Drake, Hileman & Davis, PC

Alpha Building

1 South 3rd Street
Easton , PA 18042

Phone: 610-258-9493

With offices in Easton and throughout Eastern Pennsylvania, the attorneys at Drake, Hileman & Davis, PC have been fighting for your neighbors for more than 30 years. Our team of personal injury lawyers is trial advocates who are committed to securing full, completed, and just compensation for accident victims and their families, whether that means skillfully negotiating an insurance settlement or pursuing an aggressive case strategy in court. A traumatic accident can have consequences that last for years to come, and if you have been injured or lost a loved one, it is critical that you seek experienced legal representation. Our Easton personal injury lawyer has spent decades fighting for individuals and families who have suffered losses due to:

Potential Injuries and Their Consequences After an Accident 

Personal injury cases can vary quite drastically, depending on the type of injuries suffered (and the severity of said injuries).  In fact, the impact of an accident itself will fall within a broad range, given the different predispositions and fragilities of the injured individual (also known as the plaintiff in a personal injury case).

For example, a low-speed, rear-end car accident may lead to severe injury if the plaintiff is already suffering from a degenerative spinal condition.  Alternatively, a car accident may lead to severe injuries if the plaintiff gets stuck and a fire starts, leading to unavoidable third-degree burns.

If you’ve been injured in an accident, you must seek medical attention as soon as possible.  Failure to do so could lead to the worsening of the injuries suffered in the accident, and the defendant will then use that to undermine your arguments.  Specifically, the defendant is likely to argue that you “failed to mitigate” your damages by obtaining immediate and necessary medical attention for your injuries.

As such, even if you’re not entirely sure whether you’ve been seriously injured after an accident, you must see a physician to ensure that you have sought whatever treatment/diagnostics are necessary to assess the possible injury.  That will limit the defendant in their attempts to argue that you “failed to mitigate.”

Our Easton Personal Injury Lawyer Help You Recover Damages for Serious Injuries

Serious injuries, especially head injuries and traumatic brain injuries, tend to lead to higher damages.  In a standard personal injury case, you may be entitled to the following economic and non-economic damages:

  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Wage loss
  • Loss of future earning capacity
  • Medical expenses
  • Property loss
  • And more

How does this work in practical terms?  Let’s use an example to clarify.

Suppose that you are severely burned in an accident.  As a result, you cannot return to work, and in fact, you will never be able to return to work.  Further, the burns have not only caused (and continue to cause) severe pain, but they have also disfigured your face and body, resulting in insecurities, anxiety, and at times humiliation.  Your social life has degraded as a result, and even your relationships with family have degraded.

Under these circumstances, the losses would be extremely significant: pain and suffering, emotional distress, wage loss, medical expenses, and more.  You would have to be paid replacement wages for the rest of your working life, and you’d have to be paid damages for the pain and suffering experienced (not only while being burned but also during the treatment and on a daily basis).  The medical expenses would likely be astronomical as well, from surgery to physical therapy and pain therapy.

If you suffer a severe injury, it’s that much more important for the damages to be recovered in full so that you can cover your losses and attempt to lead a normal, happy life.  Given the high-stakes nature of litigating an injury case involving a severe injury, it’s worth consulting an experienced Easton personal injury lawyer at Drake, Hileman & Davis, PC for guidance. We are committed advocates who will stop at nothing to secure the damages to which you’re entitled.

Who Determines Fault in a Personal Injury Claim in Easton?

In Pennsylvania, a judge or jury determines who is at fault for premises liability injuries and how much or what percentage each party is at fault. Defendants must be more than 50% at fault in order for the injured person to recover any damages. An Easton personal injury lawyer at Drake, Hileman & Davis can help you determine who is likely at fault.

Can an Easton Property Owner be at Fault for Making a Previous Injury Worse?

If a person has a pre-existing condition or injury that was made worse because of an accident on someone else’s property, property owners and their insurance companies will likely claim that any damage was the result of that pre-existing condition or injury rather than the accident that the injured person is suing for. If this is the case for you, it’s particularly important to let an Easton personal injury lawyer at Drake, Hileman & Davis help you establish that the defendant’s negligent conduct was the cause of your injuries.

What Kinds of Damages Can I Recover in a Personal Injury Claim?

  • Hospital bills 
  • Doctor bills 
  • Medical treatments
  • Surgery expenses
  • Prescription drugs
  • Physical therapy
  • Medical equipment and devices
  • Lost wages
  • Loss of future earning capacity
  • Pain and suffering
  • Mental distress

How Long Do I Have to Make a Claim in Easton?

