Understanding what the process involves when starting a personal injury lawsuit in Wayne can help victims. Our lawyers are here to guide you through the recovery process, helping you know exactly what to expect.
After an accident, you should first report it to the police. This is mandatory for auto accidents involving injuries, but it can also be helpful to document other serious incidents. Following this, our attorneys can begin investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident. This typically includes interviewing eyewitnesses, gathering surveillance footage, and compiling details about your damages. You will know that your damages are assessed accurately so you do not miss out on any compensation you deserve.
Call our personal injury attorneys at The Reiff Law Firm today at (215) 709-6940 for a free review of your case.
Steps to Follow Just After Suffering a Personal Injury in Wayne, PA
If you are injured in Wayne, following a few important steps will enhance your chances of recovering damages from the party at fault.
Start by documenting the incident. Take photos of your injuries and any potential hazards that contributed to the accident. For example, if you slipped and fell on someone else’s property, make sure to capture images of the specific danger that caused your fall, whether that’s a wet floor, a broken floorboard, or another hazard. If your injuries are visible, take pictures to document their immediate impact.
To strengthen your case further, inform the relevant individuals and authorities about the incident. If you are involved in an accident, it is important to stop and exchange information with the other parties. You should also contact the police to file an accident report. Calling 911 is highly recommended to report any injury-causing accidents and receive immediate medical care from EMS.
Additionally, speak with any witnesses who may have seen the incident and collect their contact information. This will allow our personal injury attorneys to reach out to them later and get their statements. Finally, it is vital for anyone injured by another’s negligence to seek medical attention right away so that we have medical records to prove your injuries.
Steps Our Team Will Take as Your Personal Injury Case Progresses in Wayne, PA
Your first priority after an accident should be getting medical care at the hospital. They will test you and determine the best path forward for your treatment. After that, meet with our team so we can investigate and file your case before the statute of limitations passes. While you are following your treatment plan, we will gather medical records and other evidence to assess the value of your damages.
File Before the Deadline Passes
In Wayne, the deadline to file most personal injury claims is typically two years, as per 42 Pa.C.S. § 5524. However, not all injuries are obvious right away. Depending on the specific situation, victims might not realize certain injuries until several days or even weeks after the accident occurs. As a result, some victims may benefit from tolling due to delayed discovery. This effectively postpones the start date of the statute of limitations to the date the victim became aware of their injuries. However, these exceptions are rare, so it is best to speak with our attorneys before relying on one. If you file too late, you will be unable to recover a single dollar in compensation.
Investigate the Accident
Once we take on your case, our team will conduct a thorough investigation into the details surrounding the accident and its causes. We will gather eyewitness statements to provide firsthand accounts of the incident. We can also search for any available surveillance footage, offering vital visual evidence of the circumstances leading up to and following the accident.
Our investigation might also extend beyond the immediate parties involved. We will assess whether other individuals or entities contributed to your injuries, such as product manufacturers whose negligence resulted in a defective or dangerous product. This comprehensive approach not only helps us build a stronger case on your behalf but also ensures that all responsible parties are held accountable for their actions.
It is important to act quickly in initiating this investigation, as evidence can be fleeting. Witnesses often forget crucial details over time, and video footage is quickly overwritten or deleted. By starting the investigation as soon as possible, we increase the likelihood of securing and preserving the evidence needed to support your claim.
Assess Your Damages
When pursuing a lawsuit, you should get compensation for all economic losses stemming from the accident. This includes, but is not limited to, medical expenses such as hospital bills, rehabilitation costs, medications, and any other healthcare-related expenditures. Additionally, we will also account for your lost wages, including lost future earnings, if you cannot return to work or must take a new position because of your injuries.
Your claim can typically include all out-of-pocket expenses related to the injury. These can include transportation costs for medical appointments, home care costs, or any necessary modifications to your living environment for improved accessibility.
In addition to economic damages, we will also assess the non-economic damages you have experienced as a direct result of the defendant’s negligence. Non-economic damages typically include compensation for physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and other subjective hardships that have impacted your quality of life.
The good news is that Pennsylvania does not generally cap non-economic damages awarded in personal injury lawsuits, meaning that if you successfully demonstrate the impact of the defendant’s actions on your life, you can receive significant compensation for these non-economic losses. Thus, it is vital to document all aspects of your injury and its effects on your life. To that end, we can submit therapy records and other evidence to illustrate your pain and suffering.
Reach Out to Our Wayne, PA Personal Injury Lawyers Today to Get Your Claim Started
To get a free assessment of your case from our personal injury lawyers, call The Reiff Law Firm at (215) 709-6940.
