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Pittsburgh Personal Injury Lawyer

The law allows an individual injured by the negligence of another party to file a claim or lawsuit against that party. Such actions can range from an insurance claim to a complex personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. When it comes to the second type of action, the lawsuit, it is important for the plaintiff – the injured person – to have sound advice and counsel from an experienced Pittsburgh personal injury lawyer.

Injured Due To The Negligence Of Another Party And Have Questions? We Can Help, Tell Us What Happened.

The Personal Injury Cases We Handle

Our law firm welcomes inquiries about all types of personal injury cases, including cases involving:

★★★★★

“This firm never gives up and they build a foundation of trust from square one.“
Google Reviewer / Former Client

★★★★★

“Always willing to answer questions and making time for us when needed. They helped make the most difficult times in our lives a little easier.”
Linda B. / Former Client

How Our Lawyers Help

We start every personal injury case by determining the facts. This may mean reading police reports, hiring an investigator, deposing witnesses and consulting with experts. Our law firm has the resources to do all these things and more. Once we understand what happened, we can then determine who should be held liable for the losses our client suffered.

Whether a client became disabled and unable to work, or developed a post-injury condition that required frequent medical treatment or therapy, we can determine the cost and incorporate that into the case.

Get Advice From An Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer. All You Have To Do Is Call 412-471-4300 To Receive Your Free Case Evaluation.

Examples of Negligence in Personal Injury Cases

Negligence takes many forms. We see almost everything in our cases, but some of the most common instances of negligence include:

  • Drunk driving
  • Texting or using other devices while driving
  • Not obeying traffic regulations such as the speed limit
  • Driving too fast for road conditions
  • Not providing protective gear to workers
  • Not training workers in safety procedures
  • Not adequately guarding construction sites
  • Knowingly using defective or inappropriate equipment on the job
  • Not maintaining property despite knowing about problems
  • Not providing lights, security systems or guards in certain situations
  • Knowing that a manufactured product could be dangerous but selling it without adequate testing
  • Not providing adequate instructions for using a product safely

As we go about our daily lives, we trust that the people around us will not intentionally harm us or injure us due to their negligent acts or omissions. When a person or entity does cause harm and injury to another person, they should be held responsible to compensate the injured party for their damages and financial losses.

For nearly 30 years, the personal injury lawyers of Berger Lagnese & Paul, LLC have fought to protect the rights of clients in Pittsburgh and throughout Western Pennsylvania when our clients have been injured through no fault of their own. Our attorneys have the experience, knowledge, and resources to handle even the most complex personal injury claims. Regardless of whether you’ve been injured in a motor vehicle accident, by a defective or dangerous product, by medical malpractice, or in an accident on someone else’s property, our attorneys can help you and your family pursue the compensation you need and deserve.

If you or a loved one have suffered personal injury through no fault of your own, contact Berger Lagnese & Paul, LLC today to schedule a free case evaluation to speak with one of our personal injury lawyers, who advise as to your legal rights and options and help you understand how our firm is prepared to fight on your behalf.

Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Injury

What is considered to be a personal injury?

In the legal context, a personal injury is any form of physical or psychological injury or harm that is caused by the intentional acts or negligence of another person or entity.

What are the most common kinds of personal injury cases?

Some of the most common kinds of personal injury cases that our attorneys handle include car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, medical malpractice, dangerous and defective products, slip and fall accidents, and construction site accidents.

Does my injury need to be major to file a personal injury case?

Not necessarily. As long as your injury has caused you to incur some sort of compensable damages, such as medical expenses or lost wages due to missed work, you can usually file a personal injury case against the responsible person(s) or entity(ies). Certain kinds of personal injury cases, such as motor vehicle accidents, do have injury requirements for filing a lawsuit under certain circumstances, such as if you have a “no-fault” auto insurance policy.

How should I file a personal injury case?

The process for filing a personal injury case depends on the type of case. In most personal injury cases, it is only necessary to file a complaint with the court. In certain kinds of personal injury cases, such as medical malpractice cases, it is necessary to also file a “certificate of merit”, in which an expert in the relevant field states that he or she has reviewed your case and has opined that there is a reasonable probability that your injuries and damages were caused by the responsible party.

