Erie, PA Personal Injury Lawyers

In some cases, it may be clear that someone’s negligence caused your accident and should be held responsible for your injuries. Most personal injury cases are not so clear. You might not even know exactly what happened to cause the accident—because accidents happen quickly. Our personal injury lawyers have decades worth of experience evaluating potential personal injury claims. We know what to look for to determine whether you have a claim. We can even conduct an investigation to get the evidence needed to support a finding that someone else’s negligence caused your injuries. The best way to know is to schedule a free case review with an experienced injury lawyer.

A personal injury claim is a claim for compensation for an accident victim who suffered injuries. The accident and injuries in a personal injury case must have been caused by someone else’s negligent or reckless behavior. Personal injury claims can stem from any number of different accidents, from car accidents, motorcycle accidents and truck accidents to slip and fall accidents and dog bite incidents.

Available compensation—or “damages”—are divided into three basic categories: (1) economic damages, (2) non-economic damages and (3) punitive damages. Economic damages include compensation for actual expenses, things like:
– Medical bills,
– Lost wages,
– Property damage,
– Rehab costs,
– Diminished earning capacity,
– And more.
Non-economic damages are the more subjective damages designed to compensate you for how the injury has impacted your life. Pain and suffering, emotional distress, diminished quality of life, and loss of the company of a loved one are all examples of non-economic damages.
Punitive damages are rarely awarded unless the at-fault party acted intentionally or was so reckless that a court finds it appropriate to award additional damages just to punish that person.

The actual compensation award available is different in every case. Factors that are relevant in determining the level of compensation you will receive include:
– The severity of your injury and whether it was permanent,
– How the injury impacted your life,
– Whether you can return to work or return to work in the same capacity,
– How the accident occurred,
– The available insurance coverage or financial ability of the at-fault party to actually pay.

Yes. You should remember to keep every piece of documentation related to the accident—including all medical bills, paperwork given to you by the doctor, any documentation related to your missed work or missed social activities and any other documents related to your accident and injury. This type of hard evidence can be extremely useful for your lawyer in arguing for your right to full compensation.

Yes, as long as you are not found to be more than 50% responsible for the accident. Your compensation award will be reduced under Pennsylvania’s modified comparative negligence rule. For example, if you are awarded $100,000 and found to be 30% responsible for the accident, your personal injury award will be reduced to $70,000 (by 30%).

You should refrain from giving any statements to the insurance company, especially recorded statements, without first talking to an experienced personal injury lawyer. Insurance adjusters often try to get accident victims to make statements that could reduce the insurance company’s liability. Even innocent statements can be used against you later. Additionally, stop posting on social media until your case is resolved. Social media posts can often be obtained even if you think your privacy settings will keep your information private. It’s best to simply stop posting to avoid giving the insurance carrier ammunition to challenge your claim.

In most cases, we can reach a fair settlement agreement outside of court. However, we are fully prepared to advocate on your behalf in court if necessary to get you the compensation we need. At Purchase, George & Murphey, P.C., our lawyers take our clients’ preferences seriously. We always make sure you understand the options so that you can make an informed decision.

The experience and proven track record of your personal injury lawyer are obviously highly valuable. Some lawyers may not specialize in personal injury or may not be familiar with your jurisdiction—meaning that they could make mistakes that could ultimately cost you money. It’s also important to get information about your firm’s billing practices. For example, Purchase, George & Murphey, P.C., we work on a contingency basis. That means you do not have to pay us attorneys’ fees up front—in fact, you only pay if we win compensation for you. Also, make sure that your actual attorney will be available to handle your case—which includes answering your questions throughout the process and keeping you informed.

While acting sooner is always better, Pennsylvania law gives you a two-year timeframe (known as the “statute of limitations”) to file a claim. Certain exceptions exist in the case of minors and in some medical malpractice injury cases.

Please check out our General FAQ page for answers to a number of common questions about personal injury cases.