If another person’s negligence injures you or a loved one, you deserve the opportunity to seek compensation. You should not have to suffer further damage by paying for treatment and other costs you are not responsible for.
An Erie personal injury lawyer from Berger and Green could help you build a case for compensation against the liable party. We will investigate the accident, identify the at-fault party, determine your damages, and more. You should not feel like you have to take on the claims and/or lawsuit process alone.
Our firm offers affordable representation, as we work on a contingency-fee basis—we only get paid if you do. So, there are no financial risks to seeking legal support. Your lawyer will gladly interview witnesses and gather other evidence, speak and negotiate with an insurance company, and hire experts on your behalf. We’ve got you covered during this difficult time.
Injury Claims in Erie, Pennsylvania We See in Our Practice
Just about any type of accident can lead to an injury claim. The most common types of accidents we see include:
Vehicle Accidents
These types of accidents can happen between two vehicles or one car and a bicyclist, motorcyclist, or pedestrian. An attorney serving Erie, PA, can help you get fair financial compensation for a car accident or truck collision.
WJET/WFXP reporting affirms how bad vehicle accidents can be in Erie. Our team is ready to help all victims of such incidents.
Premises Liability Accidents
Property owners must keep their premises free of dangerous conditions. For example, store owners, restaurant owners, and even private citizens must keep their property free of hazards that could cause a slip or trip and fall. Hazards that can lead to premises liability accidents include the following:
- Snow and ice accumulation
- Standing water
- Slippery waxes
- Uneven flooring
- Debris on walkways
Defective Products
Sometimes, the things we use can hurt us. This can happen when a tool or machine is improperly designed or poorly maintained. Examples of potentially defective products could include:
- Escalators
- Elevators
- Car brakes or engine parts
- Tools
- Medical devices
Medical Malpractice
If a doctor inadvertently injured you while performing a medical procedure, you could have a valid injury claim against that doctor. Our office can help with Erie, PA, medical malpractice claims against medical professionals and the facilities employing them.
Injury at Work
People spend a lot of time at work. Many people, such as construction workers or truck drivers, work risky jobs where injuries are common. If you are injured at work, you could get compensation through workers’ compensation or a third-party claim. This is true regardless of your job type.
Other accident cases an Erie, PA, injury attorney can take on include:
For a free legal consultation with a Personal Injury lawyer serving Erie, call 412-661-1400
Who Can Be Held Liable for My Personal Injury Accident?
When you are injured in an accident, it is not always easy to know who to pursue for damages. In some cases, multiple parties may be responsible, whether through direct or vicarious liability.
Our personal injury lawyers’ familiarity with state and local law means we can determine who to pursue and which insurance carrier to hold liable for your accident. Possible liable parties include:
Property Owners in Premises Liability Cases
This can include residential property owners, in which case we will seek compensation from their homeowners’ insurance policy. Alternatively, if you fell in a retail or other commercial location, we can pursue the company’s commercial liability insurance.
Pet Owners in Dog Bite Cases
The owner of the dog responsible for your injuries is often liable for your resulting damages. Our personal injury lawyer will help you seek compensation from the pet owner’s homeowners’ insurance policy. If the pet owner is a renter, we might be able to seek damages from their renter’s insurance policy.
In some cases, the person whose negligence caused your accident will be uninsured or underinsured. Depending on the nature of your case, we may be able to help you seek compensation from your own insurance company or from the at-fault party directly.
Erie Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me 412-661-1400
See Why Previous Personal Injury Clients Recommend Our Law Firm
At Berger and Green, we are zealous about helping injured clients hold at-fault defendants responsible for their negligence. Previous clients say the following about our personal injury team:
- “They were attentive , professional, and caring. They walked me through everything and were honest from the gate. I would highly highly recommend their services to anyone in need of legal representation regarding personal injury. Their honesty about the process was what stuck out to me the most.” Matthew Metcalf
- “My injury case was handled professionally from start to finish! The whole process went very smoothly.” MaryAnn Moyer
- “After years of fighting and multiple different lawyers, BERGER & GREEN LAW FIRM stepped in and from the very start they have been dilegant, professional, caring and hard at work, not to mention VERY THOROUGH.” Trina Call
You can read additional testimonials on our client reviews page. You can even watch video reviews to hear from previous clients in their own words.
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What Does Proving Negligence in a Pennsylvania Injury Case Require?
If someone else caused your injury, it is only fair that they should pay you for the resulting damages. Unfortunately, the personal injury claims process is rarely easy. To be successful, you will need to establish the four elements of negligence:
- Duty of care
- Breach
- Causation
- Damages
To give yourself the best chance at recovering compensation, you should discuss your case with a team member and see what options are available to you.
Duty of Care
First, you must prove that the other party owed you a duty of care. This is simpler than it may sound.
