Drake, Hileman & Davis, PC

1286 N. 9th Street
Stroudsburg , PA 18360

Phone: 570-421-8119

If you have been injured or a loved one has been killed in an accident in Stroudsburg or the Poconos you may be entitled to financial compensation. Under Pennsylvania law, individuals and companies that negligently cause accidents can be held financially responsible for the victims’ losses. As a practical matter, most accident cases are resolved through the at-fault party’s insurance companies; and, while some cases go to trial, with competent and capable Stroudsburg personal injury lawyer, most successful claims settle fairly early in the process.

At Drake, Hileman & Davis, PC, we provide experienced legal representation for accident victims and their families in and around Stroudsburg, PA and throughout the Poconos. Since our firm’s founding in 1985, our attorneys have represented thousands of clients, recovering many millions of dollars for their injuries and financial losses. Your neighbors have trusted us for decades, and you can trust us to always put your interests first as we fight to win the compensation you deserve. To schedule a free consultation with a top Stroudsburg personal injury lawyer, call (570) 421-8119, or use our contact form.

Man writing on paper on clipboard with written words personal injury law

Personal Injury Cases We Handle in Stroudsburg

We represent individuals and families in cases involving all types of accidents in Stroudsburg. This includes cases involving:

Child Injuries

Despite everything we do to protect our children as parents, there are still many factors and circumstances that are beyond our control. Dangerous playground equipment, defective toys and children’s furniture, and negligent drivers are just a few examples of the numerous risks that lead to child injuries. If your child has been injured in any type of accident, we strongly encourage you to speak with a Stroudsburg personal injury lawyer at Drake, Hileman & Davis, PC about your family’s legal rights.

Construction Accidents

Even when construction workers do everything they can to keep themselves safe, they can still face dangerous situations on the job. We handle cases involving all types of construction accidents, from ladder falls and scaffolding failures to accidents involving tools, heavy equipment, and machinery.

Defective Product Accidents

While the products we buy are supposed to be safe for their intended use, this isn’t always the case. Product defects are alarmingly common, and while some manufacturers issue recalls for some of their products, many defective products stay on the market despite their risks. When a defective product causes an accident, the manufacturer, distributor and other companies involved in the product’s chain of distribution can all be held accountable under Pennsylvania’s strict-liability defective product laws.

Dog Bites

If a dog has bitten you, your child, or another family member in Stroudsburg, your family may be entitled to financial recovery. We have helped many local families recover just compensation, and we can use our experience to take legal action on your behalf if warranted.

Fatal Accidents

We represent families who have lost loved ones in all types of fatal accidents in Stroudsburg. This includes vehicle collisions, job-related accidents, animal attacks, falls, and other tragic occurrences. To discuss your family’s legal rights in confidence, contact us for a free consultation today.

Medical Negligence

There is no excuse for medical negligence. Yet, dangerous mistakes in doctors’ offices, hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities remain extremely common. We handle medical negligence cases against all healthcare providers and medical facilities in Stroudsburg.

Motor Vehicle Accidents

Our lawyers have decades of combined experience representing motor vehicle accident victims and their families in Stroudsburg. We have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for our clients in cases involving:

Pedestrian Accidents

If you were struck by a vehicle while walking, jogging or riding your bike in Stroudsburg, our lawyers can help you fight to recover just compensation. Depending on the circumstances involved, you could have claims under the at-fault driver’s insurance policy, under your own (or a family member’s auto insurance policy), or against the at-fault driver’s employer. Our lawyers will rely on their experience handling these types of cases to seek maximum compensation on your behalf.

Slip and Fall Accidents

Slip and fall accidents are common causes of all types of traumatic injuries. If you slipped and fell while shopping, at work, at a restaurant, or on any other public or private property, you should speak with an experienced Stroudsburg personal injury lawyer about your legal rights. 

Serious Representation for Serious Accidents and Injuries Throughout Pennsylvania

After any type of accident, you owe it to yourself and your family to speak with an attorney about your legal rights. Most accident victims do not fully appreciate the long-term consequences that can follow a traumatic injury, and securing financial compensation can be critical to making a full recovery and coping effectively. We offer free, no-obligation consultations to accident victims in Stroudsburg and throughout the Poconos. A Stroudsburg personal injury lawyer at Drake, Hileman & Davis, PC will be happy to meet with you about your claim. We regularly handle cases involving:

While many accident victims come to us with concerns about their outstanding medical bills and how they are going to cover their daily expenses while they are out of work, in most cases the greatest extent of our client’s financial recoveries cover their pain, suffering, and future losses. A top Stroudsburg personal injury lawyer from our firm will work closely with you, your doctor, and our trusted financial experts to ensure we obtain the compensation you need now and in the coming years.

