Wilkes Barre, PA Personal Injury Attorney | Wilkes Barre, PA Personal Injury Lawyer | Accident Lawyers in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania
Defend yourself by hiring an experienced Wilkes Barre personal injury lawyer
Are you or a loved one the victim of negligence or reckless behavior? If you have been seriously injured due to the fault of another party, you may need to speak with a local Wilkes Barre PA personal injury lawyer to protect your rights. Severe personal injuries are both tragic and burdensome. All too often, parties responsible for harming another person deny any responsibility for their actions. You can hold them accountable by hiring an experienced Wilkes Barre personal injury lawyer to fight for you. You can contact a local Wilkes Barre personal injury attorney today by filling out the questionnaire on this site.
Injury Law Firms in Luzerne County Can Help You
Most injury victims face uncertainty – who will pay the bills? Am I getting the medical treatment I need? Will I be able to work soon? How will I care for my family? – These concerns are more than valid in the face a serious accident. Wilkes Barre accident lawyers step into the picture to help you recover the losses you sustained as a result of the accident. They also act as counselors – advising you how to proceed, where to seek services and resources – and most importantly, they can act as a buffer between you and those parties who are attempting to deny you of your recovery. Your Wilkes Barre personal injury lawyer can file your claims, investigate your case, and move your dispute forward – evening the playing field between you and the other party, company, and or insurance company. If you have been contacted by an insurance company it is imperative that you speak with a local Wilkes Barre injury lawyer to discuss your rights first before settling. Do not settle for less than you deserve. If you feel an insurance provider is trying to take advantage of you, your Wilkes Barre PI attorney may be able to help you by pursuing action under the Pennsylvania insurance bad faith laws.
Luzerne County plaintiff lawyers by sub-practice
You can learn about the different types of claims and cases that Wilkes Barre personal injury attorneys usually take on. To learn more about a specific type of personal injury lawyer, follow one of the links below:
- Wilkes Barre Product Liability Lawyers
- Wilkes Barre Premises Liability Lawyers
- Wilkes Barre Workplace Injury Lawyers
- Wilkes Barre Dog Bite Lawyers
- Wilkes Barre Government Liability Lawyers
- Wilkes Barre Medical Malpractice Lawyers
- Wilkes Barre Car Accident Lawyers
- Wilkes Barre Wrongful Death Lawyers
- Wilkes Barre Truck Accident Lawyers
- Wilkes Barre Maritime Lawyers
Where do I go from here?
- Without question, safety and health are the most important primary concerns. If you have been injured, it is critical that you seek medical attention first before doing anything.
- Second, take the time to contact your Wilkes Barre injury attorney immediately. Starting the legal process as soon as possible only serves you. Waiting too long can result in a weaker case – and a reduced chance of receiving full monetary compensation.
- Take the time to collect all documentation and contact information related to your accident. Collecting this kind of valuable information will serve you well in the event you have to take legal action. Most people do not do this – requiring their attorney to backtrack, which is likely to work against you in court.
a. If you were hurt in a car crash in Luzerne County and need to get an accident report, here is a list of helpful numbers:
- Wilkes Barre Police Department, 15 North Washington Street Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania 18701 - (570) 208-4207
- Luzerne County Sheriff Department, 110, 100 North Broad Street, Hazleton, Pennsylvania 18202 - (570) 459-6547
What is negligence in Wilkes Barre? What will my Wilkes Barre lawyer have to prove in court?
Whether your Wilkes Barre injury lawyer is successful at winning your case will depend on many factors: the facts of your case, what you want to accomplish (your definition of success), and whether the other party is willing to work with you to resolve the matter. To win in court for most any personal injury case, your Wilkes Barre lawyer will either have to prove that the other party was (1) legally at fault, or (2) negligent. What standard of fault does Pennsylvania use? Pennsylvania courts use a modified comparative fault standard. This means that the plaintiff’s recovery is reduced by the amount he is at fault. If the plaintiff is more than 50% at fault, then he is entirely barred from any recovery.
