Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyer

What Are the Common Types of Personal Injury Cases in Philadelphia?

Any incident that resulted in one individual suffering harm due to another’s negligence may qualify as a personal injury accident.

In Philadelphia, common types of personal injury cases our firm handles include:

• Birth Injuries
• Brain Injuries
• Car Accidents
• Pedestrian Accidents
• Child Injuries
• Negligent Security Incidents
• Dog Bites
• Hotel Injuries
• Internet Sex Crimes
• Medical Malpractice
• Motorcycle Accidents
• Nursing Home Abuse
• Premises Liability
• Product Liability
• Slip and Fall Injuries
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Train Accidents
• Truck Accidents
• Wrongful Death
• Sexual Assault
• Work Injuries
• Mesothelioma

Just because you were injured due to someone else’s actions doesn’t automatically mean you’ll be getting a settlement check. Before you can recover compensation for accident-related losses, you have to prove that another party’s intentional act or recklessness harmed you.

Your testimony about what happened in the accident and how it has impacted your life will be crucial, but you’ll need more evidence to prove your claim.

The attorneys at Laffey Bucci D’Andrea Reich & Ryan can help with that goal.

Why You Should Choose Laffey Bucci D’Andrea Reich & Ryan For Your Personal Injury Claim

Choosing the right firm to represent your interests in a personal injury claim will make all the difference between you getting a fast and fair resolution or the runaround from an insurance company. We’re aware of the challenges you might face with any claim, be it from a car accident on I-95 or a slip and fall at an ACME grocery store.

We know how the insurance companies operate, and we won’t back down when we believe in our client. This is what we can provide:

A Thorough Investigation

At your first consultation, you’ll have a chance to tell us what happened and share any relevant evidence. If we agree to move forward, we will conduct a thorough investigation and expand the evidence collection. Here’s what we’ll attempt to gather:

• Police reports
• Medical records
• Car repair/replacement estimates
• Surveillance footage
• Witness statements
• Expert testimony
• Accident reconstruction

The more evidence we can find, the harder it will be for an insurance company to deny your claim.

A Complete Calculation of Damages

As you begin the process of filing a personal injury claim, you need to understand that this is your “one shot” at getting the compensation you deserve.

The amount of damages you ask for has to cover your current and future expenses. If you discover next year that you need more physical therapy, you won’t be able to refile a claim for additional expenses.

We work carefully with all our clients to calculate all the expenses associated with your accident. That includes any pain and suffering you’ve endured. Every sleepless night because of recurring pain matters.

An Insurance Company Advocate

The moment you report an accident and a claim is in the works, you’ll get a lot of communication from the insurance company.

You may get calls, texts, emails, and letters all trying to “follow up” and lock down your story. It can be a bit nerve-racking. When we come on board your claim, we’ll take over all those communications. Think of us as your insurance company advocates.

Instead of being put on the spot by an aggressive adjuster, we can answer the questions for you. If there comes a time when you have to provide testimony, we’ll make sure that you’re fully prepared.

Consistency and accuracy are vital.

Experienced Negotiating

Once we have all the supportive evidence and we know what to ask for, we can begin the negotiation process with the insurance company. Our experience with these carriers puts us in the best position to knock down their tactics. They try to shift blame or minimize your pain and suffering.

We’ll be ready to take those on. We’ll present you with all the offers and discuss the pros and cons. We won’t accept any number unless we’re in complete agreement.

Skillful Litigation

At some point in the claim process, we may recommend filing a civil complaint. That moves your personal injury claim into the courtroom. We’ll be fully prepared to present your evidence to a jury. This could also make the insurance company more willing to settle before trial. We won’t turn down a solid offer, but we also won’t back down from a fight.

When considering an experienced personal injury attorney to help you get the compensation you deserve, the choice is clear: Laffey Bucci D’Andrea Reich & Ryan.

The Importance of Immediate Evidence Preservation After an Injury

A successful outcome in a personal injury claim all comes down to evidence. You need to gather that evidence fast, especially when it is in someone else’s control. Consider the situation surrounding surveillance footage.

Whether that footage comes from a traffic camera, a Ring doorbell camera, or a store security camera, it is not going to be around forever.

All of that footage is eventually overwritten or deleted to make room for more. The only way to prevent that is to send what’s called a spoliation letter. Your attorney sends it and essentially tells the owner of the footage to keep it active and make copies.

Surveillance footage isn’t the only thing that can fade fast. Road debris gets cleared away, rain can wash away skid marks, and spills will always be cleaned up. That is why you need to make a record of those conditions before they’re gone for good.

It’s also important to lock down any witness statements. The further away from the event, the more likely a witness’s account will fade or change. That is human nature. That is why you need to lock down the statement in writing or through a video deposition. Months later, you can use that statement to refresh a witness’s memory.

You can also collect tangible evidence, such as all the photos and videos you took at the accident scene. You can also make copies of all your medical records. If there are relevant items, such as damaged clothing, broken gear, or a faulty product, you’ll want to preserve them as well.

How Pennsylvania Comparative Negligence Laws Affect Your Case

As a young child, we’re taught to share. That’s nice when it comes to cookies but not so great when it comes to assigning fault in an accident.

Under Pennsylvania’s modified comparative negligence statute, the parties involved in an accident can “share” in the blame. That allows you to seek compensation even if you are partially to blame for the accident, but it will affect how much you can be paid.

For instance, if your total damages are $100,000 and you are found 20% at fault, your award drops by 20% to $80,000. However, if a judge or jury assigns you 51% fault, your financial recovery drops to zero.

Knowing this rule exists, insurance companies will try to push your share of blame past 50% to eliminate their obligation to pay completely. They do this through their interpretation of the evidence, but that interpretation isn’t absolute. You are entitled to present your own evidence in support of why the blame shouldn’t be shared.

If the insurance company continues to block, then you can file a civil complaint and let the jury be the last word.