01 Jun 2023
Personal Injury
Personal injury laws in Pennsylvania provide a crucial legal framework for victims who have been harmed by someone else's negligence or wrongdoing. Whether it's a car accident, slip-and-fall incident, or medical malpractice, victims have the right to seek justice and compensation for their losses.
It’s no secret that a personal injury can lead you to incur massive expenses related to treatment, lost wages, pain and suffering, and so on. An experienced personal injury lawyer in Pennsylvania can help deal with these expenses by getting you the compensation you need from the parties responsible for your injury.
This post will shed light on what personal injury cases are and the common types of cases filed in Pennsylvania.
What is a Personal Injury Claim?
A personal injury case involves someone being harmed due to the negligence of another person. This negligence can also be described as carelessness or recklessness. Victims of another’s recklessness may be eligible to receive compensation from the party that harmed them. However, it is necessary to prove fault first. This is where filing a personal injury claim in a timely manner with the help of a Pennsylvania personal injury attorney comes into the picture. Depending on your case, your personal injury claim might yield a few hundred dollars or millions in compensation. However, most claims fall within the spectrum between these two extremes.What Are the Common Types of Personal Injury Cases
As seasoned personal injury lawyers in Pennsylvania, we come across several types of personal injury cases. Here are the most common ones.#1. Motor Vehicle Accidents
Motor vehicle collisions are among the most common types of personal injury cases. They can be further classified into:- Automobile accidents: These stand out as the most common in personal injury claims. They encompass a wide range of scenarios and circumstances depending on what kind of damage all vehicles incurred.
- Motorcycle accidents: These accidents often result in severe and life-altering injuries since motorcycles provide less protection to passengers than cars. They demand careful attention due to their potential for serious consequences.
- Trucking accidents: Commercial trucks can cause significant damage due to their massive size. Most commercial truckers carry substantial insurance coverage. This factor can significantly impact the compensation owed to victims.
- Pedestrian accidents: These incidents are common in urban areas. In case of death, the deceased’s family may be able to file a wrongful death claim.
- Rideshare accidents: Rideshare drivers from companies like Uber and Lyft typically carry adequate insurance coverage to address the damages resulting from accidents. This doesn’t mean they will freely offer you insurance coverage for all the damage you’ve incurred.
#2. Premises Liability
These types of personal injury cases happen when someone sustains an injury because of something dangerous or broken on someone else's property. These accidents occur in places like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, malls, retail stores, a person's house, or a public or private swimming pool. Common examples include suffering a personal injury due to slipping and falling down stairs without a handrail, tripping on a wet floor, or slipping due to a greasy spill. A personal injury lawyer can help you sue the negligent party and ensure your rights are protected throughout the legal process.#3. Wrongful Death
A wrongful death claim is a type of personal injury claim where a person dies because of medical malpractice. Wrongful death laws can be complicated, but they allow the deceased’s family members to file a lawsuit and obtain compensation from the at-fault party. The amount of compensation depends on whether the victim was a child or an adult. It may be used to pay for expenses related to the deceased’s funeral, burial, and so on.#4. Workplace Accidents
Individuals who are hurt while working for their employer shouldn’t sue them for personal injury. Instead, they need to file a workers’ compensation claim, wherein employers are liable to give certain benefits to their injured workers by law. It’s when they deny you workers’ compensation, or pay you less than you need that you sue them for worker’s comp rather than personal injury. The benefits in these types of personal injury cases include compensation covering medical treatment, lost wages, and a sum of money to compensate for their injuries (permanent partial disability). Workers’ compensation laws vary by state and can be tricky to understand. Working with a personal injury lawyer who is well-versed in Pennsylvania laws will help you protect your rights.How Personal Injury Lawyers Help Victims of Different Types of Personal Injury Cases
A personal injury lawyer provides legal assistance and guidance to victims who have suffered injuries due to someone else’s negligence or intentional actions.- They use their extensive knowledge and experience to help victims navigate the complex legal system.
- Personal injury lawyers strive to protect their clients’ rights and interests, doing their best to decrease the physical, emotional, and financial toll of the accident or injury.
- They help victims gather evidence, investigate the incident, and build a strong case to establish liability and prove the negligence of the responsible party.
- They have the skills to assess the value of a victim’s claim and determine the amount of compensation they deserve.
- Personal injury lawyers negotiate with insurance companies on behalf of their clients to ensure fair compensation.