Common Types of Personal Injury Cases in Pennsylvania 

Personal Injuries can have a profound negative impact on your life. If they result from another person’s negligence, you have the right to compensation for your injuries. To claim what you’re owed, you may have to file a personal injury claim against the at-fault party. This is something that usually requires some level of legal aid.  

This guide looks at Pennsylvania’s most prevalent personal injury cases and how involving a lawyer can help improve your chances of success with your claim. For someone in such a situation, it would be prudent to speak with personal injury attorney Andrew Statmore of Fredson Statmore Bitterman, LLC to get an understanding of the standing of the case. 

Slip And Fall Personal Injury Claim

Falls are the leading cause of injuries in the US, but are not seen as such by most people because most falls do not result in significant injuries. Slips and falls can occur in any circumstance, but are usually brought against establishments by invitees who suffer harm due to unsafe conditions such as uneven floors, spilled liquids, debris on the floor, etc. 

For example, a customer at a grocery store can bring a claim against the grocery store for a slippery floor that results in an accident where they suffer harm. It applies to residential property accidents, private parks, and governmental premises. Slip and fall cases are negligence-based, meaning you must show that you were owed you a duty of care that they failed to uphold, ultimately leading to your harm.

Car Accident Claims

Car accidents are the leading cause of accidental severe injuries and fatalities. Pennsylvania records approximately 350 traffic crashes daily, resulting in over 200 injuries. In most cases, car accidents are caused by driver error, with the driver responsible for the accident being legally responsible for the accident. 

In some cases, liability can be on a third party, such as a vehicle manufacturer, a faulty part maker, or a governmental entity responsible for road maintenance. Pennsylvania is a no-fault state, so if you are on the no-fault option, you can only pursue the other driver after exhausting your PIP coverage. 

Claims can get complicated when one driver is uninsured, from another state, or when there is some other complication. At this time, the help of a lawyer becomes invaluable.

Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice cases arise from cases involving doctor error, which results in harm. Medical malpractice may involve misdiagnosis, late diagnosis, failure to treat, birth injuries, surgical errors, wrong medication errors, etc. 

You can bring a medical malpractice clam against any individual in the medical profession, such as a doctor, a surgeon, a nurse, a pharmacist, etc. You also have to prove negligence. 

Product Liability Lawsuits

Product liability lawsuits arise from harm caused by a faulty or defective product. Unlike other claims in this guide, product liability claims are not negligence-based. Instead, strict liability applies. 

Under strict liability, the product manufacturer is liable even when it is proven to have exercised reasonable care to prevent an accident. The claimant only needs to show that the actions or inaction in making the product resulted in an accident that caused them harm. 

How A Lawyer Helps

The main difference between civil and criminal cases is that having a lawyer is not a constitutional right. However, there are numerous advantages to having a lawyer, all of which improve the chances of a better outcome.

First, a lawyer helps with the investigations, including evidence gathering. They also help you avoid mistakes that could ruin your case, negotiate, and represent you in court should your claim go to court. 

Lawyers come at a fee, but statistics show that there is more to gain financially when you work with a lawyer than when you do not, so every expense is justified. The best thing is that you do not pay until you recover compensation, meaning you owe them nothing if you lose.