Motor vehicle accidents in Stroudsburg and Monroe County are on the rise. The motor vehicle traffic-related death rate for Monroe County is higher than the average in the United States and twice as high as the Pennsylvania state-wide average. According to data from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PDOT), Monroe County has a disproportionate number of motor vehicle accidents—including fatal motor vehicle accidents—based on its percentage of the Commonwealth’s total population. This has remained true over the past several years.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you need a team of auto accident attorneys who are familiar with the way insurance company’s operate, and are able to guide your claim for injuries quickly and thoroughly through the claim process. At Drake, Hileman & Davis, a Stroudsburg motor vehicle accident attorney is ready to help you sort through the facts of your case, in order to determine the best way to proceed toward a resolution of your claim. Give us a call – we are ready to help.
A High Volume Commute Leads to More Accidents
Demographically, many people are moving to the Pocono’s from New York and New Jersey looking for more affordable housing, a slower pace of life, and lower taxes. One of the effects of increased population growth, from those who continue to work in New York City while living in Monroe County, has been the increase in commuter and commercial bus traffic. At present, there are approximately 60 buses that leave each day from Monroe County (From Broadheadsville, Effort, Stroudsburg/Delaware Water Gap, Tobyhanna, and Mt. Pocono) to NYC (to the Port Authority, Wall Street & Downtown, as well as Uptown & Midtown). That’s a lot of busses, and a lot of traffic.
With this increase in commuting from Monroe County to NYC comes interest in ride-sharing as well, either to the closest bus terminal or for the entire trip into New York City. Unfortunately, many drivers do not realize that they may jeopardize their insurance coverage if have an accident while transporting someone “for hire”. Sharing the cost of gas is one thing, but actually paying for someone to drive you is considered by the insurance companies to be something completely different.
It is important that before you start serving as a “taxi service” for neighbors and co-workers, you make sure your insurance coverage is available for such uses of your personal automobile. While it may sound strange that such an act of conservation would cause insurance complications, the same is true for vehicles used in part-time employment to deliver newspapers or pizzas. Insurance companies just don’t like it when a car they insure is being used for a purpose they are unaware of. As a passenger in such a vehicle, you also need to be aware of this. Does the person who is driving you to work have the proper insurance? What happens if they cause an accident and you are hurt, and the insurance company denies the claim? There are so many questions. Give us a call to discuss your case for free.
AUTO ACCIDENTS WHILE COMMUTING TO AND FROM WORK
Because many residents of Stroudsburg and Monroe County are commuting to New York City, we have had many clients who have been injured during the course of their commute. Significantly, the motor vehicle accident laws differ from Pennsylvania to New Jersey to New York. So depending in which State your automobile collision occurred, your ability to recover could be greatly impacted.
This is especially so with regard to New Jersey’s “Deemer Statute”, which deems or rules by default that residents of Pennsylvania to have elected a lesser automobile insurance coverage if their insurance company does business in New Jersey.
If you are a Pennsylvania resident involved in a motor vehicle accident during your commute, you need a team who is able to help you navigate through the complex aspects of insurance coverage in order to ensure that you are receiving all that you are entitled to under the law of each state. At Drake, Hileman & Davis, our personal injury attorneys have the experience necessary to handle these motor vehicle accidents which occur during a work commute.
A STROUDSBURG MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT ATTORNEY WILL FIGHT FOR YOU
While car collisions can occur to anyone in and around Stroudsburg and in Monroe County, the impact on those who commute to New York City to work can be particularly problematic. Typically, motor vehicle accident injuries affect one’s ability to travel, ride in a car, or ride on a bus. If you are commuting to NYC, this can be a real detriment to getting back to work in a timely fashion. Auto insurance policies in Pennsylvania provide an option for wage loss coverage, which is available to an insured who misses more than five days of work. Unfortunately, the amount of coverage offered is frequently not enough to pay the bills and expenses that continue to add up, while no income from employment is being earned. Additionally, many out-of-state union employees are prohibited by their local union from taking a part-time job in Pennsylvania during the time period their body needs to heal. Moreover, there is typically no “light duty” work available in the union for those not injured on the job. These factors create a difficult scenario for those who live in Monroe County, but work out of state, or have a long commute.
Because insurance companies always seem to try to find a way out of paying on a claim, you need a team of personal injury accident attorneys with the knowledge and experience to ensure that your rights are protected and that you are treated fairly. In a system where the insurance company does everything it can to minimize your claim, you need a team on your side pushing back. Interestingly, we have been retained by some local Stroudsburg and Monroe County clients because they wanted a personal injury law firm that was knowledgeable about the area but was not beholden to some of the connected relationships that exist in a small-town atmosphere. Our clients have great concern that the system will treat them fairly and not in a manner that smells of small-town politics. As a firm that maintains offices in Stroudsburg, Allentown, Easton, Bethlehem and Doylestown, our clients are able to retain a regional law firm without losing that personal service that comes with local representation.