Personal Injuries, Most Common Types Among Victims
You may be suffering from one of the following types of injuries – not matter what it is, chances are that your experienced Wilkes Barre injury lawyer most injuries: Burn Injury Loss of Eyesight, Neck Injuries, Skull Fractures, Closed Head Injuries, Shoulder Injuries, Open Head Injuries, Spinal Injury, Amputation, Severe Arthritis, Wrongful Death, Traumatic Brain Injury, Depression, and Whiplash, just to name a few.
The Types of Accidents
The range of claims that Wilkes Barre PI lawyers can handle covers a broad spectrum:
- Wilkes Barre dangerous drug recall lawsuits
- Wilkes Barre wrongful death cases
- Wilkes Barre medical malpractice lawsuits
- Government liability cases
- Wilkes Barre on the job injury accidents
- Explosions in Wilkes Barre
- Wilkes Barre dog bites &Wilkes Barre dog mauling injuries
- Wilkes Barre premises liability cases
- Wilkes Barre truck accident injuries - involving Pennsylvania trucking regulations and federal truck safety standards
- Negligence cases in Wilkes Barre
- Wilkes Barre product liability lawsuits
- Wilkes Barre slip and fall cases
- Wilkes Barre maritime accidents
- Wilkes Barre car accidents
Types of Damages
If you win your tort case, you will likely be entitled to monetary damages. The following is a list of typical types of damages that may be available to you, depending on the facts of your case.
Punitive Damages Mental Anguish Consequential Damages Property Damage |
Loss of Earning Injury To Credit Compensatory Damages Back Pay |
Exemplary Damages Lost Profits Emotional Distress Pain & Suffering |
How much does it cost to hire an experienced Wilkes Barre Injury Lawyer?
The common practice for experienced Wilkes Barre injury attorneys is to charge what is called a “contingency fee”. In a contingency fee agreement, your attorney only gets paid if you get paid (in other words, they have to successfully settle or win your case at trial to get paid). Usually, attorneys “win” a percentage of your award (generally around 30% – 40%). This type of fee agreement tends to be a “win - win” type of arrangement for injury victims and local Wilkes Barre injury lawyers. You can learn whether you have a case by meeting with an attorney through this website. By submitting your information on this site, a local Wilkes Barre Personal Injury lawyer will contact you. All initial consultations with attorneys through this site are free.
Charges to expect: be aware of “legal expenses/costs” versus attorney fees
Knowing the difference between attorney fees and legal costs is important. “Attorney fees” are those charges incurred for your attorney’s services, whereas legal costs are those costs your attorney pays to move your case along: court filing fees, court reporter fees, postage, expert witness fees, etc. It is important to discuss the differences between the two before you ever enter into an agreement with any attorney. You will want to ask questions like: who advances costs? Who is ultimately liable for them if the case is lost? If we win the case, how are they deducted from the financial award (or settlement?)? How are attorney fees deducted from the award? Every state is different regarding how they handle costs and attorney fees. Questions like these are a great way to understand what both you and your attorney can expect from the representation and how losses or gains are allocated.
Wilkes Barre Car Accident Injury Lawyers
Wilkes Barre Vehicle Crash Lawyer
An experienced Wilkes Barre car accident law firm can protect your rights and seek repayment for your injuries if you have been involved in a car crash where another person is at fault. Wilkes Barre vehicle accident lawyers protect innocent victims of car accidents through negotiation and litigation. Depending on the facts of your case, you may be facing otherwise recalcitrant parties who are unwilling to pay for the damages that they have caused. Serious car wrecks are no light matter – they require the diligence of a trained advocate to protect your rights. Your Wilkes Barre vehicle accident attorney is likely to have substantial experience negotiating with insurance companies like: GEICO, State Farm, Farmers, and All State, just to name a few.
