Expert Legal Representation for Personal Injury Claims in Latrobe
Being injured is not an easy situation. No reasonable person would ever trade their good health for money. And unfortunately, no amount of money can instantly restore your good health or relieve your pain. However, we will do everything in our power to ensure your medical bills are paid, you recover lost wages and you receive compensation for your pain and suffering.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed by the negligence of another person, do not try to handle the insurance companies on your own.
Personal injury law is a highly complicated field, and attempting to handle your case on your own, even for a short while, can permanently reduce the value of your case, or worse, waive your claim entirely. It is critical to collect and document all of the available evidence and testimony early to place you in the best position possible to recover for your injuries and damages. Moreover, in many personal injury cases, there are often sources of recovery that you may not be aware of without an attorney to identify them and pursue recovery on your behalf.
For instance, you may not be aware that you, or a resident of your household, have UM/UIM coverage, which might provide you with additional insurance coverage for your loss even though the party responsible for your damages has insufficient coverage or no coverage at all. In other instances, the responsible party may have additional layers of coverage that you may not be aware of such as an “umbrella policy.” By settling your claim on your own, without an attorney to identify and pursue these sources of recovery on your behalf, you may be waiving your right to tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Meet Our Firm
Marcia Dietrick – Office manager and paralegal
Types Of Personal Injury Cases We Handle
Our dedication sets us apart from other personal injury law firms. We are devoted to securing favorable personal injury settlements for our clients. If you or a loved one has suffered any of the following types of damages, contact our firm:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Defective products and product liability
- Dog bites and animal attacks
- Motorcycle accidents
- Property damage
- Wrongful death
No matter how complex the case, we have the skill, knowledge and experience to help you and your family.
The Types Of Compensation You May Recover
In a typical personal injury claim, you may get compensation for the following types of damages:
Economic damages: This includes lost wages, past and future medical bills, loss of benefits, lost earning capacity, long-term medical care, and the loss of household services (errands, child care, etc.). These are financial losses.
Noneconomic damages: These are personal losses such as pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of consortium, and emotional distress.
Punitive damages: While rare, punitive damages are awarded when the at-fault party acted with gross negligence. For example, they may have known that their product was defective but refused to fix it because of the cost. These are not compensatory damages. They are meant to punish the negligent party for their conduct.
Pennsylvania’s Statute Of Limitations And Comparative Negligence
In Pennsylvania, you generally have two years to file a personal injury or wrongful death claim. The deadline may be longer if you did not realize you were injured right away.
The state’s comparative negligence law specifies that you can only recover compensation if you are 50% or less at fault for the accident. If you are 51% or more, you cannot receive compensation.
When we discuss your case, we will tell you how each of these things may affect your specific claim.
The Personal Injury Claims Process
Here is how a personal injury claim typically works:
- You contact a lawyer for help with your claim.
- We investigate the accident and collect evidence to build the case.
- We negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf.
- Depositions are taken, and information is exchanged in discovery.
- Settlement negotiations begin.
- If a settlement cannot be reached, the case proceeds to trial.
Every case is unique. Let’s discuss the specific details of your claim. We can provide more specific guidance once we learn more about your situation.
I Was Partially At Fault For The Accident. What Happens Now?
If you were partially at fault for the accident, you can still recover damages as long as you are 50% or less at fault. If you share more fault than that, you cannot recover damages.
What Do I Do If The At-Fault Party In A Car Accident Does Not Have Insurance?
If the at-fault party does not have insurance, you may be able to get compensation from your auto insurance policy, depending on the type of coverage you have. If you purchased UM/UIM coverage, you can recover compensation from your policy.
Drivers with limited tort coverage can get damages for medical bills and additional costs from their insurance company. There are restrictions for noneconomic damages, however, unless the at-fault party has no insurance.
Drivers with full tort coverage can seek damages from the at-fault party that include pain and suffering no matter whether that driver has insurance.
Experienced And Fair
We are experienced in submitting the strongest case to get you the best possible personal injury settlement, and we will work tirelessly to get you the final outcome that you deserve. We also do our best to treat you fairly. Nearly all personal injury attorneys practice on a contingency basis, meaning there is no fee unless we recover money for you. In addition to this arrangement, we offer a graduated fee schedule. Fees begin at a lower percentage than most firms and increase as litigation progresses. This approach ensures our fee more closely corresponds to the work performed and the risk assumed by our firm.
Personal Attention
In many large, high-volume law firms with sizeable advertising budgets, your case is often not handled by a single attorney. Instead, it may be passed through the office, with many aspects handled by younger associates whom you may never meet. At Latrobe Law Associates, LLC, you will know who is handling your case. When you have a question, we are always a phone call away, and we will work tirelessly to get you the best recovery possible.
Experience You Can Count On
Attorney Hauser and his legal team have the knowledge and experience to personally handle your injury case. Whether by settlement or trial, we will do all in our power to obtain the best recovery possible on your behalf.
Schedule A Free Consultation Today
We offer a free initial consultation on all personal injury matters. Regular business hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and for your convenience, we also offer evening appointments when necessary. Call us at 724-539-1111 or send us an email today.
And again, you owe us no fee unless we recover money for your claim.