When people think of a personal injury lawsuit, they usually think of car accidents and slip and falls. While both fall under the broad category known as “personal injury,” there are many other types of accidents that also give rise to injury claims and lawsuits.
Severe injures often result in long-term physical pain and unforeseen expenses. Even minor injuries could subject you to unwanted medical expenses and impede your ability to work. If you were injured because of someone else’s negligence, you should be compensated for any damages you incurred. Our Gladwyne, PA personal injury lawyer has assisted hundreds of hurt individuals in the Gladwyne area, holding other people responsible for their reckless actions. Call the Reiff Law Firm at (215) 709-6940 to schedule a free consultation and review your legal options.
Personal Injury Lawsuits in Gladwyne, PA
There are a variety of reasons injuries occur in Gladwyne, PA. When another person or entity is responsible for the harm, an injured person is entitled to file a lawsuit to seek compensation. Our Gladwyne personal injury attorneys are prepared to evaluate your situation to help determine if you have a viable case.
Common Accidents and Incidents that Result in Personal Injury Claims in Gladwyne
According to the American Bar Association, auto accidents are the most common reason people file personal injury lawsuits. However, motor vehicle accidents include more than just cars – motorcycles, buses, trucks, and ATVs are involved in collisions and crashes throughout Gladwyne. Sometimes, pedestrians and cyclists are also injured in these crashes. While you could attempt to settle an accident claim directly with the insurance companies involved in the case, we highly recommend retaining our experienced personal injury attorney to avoid agreeing to an unfair settlement amount.
Another area where our firm sees many personal injury claims is in medical malpractice. It is not uncommon for a mistake by a doctor or another healthcare provider to lead to serious medical consequences with long-lasting impacts. Everything from the failure to diagnose a condition to a surgical mistake could significantly affect a patient’s health, leading to unforeseen complications, additional surgeries, and extended hospital stays. Other harm associated with medical malpractice in Gladwyne includes birth injuries, complications related to medication errors, and other errors by doctors and medical staff. Medical malpractice claims are challenging, requiring resources and access to expert medical testimony to build a compelling case.
Often, the cause of an injury is rather mundane. Nonetheless, tripping on an uneven sidewalk or slipping because of a spill in a grocery store could result in severe damage to your spinal cord or neck, or it could result in fractures and other injuries. Areas where the public or individual guests or customers are invited should be reasonably free of hazards that could result in harm. If a property owner or manager fails to maintain safe conditions on their property, they could be held liable for any injuries that occur because of the conditions. Some common causes of slip and fall injuries include spills in supermarkets, uneven stairs, broken sidewalks, and an unreasonable buildup of ice or snow.
Injuries from dangerous and defective products are also common. When you buy any product, you expect it to perform as it was intended. What you do not anticipate is that the product will cause an injury. Unfortunately, there are times when this is exactly what happens. Some products are poorly designed, have a manufacturing defect, or lack sufficient warning labels or instructions that make it inherently dangerous to use. If you are injured because a product was unsafe, you might be able to hold the manufacturer or another party in the chain of custody responsible for any damages you sustained.
Establishing Fault in Gladwyne Personal Injury Lawsuits
To be successful in any personal injury lawsuit, a plaintiff must establish that another party was at fault. Demonstrating fault depends on the facts surrounding an injury. If you were hurt in a car accident, our Gladwyne personal injury attorney would have to show that another driver caused the crash. Moreover, if your doctor failed to diagnose a medical condition, we would have to establish that the conduct constituted medical malpractice. Our firm has the attorneys, staff, and resources to thoroughly investigate your case, reviewing all relevant evidence, reports, and testimony to establish what parties should be held accountable for your injuries.
Some personal injury cases are more challenging than others. When multiple parties could be at fault, establishing who is responsible is more involved. For example, imagine a person is injured by a falling tool or piece of equipment while walking by a construction site. Several parties may be liable:
- A construction worker who dropped the equipment
- The general contractor who failed to implement proper safety precautions or supply warning signs
- The manufacturer of the equipment if there was a design flaw that contributed to the accident
- The property owner
Our skilled Gladwyne attorney will evaluate every party’s potential contributions and liability to determine whom you should sue – often, it’s more than one party.
Proving Your Case in a Gladwyne, PA Personal Injury Claim
Determining fault is only part of the personal injury equation. To be successful in most personal injury lawsuits, a plaintiff must prove that the at-fault party was “negligent,” and not just that they are the closest person to blame. “Negligence” means that the defendant’s conduct deviated from what a reasonably prudent person would have done under similar circumstances. To demonstrate negligence, our Gladwyne lawyer must prove four elements:
- The defendant owed the injured party a duty of care
- The defendant’s conduct resulted in a breach of that duty
- The injury was caused by the breach
- The plaintiff suffered actual damages and harm
Our attorneys will work to prove the behavior that caused your harm was negligent by using all of the evidence related to your injury.
Call Our Gladwyne, PA Personal Injury Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Our knowledgeable Pennsylvania attorneys are dedicated to representing people who have been injured because of another person’s negligent conduct. If you or a loved one was hurt through no fault of your own, contact our Gladwyne, PA personal injury lawyer immediately. It is crucial to begin preparing your case while all the relevant evidence is still fresh and available. Call the Reiff Law Firm at (215) 709-6940 to schedule your free appointment.
