Murrysville residents sustain injuries every day. Too frequently, the incidents that cause cuts, fractured bones, sprains and strains, or more life-threatening injuries are caused by the negligence of another person or a business.
If you were harmed because of someone else’s careless or reckless actions, the experienced personal injury attorneys at SMT Legal can provide the representation you need, fighting to win compensation and hold the other party accountable.
Injuries sent more than 4,500 Westmoreland County residents to the hospital in 2021. Throughout the state of Pennsylvania, accidents caused more than 135,000 injuries that year.
Car, truck, and motorcycle accidents are among the leading causes of injuries. While car accident injuries are seldom intentional, that doesn’t mean that no one is to blame. A negligent driver who unintentionally causes a collision can be held to pay for the victim’s losses.
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident caused by another party’s negligence, the skilled personal injury attorneys at SMT Legal are ready to provide legal counsel and represent you during your claim.
Not only do our attorneys have extensive knowledge of Pennsylvania’s personal injury laws, but we also have a track record for achieving favorable settlements for our clients in Murrysville and throughout Westmoreland County.
Personal injury cases can take different forms. At SMT Legal, our skilled attorneys can handle almost every type, including:
If you were the victim of an accident caused by a negligent party, SMT Legal’s personal injury attorneys will fight to recover the full amount of your losses.
Data collected by the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council shows, county-by-county, the number of people admitted to state hospitals for injuries and the causes of these injuries. In Westmoreland County, these are the top three contributors to personal injuries.
Falls account for at least 1 million emergency room visits each year in the United States, with 5% of these falls involving fractures. In 2021, more than 2,700 Westmoreland County residents sought medical attention at local hospitals after falling.
A trip (or slip) and fall can happen anytime and anywhere in Murrysville — on a broken sidewalk downtown, at the local golf club, or in one of the eateries along William Penn Highway.
Every year, more than 400 Westmoreland County residents go to the emergency room due to poisoning. Nationwide, poisoning is the leading cause of preventable injury, and drug poisoning represents the majority of these cases. Between 63,000 and 72,000 die each year in the United States as a result of drug poisoning.
In Westmoreland County, more than 250 people annually suffer injuries from motor vehicle-related crashes. These include car, truck, motorcycle, and pedestrian accidents. In Murrysville, SR 22 is a regular scene for traffic crashes that may cause devastating injuries.
The types of injuries sustained in personal injury cases may include:
With severe injuries, the victim may require ongoing medical treatment for years or for the rest of their lifetime. They might meet with specialists, take medications, and attend rehabilitative therapy sessions.
After a serious injury, the compassionate personal injury attorney team at SMT Legal is prepared to handle every aspect of your case so that you can concentrate on healing.
Through a personal injury claim, an injury victim may seek compensation to cover the following losses:
SMT Legal’s personal injury attorneys will assess the evidence surrounding the accident and your medical records to determine an amount that is fair and just.
Negligence, the most common grounds for a personal injury case, is based on a person or entity failing to take reasonable care to avoid causing harm to an individual.
Pennsylvania is a comparative negligence state. The law allows an injury victim to recover damages even if their own actions had a part in the incident that caused the injury.
However, their percentage of fault will decrease the amount they can receive in compensation. Additionally, any injury victim who is more than 50% responsible for an accident cannot win damages in a personal injury lawsuit.
At SMT Legal, our attorneys will carefully review the incident that caused your injuries. We’ll diligently examine the evidence and speak to witnesses to determine the other party’s degree of responsibility.
Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations provides that a person harmed by the negligence of another individual or entity must file their claim within two years of the accident date.
This time constraint applies to most personal injury cases, including car accidents, dog bites, medical malpractice, slip and fall injuries, product liability cases, and wrongful deaths.
There are exceptions, such as when the negligent party cannot be served because they have gone into hiding or when the victim did not know they were injured until later.
In most cases, Pennsylvania state law does not cap the amount of compensation that an injury victim can receive. One exception is for claims filed against state and local governmental entities. They’re limited to $250,000 and $500,000, respectively.
While nothing prevents you from handling your own personal injury claim, hiring an attorney who focuses on this area of tort law is advantageous. Your financial losses and the negligent party’s insurance policy may be the primary factors that affect your claim, but hiring a personal injury attorney may boost your chances of success in recovering all of your losses.
A recent survey found that 91% of personal injury claimants with attorneys were awarded payouts. Only 51% of claimants without attorneys received payouts. Those with attorneys also received significantly more — an average of $77,600, compared to an average of $17,600 for claimants who represented themselves.
If you entrust your case to SMT Legal, we’ll provide you with comprehensive legal services to advance your claim from start to finish. These services include:
Whether your personal injury case is simple or complex, SMT Legal’s attorneys will represent you with confidence and determination. We’ll build a solid case aimed at securing full compensation for the harm the accident caused.
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident, contact SMT Legal to arrange a free case evaluation. Our skilled attorneys serving Murrysville are prepared to take your case.
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