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Lancaster, PA Personal Injury Lawyer

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    Suffering a personal injury can be life-altering. One minute you are busy doing all of the things that you like and are accustomed to, and then the next you are in pain and need assistance to complete even previously routine tasks. All the while, you wonder what you did to deserve this pain and frustration.

    The truth is that it is not uncommon for the victim of an accident to blame him or herself for the injury. But if another person’s negligence, carelessness or intentional act caused your injury you should speak to an experienced Lancaster, PA personal injury attorney. At The Reiff Law Firm we have represented accident victims for more than 34 years. Our attorneys hold people and companies accountable for the injuries they cause. To schedule a confidential and free consultation, call (215) 709-6940.

    What are the Common Reasons for Personal Injury?

    While every accident is different, after 34 years we have identified areas from which personal injury claims often spring. Some of these high traffic areas are discussed in more detail below.

    Car Accidents

    While accidents have always been a fact of life, the proliferation of cell phones and other electronic devices has resulted in a significant increase in accidents due to distracted driving. We handle all accident types including accidents due to speeding, failure to yield, and accidents at intersections. We also represent motorcyclists and commercial vehicle drivers.

    Slip and Falls

    Each year thousands of Pennsylvanians are injured due to the negligence of property owners. We can help you secure compensation for your injuries whether you slipped on snow and ice, tumbled down an unsafe stairway, slipped on a puddle in a retail shop or fell from a ladder. Our attorneys will explain the law and each step of the personal injury litigation process to you.

    Premises Liability

    Premises liability claims are often closely related to slip and fall lawsuits. Property owners, managers, and landlords owe individuals an obligation to keep their property reasonably clear of hazards. The exact responsibility depends on the type of property and the type of guest. For example, the obligation a homeowner owes a dinner guest is different than the obligation a store owner owes to someone shopping at their business. Nonetheless, if you are injured on another’s property because of the owner’s negligence, you should contact our Lancaster personal injury attorney to determine if you have the grounds for a lawsuit.

    Products Liability

    Some injuries are caused by the products we rely on to make our lives easier. When a device or tool malfunctions, resulting in an injury, the manufacturer could be held liable for any damages. Typically, products liability claims arise from design flaws, manufacturing errors, or inadequate warning labels.

    Burn Injuries

    Burns are often regarded as one of the most painful injuries possible.  For severe third-degree burns, extensive reconstructive surgeries may be required.  Our personal injury practice handles all types of serious burn claims, including due to a house fire, burns caused by a defective product and chemical burns.

    Medical Malpractice

    According to the Journal of Patient Safety, each year as many as 440,000 people may suffer some medical mistake that contributes to their death. Medical malpractice cases can arise from a wide range of injuries, including misdiagnoses, birth injuries, medication errors, and surgical mistakes. Proving negligence in a medical malpractice lawsuit is challenging and requires an experienced Lancaster personal injury attorney.

    Wrongful Death

    Unfortunately, some injuries are fatal. When this happens, family members and loved ones are devastated. However, along with grief, a family that losses a valuable member could be facing unexpected financial stress. If the death was caused by the negligence of another person or entity, eligible surviving family members could be entitled to seek compensation through a wrongful death claim.

    Regardless of the cause of your personal injury, the attorneys of The Reiff Law Firm can lead you through each step of the litigation process.

    Negligence in a Lancaster, PA Personal Injury Lawsuit

    A key component in a personal injury claim or a lawsuit is negligence. When another person or entity has acted negligently, causing an injury to another, the negligent party or parties could be held legally responsible. This means that they, or their insurance companies, might be liable for financial compensation associated with the injuries that occurred.

    When people hear the word “negligence,” they usually think of careless or reckless behavior. However, in a personal injury claim, negligence refers to conduct that deviates from what a reasonable person would have done under the same or similar circumstances. For example, if someone gets behind the wheel after drinking alcohol for hours, they are negligently endangering others. A reasonable person would understand that driving in that condition is unsafe. Another example is a landlord who does not repair a broken light in a stairwell, creating a hazardous situation for tenants and guests in the building.

