Luzerne County Personal Injury Lawyers

Being injured because of another party’s negligence might leave you with expensive medical bills and other financial losses. Should this happen to you, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the party responsible for your damages in Luzerne County.

Claims for personal injury are all born from an accident. Accidents that can entitle victims to file such lawsuits include motor vehicle crashes, slip and falls, and construction accidents, as well as many others. After you are injured, contact our lawyers so that we can start gathering evidence. Once we feel confident in your case, we will file your personal injury lawsuit. This must be done within two years of your accident in Luzerne County. Settlement discussions might follow in some cases. Generally, going to trial is preferable over settling, as it may allow victims to recover greater damages, such as compensation for pain and suffering. After your trial concludes, you will receive the damages awarded to you, whether through a lump sum payment or structured payments.

To discuss your case for free with The Reiff Law Firm, call our Luzerne County personal injury lawyers now at (215) 709-6940.

The Stages of a Personal Injury Claim in Luzerne County

Most personal injury cases follow the same general outline. First, the accident occurs. Then, evidence will be gathered and a claim will be filed. While negotiations typically follow, they may not be successful depending on the case. Then, a trial may take place. Finally, victims can recover compensatory damages in Luzerne County.

Accident Occurs

All claims for personal injury begin with an accident taking place. Because personal injury encompasses a variety of accidents, do not assume that you cannot file a claim because of the specifics of your incident. Personal injury lawsuits can be brought for slip and falls, car accidents, bike accidents, pedestrian accidents, construction accidents, premises liability accidents, defective product accidents, and many more incidents. Our personal injury lawyers can assess the specifics of your accident and confirm whether or not another party’s negligence was to blame for your injuries in Luzerne County.

Evidence is Gathered

Then, we will begin gathering evidence of fault. Because the specifics of injury claims can vary, different evidence might be available from case to case. That said, medical evidence should always be available, as victims should go to the hospital and get medical attention for their injuries, regardless of how minor they might appear to be. In addition to gathering your medical records, our lawyers will also look for surveillance footage, eyewitness statements, photographs, and physical evidence from the accident scene. In Luzerne County and throughout Pennsylvania, conclusions or opinions made in police reports are admissible evidence in court. Because of this, it is important that victims alert the police following an accident such as a car accident. If you did not call the law enforcement, inform the negligent party responsible for your injuries. Such correspondence can be used as evidence in your personal injury claim.

Claim is Filed

The next step is to file your lawsuit. In your initial complaint, you will name the defendant and explain the circumstances of your accident. You will also cite the compensation you are seeking. Personal injury lawsuits must be filed by a specific deadline. In Luzerne County, the statute of limitations for such claims is two years from the date an accident occurred. In some instances, the state of limitations can be tolled for delayed discovery. However, if your injuries were apparent following an accident, the clock will not be paused and you will only have two years to sue. If you do not bring your personal injury claim by the proper deadline, you will be barred from recovery in Luzerne County.

Negotiations

After a claim is filed, a defendant might want to engage in negotiations. While our attorneys do not advise victims to settle in most circumstances, speaking with a negligent party and hearing their settlement offers might be beneficial. Generally, settlements do not properly compensate victims for their financial and non-financial losses. It could be that you can claim greater damages if you go to court. That said, all cases are different and some victims might require compensation more immediately. In such instances, entertaining negotiations might be helpful. Sometimes, a judge will require alternative dispute resolutions to be explored before a trial occurs. However, if negotiations are not progressing and you are not being given fair offers, we will proceed with a trial.

Trial

Trials vary in length in Luzerne County. Both sides will present their evidence to be heard by a judge or jury. Although trials can be understandably daunting to victims, they can often lead to the recovery of greater damages. For example, trials present the opportunity for the recovery of non-economic damages and, in some cases, punitive damages. If your case goes to trial, you must prove that it is more likely than not that the defendant caused your injuries in Luzerne County.

Recovery of Damages

Finally, once a trial is complete, victims can recover the compensatory damages awarded to them in a personal injury case. You will either receive your compensation via a lump sum or structured settlement. A lump sum settlement will result in one payment of all the damages you are entitled to. Whether or not you receive a lump sum payment will depend on the defendant’s financial ability. Structured settlements are more common in Luzerne County. With structured settlements, victims will receive portions of their awarded compensation over time. This typically involves monthly payments from defendants. While lump sum payments can seem ideal initially, structured settlements might allow victims to more easily manage the compensatory damages they receive and ensure those funds go toward losses caused by an accident.

