Personal Injury Law in Allentown, PA

Were you hurt due to another’s negligence in Allentown? If so, it may have far-reaching consequences such as a loss of wages or extensive medical treatment. Personal injury law allows an injured person to get damages if the responsible person acted recklessly. A personal injury attorney in Allentown, PA can help navigate the lawsuit to make sure you receive all of the compensation you deserve.

What Is Personal Injury Law?

Personal injury law in Allentown relates to the legal process of getting compensation for an injury caused by someone else’s negligent behavior. These cases involve one party, the plaintiff, trying to seek financial compensation for expenses incurred and money lost as a result of the defendant’s reckless behavior. These cases involve both parties’ insurance companies and may even settle before proceeding to litigation.

Examples of Personal Injury Claims in Allentown, PA

Some personal injury claims are more common than others. However, almost any incident that ends with a physical or mental injury could qualify, depending on the circumstances.

A few of the most common personal injury claims are:

• Car Accidents
• Slip and Fall
• Dog Bites
• Medical Malpractice
• Workplace Accidents
• Burn Injuries

Most Common Injuries in Allentown 

The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 5,060 ER visits in Lehigh County for injuries in 2019. Over 85% of the people brought to emergency rooms arrived with unintentional injuries. In addition, the CDC reports that injuries are the 3rd leading cause of death in cities like Allentown. As a result of these overwhelming statistics, Pennsylvania has the 4th highest number of accidental deaths in the U.S.

Steps in a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Allentown, PA

Once you determine that you wish to proceed forward with a personal injury action in Pennsylvania

A lawsuit begins when a complaint is filed with the court and served on the defendant. The complaint alleges your assertion as the plaintiff that the defendant’s negligent behavior resulted in damage to your body or mental state. As the process proceeds forward, you may have to go through depositions, independent medical evaluations and document production. This discovery process is lengthy and ends in either settlement or a court appearance.

While your lawyer may arrange a settlement at any time, mediation must happen before going to trial in some cases. As an example, current law makes arbitration mandatory for workers’ compensation disputes. While everything depends on the strength of your position, most personal injury cases settle before going to trial. Only your attorney in Allentown can best tell you about these types of expectations for your case.

Pennsylvania Personal Injury Settlement

With most personal injury cases, insurance companies and injured parties prefer settlement negotiations rather than going to court for a trial. You may wonder how much you should seek in your settlement and factors that impact the final amount.

Allentown residents paid over $485 million for care from institutions like Lehigh Valley Hospital. In fact, accidents alone created over $28 million of the costs, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. However, the amount a jury awards in a trial heavily depends on the direct damages, medical costs, as well as your pain and suffering, and other unforeseen costs. Typically, settlement awards tend to use recent precedence as a guide for appropriate compensation. For example, Legal Reader reports $227 million is the most ever paid for a personal injury settlement in Pennsylvania.

If the other party has insurance, the insurance company likely wants to settle out of court to avoid leaving the final settlement decision to a jury. Settlements benefit injured parties as much as they do insurance companies. This is because accepting a settlement means you receive compensation sooner rather than later. Also, by going to court in PA, that means you risk not receiving any compensation at all.

Damage Awards in Pennsylvania

If your Pennsylvania personal injury lawsuit goes before a judge or jury, your legal team will be ready with a request for damages. In personal injury cases, there are three types of damage awards a court may order the defendant to pay to compensate you for the damage he or she inflicted.

Special compensatory damages reimburse you for things such as lost income, medical bills, and insurance deductibles. You submit receipts proving these losses.

General compensatory damages are subjective. If you receive special compensatory damages, you may also collect general damages. If your injury was particularly painful, you might request that the judge order the defendant to compensate you for the pain and anguish.

Punitive damages are the most rarely awarded and are up to the court. The judge or jury may determine that the defendant’s negligence was particularly heinous and the resulting injury to you was equally horrific.

Pennsylvania does not have limits or caps on personal injury cases currently. A jury in Allentown has discretion over the value of both economic and non-economic damages.

Statute of Limitations in Allentown, PA Personal Injury Law?

The injured party may have a set amount of time to file suit for a personal injury case. State law establishes statutes of limitation. Commonly, the plaintiff’s injury or discovery of the injury begins the statute of limitations. However, the latter factor is trickier, as the plaintiff will have to prove when the injury was first realized.

Allentown residents have up to 2 years from a qualifying incident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Failure to take action within this time may result in forfeiting your right to reimbursement for damages.

We recommend you speak with a personal injury lawyer for this matter. Don’t wait too long and miss out on receiving the compensation you deserve for your injury.

Work With an Experienced Allentown, PA Lawyer

Pursue a personal injury claim in Allentown against the responsible person if you are dealing with an injury caused by someone else. One of our experienced lawyers can help you navigate your personal injury claim. We can even help you connect with an attorney across Pennsylvania state lines.

Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!