Car & Motorcycle Accident Attorneys in Erie, PA

If you're involved in an auto accident, you should always get basic information from the other driver or drivers before you leave the scene of the accident. You need to know the name and address of the driver of the other vehicle, and see their driver's license to make sure that they are who they say they are. You also need to get their insurance information -- the name of their insurance company and a policy number, if available. (This information should be on their owner's card, which all drivers are required to have in their possession when operating a motor vehicle.) It's not a bad idea to write down the license plate number of all vehicles involved so that you can provide specific identification later, if necessary. The other thing that's important, and you don't often think about this at the scene, is to look and see who is around. Even if people were not driving a vehicle, they may have been a passenger or a bystander who witnessed the accident; they may be critical witnesses in your case later on. If you and the other driver have a different view about what happened, if the case later comes to trial, the testimony of that third-party, disinterested witness can be the difference between winning and losing. Unless you get the name of that witness at the time of the accident, you may never be able to identify that person again.  Look around to see who is there and write down the names and contact information of everybody you can. 

Don't jump to conclusions about who was at fault for the accident. While sometimes this may be clear, other times there are factors involved that are not so obvious.  Avoid making statements about who was at fault while at the scene; concentrate, rather, on making sure everyone is okay, or getting medical help to the scene if necessary, and on trading pertinent information with the involved parties and witnesses.

Next, call your insurance company and let them know that the incident happened. Their job is to protect you by providing an attorney as soon as that's necessary and to pay any claim on your behalf, if you were at fault. If someone is injured, and the accident was truly your fault, your insurance company will step in for you and pay for any covered damages that might be assessed against you, up to the limit of the liability coverage that you have purchased.

According to Pennsylvania law, you must report an accident to the police if someone was injured or if a vehicle is damaged badly enough that it cannot be driven.  In such cases, after reporting the accident, wait at the scene until the police arrive and complete their on-scene investigation.  In most cases, they will then provide you with an information sheet identifying the investigating officer(s) and the other person(s) involved in the collision. 

No. According to Pennsylvania's "seatbelt law", drivers, front seat passengers and others have a mandatory duty to wear a seatbelt or be in approved safety seats.  The law also contains an evidentiary provision that says that your failure to wear a seatbelt may not be used as evidence against you in a civil case. As a result of this law, if you were injured in an accident caused by another person, even if you were not wearing your seatbelt, the driver of the other car could not make the argument that your injuries were made worse because you were not wearing your seatbelt.  That evidence would not be admissible in trial. 

The mere fact that you were riding a motorcycle without a helmet does not preclude you from recovering for injuries caused by another driver.  It may, however, have a profound impact on your case.

Pennsylvania's helmet law generally requires both operators and riders of motorcycles to wear a helmet.  There are exemptions from this requirement for persons over 21 years of age, and who have been licensed to operate a motorcycle for more than two years or who have completed an approved safety course.  If you were not wearing a helmet and were involved in an accident caused by another driver, the fact that you were not wearing a helmet may be used to try to show that your injuries were the result of, or at least made worse by, your not wearing a helmet.  If the jury were to find that your failure to wear a helmet was a substantial contributing factor in causing or increasing the extent of your injuries, then the amount of damages you could recover would be reduced commensurately.

Yes. In this day and age of cell phones, it is easier than ever to take photos at the scene of an accident. If the other driver was at fault, and you want to preserve the evidence at the scene, take photographs.  In such cases, a picture is worth a thousand words. Take a photograph of the license plate of all the vehicles involved, so you can identify the vehicles involved later, if need be. Take a photograph of the physical damage to all vehicles involved.  If your fender is bent, take a photo of what it looks like immediately after the accident. If there are skid marks on the road, take photos of them. All of these things may be key pieces of evidence that can be used by your attorney, by an accident reconstructionist, or by others to identify how fast vehicles were going at the time, how vehicles were positioned, and ultimately who was at fault.

No. You should speak to a lawyer first. It's a good idea if you are contacted by the adjuster for the other driver's insurance company simply to tell them that you have contacted, or are about to contact, your lawyer and you prefer to talk to them with your attorney present.  You and your lawyer can discuss whether you should talk to the insurance representative and, if so, what subjects are appropriate for you to discuss.  

There are two reasons you might want to let your insurance company know about the accident. 

First, if you're injured, you will want to let them know because your own auto insurance policy will pay your medical bills (up to the limits of coverage you have purchased). They will need information about the accident, so that they can process your claim for medical benefits.

Second, if you were, or think you were, at fault for the accident, you'll want to notify them immediately so that they can handle the claim and none of the evidence is jeopardized. Your insurance company has an obligation to do two things if you're at fault: (1) hire an attorney to defend you (if that's necessary), and (2) pay the amount of any damages for which you are responsible, up to whatever limits of liability coverage you pruchased. You don't want your insurance company to refuse coverage because you didn't let them know about the accident in time and critical evidence was lost. 

If you think you were at fault, or if you or someone else was injured, you should let your insurance company know about the accident right away.

PennDOT's Auto Insurance Law Fact Sheet

The following is a re-print of the Auto Insurance Fact sheet which is available on PennDOT's website.

Overview

Pennsylvania law requires all Pennsylvania motor vehicle owners to maintain vehicle liability insurance (financial responsibility) on a currently registered vehicle. Vehicle liability insurance covers the property damage or injuries you may cause others in an accident.

