Coatesville Personal Injury Attorney

When you sustain an injury, pain can take on many forms. As your medical bills pile up, you can experience financial pressure. You can also be physically limited and unable to perform routine tasks that were once effortless. An injury can have mental ramifications, too, inducing a sense of depression or isolation, and a lack of motivation.

Your frustration levels rise, and it seems like you’re backed into a corner with no control over your life. Through no fault of your own, you now have to take on the mental and physical burden directly caused by another person’s negligence.

The next step you take could impact the rest of your life. On one hand, you can accept your situation and take whatever the insurance company offers, or you can call a Coatesville personal injury lawyer to help ensure you get the compensation you deserve and reclaim your life back.

Have You Been Injured Due to Another Person’s Negligence?

In many personal injury cases, the plaintiff or injured party relies on the concept of negligence to establish that another party was at-fault for the accident that triggered the lawsuit. But what is negligence and what are the key elements you have to consider? How can a personal injury attorney in Coatesville help you get compensation for your injuries?

Defining Negligence

With a personal injury lawsuit or claim, the first thing your personal injury law firm has to do is prove the other party had a breached duty of care that gave way to your injury. The plaintiff or injured party will need to show how the defendant failed to carry out this duty. Once your accident lawyer proves this breach, the last step is to prove that the plaintiff suffered extensive injuries as a result.

In order to win your case, you have to prove that the defendant had a duty of care and that the actions they did or didn’t take failed to meet the level of reasonable care for your unique situation. However, what is “reasonable” will depend on the facts of your case.

Say you’re in a car accident and you sued the defendant in a personal injury lawsuit. The legal duty of a motorist is to operate the vehicle with reasonable care at any given time, which includes factoring the weather, traffic conditions, and visibility into consideration. State legislatures have rules and laws that govern how a motorist should operate when they drive a vehicle, as well as prohibiting certain behaviors such as speeding. If the defendant violates these laws, the court rules that they breached their duty of care to other motorists or pedestrians if this conduct causes an accident with injuries.

Once your accident attorney in Coatesville establishes the defendant’s duty of care, they’ll have to establish how the defendant breached this duty. What did they do or fail to do that caused or contributed to the accident? Your lawyer can establish fault in the car accident case by:

Showing that the defendant violated local traffic laws
Using the testimony of accident eyewitnesses
Looking at the evidence from the scene of the accident, including any vehicle damage
By using the plaintiff’s testimony

In your case, perhaps the defendant made a sudden left turn in front of your vehicle but you were driving a few miles over the posted speed limit. The jury or insurance adjuster may decide that it was your own negligence that contributed to the accident. If this is the case, the total damages or compensation the court awards you would be reduced by an amount equal to the percentage the jury found you at fault for.

The final step in establishing negligence is for your Coatesville personal injury lawyer to show how the defendant’s actions caused your injuries.

What Types of Injury Cases Does Wilk Law Handle?

Wilk Law is an experienced personal injury law firm that is ready to take on a host of different cases and fight for you to ensure you get the compensation you deserve. We can handle:

Car Accidents

Since no two car accidents are alike, our team will work directly with you to tailor a solution to fit your needs and situation. We’ll conduct a thorough investigation of the accident and identify all involved parties, as well as hire experts from the medical and financial fields to help prove your claim. We can calculate your losses, prepare your case for court, and negotiate a settlement with your insurance company.

18 Wheeler and Semi-Truck Accidents

US 30 runs east to west through Coatesville and brings a large range of semi-trucks and 18-wheelers that are transporting goods to and from businesses. However, this also increases the chances of collisions or accidents with one of these large vehicles, leaving catastrophic injuries in its wake. We can help determine liability, negotiate with the insurance companies, interview witnesses, assess your medical and financial losses, and settle your claim.

Motorcycle Accidents

PA 82 serves as the main north-south road in the city that’s perfect for getting out and riding your motorcycle. However, it’s also very busy and can increase your chances of an accident. Should you get in one of these accidents, our team can explain your options, answer your questions, conduct an accident investigation, demand fair compensation for your injuries, and more.

Bicycle Accidents

There are miles of stunning bicycle paths and trails that run in and around Coatesville, but accidents can happen. If you’re involved in a bicycle accident, our personal injury law firm can investigate the accident, collect evidence, identify all liable parties, consult with experts, and take your case to court if necessary.

Pedestrian Accidents

It’s common for pedestrian accidents to cause severe injuries, and our team will stand as your advocate throughout your claim. We’ll gather all of the necessary evidence, calculate your projected losses, negotiate with any insurance carriers on your behalf, and prepare the claim for trial if we don’t settle.

Mass Transit Accidents

The city is home to the busy Chester County G. O. Carlson Airport, the Coatesville Amtrak Station, and dual thriving bus services. Although they make it easy to move from point A to point B, they also increase the risk of a mass transit accident. Whether you sustained injuries or had a family member killed in this type of accident, our firm has the experience necessary to represent you.

