If you are filing a lawsuit or accident claim in Pittsburgh, it is important to be aware of and understand the various personal injury laws in Pennsylvania. An experienced attorney will be able to guide you through this complex process and provide dedicated legal representation. Contact our office today to schedule a free consultation.
Personal Injury Laws in Pennsylvania | Deadline
In Pennsylvania, you must observe the rules and statutes for personal injury if you want to have a successful claim. Otherwise, you may be barred from receiving compensation. One highly significant statute to abide by is the statute of limitations. You will have exactly two years from the date of the injury to bring your claim or file your lawsuit. If you come to the lawyer a week before this statute runs out, they may not be able to help you. There are steps that need to be taken prior to this deadline that need some time. There is the discovery phase that is required, and you want to collect evidence right away so that witnesses do not forget vital information about the injury. If you are filing against a municipality, then you have to give them a notice that you are bringing a claim against them. If you do not put them on notice by 6 months from the injury, your claim will be denied by the insurance company. If you bring your claim after two years, you will be denied compensation and your case will be thrown out. That is probably the worst mistake you can make. Don’t wait. Act as fast as possible after your accident so that you are not left in the lurch.
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Personal Injury Laws in Pennsylvania | Comparative Negligence
Another rule that you should be aware of has to do with the modified comparative negligence rule that Pennsylvania follows. This rules essentially means that you can still get compensation if you are at fault for the accident that caused your injury. For example, you were going a little too fast on the highway when you got hit, you were on your phone when you slipped at the grocery store, or you did not check clearly enough before crossing the street. While you are still permitted to collect compensation, it will be reduced by the percent of fault you are found to be at. If you are for instance found to be at fault for 20% of your accident, and you are awarded $10,000, you will be barred from receiving 20% of that. You would only get $8,000. If you are found to be at fault for 50% or higher, you will be barred from receiving any compensation at all.
If you are looking to file a personal injury claim, contact our experienced Pittsburgh personal injury lawyers today to schedule a free consultation.