Do You Have a Personal Injury Claim in Allentown, PA?

If you have been injured in an accident, you know just how quickly your costs can add up due to circumstances beyond your control. In this scenario, it is important to ensure that you make an informed decision about asserting your legal rights. Should you file a personal injury claim? Learn what you need to know from an experienced Allentown personal injury lawyer at Drake, Hileman & Davis, PC.

Many Types of Accidents Can Give Rise to Personal Injury Claims

While not all accidents give rise to personal injury claims, many accident victims have clear legal rights under Pennsylvania law. Generally, to file a personal injury claim after an accident in Allentown, you must be able to prove that either:

• Someone else’s negligence is to blame for your injuries;
• A company’s negligence is to blame for your injuries;  
• Your injuries are the result of a product defect, or,
• Your injuries are the result of a dog bite.

Negligence can take many different forms. Speeding, distracted driving, and driving under the influence are all common forms of negligence, as are failing to clean up spills and failing to repair cracks in the sidewalk. In cases involving product defects and dog bites, proof of negligence isn’t required (although it can be helpful). Instead, the at-fault parties in these cases are subject to “strict liability.”

With this in mind, personal injury claims can take many forms as well. For example, an Allentown personal injury lawyer may be able to help you seek just compensation if you were injured due to any of the following:

Auto Accidents

Auto accidents can give rise to personal injury claims based on both negligence and product defects. These are among the most common types of personal injury claims, and, in most cases, seeking just compensation involves dealing with the auto insurance companies.

However, auto accidents can occasionally warrant other types of personal injury claims as well. For example, instead of (or in addition to) seeking compensation from the auto insurance companies, in some cases auto accident victims may also have claims against:

• Vehicle (or vehicle component) manufacturers
• Dealerships or repair shops
• Trucking companies, big box store chains, and other retailers
• Rideshare and delivery app companies

Even these are just examples. Regardless of the circumstances involved, if you suffered serious injuries in an auto accident, you should talk to an Allentown personal injury lawyer promptly.

Dog Attacks

Dog attacks are among the most common types of personal injury claims as well. Similar to auto accidents, dog attack cases can involve claims based on both negligence and strict liability—although there are some key differences.

Most significantly, Pennsylvania’s strict liability rule for dog bites only applies to claims for medical expenses. If you are dealing with lost wages, pain and suffering, or other losses (as is often the case), you will need to be able to prove negligence in order to seek full compensation. An experienced Allentown personal injury lawyer will be able to assist with determining what claim (or claims) you can file, calculating your total costs, and fighting for the financial compensation you deserve.

Premises-Related Accidents

Common types of personal injury cases involving premises-related accidents include slip-and-falls, trip-and-falls, falls from heights, and elevator and escalator malfunctions. These cases generally involve negligence on the part of the property owner or tenant. Residential and commercial property owners can both be held liable for negligence in premises-related accident cases, as can individual renters and businesses that lease their premises.

Construction accidents fall into this category as well. If a construction site is unsafe, or if a building has not been designed or constructed properly, any accidents that result from a property owner’s or contractor’s negligence can give rise to strong claims for just compensation.

Product-Related Accidents

Product-related accidents will most often give rise to strict liability claims based on product defects. However, accident victims can pursue negligence-based claims against product manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers in many cases as well.

Numerous types of product-related accidents can potentially give rise to personal injury claims under Pennsylvania law. This includes everything from airbag failures to accidents involving dangerous appliances, toys, personal electronics and home furnishings. Here too, if you have questions about your legal rights for any reason, you should talk to an experienced Allentown personal injury lawyer to ensure that you are making informed decisions.

Work Accidents

Work accidents can give rise to personal injury claims in Pennsylvania as well—although injured employees will be limited to filing workers’ compensation claims in some cases. Auto accidents, falls, product-related accidents, and other types of accidents on the job can all potentially justify claims for financial compensation.

As with all types of accidents, if you have been injured in a work accident in Allentown, you need to be proactive about protecting your legal rights. Among other things, this means that you should take detailed notes about the accident, see a doctor promptly and schedule a free consultation with a lawyer as soon as possible.

How Can You Find Out if You Have a Personal Injury Claim?

If you have been injured in an accident in Allentown, how can you find out if you have a personal injury claim? Assessing your legal rights will require a clear understanding of how Pennsylvania’s negligence and strict liability laws apply to the circumstances at hand. Talking to an experienced Allentown personal injury lawyer is the first step, and you can get started by scheduling a free, no-obligation consultation.  

Discuss Your Claim with an Allentown Personal Injury Lawyer for Free

Would you like to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with an Allentown personal injury lawyer? If so, we encourage you to contact us promptly. We handle personal injury claims across Pennsylvania at no out-of-pocket cost to our clients. To discuss your legal rights with an experienced lawyer at Drake, Hileman & Davis, PC in confidence as soon as possible, give us a call at 888-777-7098 or tell us how we can help online today.