Personal Injury Lawyer in Media, PA 

Helping Injury Victims In and Around Philadelphia Rebuild

A serious injury can change your life in an instant. When that injury occurs because someone else was negligent, you may be entitled to compensation. A personal injury settlement or award of damages at trial can provide the support and security you and your family need after an injury-related setback. However, you may not have the knowledge or experience necessary to successfully navigate a complex personal injury claim. 

A highly skilled personal injury lawyer in Media, PA from Bonner Law may be able to help you through these difficult times. When you retain us to handle your personal injury claim, we will put our experience to work for you while you rest, recover, and rebuild. When you are ready to fight for the future you deserve but are unsure of where to begin, do not hesitate to contact our legal team to request a free consultation. When you do, you can learn more about who could be sued for your damages, what your claim is worth, and how to get the most out of your claim.

About Pennsylvania Personal Injury Claims

In Pennsylvania, you may generally pursue compensation from a person or entity (such as a business) if:

• The person or entity failed to fulfill a legal obligation or standard of care
• That failure caused the injury
• You sustained actual damages as a result

This may sound technical and complicated in the abstract, so here’s an example:

The owner or operator of a retail business has a legal obligation to maintain the premises in reasonably safe conditions for customers. If grocery store employees mop the floor and leave it wet and slick, with no warning signs, while customers are coming and going from the store, the store has likely failed in its duty to provide a safe environment. 

If a customer slips on the floor, that is an injury sustained as the result of the store’s failure to maintain the premises in safe condition. The injured shopper’s medical bills and lost wages are examples of actual damages.

Common Types of Personal Injury Cases We Take On in Media, PA 

Bonner Law has extensive experience handling virtually every type of personal injury case. However, there are some types of injuries and accidents we see more often than others. If you have been injured in any of the following types of accidents, do not hesitate to contact our law office to discuss your opportunities for legal recourse.

Car Accidents

Most car accidents are caused by negligent driving according to a 2024 study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). When motorists drive drunk, drowsy, distracted, or recklessly, they can cause life-threatening or even fatal injuries. If you lose a loved one in a car accident, you may also require the support of a Media, PA wrongful death attorney. 

In addition to filing a claim against the driver who hit you, depending on how the collision occurred, you may also have the right to sue auto parts designers and manufacturers, dram shops who violate 47 P.S. § 4-493(1) and 47 P.S. § 4-497 according to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, the city of Media, or the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

Slips and Falls

Slip and fall accidents are just one type of premises liability cases we handle. If your injuries were caused by wet floors, negligent security, broken stairs or ladders, or a failure to maintain the premises, you may have grounds for legal action against the property owner.

Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Delaware County, PA 

Healthcare provider negligence and medical errors should be taken seriously. Examples of medical malpractice our clients have experienced include:

• Misdiagnosis
• Failure to treat
• Surgical mistakes
• Pharmaceutical errors
• Medical device malfunctions
• Failure to provide follow-up care
• Anesthesia mistakes
• Nursing negligence

Comparative Negligence In Pennsylvania

You may be entitled to damages even if you were partially responsible for your own injury. For instance, in the example above, the injured shopper might still be entitled to compensation if they had been running in the aisle or had been looking down at their phone when they slipped on the slick surface. 

Under Pennsylvania modified comparative negligence laws per 42 Pa. § 7102, an injured person can recover damages even if he or she contributed to the incident that caused the injury. Under the comparative fault system, the party seeking damages must not bear greater responsibility than the defendant or defendants. And, the damage award will be reduced in proportion to the injury victim’s responsibility.

For example, if the injured party’s damages are $100,000, but they are found to have been 30% responsible for their own injury, they will be entitled to recover $70,000 ($100,000 minus 30%). If, however, they are found to have been 51% responsible, then they will not be entitled to recover damages at all.

Where contributory negligence is at issue, it is particularly important to work with an experienced personal injury attorney. Determining the percentage of fault is a complex and somewhat subjective process that must be managed carefully to preserve the injury victim’s right to recover damages.

The Pennsylvania Personal Injury Timeline

The statute of limitations for most personal injury, wrongful death, and similar cases in Pennsylvania is two years per 42 Pa.CS § 5524. That means that the injured party or surviving family has two years from the date of the incident to file a lawsuit. Missing this filing deadline is typically fatal to the claim, meaning that the victim can no longer pursue compensation from the responsible party.

While it is critical to know and comply with the statute of limitations in an injury case, the two-year cut-off isn’t the only timing issue. For example:

• Certain types of claims, such as claims against certain governmental entities, may have much shorter notice periods
• Critical evidence may be lost or destroyed over time
• Witnesses may become more difficult to locate with the passage of time
• Witness memories may be less clear and be considered less reliable months or years after the event

In addition, settling or litigating a personal injury claim may take months or even years. The sooner you retain an experienced local personal injury attorney, the sooner your attorney can begin collecting evidence and moving the case forward.

There are also a great many case-related deadlines after your personal injury lawsuit is filed. You may have to contend with deadlines for discovery requests, exhibit lists, witness lists, pre-trial motions, and more. Once you retain us to handle your personal injury case, we can take charge of managing those deadlines and filings so you do not have to worry about technical procedural rules jeopardizing your claim.