A lapse in insurance coverage results in the suspension of your vehicle registration privilege for three months, unless the lapse of insurance was for a period of less than 31 days and the owner or registrant proves to the Department that the vehicle was not operated during this short lapse in coverage.

If the Department determines that you operated your vehicle without the required insurance, your driver's license will also be suspended for three months. The registration plate, sticker, card and driver's license must be surrendered to PennDOT in order to serve the suspension. Restoration fees of $50.00 and proof of insurance must be submitted prior to having either registration or driving privileges returned.

Please note that insurance companies are required to notify PennDOT when an insurance policy is cancelled by the insured or the insurer. Insurance companies are NOT required by law to notify PennDOT when a vehicle owner acquires a new insurance policy with the same or different insurance company. It is the vehicle owner's responsibility to notify PennDOT of the new insurance after receiving a letter of inquiry from PennDOT. Failure to respond to PennDOT's letter of inquiry will result in the suspension of the vehicle registration. A suspension may be avoided by the return of the registration plate, sticker and card to PennDOT at the time the insurance policy is cancelled or financial responsibility lapses. Registration Plates, stickers and cards must be received by the Department no more than 30 days after insurance was cancelled. Registration plates, stickers and cards received by the Department after 30 days will result in a 3-month registration suspension.

To surrender the registration plate, sticker and card, mail them to : PA Department of Transportation, Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Return Tag Unit, P.O. Box 68597, Harrisburg, PA 17106-8597.

What Motor Vehicles are Covered by Law?

All motor vehicles subject to registration such as cars, vans, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, trucks and buses must have liability insurance. You are in compliance with the law if you have liability insurance in the following amounts:

• $15,000 for injury or death of one person in an accident
• $30,000 for injury or death of more than one person in an accident
• $5,000 for damage to property of another person

Your insurance company sends you an insurance identification (I.D.) card valid for only the period for which coverage has been paid. Always carry your insurance I.D. card in your vehicle.

What Happens When You are Stopped and Determined to be Operating Your Vehicle Without Insurance?

If your motor vehicle is not insured with liability insurance, you could face the following penalties and expenses:

• A minimum of $300 fine for driving uninsured
• A three-month suspension of your vehicle registration
• A three-month suspension of your driver's license
• $50 restoration fee to restore your vehicle registration
• $50 restoration fee to restore your driver's license
• That vehicle may not be driven by anyone while the registration is suspended.

How Do Police Officers and PennDot Determine if You are Operating Your Vehicle Without Insurance?

1. If you are stopped for a traffic violation, the police officer will request your insurance I.D. card. If you cannot show the officer a valid card, the police officer will cite you for this offense and, if convicted, your vehicle registration and driver's license will be suspended for three months each.
2. If you are involved in a reportable accident, the investigating officer must complete an accident report and forward the report to PennDOT. If it is determined that you were without insurance, your vehicle registration and driver's license will be suspended for three months each.
3. In some cases, insurance information listed on vehicle registration renewal applications is verified with the indicated insurance company. If your insurance company denies coverage, your vehicle registration will be suspended for three months.
4. All insurance companies are required to notify PennDOT when an insurance policy is cancelled or terminated by the insured or by the insurer. PennDOT mails the vehicle owner a letter requesting new insurance information. If the owner fails to provide evidence of insurance, PennDOT suspends the owner's vehicle registration for three months.
5. Vehicle inspection stations require all vehicle owners to present proof of insurance before having their vehicles inspected. If an owner fails to present proof of insurance, the inspection official, in addition to denying a certificate of inspection, may notify PennDOT. PennDOT follows up by requesting insurance information as explained in #4.

Do I Have to Show Proof of Insurance When I Register my Vehicle?

PENNDOT requires all motor vehicle owners to provide proof that they are financially responsible (have liability insurance) at the time of initial registration. PENNDOT refuses renewal or transfer of registration if the self-certification of financial responsibility is not completed on the registration application, as follows:

1. Name of the insurance company that is insuring the vehicle.
2. The policy number, effective date and expiration date of the insurance policy.

What Constitutes Proof of Insurance?

The following documents are acceptable forms of insurance:

1. A copy of an insurance identification card.
2. A copy of the declaration page of an insurance policy.
3. A copy of an application for insurance to the Pennsylvania Automobile Insurance Plan signed by a licensed insurance agent or broker.
4. A copy of a certificate of self-insurance issued by PennDOT.
5. A copy of a valid binder of insurance issued by an insurance company licensed to sell motor vehicle liability insurance in Pennsylvania.
6. A copy of a letter from the insurance carrier that verifies the proof of financial responsibility of the insured on official company letterhead signed by an insurance agent or another authorized representative of the insurance company.

NOTE: The above copies must be the official document issued by the insurance carrier.

How will Supplying an Affidavit Stating My Vehicle was not Operated during the Lapse in Insurance Coverage Exempt Me from Serving a Three-Month Suspension?

The affidavit will exempt you from serving a three-month suspension only if you obtain insurance coverage in less than 31days from the date the lapse of insurance began. This may be a date determined by the Department or a date the insurance company has indicated insurance coverage was cancelled or terminated.

The 30-day grace period does not begin from the date of PennDOT's notice; it begins from the date of the insurance cancellation. Please read the notice carefully to determine the critical date that marks the end of the grace period.

If You Need Additional Information, Write to the Following Address:

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Financial Responsibility Section P.O. Box 68674 Harrisburg, PA 17106-8674

Go to PennDOT's website, http://www.dot.state.pa.us/,  for additional information.