All states have time limits by which you must file your claim. These time limits are generally referred to as “statutes of limitations.” In Pennsylvania, this limit is two years from the date of your injury, although there are some exceptions. It’s best to contact an Easton personal injury lawyer at Drake, Hileman & Davis immediately so that the statute of limitations does not become an issue. Waiting to file your claim may allow evidence to go stale or get lost, and give time for witnesses to forget details.

What Kind of Injuries Do Victims Sustain in Personal Injury Cases?

Injuries caused by unsafe conditions on someone’s property may vary greatly, depending on the unsafe condition that caused the injury. Some common injuries sustained include:

  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Soft tissue injuries
  • Broken bones
  • Tendon strains or tears
  • Burns
  • Electric shocks
  • Neck injuries
  • Joint injuries
  • Ligament injuries
  • Muscle injuries
  • Toxic chemical exposure

When is an Injury Claim Worth Pursuing? Let Our Easton Personal Injury Lawyer Help.

Not all cases are straightforward such that they involve just a single defendant or even an obvious defendant.  Seasoned personal injury lawyers explore the possibility of additional defendants who may not have been identified at the onset of litigation.

For example, suppose that you are injured in a car accident.  You later discover that the driver who injured you was operating the vehicle during work hours and was, in fact, going to meet with a client on behalf of his employer.  Given those facts, you could potentially impose liability on their employer pursuant to “vicarious liability” principles.  You might also have an independent negligence claim against their employer for failing to exercise reasonable care in hiring and supervising the employee.

Attaching liability to additional parties can be valuable, particularly in cases where the obvious defendant does not have the resources (or insurance coverage) necessary to fully cover your losses.  If you pursue claims against an employer, for example, then chances are that they have adequate liability insurance coverage to cover your losses and harms.

Schedule a Free Consultation With an Easton Personal Injury Lawyer Right Away

In addition to offering free consultations, we take all personal injury and wrongful death claims on a contingency fee basis. As a result, it costs you nothing out of pocket to protect your rights, and you only pay if we help you secure a financial recovery. To discuss your case with one of our experienced Easton personal injury lawyers in confidence, please call (610) 258-9493 or inquire online now.

About Easton, PA

The smallest of three cities located in Northampton County’s Lehigh Valley, Easton’s population has remained relatively constant over the past decade. But, while Easton has maintained its small-town feel (which many locals prefer), it is likely only a matter of time until more people decide to call this city on the Pennsylvania-New Jersey border home.

Location, Attractions and Facilities

Easton sits at the intersection of I-78 and Route 611, along the banks of the Delaware River. It serves as the gateway for many Pennsylvania residents seeking to travel east, and it is a popular stop for travelers heading up or down the Eastern Seaboard who prefer to avoid I-95. Local attractions include the National Canal Museum, the Crayola Experience and the Karl Stirner Arts Trail. Perhaps Easton’s most famous resident, former heavyweight boxing champion Larry Holmes owns and operates Ringside Restaurant, which is located on Larry Holmes Drive.

Just outside of downtown sits the Easton Campus of St. Luke’s Hospital. Easton is home to several other St. Luke’s facilities as well, including St. Luke’s Emergency Care Specialists, St. Luke’s General Surgery, and HOPE at St. Luke’s Hospital. Local schools include Cheston Elementary school, Palmer Elementary School, Paxinosa Elementary School, Easton Area Middle School and Lafayette College.

Courts serving Easton include the Northampton County Courthouse on Washington Street and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, which is also located on Larry Holmes Drive.

History

Easton is well known among American historians. It is the site of one of the first (and only) public readings of the Declaration of Independence, which took place at noon on July 8, 1776. As the Easton City Hall website explains, “This historic event is celebrated each year on Heritage Day, when thousands gather to join in reenactments of the reading and to revel in entertainment, good food, and fireworks over the Delaware and Lehigh Rivers.”

Approximately 20 years earlier, Easton was founded by Thomas Penn, son of William Penn (who founded Pennsylvania) and Benjamin Eastburn. The city is named after the estate of Thomas Penn’s wife, Juliana Fermor, Easton-Neston in Northamptonshire, England. The oldest remaining building in Easton, Bachmann Tavern, was built shortly after the city’s founding—in 1753.

Another unique historical and cultural feature of Easton is the city’s farmer’s market. The market, which is located at Centre Square, has been continuously operated since 1791. Centre Square (formerly known as the Great Square) is also the site where Robert Levers made the famous reading of the Declaration of Independence, on the steps of the former courthouse where the Civil War Monument stands today.

Our Easton Office

Drake, Hileman & Davis, PC’s Easton office is located downtown in the National Building at 400 Northampton Street, just blocks from Centre Square. Our office is easily accessible, and off-street parking is available at the Pine Street Garage. If you would like to meet with a personal injury lawyer at our Easton office, we invite you to schedule a free consultation.