Nursing Home Abuse

Disabled or elderly individuals shouldn’t have to worry about suffering abuse in a nursing home setting. Our staff has a very thorough understanding of the elder abuse laws throughout Pennsylvania, and we’re ready to represent your loved one by gathering evidence, representing your case in court, and helping ensure you get the compensation you deserve for your pain and suffering.

Premises Liability

We have resourceful and aggressive Coatesville personal injury attorneys on staff who will investigate your accident and speak with any witnesses to help build your case. We’ll also determine liable parties, find compensation sources, prepare your documentation and medical records, hire experts to support your claims, and calculate your total losses.

Product Liability

If you had injuries caused by a dangerous or unsafe product, you may have the foundation for a product liability claim. Whether your injuries were a result of manufacturing flaws, poor design, or a failure to address the issues on the manufacturer’s end, our staff will help build your case and negotiate on your behalf for compensation.

Civil Rights Injuries

Civil rights lawsuits or claims are much more complicated and nuanced than other claims. The law gives very broad immunity to governments and agents working on their behalf, including the acts they do to perform their duties. You’ll need a personal injury law firm on your side that understands these cases and knows how to recover adequate compensation.

Wrongful Death

Our caring and compassionate staff can help you pursue a wrongful death claim for a loved one. We’ll gather all of the evidence surrounding your loved one’s accident, hire investigators and experts, speak with any witnesses, and file a wrongful death lawsuit on your behalf. Our staff also handles all of the correspondence, demands and negotiates a fair settlement, and represents you in court if you can’t reach a settlement agreement.

Some of the Damages We Can Help You Recover

Many people ask the question “what are some of the types of damages you can recover in personal injury lawsuits“. It’s common to suffer from financial, physical, and emotional losses after an accident. Along with immediate treatment expenses, you may require additional surgeries, long-term care, and vehicle or home accommodations. When you have a personal injury claim, you can recover a range of damages including:

Future and Past Medical Expenses – It’s possible to recover damages from emergency room visits, surgeries, hospitalizations, diagnostic care, prescriptions, mobility devices, accommodations, and more as long as your accident caused them.
Property Damages – A lot of accidents cause damage to your property, including motorcycles, bicycles, cars, trucks, and personal possessions. You may be able to get compensation to repair or replace these items in your lawsuit.
Lost Wages and Earning Capacity – Injuries can prevent you from working for a long time and may diminish your capacity to perform the same tasks. You may be entitled to recover your full lost wage amount and the loss of future earnings due to your injuries.
Pain and Suffering – Examples of this category include chronic pain, mental anguish, permanent disability, and developing mental illnesses like anxiety or depression. It can be difficult to calculate a total for pain and suffering, but our legal experts can help figure out an acceptable sum.
Disfigurement – Disfiguring injuries cause severe damage to your body that is visible. It can encompass burn marks, limb loss, or scarring, and it’s very hard to put a price for compensation on it without the help of an experienced legal representative.

Pennsylvania Laws and the Personal Injury Statute of Limitations

A statute of limitation is a law that dictates how long you have to file a claim for your case. The time limit can fluctuate depending on the type of lawsuit you want to file. In Pennsylvania, a two-year statute of limitations restricts how long you have to file any civil action where you pursue personal injury compensation, or if someone dies as a result of another party’s negligence or wrongful acts. This two-year statute encompasses medical malpractice, auto accidents, wrongful death, product liability, and other personal injury cases.

The clock starts from the date of the incident. However, if you want to file a lawsuit against a county, city, or state government agency, you must file a notice of intent to sue within six months. Enlisting the help of an experienced legal representative is one way to ensure that you stay inside the Pennsylvania statute of limitations for your case and get the compensation you deserve for your injuries.

Coatesville, Pennsylvania

Coatesville, PA, is a city located in Chester County. Roughly 39 miles west of Philadelphia, just over 13,000 people call it home. It was originally developed alongside the Brandywine river and was the location of Lukens Steel in the early 20th century. The 21st century saw Coatesville shifting toward redevelopment with an emphasis on private projects.

It’s a great small city for families to live in, and it has a thriving infrastructure with a dedicated transportation line that makes it quick and easy to get around the bustling downtown area. There are also miles of parks to explore such as Gateway Park and ChesLen Preserve, and conveniently-located shops with a huge range of items and places to eat. Some recommended places to visit include Stargazers Vineyard, The National Iron and Steel Heritage Museum, and the Doe Run Historic District.

Pennsylvania Personal Injury Law Firm

Our dedicated team of experienced and compassionate lawyers are ready to help build your case and represent you to get adequate compensation for your injuries. We have a history of working with a range of clients in different personal injury cases, and we are happy to set up a free consultation to explore your options.

Some of the locations our legal team serves includes West Chester, Downingtown, Philadelphia, Phoenixville, Pottstown, Kennett Square, Berwyn, Devon, Exton, Frazer, and more.