Personal Injury lawyer in Montgomery County: Overview of Personal Injury Case Types
Accidents happen, and sometimes those accidents can hurt other people or damage their property. As a result, certain rules and laws govern how you can seek recovery for your injuries from a variety of different situations. At Alfred Abel Law Offices, a personal injury lawyer in Montgomery County can help guide you through this complicated legal process. Some common personal injury cases include:
Car Accidents
Car accidents are likely the most common source of personal injury lawsuits. However, car crashes do not automatically result in lawsuits. For a personal injury claim to arise, there must be fault assigned to someone, and in some states, “no fault” rules prevent lawsuits unless serious injury has been inflicted. Pennsylvania is a “Choice” state, so the type of insurance you have could impact your case.
Most personal injury claims involving cars are resolved through insurance. The insurance companies sort out who is liable and pay out claims accordingly. A lawsuit is unnecessary in minor incidents where insurance covers the cost, but in those circumstances when the injuries outweigh a person’s insurance coverage, a lawsuit might be appropriate.
Premises Liability (Slip and Fall Accidents)
Premises liability cases (slips and falls) are probably the second most common. Premises liability assigns the responsibility of keeping a particular home, property or business safe to the owner or occupier of the property. Premises liability assumes that the property occupier is the person in the best position to discover hazards and rectify them.
The plaintiff must prove that the property occupier knew about the danger, had reasonable time to discover it and neglected his/her responsibility.
Bicycle Accidents
Similar to car accidents, bicycle accidents occur when a cyclist collides with a pedestrian or motor vehicle. A personal injury suit can be filed if one party’s negligence or wrongful actions caused the crash.
Philadelphia has the fifth highest number of bicycle commuters in the United States and an average of 512 injuries to bicyclists occurred per year due to crashes between 2009 and 2013. Bicycles, unlike cars, lack mandatory insurance, therefore, any chance of recovery must come from the individual responsible for the crash.
Wrongful Death Accidents
Wrongful death suits arise when a person dies due to the negligent actions of another person. Wrongful death suits can be understood as a different type of personal injury claim because the case is unable to be brought by a deceased person.
In a wrongful death suit, the family or the representative of the decedent’s estate may bring the suit. Wrongful death claims are difficult to prosecute because the primary witness is deceased.
Over the next few months, we will go into further detail about these and other specific types of personal injury cases, so be sure to check back to learn more.
Consult a Personal Injury Lawyer in Montgomery County
Personal injury suits are complicated, even if the law and evidence is abundantly clear. Personal injury suits are won by attorneys who are well-prepared, knowledgeable, and devoted to their clients. Alfred Abel Law Offices, personal injury lawyers in Montgomery County, are well versed in litigation, with over 30 years of experience. Contact Alfred Abel Law Offices for further information.