Have you been injured in an accident that was not your fault? When you are injured through no fault of your own, you can be entitled to be compensated for the injuries you sustained. Whether you can recover damages for your injuries depends on a variety of factors. At times, the process can be difficult to manage, but with a Doylestown personal injury attorney from Drake, Hileman, and Davis, PC, representing you through the legal process, you can better focus on recovering from your injuries, while you leave the rest to us.
A Doylestown personal injury attorney from DHD can provide you with a no-cost assessment of your personal injury claim. We have assisted many individuals who simply wonder if they have a claim. If you have been injured as a result of a Doylestown personal injury accident, we are happy to review the facts of your situation in order to determine if a recovery is possible.
Personal Injuries Claims For Which We Have Successfully Helped Clients
Determining whether or not you might have a right to recover damages requires a careful assessment of the facts and circumstances surrounding your claim and the injuries you sustained. While the facts of a case can vary broadly, the following are some of the more common claims for injuries seen by our Doylestown personal injury attorney.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
In 2021, there were 303 passenger vehicle fatalities in Pennsylvania, according to the Department of Transportation. This resulted in a total of 408 total fatalities out of a total of 76,052 crashes. Because Pennsylvania is a partial “no-fault” state, most motor vehicle accidents result in coverage being provided not only by your own insurance company but also by the carrier for the other driver. It takes an experienced Doylestown personal injury lawyer to know what coverages are available under a particular set of facts..
The most common causes of motor vehicle accidents for which we have assisted our clients in recovering damages for their injuries include the following:
- Drunk and/or Intoxicated Driving: When drivers decide to get behind the wheel while intoxicated or drunk, they are breaking the law and can not only be liable for compensatory damages but also for punitive damages for accidents they cause.
- Distracted Driving: The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration notes that in 2020, 3,142 Americans were killed as a result of distracted driving. Distracted driving is doing anything while driving that takes a driver’s attention away from the road, such as texting while driving. Distracted drivers utilizing a handheld phone or navigation device, while driving, can also be liable for punitive damages imposed to punish a driver.
- Drowsy or Fatigued Driving: When a driver does not have adequate rest before they get behind the wheel, this can lead to tragic results. Their fatigue renders them unable to drive safely which can make them liable for any resulting injuries. In cases involving professional truck drivers, the driver’s employer can also be responsible for the damages caused by drowsy driving.
- Speeding and Other Aggressive Driving: When a driver is irresponsible and breaks the law they may be liable for the damages that result from accidents they cause. This includes speeding, following too closely, illegal lane changing, careless driving and other dangerous driving behaviors.
Drivers have a responsibility to be safe when they are on the road, which includes not only following traffic laws but also being attentive to others on the roadway, from other drivers to pedestrians, to bicycle operators to motorcyclists. .
Motorcycle Accidents
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PADOT), in 2021 motorcyclists fatalities increased to the highest rate since 2008, and motorcycle safety was one of the focus areas of the PADOT’s 2022 Strategic Highway Safety Plan. In 2021 alone there were some 215 motorcyclist fatalities out of 3,580 motorcycle crashes. Injuries from motorcycle crashes are often more severe given that their drivers do not have the benefit of seatbelts, airbags, and a protective metal chassis, as a car does, in providing additional protection.
If you or a loved one has been injured or a loved one killed in a motorcycle accident, the driver who caused the accident may be responsible for your damages. The damages recoverable will be commensurate with the injuries sustained. Damages causing the death of a loved one can lead to the bringing of a wrongful death claim and a survival claim. Survival claims go through the estate of the deceased, while Wrongful Death claims pass directly to the beneficiaries.
Premises Liability/Slip-and-Fall
Property owners also have a duty to individuals who are invited onto the property, such as customers in a retail store or sporting venue. If there are risks to the safety of the visitors, like a risk of slipping in a supermarket or an exposed wire in a shopping center, the property owner has a duty to protect the visitors from these harms. If you have been injured because a property owner failed in this duty, you may have a right to file a claim and should speak with a Doylestown personal injury attorney at DHD.
Dog Bites
Under Pennsylvania law, a “dangerous dog” is defined as one that has inflicted severe injury on a human being without provocation, whether in public or in private. What this means is that the owner of the animal may assert the defense that the animal was provoked into the attack or bite, and so should not be held responsible for the associated damages. Successfully collecting the compensation that you might be entitled to requires careful consideration of the facts of your case, together with the application of Pennsylvania law. By working with a Doylestown personal injury attorney, we can help determine the nature and scope of the damages for which you might recover.
Connect with a Doylestown Personal Injury Attorney to Explore the Options on Your Case
Experiencing a personal injury can result in long-term costs and a negative impact on your ability to work and generate income to support yourself and your family. If you have experienced an injury and would like help determining if you might have a case, reach out for your free initial case review with a Doylestown personal injury attorney at DHD. We’ll go over the facts of your accident and your injuries, in order to determine how we can assist you in your pursuit of a recovery. To learn how we can help, give us a call at 215-348-2088, or visit our site to schedule a consultation.