Wright Township Personal Injury Lawyer
This picturesque Wyoming Valley community lies near the intersection of two major state highways. So, the area sees more than its share of vehicle traffic. Many drivers are impaired, perhaps because of substance use or a medical condition. Or, they speed, change lanes without signaling, or otherwise drive aggressively.
Such driver errors cause about 98 percent of the vehicle collisions in Pennsylvania. Small towns like Wright Township don’t have the medical infrastructure to handle the resulting catastrophic injuries. Therefore, the vehicle collision fatality rate in this part of Luzerne County is unusually high.
The experienced Wright Township personal injury lawyers at The Needle Law Firm routinely handle such matters not only in Luzerne County, but in nearby jurisdictions as well. The experience allows us to settle most personal injury claims out of court, and on victim-friendly terms. Quite frankly, most insurance companies aren’t afraid of inexperienced lawyers. A seasoned legal advocate makes a big difference.
Kinds of Personal Injuries
We discussed vehicle collisions above. These injuries are just part of our practice. Some other injury matters we handle on a routine basis include:
- Falls: Every year, over eight million fall victims are rushed to hospital emergency rooms. Due to the nature of their injuries, many of these victims don’t get the treatment they need. For example, because the initial symptoms are similar, many doctors confuse head injuries with accident shock. So, we connect fall injury victims with doctors who focus on such matters.
- Dog Bites: Animal attacks also cause serious injuries, and not just physical wounds. Many of these victims, especially child victims, struggle with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other emotional injuries. Generally, these victims have multiple legal options in Pennsylvania. Only an experienced lawyer can choose the right option for you and your family.
- Negligent Security: Landowners have a duty to protect most commercial and social visitors from fall hazards and potentially dangerous animals. Owners also have a duty to provide adequate security. If inadequate security contributes to an assault or other injury, the landowner could be financially responsible for damages.
These damages usually include compensation for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering. A Wright Township personal injury lawyer can obtain additional punitive damages as well, in some extreme cases.
Possible Defenses
Assumption of the risk is an extremely common defense, especially in dog bite and fall injury matters. This defense usually involves a warning sign, like “Caution Wet Floor” or “Beware of Dog.”
Even if the property owner displayed such a sign, the victim may still be eligible for compensation. Insurance company lawyers must prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, what the victim saw the sign, could read the sign, and could understand what it meant. These elements are difficult to establish in many cases, especially if the victim had poor eyesight or limited English proficiency.
Comparative fault may be an even more common defense. This legal doctrine shifts blame for an injury from the tortfeasor (negligent party) to the victim (innocent party). For example, in a negligent security claim, insurance company lawyers may argue that the victim didn’t look out for his/her own safety.
Pennsylvania, like most other jurisdictions, is a modified comparative fault state. Generally, victims are eligible for compensation if tortfeasors were at least 50 or 51 percent responsible for the injury, depending on the exact circumstances in the case.
Work With a Thorough Luzerne County Personal Injury Lawyer
Injury victims are entitled to substantial compensation. For a free consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney in Wright Township, contact The Needle Law Firm. You have a limited amount of time to act.