What Our Clients Say

While we are proud to have received recognition as Super Lawyers, Rising Stars, and members of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, we are most proud of the kind words we have received from our clients. Here is just a small sampling of what your neighbors have had to say about working with the attorneys at Drake, Hileman & Davis, PC:

  • “[T]hank you all for such excellent service throughout the handling of my case, each and every one involved went above and beyond my expectations of what constitutes good service.”
  • “Thank you for getting us the check so quickly. . .We appreciate all you have done for us. You have helped to make this unfortunate, life altering experience a little easier.”
  • “Your kindness will be long remembered.”

Read more in our client testimonials.

What Makes The Best Lawyer in Stroudsburg, PA

What makes an attorney a great legal representative and client-advocate in the city of Stroudsburg is largely the same as what makes an attorney a great legal representative and client-advocate anywhere else.  Commitment to principles, a range of legal advocacy experiences, and effective, time-tested execution separate the best litigators from those who are less successful.

If you have been injured as the result of another’s negligent, reckless, or intentional acts, then Pennsylvania law may entitle you to sue the defendant and recover damages as compensation for your various injuries.  Litigation can be challenging, however, and is not always as straightforward as it might first seem.

For example, imagine that you are litigating a medical negligence claim against a hospital near Stroudsburg — such as Lehigh Valley Hospital or Pocono Hospital — and after additional investigation, you find that there are product defects related to the tools/medicine that were used to treat you.  What began as a medical negligence claim against the hospital can therefore transform into a lawsuit that involves multiple defendants (including the product manufacturer) and multiple different claims.

The best lawyer in Stroudsburg is the one who is truly committed to the success of your lawsuit from beginning to end of the litigation process.  From the very first moment you connect with one of our experienced attorneys here at Drake, Hileman & Davis, PC, we provide personalized legal representation that takes into account your particular objectives — your claims will be fully assessed and a strategic roadmap will be developed.

Our Stroudsburg personal injury attorneys are detail-oriented and work closely with each client to ensure that their case is treated with the seriousness it deserves.  Through each and every phase of the litigation process — whether a consultation at the beginning of an attorney-client relationship or later, when settlement negotiations have begun in earnest — we are dedicated to providing client-oriented advocacy.  We not only make ourselves available 24/7 to answer any questions or concerns that our clients may have, but we strongly believe that our clients’ needs are better served when we regularly check in to ensure that our objectives are aligned.

Contacting a Stroudsburg Personal Injury Lawyer Early is Important

We encourage those who have been harmed to get in touch with an experienced Stroudsburg personal injury lawyer here at Drake, Hileman & Davis, PC as soon as possible.

Contacting a Stroudsburg personal injury attorney at an early stage is critical, as there are several different ways in which they can assist and develop the case — making it more likely that you will succeed throughout litigation.

Let’s take a brief look.

Evidence Preservation

Evidence may be lost or deteriorate over time. For example, an accident scene may be cleaned up a short while later, thus removing valuable evidence from the environment.  Similarly, testimonial evidence may lose its value if the witness “forgets” many of the details. Successful Stroudsburg personal injury attorneys engage in thorough factual investigations and seek to preserve all necessary evidence. This is critical as that evidence could spell the difference between a win and a loss in court.

Timeliness Concerns

Every personal injury claim has a statute of limitations deadline. If this deadline is passed before the claim is filed, the injured party will have virtually “abandoned” their right to sue and recover in court.  Attorneys are careful to ensure that all procedural requirements have been satisfied and that the statute of limitations deadline — and other deadlines — are not violated.  As such, you can rest easy that your right to sue is maintained.

Lopsided Negotiations

Insurers very often attempt to call claimants before they have had an opportunity to consult an attorney.  During these calls, the insurer will open up a discussion and try to secure a negotiated settlement well below what the claimant could ostensibly get had they consulted a Stroudsburg personal injury lawyer. These lopsided negotiations can be avoided by contacting a qualified personal injury lawyer early.

