Experienced Norristown Personal Injury Law Firm

Serving Clients Across Montgomery County

Each year, tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians suffer severe injuries caused by the negligence of others. In a split second, an accident can change your life. One moment, everything is fine, and then—suddenly, out of nowhere, everything changes. You may find yourself waking up in a hospital, confronted by what doctors tell you will be a long road to recovery. There are no clear answers about when you can return to work or when your life will return to normal. At MyPhillyLawyer, our dedicated Norristown personal injury lawyers have more than 100 years of experience aggressively representing accident victims. We take a proactive approach to every case we handle because we believe that a little extra effort upfront can make all the difference in our clients’ cases.

Types of Norristown Personal Injury Cases MyPhillyLawyer Handles

MyPhillyLawyer is a comprehensive Norristown personal injury law firm that handles a wide range of injury cases. With over a century of experience representing accident victims, chances are we have dealt with a case very similar to yours. Some of the cases we most frequently handle include the following:

Motor Vehicle Accidents

Each year, there are more than 100,000 motor vehicle accidents across Pennsylvania, injuring over 60,000 people. At MyPhillyLawyer, we represent clients and their families affected by the following types of accidents:

Car Accidents

Car accidents are one of the leading causes of preventable injury in Pennsylvania. In fact, in 2020, there were more than 285 car accidents every day, resulting in three fatalities and 168 injured per day. The vast majority of Norristown car accidents are preventable, had drivers taken the necessary precautions to ensure a safe trip. Motorists who negligent cause a Norristown car accident can be held liable through a personal injury lawsuit.

Truck Accidents

Norristown sees a significant volume of truck traffic due to the city’s proximity to Philadelphia and its location near the intersection of Interstates 76, 276 and 476. These large trucks, when not safely operated, pose a significant risk to motorists. One of the leading causes of truck accidents is drowsy driving. Because truck drivers are paid by the mile, they are encouraged to stay on the road as long as possible, often at the expense of safety.

Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcyclists lack the protection that cars and trucks provide to drivers. Thus, injuries in a Norristown motorcycle accident tend to be much more serious than in other types of motor vehicle collisions. Not only that, but motorcyclists also face a much higher chance of getting into an accident. For example, in 2020, more than 3,200 motorists suffered serious injuries in Pennsylvania motorcycle accidents, and another 217 were killed.

What To Do After a Norristown Motor Vehicle Accident

After a motor vehicle accident, everything will feel like a blur. One moment everything is normal, and the next, your world is turned upside down. Below are a few things to keep in mind to ensure that your rights are protected.

• Stay at the scene of the accident
• Report the accident to the police
• Gather any evidence from the scene before you leave
• Obtain immediate medical attention
• Report the accident to your insurance company
• Follow through with recommended follow-up treatment

If you have been in a Norristown car accident, chances are that several insurance policies may cover the accident. However, determining which policy provides primary coverage can be challenging. Further, to maximize your recovery, it is recommended that you work with an experienced Norristown car accident law firm.

Slip and Falls

Property owners owe a duty of care to their invited guests to keep any areas accessible to their guests in a reasonably safe condition. This applies to both private landowners, as well as business and government entities. While the extent of the duty owed to a guest varied depending on the surrounding circumstances, the law generally requires businesses to fix any known hazards, warn customers of dangerous conditions, and conduct regular inspections to discover potentially hidden dangers.

Dangerous and Defective Products

Manufacturers of products have a legal duty to those who purchase and use their products. In many cases, when a manufacturer’s product causes death or injury, the manufacturer can be held strictly liable for the damages. This means that there is no need to prove that the manufacturer was legally negligent. However, product liability law is extremely complex, and anyone who believes they were injured by a dangerous or defective product should reach out to a dedicated Norristown product liability lawyer.

Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice refers to a situation where a patient suffers injury due to a healthcare provider’s negligence. Doctors, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, and other medical professionals owe their patients a duty of care to provide a certain level of medical care. If a provider’s level of care falls below that acceptable level, they can be held financially liable through a Norristown medical malpractice lawsuit.

Workplace Injuries

For many, work is where they spend the largest part of their day aside from home. Not surprisingly, Norristown workplace accidents are common. Employees who are injured on the job have two ways to recover for their injuries: a workers’ compensation claim or a personal injury lawsuit.

The Pennsylvania workers’ compensation system allows injured workers to obtain limited benefits after an on-the-job accident. One of the benefits of a workers’ comp claim is that you do not need to prove anyone else was at fault for your injuries to obtain compensation. For example, if you were injured due to your own negligence, you could still recover workers’ compensation benefits. Because of this, these claims typically result in a quicker approval process.

However, there are also drawbacks to filing a workers’ compensation claim. Most notably, you can only recover compensation for your economic damages, meaning your employer will not compensate you for any pain and suffering you experienced due to your injuries.