Call Our Luzerne County Attorneys About Your Personal Injury Case

Our personal injury lawyers can assess your case for free when you call The Reiff Law Firm at (215) 709-6940.

"This was the best call I made. Exceptionally helpful in every way. Thank you 🙏"

- Sophia N.
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"I can’t say enough great things about the Attorneys at the Reiff Law Firm. They made me feel at ease when I was going through a very difficult time in my life. Never being in a situation like this I was so unsure of where to start and how to go about the process. Justin gave me options where I thought I had none and explained everything in a way that I could understand. Justin and the team helped me arrange all of the treatment and therapy that I needed, without them I would have been lost. My attorney John went to bat for me like no one else could have, his knowledge and professionalism is unmatched. If anyone is ever in need of a team of attorneys the Reiff Law Firm is my ONLY recommendation."

- Iea S.
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"I greatly appreciate the care and compassion the Reiff Law Firm has given to my family at a very difficult time. They left no stone unturned in their investigation and what started as a small settlement ended $100, 000 more than expected. They did not give up and treated us like family."

- John L.
Google Review

"Good afternoon Mr. Robert, I appreciate your professional support and how it’s been helpful, thank you and your entire law firm for all of your hard work throughout my case. Throughout the time we worked together, everyone at your law firm was kind, patient, and supportive. I’m confident your hard work and determination will make my case a breeze. I will never forget how much your services meant to me. Thanks once again for your incredible determination and tenacity during my case."

- A.E.

"Before meeting with Jeffrey Reiff and Bob Szostak from the Reiff law firm I’ve consulted with a few other injury attorneys in the Philadelphia region. Difference was, these guys know their stuff! I was absolutely blown away by how compassionate and welcome this law firm makes you feel. Once signed with them I never went a single week without staying in the loop with the progress and updates these guys have on your case. Working with them...turned what was an injury case, into a family!...I’ve never felt like a beat was skipped. I’d recommended the Reiff law firm 100%! I’m very comfortable to say there’s no better in the city. The awards they’ve earned over the years speaks for itself! I can never thank the Reiff law firm and Bob Szostak enough for everything they’ve done, their professionalism, compassion and all of their knowledge and experience! Highly rated! Best in the city!...Thanks again Reiff family!"

- Ryan M.
Google

"...I want to say that the Reiff Law Firm changed my entire life with handling of my legal case. I was in a very serious automobile accident with severe injuries to neck and back areas. I contacted the law firm and asked what to do with the medical bills and how do I get the correct representation against the individual who rear-ended my car. In short, the firm took complete control of the case contacting my insurance company and asking for all the medical bills and legal matters be sent directly to them. I was able to get treatment from my doctor without worrying about the legal stuff. Furthermore, two years later the case was settled for a substantial amount of money. My life was much better due to the firm handling of my case. My attorneys at Reiff Law Firm are absolutely the best and I have recommended to my family friends. Thanks Reiff Law Firm."

- Dean P.
Google

I highly recommend the team at the Reiff Law Firm. Both Jeff and Robert were there to guide me through a very difficult time. What started out as a time for me that included a lot of doubt, questions and hopelessness has turned into one of a hopeful future. The team at the Reiff Law Firm made me feel at ease and I had no doubts trusting them with various concerns. They kept me informed every step of the way without making me feel overwhelmed or anxious. Don't hesitate to contact them for your legal needs - especially if you want a team that has the utmost concern and compassion for their clients.

- K. Williams
Google

"I was referred to the Reiff Law Firm by a friend who had previously been a client of the firm. My friend told me that the Reiff Firm had done an incredible job handling his case and treated him like family. My friend's recommendation was spot on. I am going to miss them now that my case is over. Attorney Reiff and Attorney T. are excellent attorneys. They really care. They got me an INCREDIBLE RESULT. Most importantly they were there for me during some extremely dark and difficult times in my life. I highly recommend the Reiff Law Firm to anyone seeking the very best legal representation for injuries they suffered in an accident."

- Robert F.
Google

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