The amount of your recovery (damages awarded to you, or your settlement) will likely depend on a number of factors: the other party’s fault, the extent of your injuries, your financial losses, and the strength of your case, just to name a few. Your Wilkes Barre auto injury lawyer may be able to negotiate a settlement out of court, or he or she may ultimately need to file a claim in Pennsylvania state or federal court. If your case is in Pennsylvania state court, your Wilkes Barre accident lawyer will work with the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure and Pennsylvania Rules of Evidence; and if in Federal court, that means your Wilkes Barre car injury lawyer will work with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and Federal Rules of Evidence. Injuries that are common to car accidents include: broken bones, paralysis, wrongful death, scarring, whiplash, back injuries, eye injuries, burns, and psychological trauma.
Each car accident case is unique: requiring an investigation of the specific accident in which you or your family member was involved. Generally, vehicle accidents are caused by one or more of the following three factors: driver negligence, unsafe road conditions, and negligent automobile design or defective design of an automobile part (like brakes or tires). A qualified Wilkes Barre car wreck attorney will be able to identify the root cause of the accident – moving your case forward and seeking financial recovery for your injuries. If drunk driving was at play, your Wilkes Barre car wreck lawyer will certainly use that to bolster your case.
Wilkes Barre Drunk Driving Crashes
Pennsylvania DUI laws are no laughing matter. Violators will almost certainly have their drunk driving infraction brought to light and used against them at trial. If you or a loved one has been made a victim to a serious car wreck, begin the process of protecting yourself today by contacting an experienced Luzerne County car accident lawyer.
Wilkes Barre Motorcycle Accident Lawyers: Wilkes Barre Motorcycle Wreck Attorneys
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident, there are experienced Wilkes Barre motorcycle accident injury lawyers who can help you. Unfortunately, motorcycle accidents tend to be some of the most injurious accidents on the highways. Other drivers often claim not to see them – but experienced Wilkes Barre trial lawyers know how to defend you in court if you have been involved in a serious motorcycle accident.
Courthouses in Berks County, Pennsylvania
Major civil claims in Pennsylvania are heard by the Courts of Common Pleas. The Court of Common Pleas in your county is here:
Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas |
Other civil matters, including small claims and landlord-tenant disputes, are heard by the Magisterial District Courts. Magisterial Courts may handle civil claims up to $12,000. These courts may be found here:
Luzerne County Magisterial District Court |
Luzerne County Magisterial District Court |
Luzerne County Magisterial District Court |
Luzerne County Magisterial District Court |
Commercial Truck Accidents
Wilkes Barre Truck Crash Law Firms, Wilkes Barre 18 Wheeler Crash Law Firms, &Wilkes Barre Semi Truck Crash Law Firms
Semi Truck &18 wheeler crashes account for an overwhelming percentage of the serious accidents that occur in our country today. If you or a loved one was seriously hurt in a car accident involving a big rig, it is extremely important to work with an experienced Wilkes Barre truck accident law firm who knows how to handle these complex cases.
Why is it important to hire an experienced Luzerne County truck wreck lawyer important?
Providing you with the full scope of legal representation in any major truck wreck case almost always requires the assistance of an experienced Wilkes Barre big rig accident attorney. Making your case against a trucking company requires more than an attorney with generalized knowledge – an experienced Wilkes Barre truck accident attorney should be extremely familiar with the applicable trucking laws and regulations (e.g., the FMCSA), in addition to the customs of the trucking industry. Specific examples of the type of evidence gathering your qualified Wilkes Barre truck accident lawyer will need to conduct can include things like subpoenaing driver logbooks and electronically stored data on commercial trucks engaging in interstate driving. The proper evaluation of this kind of data can be used to determine whether the driver was fatigued at the time of the accident, or whether the driver was driving in violation of safety statutes. In many cases, just knowing how to get to this kind of information can be a challenge in itself without firsthand knowledge of the trucking industry.
In addition to federal regulations, there are a number of Pennsylvania state regulations governing large trucks and truck accidents. They are found in the “Pennsylvania Commercial Transportation Laws".