    Proving negligence in a Lancaster personal injury case requires establishing four elements: duty, breach, causation, and damages.

    Duty

    Duty of care is the legal obligation a person or entity has not to cause harm to others. The exact nature of this duty depends on the relationship between the parties. Turning back to the landlord example above, a landlord would have a duty to tenants and guests to ensure the property was free of known hazards, including an unlit staircase. However, this same duty would not be owed to a trespasser.

    Breach

    When a person’s conduct deviates from what a reasonable person would have done under the same circumstances, it is commonly called a breach of duty. A reasonable landlord would know that a dark staircase could lead to injuries and would replace or repair the light. However, not every personal injury case is as clear and proving a breach is often the most complicated part of the process.

    Causation

    To hold another party liable for your injuries, they must have caused them. Without proving causation, you cannot prevail in a personal injury claim. To establish causation, our Lancaster personal injury will have to prove the defendant’s actions lead to the injury. For instance, if you lost your balance and fell because you could not see the stairs, then not fixing a broken fixture might have caused your injury. However, what if you had been drinking or purposefully skipping steps? Another problem occurs when a direct link is not readily apparent. This issue is common in medical malpractice cases where, even if a doctor did everything perfectly, the outcome is still tragic.

    Damages

    Finally, to be compensated through a personal injury lawsuit, you must have suffered quantifiable damages. If you received medical treatment, were prescribed medication, or lost time at work, you probably suffered damages. However, if you saw your doctor once, were told to take a couple of aspirins, and missed an afternoon of work, your damages might not be significant enough to warrant the cost of a personal injury claim. Our office will carefully evaluate your case, including your financial losses and your physical and emotional suffering, to estimate the value of your claim. This estimation is vital whether you settle with an insurance company outside of court or file a lawsuit.

    What Types of Awards are Available in Personal Injury Cases?

    In your personal injury case, the main types of damages you would seek are compensatory damages and punitive damages. Compensatory damages are intended to make the victim of the accident whole. That is, a compensatory damage award is given to make up for what the victim lost due to the injury.

    Economic Damages

    Compensatory damages can include medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage. These specific types of damages are commonly referred to as economic damages. Economic damages are your financial losses associated with your injury. Our Lancaster personal injury attorney will gather bills, receipts, statements, and other documents to evidence the money you have lost or paid out because of the injury. Some expenses, such as future medical treatment or therapy and income you would have earned, will have to be estimated. These damages usually require testimony from medical and financial experts.

    Non-Economic Damages

    In addition to your financial losses, you are entitled to recover for your emotional suffering and physical pain. Your non-economic damages are subjective in nature and, therefore, more challenging to calculate. Nonetheless, an injured victim is permitted to recover for anxiety, insomnia, depression, and the loss of enjoyment of life. Because there are no actual bills or receipts available, our office will turn to the testimony of your healthcare providers, medical experts, and your friends and family to establish how you were uniquely affected by your injury.

    Punitive Damages

    Punitive damages differ from compensatory damages. If granted, they are still awarded to the plaintiff in the matter but they serve a different purpose. Rather than being designed to make a victim whole, punitive damages are generally viewed as a vehicle for the court to send a message to the public-at-large that this type of conduct is unacceptable. Additionally, punitive damages punish the tortfeasor and are considered to act as a deterrent to individuals who would otherwise act in a similar fashion in the future. Punitive damages are rarely awarded but they can be a significant part of an injured victim’s settlement award. When reviewing your case, our attorney will discuss the likelihood of punitive damages.

    Our Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help if You were Injured in Lancaster, Pennsylvania

    For more than 34 years, The Reiff Law Firm has protected the rights of accident victims.  If you have suffered a personal injury due to a slip and fall, burn injury, medical mistake, or under other circumstances, we can help. To schedule your no-obligation consultation, call us at (215) 709-6940 or contact us online today.

    5.0/5.0
    personal injury lawyer

    ...without them I would have been lost.

