennsylvania, you also have the right to seek supplemental security income to help you qualify for extra help when you have little to no income following an accident.
• Pennsylvania Bar Association: The Pennsylvania Bar Association is a great resource for helping you find an attorney for your specific need such as car accidents. You will be able to move forward knowing that your case is being taken seriously.

Need help with requesting an official copy of the incident police report?

For individuals who have sustained injuries in Pennsylvania car accidents and would like a copy of the police report, they can get a copy online via the state government’s website, or they can fill out the request form and mail it to the Crash Reports Unit. The cost for reports are $22, and if they’re being requested by mail, the requester must send in a money order or a certified check payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. We have local car accident lawyers who are willing to provide you with a free copy of your police accident report.

If you or someone you love was injured in a car accident and need help obtaining a copy of the police report, we can help you.

Emotional Support

You might have healed physically from an accident but that doesn’t mean that the emotional scars are not there. If you need help coping with the mental trauma of an accident and what it left in its wake, you have options and we want to provide these resources with you.

• American Trauma Society: The Pennsylvania Division of the ATS helps provide useful educational materials and more that will help you after you have been involved in a traffic-related accident.
• Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania: If you have been involved in a serious accident and have received a brain injury as a result, this organization can help you lead a fulfilling life through their many practices and help you become involved and accepted in your community in a variety of ways.

Financial Hardship Assistance

Many accidents that take place on our roadways are out of our hands. They can happen for a variety of reasons such as speeding, distracted driving, and more. What if a crime-related accident takes place and now you are left to pay for the aftermath on your own? Some accidents take place due to outright negligent actions of others such as hit-and-runs and drunk driving. You might find that you are in a vulnerable and distressing situation and that the medical fees and more continue to pile up. If you need financial assistance at this time, look no further.

• PA Victim Services: Luckily, Pennsylvania has established a victim’s compensation fund and many other services that can help you in your time of need if you have been involved in an accident due to the criminal actions of another party. The financial impact can be lessened following your accident for both you and your family.

Car Insurance Information

Understanding the insurance that is required of you can go a long way in Pennsylvania, where car insurance and liability is taken very seriously. Here is some information on what is required of you when you are choosing insurance in our state:

• $15,000 per person for bodily injury liability coverage
• $5,000 for property damage liability coverage
• $15,000 per person for uninsured motorist coverage
• $15,000 per person for an underinsured motorist coverage
• $5,000 per person for first party benefits medical payments

Motor vehicle accidents are one of the most devastating things that you can experience in your life. If you have been involved in an accident and you decide that you are going to move forward with your claim, it is important to have a copy of the police report from your accident. You can receive a copy of your specific police report by following some of the information listed here.

Accident Due to Drunk Driving

Drunk driving and drugged driving can have some of the largest impact on you and your family, which is why you may need support after it happens to you. Here are some limits on BAC that you should understand to dictate whether or not somebody will be charged with a crime for drunk driving in your accident:

• 0.08% for general adults
• Zero Tolerance for anyone under 21, which means no detectable amount

If a driver suspects that drugs were being used by the driver in your accident, a blood test will be given to determine it. From there, officials will take a closer look at next steps.

Accident in Pennsylvania by the Numbers

Now, we would like to take a closer look at the many types of accident fatalities that happened on our roadways in 2017 across Pennsylvania. First, however, we want you to note that the population changes from year to year. In 2017, it was reported that 12.81 million people lived in Pennsylvania, which is the same year that the statistics were collected, so the numbers will be a good estimate. In 2017, Pennsylvania had a total of 1083 fatal crashes, which resulted in 1137 deaths.

Fatal Car Crashes

• 8.9 deaths per 100,000
• 1.09 deaths per 100 million miles traveled

Accident Types By Vehicle

• 41% of crashes involved passenger cars
• 22% of crashes involved Pickup & SUV occupants
• 2% of crashes involved large commercial vehicles
• 16% of crashes involved motorcyclists
• 13% of crashes involved pedestrians
• 2% of crashes involved Bicyclists

Alcohol-Related

In 2017, the NHTSA reported that of the 1,137 fatal car accidents in Pennsylvania, 314 were due to alcohol impairment. Although the number of alcohol related accidents and deaths are high in Pennsylvania, the number is down from the year 2016. Drivers are urged to not drink and drive, and seek an alternate means of getting home, whether a traditional cab or ride sharing service. By using one of those simple techniques, Pennsylvania can continue to decrease the amount of alcohol related deaths each year.