Is there a statute of limitations for filing my personal injury case?

Yes. Under Pennsylvania law, you typically have two years from the date of your injury to file a lawsuit. The statute of limitations can be tolled under certain circumstances, such as if you have not yet discovered your injury, or if you are a minor.

What type of paperwork do I need to file my personal injury case?

In most personal injury cases, it will be necessary to collect your medical records, which will be used to document your injuries and treatment and demonstrate how your injuries were the result of the acts or negligence of the defendant. You will also need to collect paperwork that substantiates your claim for damages, such as bills to show your medical expenses, or paystubs or income statements to show your lost income or earning capacity.

What should I expect during my personal injury case?

During your personal injury case, you can expect that we will work diligently to efficiently resolve your claim while ensuring that you receive fair and full compensation. Usually, we are able to resolve your case through a negotiated settlement, which means that you will not need to go to trial. Sometimes it is necessary to go to court to pursue your claim, which may result in your case being tried before a judge and jury.

What percent of personal injury cases go to trial?

Most people do not realize that the vast majority of personal injury cases do not go to trial. According to various studies, only two to five percent of personal injury cases go to trial. The rest are resolved before trial, usually through a negotiated settlement between the parties; many personal injury cases are settled without seeing the inside of a courtroom.

How long does it take to settle a personal injury case?

It can be difficult to determine how long it may take to settle a personal injury case. There are a number of factors at play, including the complexity of the facts of the case, whether the defendant is denying liability, or whether there is a dispute over the amount of damages that the injured party has incurred. If there is no dispute over liability or damages, a personal injury case can be settled in as little as a few months. However, a personal injury case can take as many as a few years to work its way through the courts; at any point during a personal injury lawsuit, the parties may decide to settle.

What types of damages are available in a personal injury case?

Depending on the losses you have suffered, you may be entitled to various types of damages in a personal injury case. At a minimum, you may be entitled to recover the medical expenses you have incurred to treat your injuries. If your injuries cause you to miss work during recovery or prevent you from returning to your old job, you may be entitled to damages for lost wages or lost earning capacity. You may also be entitled to damages for pain and suffering caused by your injuries, along with the loss of quality of life resulting from disability or disfigurement caused by your injuries.

How is pain and suffering calculated?

Pain and suffering damages are often calculated by taking into consideration the severity and permanency of your injuries — the more severe and permanent your injuries, the greater the amount of pain and suffering damages that you will recover. For example, you will recover greater pain and suffering damages from a broken leg than from a sprained knee. In some cases, insurance companies offer pain and suffering damages based on a multiple of your medical expenses, the specific multiple depending on the severity and permanency of your injuries.

What will I receive if I win my case?

If you win your personal injury case at trial, you will typically receive whatever damages the jury awards you at trial. However, this award can be reduced for several reasons. For example, the court may reduce the jury’s award to match statutory limits on certain kinds of damages, such as pain and suffering or punitive damages, or may reduce your award to reflect the jury’s finding that you were partially at fault for your injuries. The award you receive at trial may also be used to pay medical providers who treated you who are still awaiting payment, or may be used to pay your attorneys if you have a contingency fee agreement with them.

Will the party at fault have to pay out of pocket?

In many personal injury cases, the compensation you receive from the at-fault party is paid by an insurance company. The at-fault party’s insurance company may even hire and pay the attorneys representing the at-fault party. However, if your damages exceed the at-fault party’s insurance coverage and you obtain a settlement or court judgment that exceeds that coverage limit, then the at-fault party would likely be responsible for paying out-of-pocket the difference between your award and their insurance coverage limits.

How much does a personal injury attorney cost?

In many cases, it is possible to hire a personal injury attorney on “contingency”. This means that you do not have to pay the attorney anything unless and until the attorney recovers compensation for you. You would then be responsible for paying the attorney an agreed-upon percentage of the compensation that the attorney recovers for you.

We Have Successfully Handled Cases Like Yours