Pittsburgh Personal Injury Law: FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions & Answers
Below are some frequently asked questions about the common types of personal injury claims:
Auto accidents
What kind of settlement can I receive from an auto accident lawsuit?
According to Pennsylvania law, if you are the victim of an auto accident that was due to another’s recklessness or carelessness, you may be entitled to a settlement. If you were injured in the accident, the settlement can include compensation for the following:
- Medical bills
- Property loss
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
Truck accidents
Is there a statute of limitations for filing an injury claim due to a truck accident?
Statutes of limitation differ from state to state, but in Pennsylvania, you have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you do not file within this period, you are barred from pursuing your claim. In Pennsylvania, minors have until their 20th birthday to file a personal injury suit.
Medical malpractice
If I want to file a medical malpractice lawsuit, can I sue only my doctor? What if he or she wasn’t the only one who made a mistake and caused my injury?
Pennsylvania medical malpractice law allows any healthcare provider to be found liable in a personal injury claim when their conduct falls below a certain standard of competent medical practice. This means you have the right to pursue a claim against not only doctors but also the following:
- Nurses
- Lab technicians
- Hospitals
- Ambulance companies
- Pharmacies
- Any other staff members involved in rendering the negligent care that left you injured
Defective products
How much responsibility do companies have in making sure their products are safe to use?
The Pennsylvania law of strict product liability states that a manufacturer or supplier of a product must guarantee its safety. Either of these parties may be held liable for any defects in their products that resulted in harm to another person.