Drivers owe other drivers the duty of care to drive safely. This means following traffic laws. Doctors must care for their patients to avoid harming them. Medical staff must follow generally accepted guidelines for how to provide care.
Property owners must keep their property free of unreasonable dangers, such as dangerous animals or broken hand railings on stairs.
Breach of Duty
Once you establish that the person in question owed a duty to you, you must next prove that they failed to abide by that duty. This breach is the most important part of proving negligence. For example, this breach could involve one of the following scenarios:
- A driver that backs out of their driveway without looking and hits a pedestrian
- A store owner that fails to clean their sidewalk of ice after a storm, causing a customer to fall
By acting—or failing to act—in a way to uphold their duty, these people are negligent.
Causation
Next, you must prove that the person’s negligence caused your injury. Essentially, you must prove that your injury would not have occurred but for the other party’s negligence. For example, if you slipped in a puddle in the grocery store, you must be able to prove that you would not have fallen if someone addressed the hazard.
In some cases, you can recover compensation even if you were partially at fault. Let us consider the above example; you could have slipped and fallen because you were texting and did not see the puddle and the wet floor sign. You would likely be unable to recover compensation because you could have avoided the hazard.
However, if you can prove that there was no wet floor sign, you might be able to recover partial compensation. Our attorneys will investigate your case and build defenses against any liability the insurer might try to pin on you.
Damages
Finally, you must prove that you suffered real and measurable injuries. For example, if the pedestrian or customer suffered no noticeable injuries in the cases above, they do not have a valid claim. However, their claim could be successful if they can point to broken bones or a head injury.
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Do I Really Need to Hire an Erie, PA, Personal Injury Lawyer?
In many cases, it is possible to settle with the at-fault party without hiring an attorney to represent you. However, representing yourself can be risky—this isn’t always the best or most straightforward option, especially when dealing with an insurance company. Insurance companies are businesses and will, therefore, do what they can to lower your settlement value.
Unfortunately, this can sometimes include bad faith practices Pennsylvania law strictly forbids. If this happens in your case, we can help you fight back. Our personal injury team can help you seek additional compensation under Pa. C.S.A. § 8371. It allows you to seek interest and punitive damages against the insurer for acts of bad faith.
While you cope with your physical recovery, it can also be mentally and physically overwhelming to pursue a case on your own. Our personal injury team is prepared to build a strong, organized case for compensation on your behalf. Hiring one of our personal injury attorneys can allow you to avoid many of the headaches you might experience while resolving your case without legal guidance and support.
What Are the Main Problems Customers Face With Insurance Companies?
Insurance companies are not always on your side. Sometimes, they might:
- Trick you into admitting fault or admitting that your injuries are not serious
- Claim that your injuries were pre-existing
- Offer you much less than you need in hopes that you will accept any offer it gives you
- Bully you into accepting a low settlement
The injury lawyers at Berger and Green can act on your behalf to protect and advocate for your rights. Our injury lawyers want to secure a fair settlement offer for your injuries. If the person at fault (or their insurer) tries to pay you less than you deserve, our attorneys will know.
Our attorneys know the tricks insurance companies use and how to negotiate to get a fair settlement. If the party at fault refuses to pay, we can take the fight to court. Our personal injury firm will not back down; insurance companies do not intimidate us. We will come back stronger as securing justice and compensation for you is our priority.
When Do I Have to File My Personal Injury Lawsuit in Pennsylvania?
You have two years after the time of your accident to file a personal injury lawsuit, according to Pa. C.S.A. § 5524. If you wait until after this period has expired, you will be unable to recover compensation from the party at fault.
Do not wait until the last minute to connect with an attorney. Remember, it takes time to negotiate and put together a proper injury lawsuit. If settlement negotiations are unsuccessful, you will have even less time to build a strong court case. So, it is best to allow us to get to work right away.
How Much Is My Erie Personal Injury Case Worth?
Each injury case is a little different and reflects the damage suffered by the individual. Therefore, there is no standard case value calculator. However, if you win your case, you can expect to receive compensation for:
- Your past and current medical bills
- Your anticipated future medical bills
- The cost of medications and physical therapy
- Your lost wages
- Any decreased income earning capacity
- Your pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
The injury lawyers at Berger and Green will fight to ensure that you receive fair value for your damages. Our goal is to “make you whole” again.
Our Erie Legal Staff Can Secure Compensation to Pay for Your Losses
The injury process is complicated and stressful. You deserve to spend this time resting and recuperating with your family. Berger and Green can make this happen by doing the hard work for you.
Contact us today to see how we can help. A caring team member is standing by to take your call. Our staff can discuss your rights and options with you in a free consultation.
Call or text 412-661-1400 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
