Scranton Personal Injury Lawyers

Personal injury litigation is a branch of law that handles claims from individuals who have been injured by another party’s negligence. The other party can be an individual, a government entity, or a company. These civil claims are brought by an individual in order to recoup some or all of the expenses that occurred due to the defendant’s carelessness or negligence.

Many types of civil litigation can fall under personal injury law, such as:

• Car accidents
• Truck accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Medical malpractice
• Workers compensation
• Social Security disability
• Premises liability cases, such as slip and falls
• Product liability/defective product cases
• Nursing home abuse and neglect cases
• Wrongful death

In straightforward personal injury claims where the insurance company cooperates and there is no debate about who is at fault, it may not be necessary to have an injury lawyer represent you. However, this is rarely the case, especially in serious accidents.

By hiring an injury attorney you give yourself the following advantages:

• A representative and guide who knows the ins and outs of the court and legal system
• Someone to fight for your rights and for maximum compensation
• Someone who can investigate the accident and provide evidence supporting your claim
• An advocate who can speak to the insurance company on your behalf and represent your best interests

Each personal injury claim seeks to compensate injury victims for three different types of damages:

1. Economic Damages - These types of damages are quantifiable, meaning you can provide evidence of the exact financial cost. (For example: Medical bills, missed work, lost wages, ongoing treatment, etc.)
2. Noneconomic Damages - These damages do not have an exact monetary value, but still demand compensation. (For example: Pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of companionship or enjoyment of life, etc.)
3. Punitive Damages - These types of damages are reserved for cases where there was gross negligence or criminal behavior that led to the accident (For example: Drunk driving accidents)

Our injury lawyers are prepared to work with you closely to determine a fair settlement amount and then fight on your behalf to get you the compensation you deserve.

When it comes to receiving your personal injury settlement, you will receive your compensation in one of two ways:

• As a Lump Sum - This means you will receive the entire amount of the settlement in one large payment.
• In a Structured Settlement - This means that you will receive a series of broken down payments over a period of time, rather than all at once.

After you have been offered your settlement, our injury attorneys can help you determine what the best payout option is for you.

"Negligence" refers to the action or in-action on the part of another party that is used to determine fault in a personal injury case. When it comes to proving negligence, there are several things that need to be established:

1. That the other individual had a "duty of care" or a responsibility to avoid causing harm to you
2. That the other person breached their duty of care and in doing so caused injury or harm to you
3. That you suffered real damages (financial, physical, emotional, etc.) as a result of their negligence

Establishing negligence may seem difficult at first, but that's where our injury lawyers come in. We can help you determine who is at fault for your injuries and how much you deserve in a fair settlement.

Pennsylvania allows victims up to 2 years after the date of their injury to file a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible party. However, there are some specific exceptions to this rule including the "Discovery Rule," which we discuss more in our The Law & You segment. In general however, if you fail to file a personal injury claim within the allotted 2 years you run the risk of having your case thrown out.