A personal injury case is different from a workers’ compensation claim in that you must prove another person was at fault for your injuries. This means you must show that the at-fault party breached a duty of care that they owed to you and that their breach of this duty resulted in your injuries. While this makes proving your case more difficult, you can obtain a fuller damages award through a personal injury lawsuit, including damages for your pain and suffering.

However, you cannot pursue a personal injury claim against your employer in most situations. Thus, a personal injury case stemming from a Philadelphia workplace accident is typically brought when your injuries were caused by a third party’s negligence. Examples of third parties who may be responsible for a manufacturing injury include:

• Workers of another employer
• Manufacturers of equipment or material
• Contractors and subcontractors
• Vendors
• Truck drivers

If you have been injured in a Philadelphia manufacturing workplace accident, it is important you discuss your case with an experienced workers’ compensation and personal injury lawyer to determine which type of case best fits your situation.

Damages in a Norristown Personal Injury Lawsuit

After a serious accident, you and your family may face unaccounted for accident-related expenses. And the fact that your injuries left you unable to work makes covering these bills even harder. Thankfully, through a personal injury lawsuit, you can recover financial compensation for your injuries.

While every case is different, Pennsylvania courts generally allow accident victims to recover two forms of compensatory damages: economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are those out-of-pockets costs that you face because of the accident. These damages also include the money you would have earned but for the accident. Common examples of economic damages in a Norristown personal injury case include:

• Past medical bills
• Future medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Decrease in earning capacity
• Property damage
• Necessary modifications to your home

Non-economic damages are intended to compensate an accident victim for the emotional and psychological effects of the accident. Unlike economic damages, non-economic damages are subjective because accidents impact everyone’s life in different ways. Common types of non-economic damages include:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Disability or disfigurement
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of familial relationships

Both economic and non-economic damages are critical to a full and fair recovery. At MyPhillyLawyer, our Norristown personal injury lawyers recognize that you only get one chance when bringing a case after an accident. So, we take the time to identify the full extent of your damages to ensure you are fairly compensated for what you have been through.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What Is “Full Tort” Versus “Limited Tort” Coverage in Pennsylvania?

All Pennsylvania drivers have the choice to purchase “limited tort” or “full tort” coverage. The difference between these coverages is the availability of certain damages. While limited tort coverage will allow you to recover for your medical expenses and lost wages, it does not provide compensation for certain non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering. However, if you purchase a full-tort policy, you will be able to recover for your damages related to any pain and suffering you endure as a result of the accident.

How Long Do I Have to Bring a Norristown Personal Injury Lawsuit?

Under Pennsylvania law, accident victims must file a personal injury lawsuit within two years from the date that their claim “accrues.” A claim typically accrues on the day of the accident, meaning an accident victim has two years from that date to file their case. However, there are certain situations where a claim does not accrue immediately. Often, this is the case where an accident victim did not realize that they suffered an injury at the hands of the defendant until a later date. This is most common in Norristown medical malpractice cases, for example, where a patient only later learns of a misdiagnosis or other medical error.

What Is “Full Tort” Versus “Limited Tort” Coverage in Pennsylvania?

All Pennsylvania drivers have the choice to purchase “limited tort” or “full tort” coverage. The difference between these coverages is the availability of certain damages. While limited tort coverage will allow you to recover for your medical expenses and lost wages, it does not provide compensation for certain non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering. However, if you purchase a full-tort policy, you will be able to recover for your damages related to any pain and suffering you endure as a result of the accident.

How Long Do I Have to Bring a Norristown Personal Injury Lawsuit?

Under Pennsylvania law, accident victims must file a personal injury lawsuit within two years from the date that their claim “accrues.” A claim typically accrues on the day of the accident, meaning an accident victim has two years from that date to file their case. However, there are certain situations where a claim does not accrue immediately. Often, this is the case where an accident victim did not realize that they suffered an injury at the hands of the defendant until a later date. This is most common in Norristown medical malpractice cases, for example, where a patient only later learns of a misdiagnosis or other medical error.

Contact the Car Accident Lawyers at My Philly Lawyer Today

At MyPhillyLawyer, we represent clients who were seriously injured after an accident. Our seasoned team of Norristown trial attorneys has more than a century of experience and is equally comfortable at the negotiation table or in court. From the moment you bring us on board, we work diligently to secure a fair settlement offer when possible. However, we will not ever pressure you to settle your case and will not hesitate to take a case to trial if the other side is unwilling to engage in fair negotiations. To learn more about how we can help you recover compensation for the injuries you have sustained, call 215-227-2727 or toll-free 800-461-3741. Calling is free, and we will not bill you for our services unless we can help you recover compensation for your injuries.