A serious accident can render you unable to go about your life as you were, leaving you with significant medical bills and long-term injuries and treatment. When a negligent person or company is the cause of your injuries, you have legal options for getting the compensation you need to move on with your life.
There is no reason to suffer silently. A Coraopolis personal injury lawyer at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers can assess your case, help you identify the at-fault party and work with you to seek justice. We have a track record of success in the state, having recovered money for clients in each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties. Give us a call to learn about what we can do for you after a serious accident.
Many Accident Injuries are Due to Negligence
When someone fails to use proper caution or consider the safety of others and causes injuries to someone else, this is considered negligence. While negligence is sometimes an action, like running a red light and hitting another driver, it can also be a failure to act, like forgetting to put a “wet floor” sign over a spill. Many accidents result from the negligence of one or more parties.
To seek payments in a personal injury case, you must prove another party’s negligence. A Coraopolis injury attorney can provide invaluable help during this time, compiling the evidence necessary to prove a negligence claim.
42 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes §7102 allows an injured person to claim damages even if they were partially responsible for an accident, as long as they are less than 50% at fault. A seasoned attorney at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers can help ensure that you do not face any unfair accusations of fault for your accident and gather evidence that demonstrates the fault of the other party.
Damages in Personal Injury Lawsuits
There are two main categories of damages that you may be eligible for after an accident—compensatory damages and punitive damages. Compensatory damages are available in any personal injury case. In contrast, an attorney will need to prove that an intentional, reckless or malicious act led to an injury in order to seek punitive damages.
Compensatory Damages
Compensatory damages include medical, pain and suffering and other losses related to the physical harm a person suffered. Compensatory damages also cover lost income if the injury caused you to miss work, as well as future earning potential if you are unable to return to your job. With the help of a Coraopolis personal injury attorney, you can seek money for pain and suffering, inconvenience, humiliation, lost enjoyment of life and other factors that diminish your post-injury quality of life.
Punitive Damages
Compensatory damages reimburse an injured person for their losses. On the other hand, punitive damages are intended to punish a responsible party for reckless, malicious or intentional harm they caused. Our personal injury lawyers at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers have successfully recovered punitive damages for clients in numerous cases. In one successful trial against Greyhound Bus Company, the jury awarded $2 million in punitive damages, in addition to millions we obtained for our clients in compensatory damages.
Do Not Wait to Take Action After an Injury
In most personal injury cases, there is a two-year period to file a claim against a negligent party. If you have not properly filed a lawsuit, you are probably going to be unable to obtain any compensation against responsible parties that you failed to properly sue within two years. However, there are certain exceptions. By getting in touch with a personal injury lawyer in Coraopolis as soon as possible after an accident, you are giving yourself the best possible chance at a full and fair financial recovery.
If the responsible party is the State of Pennsylvania, a county, or a governmental subdivision like a school district, shorter time limits might apply. In many cases, the injured person needs to file a notice of their claim with the local government that is responsible for the harm suffered, within six months of their injury or they lose the right to sue. An attorney can help you understand the time limitations in your specific case and work with you to ensure that you meet all relevant legal deadlines.
Schedule a Free Consultation with a Coraopolis Personal Injury Attorney
If you were hurt in an accident, you need practical advice from a knowledgeable legal professional. A Coraopolis personal injury lawyer at our office can assist you with any questions you have about how to get fair compensation for your harm and losses.
Do not delay seeking proper legal help. Contact Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers today to get started on your case.