A serious injury caused by another’s negligence—whether in a crash on I-78 or a fall at a business near the Allentown Fairgrounds—leaves you with more than just physical pain. It creates a financial crisis filled with medical bills and lost income.
You have the right to seek compensation for these damages, but you should not have to face the insurance companies alone. Holding the responsible party accountable requires a skilled legal advocate who understands Pennsylvania law and the challenges you are facing.
An Allentown personal injury lawyer will fight to protect your rights and pursue the full compensation you deserve. Reach out to Leonard Hill — Personal Injury Lawyers And Car Accident Lawyers to discuss your case for free. We are here to listen to your story and help you find a path to justice.
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Key Takeaways for Allentown Personal Injury Lawyers
- A personal injury claim is a legal process for seeking compensation when a person suffers harm from an accident or injury, and someone else might be legally responsible for that harm.
- Pennsylvania law, specifically the statute of limitations, sets a time limit for how long an injured person has to file a lawsuit, which is typically two years from the date of the injury.
- Compensation in a personal injury case can cover economic damages, such as medical bills and lost wages, and non-economic damages, like pain and suffering.
- Insurance companies often try to settle claims quickly and for the lowest amount possible; an initial offer may not cover the full extent of a victim’s long-term damages.
- Hiring a personal injury lawyer can help an individual navigate the complex legal system, handle communications with insurance companies, and build a strong case for fair compensation.
Why Us for Your Allentown, Pennsylvania Personal Injury Claim?
Choosing the right legal team to represent you after an injury is a critical decision. You need a firm that not only has a deep understanding of Pennsylvania law but also has a genuine commitment to your well-being. At Leonard Hill Personal Injury Lawyers And Car Accident Lawyers, we bring over 50 years of combined legal experience to every case we handle. We have dedicated our careers to advocating for the injured and holding negligent parties accountable for the harm they cause. Our approach is built on a foundation of honest, straightforward communication. We believe you deserve to be kept informed every step of the way, and we take the time to explain your options in plain English.
We understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll an injury can take on you and your family. That is why we provide personalized attention, treating you with the compassion and respect you deserve. We are not a high-volume firm that treats clients like case numbers. Instead, we invest our time and resources into understanding the unique details of your situation.
- Dedicated Focus: Our practice is centered on personal injury and medical malpractice cases, allowing us to concentrate our skills and knowledge in these complex areas of law.
- A History of Results: We are proud of our track record of securing meaningful financial recoveries for our clients, helping them rebuild their lives after a serious injury.
- Contingency Fee Basis: You pay no attorney’s fees unless we win your case. This means we are fully invested in achieving the best possible outcome for you.
Our goal is to handle the legal complexities so you can focus on what matters most, which is your health and recovery. Let an Allentown personal injury lawyer from our firm be your advocate.
What is a Personal Injury Claim?
Think of a personal injury claim as a formal request for financial help when you have been hurt because someone else made a mistake or was not careful enough. In the legal world, this lack of care is often called “negligence.”
In the eyes of the law, people and companies have a basic responsibility to act in ways that do not put others in danger. When they fail to do this and someone gets injured as a result, a personal injury claim is the process used to hold them accountable.
The main goal is to secure compensation, which is money intended to cover the losses you have suffered because of the injury. This is not about punishing the other person in a criminal sense, like sending them to jail. Instead, it is a civil matter focused on making you financially whole again after an accident that was not your fault. It is a way to get the resources you need to pay for your medical care, make up for lost wages, and acknowledge the pain and disruption the injury has caused in your life.
This process usually involves your lawyer presenting evidence to the at fault party’s insurance company to show how their client’s actions caused your injuries. Common situations that lead to personal injury claims include:
- A distracted driver causing a car accident.
- A property owner neglecting to fix a broken staircase, causing a visitor to fall.
- A pet owner failing to restrain a dog that then bites someone.
Essentially, a personal injury claim is your legal path to getting the support you need to rebuild after an unexpected and harmful event.
Do I Have a Personal Injury Case?
Many people who get hurt wonder if their situation qualifies for a personal injury case. While every situation is unique, there are a few key questions you can ask yourself to get a better idea. Answering “yes” to these questions may suggest that you could benefit from speaking with a legal professional.
- Were you injured? This can include physical injuries, emotional distress, or the worsening of a pre-existing condition. The harm does not have to be catastrophic, but it must be real and documented.
- Was someone else at fault? Did the actions, or inaction, of another person, company, or entity directly contribute to your injury? This could be a distracted driver, a property owner who failed to clean up a spill, or a manufacturer of a faulty product.
- Did you suffer financial losses? Have you incurred medical expenses, lost wages from being unable to work, or experienced other financial setbacks because of the injury? These are the “damages” the legal system aims to compensate.
It is also critical to consider the timeline. In Pennsylvania, there is a law called the statute of limitations, which sets a deadline for filing a lawsuit. For most personal injury cases, you have two years from the date you were injured to file a claim. If you miss this deadline, you may lose your right to seek compensation forever.
Because of these complexities, the best way to know for sure if you have a case is to discuss the details with a knowledgeable Allentown personal injury lawyer.
Types of Personal Injury Claims We Handle
With decades of combined experience, our legal team has the knowledge and resources to handle a wide range of personal injury matters. We understand that no two accidents are the same, and we tailor our approach to fit the specific circumstances of each case. We are prepared to assist clients in Allentown with claims involving a variety of incidents.
