We’ve all seen the traditional multiple car pileup on roads like I-95, but do you know how your insurance works in a multiple vehicle car accident?
Medical Benefits – PA & NJ
- Pennsylvania: If you were injured in the accident, your medical benefits will come from your own policy. These benefits are called PIP or personal injury protection. The amount or limit of your benefits will be based upon your selection when you purchased your policy. Most people have $5,000 in PIP coverage. You may have more, if you selected higher coverage.
- New Jersey: New Jersey is much more complicated than Pennsylvania. In NJ, in some cases, you can receive up to $250,000 in medical benefits. However, you can also choose for your healthcare insurance to be “primary”, and have your PIP benefits be “secondary”. Also, there can be co-pays or co-insurance payments for your treatment. If your treatment becomes substantial, or if you are treating for your injuries for over a certain period of time, you may need to undergo an independent medical exam, where your treatment can be cut off.
Bodily Injury – PA & NJ
If you were injured in the accident due to someone else’s negligence, and you wish to sue for damages, then you would look to the person who caused the accident. In stop and go traffic, often the person who causes the accident is the last in the line of traffic. For instance, if you are stopped in traffic, and someone hits the rear of your vehicle, and then you hit the person in front of you, the person at the back of the line is the negligent party.
Other times, in a highway accident situation, speed can influence the trajectory of the vehicles. Cars can spin and tractor trailers can jackknife, so witnesses and police reports become important. Who actually caused the accident? It is that person who would be responsible for your damages. So, hopefully, that person has good insurance coverage OR hopefully you have uninsured and under insured motorist coverage. For more information on important insurance coverage choices, click here.
If possible, make sure to obtain as much information as possible at the accident scene. Try to obtain a DC (or District Control) number for the police report. Also, take as many pictures as possible to recreate the story of the accident.
If you were injured in a multiple vehicle car accident, and you need advice, call our top accident lawyers at 215-567-1900 or 855-822-6783 (toll free). All consultations are FREE.
Rizio, Hamilton & Kane, P.C. has been serving accident victims in Pennsylvania and New Jersey since 1978.