Medical Malpractice & Physician Negligence
Luzerne County Physician Negligence Lawyers Can Help: Wilkes Barre ER Doctor Negligence
Injuries resulting from medical negligence at any medical facility – whether done by nurse, doctor, or any other healthcare professional, are truly tragic. We put our trust in our healthcare professionals. When that trust is betrayed, it destroys our faith in one of the few institutions we expect to uphold the highest professional standards.
The medical profession employs some of society’s most highly trained professionals – it is easy to feel helpless when you are the victim of medical malpractice. If you have been seriously injured due to the negligent or reckless care of a doctor or other healthcare provider, you have rights under the law, and you deserve to be represented by a trained professional who will not be intimidated by corporate interests and insurance providers. Contact an experienced Wilkes Barre medical malpractice lawyer today.
Wilkes Barre Nursing Home Malpractice Lawyer: Nursing Home Negligence
Nursing home malpractice is on the rise. If you or a relative have been seriously injured due to the negligence of a nursing home facility, it is important to contact a local Wilkes Barre nursing home negligence attorney. Elderly abuse must be stopped at all costs. Wilkes Barre nursing home malpractice law firms can investigate and expose the nursing home facility’s practices – protecting you and others in the community from experiencing the same mistreatment. There are specific nursing home abuse laws in Pennsylvania designed to protect victims.
Nursing home abuse and/or nursing home neglect can take many forms. Common examples of nursing home abuse that can occur in Wilkes Barre are:
- Failure to take reasonable precautions to prevent falls
- Theft of the nursing home resident's money or other personal property
- Failure to provide for appropriate medical care
- Sexual assault or rape of the resident
- Use of chemical or physical restraints
- Retaliation for making a complaint or filing a grievance
- Over-medication or under-medication
- Failure to answer call lights in a timely fashion
- Failure to take adequate precautions to prevent injury to the nursing home resident
- Emotional or verbal abuse of the nursing home patient
- Hitting, slapping or other physical abuse of the nursing home resident
Hospitals in and near Wilkes Barre, PA
Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center |
Kindred Hospitals East, LLC |
John Heinz Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine |
Wilkes-Barre General Hospital |
Nursing Homes in and near Wilkes Barre, PA
Riverstreet Manor |
Heritage House |
Riverstreet Manor |
Timber Ridge Health Care Center |
Maritime Accidents (Boats)
Wilkes Barre Admiralty Attorneys: Wilkes Barre Maritime Attorneys
If you or a family member has suffered injury on navigable waters, you likely need to contact an experienced Luzerne County maritime lawyer. Maritime law is a unique subset of our national jurisprudence – some of the maritime laws predate the U.S. Constitution. If you have been injured at sea or on an inland waterway that leads to the sea, you will most definitely need to speak to a qualified maritime lawyer. These cases are not your run of the mill personal injury cases.
Injured on a Cruise Ship? Cruise Ship Accidents: Wilkes Barre Cruise Ship Accident Lawyers
If you were seriously injured while aboard a cruise ship, you will want to contact a local Wilkes Barre cruise ship injury lawyer immediately. Cruise ship injuries are often the result of improper training, dangerous conditions, and crew member negligence or recklessness. You may have limited time to file your claim due to unique maritime rules – do not wait, contact a local Wilkes Barre cruise ship injury attorney today.
Wilkes Barre Jet Ski Lawyers & Pleasure Boat Lawyers
If you have been involved in a pleasure boat accident, and suffered from serious injuries, there are experienced Wilkes Barre pleasure boat injury lawyers who are standing by to help you. Unfortunately, all it takes is one act of negligence on the water to turn a fun time into a tragedy. If you were hurt on a pleasure boat or a jet ski, contact a local Wilkes Barre recreational boat accident attorney today.