    I can’t say enough great things about the Attorneys at the Reiff Law Firm. They made me feel at ease when I was going through a very difficult time in my life. Never being in a situation like this I was so unsure of where to start and how to go about the process. Justin gave me options where I thought I had none and explained everything in a way that I could understand. Justin and the team helped me arrange all of the treatment and therapy that I needed, without them I would have been lost. My attorney John went to bat for me like no one else could have, his knowledge and professionalism is unmatched. If anyone is ever in need of a team of attorneys the Reiff Law Firm is my ONLY recommendation.

    5.0/5.0
    personal injury lawyer

    ...what started as a small settlement ended $100, 000 more than expected.

    I greatly appreciate the care and compassion the Reiff Law Firm has given to my family at a very difficult time. They left no stone unturned in their investigation and what started as a small settlement ended $100, 000 more than expected. They did not give up and treated us like family.

    5.0/5.0
    personal injury lawyer

    I’m very comfortable to say there’s no better in the city.

    Before meeting with Jeffrey Reiff and Bob Szostak from the Reiff law firm I’ve consulted with a few other injury attorneys in the Philadelphia region. Difference was, these guys know their stuff! I was absolutely blown away by how compassionate and welcome this law firm makes you feel. Once signed with them I never went a single week without staying in the loop with the progress and updates these guys have on your case. Working with them for some time turned what was an injury case, into a family! From calls and meetings, to just calling in to say “hi how’s everything going” I’ve never felt like a beat was skipped. I’d recommended the Reiff law firm 100%! I’m very comfortable to say there’s no better in the city. The awards they’ve earned over the years speaks for itself! I can never thank the Reiff law firm and Bob Szostak enough for everything they’ve done, their professionalism, compassion and all of their knowledge and experience! Highly rated! Best in the city! I look forward continuing our relationship in the future. Thanks again My Reiff family!

    5.0/5.0
    personal injury lawyer

    ...I want to say that the Reiff Law Firm changed my entire life with handling of my legal case.

    As a former client, I want to say that the Reiff Law Firm changed my entire life with handling of my legal case. I was in a very serious automobile accident with severe injuries to neck and back areas. I contacted the law firm and asked what to do with the medical bills and how do I get the correct representation against the individual who rear-ended my car. In short, the firm took complete control of the case contacting my insurance company and asking for all the medical bills and legal matters be sent directly to them. I was able to get treatment from my doctor without worrying about the legal stuff. Furthermore, two years later the case was settled for a substantial amount of money. My life was much better due to the firm handling of my case. My attorneys at Reiff Law Firm are absolutely the best and I have recommended to my family friends. Thanks Reiff Law Firm.

    5.0/5.0
    personal injury lawyer

    What started out as a time for me that included a lot of doubt, questions and hopelessness has turned into one of a hopeful future.

    I highly recommend the team at the Reiff Law Firm. Both Jeff and Robert were there to guide me through a very difficult time. What started out as a time for me that included a lot of doubt, questions and hopelessness has turned into one of a hopeful future. The team at the Reiff Law Firm made me feel at ease and I had no doubts trusting them with various concerns. They kept me informed every step of the way without making me feel overwhelmed or anxious. Don't hesitate to contact them for your legal needs - especially if you want a team that has the utmost concern and compassion for their clients.

    5.0/5.0
    personal injury lawyer

    THE REIFF FIRM IS AN OUTSTANDING LAW FIRM!

    I was referred to the Reiff Law Firm by a friend who had previously been a client of the firm. My friend told me that the Reiff Firm had done an incredible job handling his case and treated him like family. My friend's recommendation was spot on. I am going to miss them now that my case is over. Attorney Reiff and Attorney Toczydlowski are excellent attorneys. They really care. They got me an INCREDIBLE RESULT. Most importantly they were there for me during some extremely dark and difficult times in my life. I highly recommend the Reiff Law Firm to anyone seeking the very best legal representation for injuries they suffered in an accident.

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    $8 Million

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    1500 John F. Kennedy Blvd #501
    Philadelphia, PA 19102
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