People who suffer serious injuries in a slip and fall or trip and fall accident deserve compensation when the negligence of another individual or a business caused the accident. The lawyers at Laffey Bucci D’Andrea Reich & Ryan are dedicated to helping victims of such accidents obtain justice by filing a lawsuit against all responsible parties, which can include:
- property owners such as stores, schools, malls, etc.,
- property management companies,
- maintenance companies, and
- other contractors.
Here are the things a slip and fall or trip and fall accident victim can expect to happen in a defective premises lawsuit in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania court system:
1. File a Complaint
The case will be filed in the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Civil Trial Division, Philadelphia or in the federal courts, if necessary.
2. Service of the Complaint
A copy of the Complaint will be served on the defendant with instructions to have the defendant inform its property or liability insurance carrier of the case.
3. Paper discovery
The parties exchange all records, witness information, etc. by serving and responding to formal requests known as Interrogatories and Requests for Production.
4. Case Management Conference
In Philadelphia, the court has implemented this scheduling conference which helps move cases along. Other counties such as Montgomery, Bucks or Delaware counties do not use such scheduling conferences. At the conference, the court will assign the case to one of three trial tracks: Expedited (less than one year), Standard (one year) or Complex (more than two years). Most slip and fall cases in Philadelphia will be placed on the expedited track unless there are special issues like multiple defendants, complex injuries, etc.
5. Depositions
The parties will take depositions of each other and witnesses such as eyewitnesses. Insurance companies routinely conduct video surveillance of the plaintiff, sometimes right after they receive notice of the Complaint or after the depositions occur.
6. Experts
Depending on the case, multiple expert reports may be needed, such as:
- liability expert reports from mechanical engineers, biomechanical engineers, property management, etc.,
- medical expert reports to discuss the injuries and prognosis,
- future medical expense projections, and
- future financial loss reports from forensic economists.
7. Trial/Settlement
After the parties conclude discovery, the court will schedule a Settlement Conference, followed by a Pre-Trial Conference. If the case cannot be settled, the parties will proceed to trial.
Related Slip and Fall Legal Articles:
- Fall Down Accidents-Slip and Fall, Trip and Fall Cases in Pennsylvania (Part Two)
- Fall Down Accidents-Slip and Fall, Trip and Fall Cases in Pennsylvania (Part One)
To submit your case for review by our Pennsylvania and New Jersey slip and fall accident lawyers, call (215) 399-9255. Our lawyers are available for a free, no obligation legal consultation, and can obtain special admission in other states, such as New York or Delaware, on a case by case basis.
Our attorneys serve accident victims in the following areas: Allegheny County, PA; Berks County, PA; Bucks County, PA; Chester County, PA; Delaware County, PA; Lehigh County, PA; Montgomery County, PA; Northampton County, PA: Philadelphia County, PA; Atlantic County, NJ; Burlington County, NJ; Camden County, NJ; Cumberland County, NJ; Gloucester County, NJ; Salem County, NJ; New Castle County, DE; he County, DE; Atlantic City, NJ; Philadelphia, PA; Pittsburgh, PA; Newark, NJ; Doylestown, PA; Media, PA; West Chester, PA; Norristown, PA; Camden, NJ; Wilmington, DE; Newark, DE; Georgetown, DE; and New Castle, DE. Our lawyers can obtain special admission in other states on a case by case basis.
**This website does not provide legal advice. Every case is unique and it is crucial to get a qualified, expert legal opinion prior to making any decisions about your case. See the full disclaimer at the bottom of this page.
Published: May 12, 2012