Personal Injury

A personal injury claim arises when a person has been injured as a result of another’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct. Negligence is the failure to exercise the care a reasonable person would use under the same or similar circumstances. Reckless disregard for the safety of others is the standard which may permit punitive damages in a personal injury case. Intentional tort cases include those based on assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and defamation of character. The vast majority of personal injury cases are based on negligence.

There are a variety of personal injury claims including:

• Auto Accidents
• Premises Liability (commonly known as “slip and falls”)
• Motorcycle Accidents
• Pedestrian Knock Downs
• Septa Accidents
• Truck Accidents

DAMAGES IN PERSONAL INJURY CASES

Personal injury claims allow the injured party to seek compensation for their injuries. Depending upon the injuries, this may include compensation for pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, medical expenses, and lost wages. If death results, the heirs of the decedent may seek compensation for pain and suffering the decedent may have experienced before death. The heirs may recover other damages including grief and sorrow, loss of companionship, and financial support. In exceptional cases, where the defendant acted in reckless disregard for the safety of another, punitive damages may be permitted to punish the defendant and to deter future similar misconduct.

Our attorneys have worked for and represented insurance companies. This gives us a unique understanding of the strategies and tactics the insurance companies employ when they are defending against your claim. We will aggressively represent you and your interests against the insurance company. All personal injury cases are handled on a contingent fee basis meaning there are no attorney fees unless we win or settle your case.

Debt Defense

Credit card companies routinely charge anywhere from 10% to 30% interest on their cards. So it is no surprise that many credit card holders find themselves overwhelmed with credit card debt. The credit card companies are very aggressive in their pursuit against delinquent card holders and will not hesitate to institute lawsuits against a card holder to recover their money. If they are successful in court, the credit card companies can then try to seize your assets or garnish your bank accounts. In Pennsylvania, hundreds of these lawsuits are filed every day.

The best advice to a credit card holder is: always pay off the balance every month. But we understand that circumstances can arise which make it difficult or impossible to keep ahead of the payments.

We have successfully defended hundreds of cases against credit card companies, providing our clients with financial relief and peace of mind.

Property Damage

Property damage claims generally arise when your home or office building sustains damage due to wind, water and/or fire. Your home or office building is likely the most significant purchase you will make during your lifetime. Most of us buy insurance to protect our homes and businesses. Unfortunately, these insurance polices are lengthy, complex contracts full of exceptions, exclusions and ambiguous language that make the policy difficult to read and understand. Often, insurance companies attempt to use this complex language to deny a claim that may be covered under your policy.

If your insurance carrier has denied your claim, you owe it to yourself to have the claim reviewed by an attorney familiar with property damage claims to ensure that you haven’t been denied coverage that should have been provided. Our attorneys have successfully handled property damage claims ranging from underpayment of the claim to outright denials and will competently and aggressively represent you in your homeowner property damage insurance claim or commercial business insurance claim.

All consultations regarding property damage claims are free and the cases are handled on a contingent fee basis meaning that there are no attorney fees unless we win or settle your case.

Wills and Estates

Despite recognizing the importance of having a Will, the majority of adults don’t have one. The reasons for this range from simple procrastination to discomfort at the thought of one’s own death. For many, thinking about their own death makes the concept real. As long as they can avoid thinking about it, they can ignore the inevitable.

While people often think that only the elderly need to have a will, it is advisable for adults of all ages to have one. It is especially important for parents of minor children, even if they don’t have significant assets. Without a will, the government decides who will become your children’s guardian. In order to have a say in who will care for your children, should you die before they reach adulthood, you must draft a Last Will and Testament to state your wishes.

Even adults without families can benefit from having a Last Will and Testament. You have worked hard to earn what you have – your home, your car, your bank account – shouldn’t you have a say in how it will be distributed in the event of your death? Without a will, your wishes will be irrelevant, and the state will decide how to distribute your estate. In order to make sure that your estate is handled according to your wishes, and that your money is given to a friend, charity, or other organization of your choice, you must draft a will.

Small Business

When you are starting or growing your own business, you invest a great deal of time and money towards the business and providing for your customers. It is important to seek legal advice and assistance when entering into business contracts to protect your investment of time and money. Let us help you draft important contracts for your company, or help you better understand what you are being asked to sign, suggest revisions and negotiate your contracts for your best deal:

• Contracts: Employment or independent contractor agreements, commercial leases, non-competes, customer or supplier agreements.
• Incorporation/Formation: If you are starting a business, we can help you decide what type of entity makes sense (corporation, LLC partnership, etc.) and assist in getting the entity legally formed.
• Business Acquisition: If you are buying a business, we can walk you through the process and assist you with documenting the transaction to ensure you are getting what you paid for and to help avoid surprises.