Our firm is equipped to handle many types of personal injury claims, including:
- Car Accidents
- Truck Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Bicycle Accidents
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Ride Share Accidents (Uber & Lyft)
- Drunk Driving Accidents
- Slip & Fall Accidents / Premises Liability
- Construction Accidents
- Medical Malpractice
- Wrongful Death
- Workers’ Compensation
We are committed to helping people from all walks of life who have been harmed by the negligence of others.
The Insurance Company Made Me an Offer. Should I Take It?
After an accident, it is common to receive a phone call from the at-fault party’s insurance adjuster. They may seem friendly and concerned, and they might even make a quick offer to settle your claim. While getting a check quickly can be tempting, especially when bills are piling up, it is important to be cautious. The insurance company’s primary goal is to protect its bottom line by paying out as little as possible. The first offer is almost always far less than what your claim is actually worth.
Accepting an early settlement offer is a final decision. Once you take the money, you give up your right to seek any more compensation for that accident, even if your injuries turn out to be more severe than you initially thought. You might not know the full extent of your medical needs for weeks or even months. You may require future surgery, ongoing physical therapy, or long-term care that the initial offer does not account for.
An Allentown personal injury attorney can protect you from this risk. We can help you understand the true value of your claim by carefully assessing all of your damages, both current and future. We will handle all communications with the insurance company, preventing them from pressuring you into an unfair settlement. Our job is to negotiate for a settlement that fully and fairly compensates you for everything you have lost.
What Compensation Is Available in an Allentown Personal Injury Lawsuit?
If you have been injured due to someone else’s negligence, Pennsylvania law allows you to seek compensation for the various ways the injury has affected your life. This compensation, legally referred to as “damages,” is intended to help make you whole again from a financial perspective. The amount and types of damages available depend on the specifics of your case, including the severity of your injuries and the total impact on your life.
Damages are generally divided into two main categories: economic and non-economic.
Economic Damages
These are the tangible, out-of-pocket financial losses you have incurred because of the accident. They are straightforward to calculate because they usually come with a receipt or a bill.
- Medical Expenses: This includes all costs for medical treatment, such as emergency room visits, hospital stays, surgeries, doctor’s appointments, prescription medications, and physical therapy. It also covers the estimated cost of any future medical care you may need.
- Lost Wages or Income: If your injuries prevented you from working, you can be compensated for the income you lost. This also includes any sick days or vacation time you had to use.
- Loss of Earning Capacity: If your injuries are permanent and affect your ability to earn a living in the future, you may be able to recover compensation for this diminished earning potential.
- Property Damage: This covers the cost to repair or replace any personal property that was damaged in the accident, such as your vehicle in a car crash.
These are just a few examples of the economic damages you may be able to claim.
Non-Economic Damages
These damages are more subjective because they compensate you for the non-financial ways the injury has impacted your quality of life. While they do not have a specific price tag, they are a very real and significant part of your suffering.
- Pain and Suffering: This compensates for the physical pain and discomfort you have endured as a result of your injuries.
- Emotional Distress: This can include compensation for anxiety, depression, fear, sleep loss, and other psychological impacts of the trauma.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: If your injuries prevent you from participating in hobbies, activities, or relationships that you once enjoyed, you can seek compensation for this loss.
In some rare cases, a third category called punitive damages may be awarded. These are not meant to compensate the victim but to punish the defendant for extremely reckless or intentional misconduct and to deter similar behavior in the future.
An experienced personal injury lawyer from our firm can conduct a thorough investigation to identify all potential damages in your case. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 24.8 million people seek medical treatment for accident injuries each year, and our goal is to ensure our clients in Allentown receive the resources they need for a full recovery.
Allentown Personal Injury FAQs
Here are answers to some common questions we hear from people in Allentown.
What if I am partially at fault for my accident in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania follows a “modified comparative negligence” rule. Under this rule, you can still recover damages as long as you are not found to be more than 50% responsible for the accident. However, your compensation award will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found to be 10% at fault, your final award will be reduced by 10%.
How much does it cost to hire an Allentown personal injury lawyer?
At our firm, we handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you do not pay any upfront costs or attorney’s fees. We only get paid if we successfully recover compensation for you, either through a settlement or a court verdict. Our fee is a percentage of the total amount we recover on your behalf.
How long will my personal injury case take?
The timeline for a personal injury case can vary widely. Some straightforward cases may settle in a few months, while more complex cases, especially those that go to trial, can take a year or longer. Factors that influence the timeline include the severity of your injuries, the clarity of who was at fault, and the willingness of the insurance company to negotiate a fair settlement.
Consult Our Experienced Allentown Personal Injury Lawyers Today
After a serious injury, you need trusted legal support. The experienced team at Leonard Hill — Personal Injury Lawyers And Car Accident Lawyers is here to provide the guidance and support you need. We are committed to fighting for the rights of injured people in Allentown and throughout Pennsylvania. We will handle every aspect of your legal claim, allowing you to focus on healing.
An Allentown personal injury lawyer from our firm can help you by:
- Conducting a complete investigation into your accident to gather evidence and determine all liable parties.
- Working with medical and financial professionals to accurately calculate the full value of your damages.
- Managing all communications and negotiations with insurance companies on your behalf.
- Fighting tirelessly to secure the maximum compensation you are entitled to under the law.
The sooner you have a dedicated legal advocate on your side, the better protected your rights will be. Contact Leonard Hill today at (215) 567-7600 or through our online form for a free, no obligation consultation. Let us show you how we can help you on the path to recovery.