Dangerous Product Injuries& Defective Products
Wilkes Barre Defective Product Lawyer: Wilkes Barre Defective Product Attorney
If you have suffered from a serious injury due to a negligently designed product, a defective product, or an inherently dangerous product, then you will need to meet with a Wilkes Barre products liability lawyer to discuss your case. These cases are not easy to win – they often require a lawyer who is versed in these types of cases (often involving industrial research, intensive discovery, and the use of experts). If you are the victim of a dangerous product, it is important that you begin legal action as soon as possible.
Every year, thousands of innocent people are injured or killed because of unsafe products. In 2010, 10 of the 50 largest verdicts resulted from product liability lawsuits. As this trend increases, the chances that large corporations will stop viewing product liability lawsuits/settlements as just another “cost of doing business” will decrease. Dangerous products can range from automobile parts, to household products, to everyday food items we take for granted. Dangerous drugs and supplements also proliferate the marketplace. If you have been injured by a dangerous product, it is important to contact a local Wilkes Barre product liability law firm to discuss your case.
Wilkes Barre Drug Recall Lawyer: Luzerne County Defective Drug Lawyer
Dangerous drugs account for a growing number of personal injury claims in the United States. Despite efforts by the federal government to police the trustworthiness of the American pharmaceutical market – bad drugs inevitably make it into the marketplace. If you or a loved one has suffered due to one of these drugs, contact a local Wilkes Barre drug recall lawyer to discuss your case today.
Wrongful Death
Wilkes Barre Wrongful Death Lawyer: Luzerne County Wrongful Death Attorney
The State of Pennsylvania’s wrongful death laws protect families that have lost a loved one due to an accident caused by the negligence or recklessness of another person or company. When an experienced Wilkes Barre wrongful death attorney brings a wrongful death suit, the attorney is helping the aggrieved family member[s] by holding the persons or companies who are responsible for your loss accountable for what they have done. The Pennsylvania wrongful death act provides a cause of action to the family of the deceased person who was killed due to the negligence or reckless behavior of another person or entity. Under the statute, the spouse, children or parents of the deceased may bring the lawsuit, and in some cases, a personal representative may be appointed to bring the lawsuit. Generally, wrongful death suits must be filed within two years. Contact a qualified Wilkes Barre wrongful death law firm today by submitting your information on this website.
Accidents on the Job in Wilkes Barre: Workplace Injuries
Workers Compensation: Wilkes Barre Workers Comp Lawyers
In many cases, workers who are injured while working for their employer qualify for compensation under the Pennsylvania state workers compensation laws. Luzerne County workers compensation lawyers represent individuals who have suffered from serious injuries on the job: regardless of whether their employer was at fault.
Railroad Injuries: Wilkes Barre FELA Railroad Worker Injury Lawyers
Are you a Wilkes Barre railroad worker who has been injured on the job? Under the law, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. The Federal Employer’s Liability Act (the FELA) protects railroad employees who are injured on the job due to employer negligence. Under FELA, if your employer’s negligence has anything to do with your injury, even the slightest bit, you may be entitled to a full recovery for your serious injuries. To discuss your case in detail, contact an experienced Wilkes Barre FELA lawyer today by filling out the form on this webpage. If you are employed in a unionized position, you can still hire your own Wilkes Barre FELA Lawyer. Although the union may tell you to hire a DLC (Designated legal counsel), you are perfectly within your rights to hire your own attorney.
Wilkes Barre LHWCA Law Firms &Wilkes Barre Jones Act Law Firms
If you qualify as a maritime worker, your claim is most likely covered by one or more of the three sources of law: the Jones Act, the LHWCA, and the General Maritime Law. The laws applicable to your case will depend on (1) the nature of your work, and (2) the place and circumstances in which you were injured.
