Auto Accidents

Despite automobiles being a routine part of many of our daily lives, an accident and its effects are anything but routine. Here at Matsikoudis & Fanciullo, we can help you through the process of recovery, our experienced attorneys have assisted clients in recovering compensation from hit-and-runs, multi-car pile-ups, and vehicles hitting pedestrians.

Why do I need an attorney? Isn’t this what I pay my insurance company for?

• Even if your insurance company offers you money after an accident, it may not have your best interests in mind – and it is only part of the equation. Likewise, while the other driver’s insurance company may offer you money in relation to the accident, it rarely has your best interests in mind. A law firm can negotiate with your insurance company, the driver of the vehicle responsible for the crash, and the other driver’s insurance company, all to make sure that you recover quickly and easily after an accident.

What can I recover?

• Generally, there are three types of damages that can be recovered for an auto accident: Economic, Non-Economic, and Punitive.
• “Economic Damages” are essentially the repayment of money you lost because of the accident – think of it as attempting to make you “whole” again or as expenses to get you back to how you were before the accident. Some examples of economic damages include:
  • Lost income
  • Medical bills
  • Damage to your vehicle
• “Non-Economic Damages” are damages that cannot be proven via a receipt or bill, but are meant to compensate you for intangible damage to yourself. Some examples of non-economic damages include:
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of consortium
• Punitive Damages are damages that are meant as a punishment for the individual responsible for the accident. These types of damages are rather uncommon.

What should I do if I was just involved in an accident?

• First, you should always seek medical attention if you feel as though it is necessary.
• Take photos, videos, contemporaneous notes, of all the damage, injuries, and events that are relevant.
• Keep track of all the expenses you incur due to the accident. This includes, but is not limited to:
  • Travel expenses
  • Medical bills
  • Mechanic invoices
  • Lost income