Posted On July 19, 2019 Auto Injury,Case Studies
When the driver responsible for a car accident flees the scene or has no insurance coverage‚ the victim has no other option than to seek compensation from their own auto insurance policy—as was the case with our client.
She was traveling down the Pennsylvania Turnpike on a snowy February day in 2007. As she was driving, there was a tractor-trailer that came to a stop in the middle of the highway. She attempted to change lanes in order to avoid the truck when her car skidded out of control due to the icy road. Her vehicle flew in the air over an embankment before coming to rest. A witness stated that the truck driver came over to see if she was alright before fleeing the scene.
Although there was no impact that caused the accident, it would not have occurred if the tractor-trailer driver was pulled over to the shoulder rather than stopped in the middle of the highway. The witness of the crash also attested that having seen her car fly into the air the way it did, he did not think she survived.
Our client did not immediately seek treatment as she did not realize she had suffered any injury‚ when, in fact, she had sustained a very serious brain injury. It is not uncommon for accident victims to be unaware of injuries such as this as they may not present any symptoms immediately following the crash. Two days following the accident, she went to the emergency room where she was diagnosed with a concussion and brain injury. Her recollection of the specifics of the accident was impaired due to the head trauma she suffered‚ but it appears that when she hit the embankment, she was thrown upwards and struck her head on the roof of her car.
The trauma to her brain resulted in serious memory‚ cognitive‚ and vision problems in addition to severe head pain. One of her treating physicians performed a neurological psyche exam, which revealed that she was significantly impaired by the traumatic brain injury. It was ruled by her physicians that the damage to her brain was likely permanent as two years after the accident she was still experiencing significant cognitive issues.
Since the driver fled the scene and was never found, we were able to pursue compensation through her own car insurance policy under her uninsured motorist coverage (used to cover accidents caused by a hit-and-run or by a driver with no insurance). Our Pennsylvania car accident lawyers obtained the full policy limit of $100‚000. While it will never restore her life to the quality, it once was‚ this settlement helped to offset the costs that arose from this accident.
At Console & Associates, P.C. our attorneys have more than 25 years of experience handling cases just like yours. We’re ready to help you get your life back on track after a terrible auto accident. We understand how car insurance companies work and will fight hard to get you the compensation you deserve so that you can focus on your recovery instead of worrying about money or legal matters.
We know how important it is for our clients to feel comfortable with their representation, which is why we offer free consultations and our No Fee Promise. That means we don’t get paid unless we win your case. This allows us to represent everyone who needs our services regardless of their financial situation because it doesn’t cost them anything up front!
Call us at (215) 225-2040 to discuss your case with our team.
