While the borough of Lewisburg isn’t home to city streets, we do have plenty of highways, tight streets, and rural roads that you drive on to get through the area. And even though we’re not a large area, Lewisburg is highly trafficked by locals, visitors, and passersby en route to their destination.
Roads like Route 15, I-80, and Route 45 are all major roads that pass through our town and are frequently used by all kinds of motorists, which means accidents are bound to happen. Our Lewisburg car accident lawyer at Stapp Law, LLC is prepared to help you after a collision on one of these main roads just as much as on a back road.
When you choose our firm, you can rest assured that we will support you through every step of your car accident claim. We have experience representing the victims of car accidents and know exactly how to proceed with your best interests at heart.
Pennsylvania Car Accident Statistics
Driving in Pennsylvania is just like anywhere else—scenic and enjoyable, but also dangerous at times. Truthfully, any time you get behind the wheel, there’s a certain amount of risk involved. Even if you try to drive as safely as possible, that doesn’t mean all the other drivers on the road are doing the same.
In 2020, there were over 100,000 reported crashes in the state of Pennsylvania. Here is the data for crashes that year, as reported by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, otherwise known as PennDOT:
- 58,458 property damage only crashes
- 44,957 injury crashes
- 1,060 fatal crashes
- 1,129 people killed
- 4,436 suspected severely injured people
- 10,745 possibly injured people
- 30,727 suspected minorly injured people
- 15,340 people with unknown severity injuries
- 161,815 people uninjured
While the amount of people left uninjured and only suffering from property damage after crashes seem higher than those who are injured, it’s important to remember that these statistics also include small accidents that were reported, like fender benders. That doesn’t take away from the number of people seriously injured or killed in these crashes as well—any accident could have devastating consequences.
We can also take a look at the crash data specifically from Union County in 2020. This can give us a better look at the severity of accidents happening in Lewisburg and the surrounding area as opposed to the entire state:
- 320 total crashes
- 183 property damage only crashes
- 133 injury crashes
- 4 fatal crashes
With these numbers in mind, you might see why hiring a lawyer after your collision is a good idea. If you suffered injuries and other damages from a crash in Lewisburg, Union County, or the surrounding area, you could use the help of a car accident lawyer to recover those damages.
At Stapp Law, LLC, our Lewisburg car accident attorney is here to represent you and ensure your rights are protected.
Common Causes of Central PA Car Crashes
One of the first things your attorney will do when you’re filing a car accident claim is to look into what caused your wreck. This is helpful in many ways—they can understand the full picture of what happened, better understand the evidence, and figure out exactly who was at fault for what happened.
In Pennsylvania, you don’t have to prove that the other party was fully at fault because we follow contributory negligence laws, but you do need to prove they were at fault. Determining the cause of the collision is one of the best ways for a car accident attorney to do that—depending on the cause, the other driver could be proven to be at fault.
Central Pennsylvania experiences all four seasons, has ample wildlife, and plenty of drivers on the road. Which is why these are the most common causes of auto wrecks in PA:
- Distracted driving
- Drunk driving or driving under the influence
- Speeding
- Aggressive driving
- Ignoring traffic signs and signals
- Sharp turns on winding or rural roads
- Auto defects
- Snow
- Ice
- Rain
- Sleet
- Fog
- Potholes and other poor conditions
- Animal crossings, especially deer
There are plenty of other scenarios that could lead to an accident, like poorly lit back roads, downed trees, and leaves on the roads making it slick, but these are the most common causes listed above. In many of these situations, another driver, the weather, or something else out of your control is at fault when you crash.
That’s why having a Lewisburg car accident lawyer on your side is important. We can prove that the other party, whether it was a driver or not, was acting negligently and caused your collision.
Steps to Take Immediately After an Accident
When you’re in the moment directly after a car crash, you might not know what to do. Adrenaline is pumping and you’re not sure what will help or hurt in the moment. You’re likely only thinking of what’s happening now, but it can be helpful to consider the future when deciding your next move.
Here are some helpful steps to take immediately after an accident to ensure you’re safe and setting yourself up for taking legal action down the line:
- Ensure you’re safe and out of harm’s way
- Call 911 to get emergency services and first responders on the scene
- Speak to the police when they arrive
- Allow paramedics to help you, if needed
- Exchange information with the other driver
- Take pictures of the scene and any important details, like nearby intersections
- Get information from witnesses
- Look for any traffic cameras that could have caught the accident on video
- Seek medical treatment even if you don’t think you’re hurt
- Contact your insurance company
- Hire a lawyer
The aftermath of a car crash can be overwhelming. When you have a Lewisburg car accident attorney on your side, they can take a little off your plate so that you can focus on your healing.
Stapp Law, LLC Is Here to Support You After Your Wreck
Support after a car accident is crucial. At Stapp Law, LLC, we understand how vulnerable you could be left feeling after a car wreck that left you with injuries and other damages. That’s why our experienced Lewisburg car accident lawyer is here to help you through the claims process and ensure you feel supported every step of the way.
You can feel confident in your claim while having peace of mind that your attorney will protect your best interests. Reach out to our office today so we can schedule a free consultation and discuss your legal options.