Damages In Personal Injury Cases

The compensation available in a personal injury case depends on a wide variety of factors, including:

• The degree of fault attributable to each party
• The nature and extent of the injury
• Whether physical impairment is temporary or permanent
• The age of the injured party
• The earning capacity of the injured party prior to and after the injury
• The likelihood that future or ongoing medical care will be required

Because there are so many variables, including human variables such as the judge assigned to the case and the jury selected, no attorney can tell you exactly what you can expect in terms of compensation, nor guarantee you a particular outcome. However, an experienced personal injury attorney can account for the known factors and offer an educated opinion as to the likely range of possible compensation.

Potentially Recoverable Economic and Non-Economic Damages 

• Reimbursement for medical costs incurred
• Projected future medical expenses
• Costs of other necessary assistance, such as physical therapy or counseling
• Lost wages
• Projected future lost earnings
• Pain and suffering

Media, PA Personal Injury FAQ

What injuries are most common in personal injury claims?

One of the most common concerns injury victims have is whether their injuries will be taken seriously. You may be worried that the court system will accuse you of filing a lawsuit frivolously or exaggerating the extent of your injuries. However, these types of allegations are rare. 

Anyone who works around personal injury claims knows how seriously victims’ lives can be affected, no matter what type of injury they have been diagnosed with. For example, you may worry that your broken bone injury will not be taken seriously. However, if your broken bones prevent you from working, doing things you love, or taking care of yourself, this could be considered a catastrophic injury. Some of the most common types of injuries our clients have had to cope with include:

• Dental trauma
• Compound fractures
• Spinal cord injuries
• Neck injuries
• Facial injuries
• Broken bones
• Traumatic brain damage
• Paralysis
• Lacerations and contusions
• Organ failure
• Soft tissue injuries
• Amputation
• Back injuries
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Can I sue for punitive damages?

Punitive damages are not something you can specifically sue for. It is not even something you are entitled to as part of your personal injury claim. That does not mean punitive damages will not be awarded, however. Under Title 42 Chapter 83, punitive damages can apply if the individual or entity who caused your accident did so with malice, gross negligence, or intent. 

The Media, PA civil court system must determine that it is necessary to punish the at-fault party for their conduct for punitive damages to be awarded. Your personal injury lawyer with Bonner Law may be able to request punitive damages from the court, which could significantly increase the amount of compensation you recover.

Should I accept the insurer’s settlement offer?

Your personal injury lawyer in Media, PA will need to evaluate your settlement offer from the insurance company to determine whether it is a good idea for you to accept. The truth is that most initial settlement offers will not be for the full value of your claim. In fact, the insurance company is likely to offer substantially less than you deserve to protect their profits. If you receive a fast offer from the insurance company, try to avoid the temptation to accept quick cash. 

When you accept a settlement offer from the insurance company, you release them from future financial obligations. If your costs end up being substantially more than you settled for, you will be stuck covering those expenses. Save yourself the stress and have your legal advocate handle the insurance negotiations process on your behalf.

How do contingency agreements work?

Contingency agreements are a payment structure that personal injury law firms often use when working with injury victims. While other types of attorneys, including family lawyers, criminal defense attorneys, and even estate planning lawyers, may require a retainer fee, charge flat rates, or require their clients to pay on an hourly basis, personal injury lawyers are different. 

We understand the trauma you have been through and would never make you jeopardize your personal finances to get legal help. You are already dealing with so much, which is why we never require payment for our services upfront. Our contingency fees are in line with the Pennsylvania Rule of Professional Conduct 1.5, Fees, so you pay $0 in legal fees unless or until we win. When we win, a percentage of your settlement will cover your fees. In this way, payment for our efforts is contingent on our success.

How does no-fault insurance work?

One of the most common types of personal injury claims is those involving car accidents. Pennsylvania is one of just a few states across the US that follows no-fault insurance laws. Under 75 Pa. Chapter 17, after being involved in an accident, your personal auto insurance provider should cover your damages. Instead of filing a claim with the liable party’s insurance provider as you would in a fault insurance state, you will file a claim against your own auto insurance policy. 

The amount of coverage you have will determine how much you can recover through a settlement. Then, the damages your insurance company does not compensate you for can be demanded through your personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party. Your insurance company may pursue subrogation against the driver who hit you to recover the settlement they paid out in your case.

Schedule a Free Consultation With a Personal Injury Attorney

In the aftermath of a serious injury, the combined stress of pain, medical limitations, loss of income, growing medical bills, and concerns about the long-term impact of the injury can be overwhelming. Under pressure, it is easy to make mistakes that can hurt your chances of receiving fair compensation. The sooner you put your case in the hands of a qualified Media, PA personal injury attorney, the better opportunity we will have to build a strong case on your behalf.

Bonner Law proudly offers 100% free consultations to injury victims and accident survivors across Media, Pennsylvania, and throughout Delaware County. Take advantage of this opportunity to fight for the compensation you deserve. Fill out our secure contact form or call our office to get started with a complimentary case review as soon as today.