How to Maximize Your Recovery

Even if you have a clear case regarding the defendant’s liability, they may attempt to argue that the damages are significantly less than you’re claiming.  You can take several steps to ensure that your damage claims are well-supported and to avoid being strategically undermined.

Be Honest About Your Limitations

In the past, insurers used to hire investigators to “track” plaintiffs and determine whether they were truthful about the extent of their injuries.  They would see whether the plaintiff was claiming a debilitating back injury, for example, but was actually engaged in recreational sports on the weekends. This information would then be used to point out the illegitimacy of the underlying injury.

Today, insurers also track social media to “catch” the plaintiff, making it even more challenging to maintain a low profile. It’s important to avoid excessive physical activity altogether — even though a single event is not proof that you are not injured, it is best to be cautious.

Maintain Extensive Records

Injured plaintiffs who maintain extensive personal records of their injury are often able to make a stronger argument.  For example, suppose you’ve been involved in a car accident, and your injuries do not require emergency care. In that case, it’s worth taking photos of the car and the surrounding environment so that an accident reconstruction expert can piece together what happened (this will help to support your narrative vis-a-vis that of the defendant).

Similarly, you can take photos of your injuries to show how serious they are. It’s also worth keeping a daily journal so that you can keep track of the various ways in which the injuries are impacting your life.  These records may help to strengthen your damages claim.

Do Not Communicate with Third-Parties

It’s important not to communicate to third parties on your own without the guidance of a Stroudsburg personal injury lawyer.  Anything you disclose may be used to undermine your claims — and it can be difficult to identify when something you say is potentially problematic.  For example, suppose you speak to the defendant’s legal counsel and admit that you weren’t fully paying attention at the time of the accident. In that case, that could be used to undermine you and argue that you are contributorily at fault.

What to Know About Personal Injury Trials

All states have time limits, called “statutes of limitations,” by which you must file a lawsuit. In Pennsylvania, the limit for personal injury cases is two years from the date of your injury, with some exceptions. However, there are other reasons why filing a lawsuit as early as possible is important. A Stroudsburg personal injury lawyer at Drake, Hileman & Davis will review your deadlines at your initial consultation.

Will I Have to Testify in My Stroudsburg Trial?

You’ll likely need to have your deposition taken and/or testify at trial. There is no need to become overly concerned with this because your lawyer will help you prepare for any testimony you might be asked to give. In general, we always instruct our clients to stay calm, think before you answer, and tell the truth.

Also, remember to answer only exactly what was asked. When people get nervous, they often provide more information than necessary, and some of that information may be damaging to  your case. In fact, the attorney for the defendant will likely employ an old trick and simply wait after you’ve finished your answer, counting on the awkward silence to goad you into providing additional information.

How Long Do Personal Injury Trials Take in Stroudsburg?

Generally speaking, personal injury trials take anywhere from two or three days to a week or even more.  Various factors determine how long your trial will take, including:

  • Whether your trial is a jury trial or a bench trial. A bench trial is a trial in which the judge is the factfinder rather than a jury. Most personal injury trials are jury trials, and it takes additional time to select a jury.   
  • The number of witnesses called. The more witnesses that have to testify, the longer the trial will take.
  • The number and complexity of the issues involved. Some accidents are relatively simple, with only a few issues to determine. Other trials can involve several complex issues that take longer to resolve.
  • The number of parties involved. Most often, there are two parties involved in a personal injury case: the person injured and the person being blamed. However, sometimes there are many parties involved, for example, in multi-car pile-up accidents. The more parties involved, the longer the trial will take. 

When Do I Have to Start Paying Attorneys’ Fees?

At Drake, Hileman & Davis, your initial consultation is free, and we work on a contingency fee basis for personal injury cases. This means you don’t pay any attorneys’ fees unless and until you have a monetary recovery, either from a successfully negotiated settlement or from an arbitration or trial verdict.

Speak with a Stroudsburg Personal Injury Lawyer at Our Office–or Your Home!

If you would like to speak with an attorney about your or your loved one’s accident, please contact our offices in Stroudsburg, PA for a free, no-obligation consultation. To schedule an appointment at your convenience, call 570-421-8119 or send us a message online today.