Personal Injury Law in Pittsburgh, PA

Were you hurt due to another’s negligence in Pittsburgh? 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 Pittsburgh, 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 Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh, 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 Pittsburgh 

Data from the Division of Health Informatics within the.Pennsylvania Department of Health found that unintentional injury was the leading cause of death among children and adults ages 1 through 49. According to the 2014 data, there were 6,541 unintentional injury deaths reported in Pennsylvania, accounting for 72% of all injury deaths. The leading causes of hospitalized injury in cities like Pittsburgh are falls, poisonings and motor vehicle accidents.

Steps in a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Pittsburgh, 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.

In Pittsburgh, after filing a complaint with the court and serving the defendant, you will either come to a settlement agreement, or enter the discovery process with the defendant. After this is complete you will have another opportunity for a settlement before your case proceeds to trial.

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.

Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Combined Injury Report, found that the median hospital charge for a fall injury was about $40,000. Motor vehicle accident injuries cost even more, averaging about $50,000. Things like the cost of medical bills and property damage are often how you determine the value of your personal injury claim. In Pittsburgh, factors such as work loss compensation or pain and suffering damages could also be applied to a potential claim.

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 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 has set varying damage caps on claims against local agencies, and lawsuits against commonwealth parties. Most personal injury claims won’t see these types of damage limits.

Statute of Limitations in Pittsburgh, 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.

In Pennsylvania, individuals have only two years to file a personal injury claim. In Pittsburgh, this two years begins on the date of your injury.

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 Pittsburgh, PA Lawyer

Pursue a personal injury claim in Pittsburgh 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!

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