Workplace accidents on navigable waters occur in a diversity of environments, spanning many sub-industries within the maritime field. The admiralty attorneys who protect maritime workers are often referred to by a number of different titles. For example, maritime workers who provide support services to other vessels in navigation might be represented by: “Wilkes Barre barge accident lawyers” or “Wilkes Barre tugboat injury lawyers”. In addition, Wilkes Barre river injury lawyers and Wilkes Barre dredge accident lawyers work with and protect brown water seamen and other maritime workers who principally operate near shore-side. Of course, a whole unique subset of maritime law practice concerns the oil industry, and these experienced lawyers are often referred to as: Wilkes Barre offshore injury lawyers or Wilkes Barre oil rig injury lawyers. While these attorneys go by many different names, they all operate under the common heading of Wilkes Barre maritime attorney.
Personal Injuries Caused by the Government
Personal injury due to government negligence
Is the government responsible for causing you harm? Under the law, private people and private companies are not the only ones who can be held liable in a court of law for causing harm to another person. If you or a loved one has been injured by the city of Wilkes Barre, the Luzerne County, the state of Pennsylvania, or any branch of the Federal Government, you have rights under the law. To learn more, it is important to contact a local Luzerne County government liability lawyer. Lawyers who sue the government in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania represent people, companies, and various organizations whom have been injured by the government.
Can I sue the government if they cause me harm?
Private citizens frequently sue both the state and federal government. State government entities include the city (here, Wilkes Barre), the county (Luzerne County), and the Pennsylvania state government. Governments harm individuals in many of the same ways that private companies do: employee negligence, product liability, premises liability, and dangerous government activity. Depending on which entity (federal government or Pennsylvania state government) caused your injuries, your Wilkes Barre government negligence attorney may have to file your case under the Federal Tort Claims Act (the FTCA), or the Pennsylvania government liability statutes.
Premises Liability: Slip and Fall Accidents: Trip and Fall Injuries
Wilkes Barre Trip and Fall Lawyers, Wilkes Barre Slip and Fall Lawyers, &Luzerne County Premises Liability Lawyers
In Pennsylvania, landowners have a duty to take reasonable care of their property to protect visitors. This duty can include the requirement that the landowner make reasonable inspections of their property, and remedy unreasonably dangerous conditions. Too often, unsuspecting visitors and patrons are injured on another person’s or another company’s property. In the case of retail stores, one of the most common causes of injury is spills that have not been cleaned up promptly. If you have been injured due to another’s negligent care of their property, it is important to discuss your case with a Wilkes Barre premises liability lawyer.
Winning your case may likely require an experienced Wilkes Barre personal injury attorney who has experience proving liability in premises liability cases
One of the most difficult things about a premises liability or slip and fall claim is proving that your injuries were caused by the dangerous condition. Often, there are certain types of injuries that occur from slip and fall accidents. Experienced Wilkes Barre premises liability lawyers know how to identify these injuries and prove them in court by engaging experts in the courtroom. If you or a loved one has been the victim of a dangerous condition on another person’s property, don’t wait: contact a local Wilkes Barre slip and fall attorney today.
Dog Bite Lawyers in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania
Vicious dog attacks account for a large number of severe personal injuries in the state of Pennsylvania each year. Each case is different: some dog bites occur due to owner negligence (poorly trained animals, dangerous dogs left off the leash, etc.), while other attacks are caused by unexpected acts of aggression. Victims of dog bites in Pennsylvania have rights – if you have been seriously injured by a dog, it is important that you speak with a seasoned Luzerne County dog bite lawyer. You may be entitled to compensation under the law for your injuries. Pennsylvania dog bite laws were designed to protect innocent victims from harm.
Wilkes Barre Personal Injury Lawyers serve clients throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania, including Allentown, Archbald, Berwick, Canton, Carbondale, Cherry Mills, East Stroudsburg, Easton, Freeland, Hazleton, Lewisburg, Lock Haven, Loyalsockville, Mansfield, Miffinburg, Montrose, Mt. Bethel, Muncy, Nanticoke, New Castle, Port Jervis, Scranton, Selinsgrove, Wilkes-Barre, Williamsport, and other communities in Luzerne County.