At Drake, Hileman & Davis, we have been helping those injured in automobile accidents in Stroudsburg and Monroe County for more than 35 years. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a car accident, we are ready to help you.
SERIOUS INJURY AND WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIMS FROM AUTO ACCIDENTS
Unfortunately, in handling motor vehicle accident cases in Stroudsburg and Monroe County for more than 35 years, we have represented many people who have suffered serious car accident injuries as well as family members of those that did not survive their injuries. While we would like to think that there is a common cause that could be eliminated in order to prevent serious injuries and death as a result of car crashes, there is no such common thread that weaves these cases together. Sometimes it is the inexperience of the driver; sometimes alcohol or drugs are involved; sometimes it is speed; sometimes it is the use of a cell phone; and sometimes it is simply inattentiveness to the condition of the roadway or the color of a traffic light.
Whatever the reason for the collision the losses caused by a car crash can be devastating and permanent. At Drake, Hileman & Davis, we strive to serve our clients with compassion during this most difficult time. While not every client provides us with feedback regarding our services, many have. Please see the link in our “results” page to have a better appreciation of how our clients feel about the “personal” service we provide while handling their personal injury claims.
While we strive to provide competency and compassion to our clients, in car accidents involving death, you also need a team of attorneys who are able to explain to you the difference between Wrongful Death and Survival Actions—these are two distinct causes of action which need to be pursued. You will also want a team of attorneys on your side who can counsel you on the tax implications of each type of action and who know the process of obtaining approvals from the necessary government departments, as well as the courts, prior to making distribution to the heirs and beneficiaries of the deceased loved one.
What To Do After a Serious or Fatal Auto Accident in Stroudsburg
If you have been seriously injured or lost a loved one in a fatal auto accident in Stroudsburg, there are some important steps you should try to take as soon as possible. Some examples of these steps include:
1. Report the Accident
If you haven’t done so already, you should report your accident to the Monroe County police and your insurance company. Not only is this likely required, but it will also be important for documenting the accident and protecting your legal rights.
2. Take Detailed Notes
Whether you were injured in an auto accident or you are coping with the loss of a loved one, you should write down everything you know about the collision. The more details you can record, the better. Bring these notes with you to your free initial consultation.
3. Create an Accident File
You will likely receive records related to the accident from a variety of different sources. You should create an accident file so that you can keep all of these records in a safe place until you share them with your attorney.
4. Prioritize Your Health
When coping with the effects of a serious or fatal accident, it is extremely important to prioritize your health. Get the care you need, and do everything you can to promote your physical and psychological recovery.
5. Contact a Stroudsburg Motor Vehicle Accident Attorney
A Stroudsburg motor vehicle accident attorney at Drake, Hileman & Davis can explain all of the steps you need to take—as well as the mistakes you need to avoid. Our attorneys are available 24/7, and you can get started with a free, no-obligation consultation.
How a Stroudsburg Motor Vehicle Accident Attorney Can Help
Along with guiding you through your next steps, there are many other ways our attorneys can help you as well. For example, when you choose Drake, Hileman & Davis to represent you, your Stroudsburg motor vehicle accident attorney will:
- Conduct an Investigation – As soon as possible, your attorney will investigate the accident and determine who (or what company is responsible).
- Determine What Claim(s) You Can File – Based on the outcome of your attorney’s investigation, your attorney will determine what claim (or claims) you can file to recover just compensation.
- Calculate Your Losses – Pennsylvania law allows for the recovery of both financial and non-financial losses. Your attorney will calculate these losses for you so you don’t settle for less than you deserve.
- Deal with the Insurance Companies – Dealing with insurance companies can be challenging, to say the least. Your attorney will deal with the insurance companies while you focus on your physical and psychological health.
- Fight to Maximize Your Financial Recovery – Whether through settlement negotiations or at trial, your attorney at Drake, Hileman & Davis will fight vigorously to maximize your financial recovery.
WHAT IS MY PENNSYLVANIA CAR ACCIDENT CASE WORTH? FIND OUT IN A FREE CONSULTATION WITH A STROUDSBURG MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT ATTORNEY
Serving our clients well also means being able to recover the most we are able from the responsible parties. Sometimes the available insurance is not enough for the injuries sustained. At times, when the tortfeasor (responsible party) has personal assets, we have sued to have the tortfeasor contribute their own resources to compensate the victim’s family. Other times, due to the tenaciousness of our approach, we have been able to identify other insurance policies under which a recovery could be made.
Whatever the circumstance you face, when a loved one has been lost due to the carelessness and recklessness of another, you need the team of personal injury accident lawyers of Drake, Hileman & Davis. We have been helping your neighbors for more than 35 years and we are ready to help you. Call us at 570-421-8119 or use the contact form to the right of your screen in order to set up a free consultation with a Stroudsburg motor vehicle accident attorney in our Stroudsburg office or in the convenience of your home. We never charge a fee unless we are able to obtain a recovery on your behalf.