Category: Personal Injury

Some of the most common personal injury claims involve slip and fall accidents. A property owner has a duty to maintain safe conditions on the premises. Unfortunately, property owners can become complacent and hazardous conditions can go unaddressed for far too long. Slip and fall injuries can have serious and lasting health consequences for the victim. In turn, a victim may experience financial hardships due to rapidly piling up medical bills and the inability to go to work because of the injuries. If you have been injured due to negligent property conditions, you may seek compensation for your injuries.

What Are the Most Common Slip and Fall Causes and Injuries?

The most common injuries sustained in slip and falls span a wide range. The nature of the injury will largely depend on the cause of the fall and how the person actually made contact with the ground or surrounding area. For instance, broken bones are often sustained in a slip and fall. The impact of a fall can have such a stressful impact on the bone that the bone is unable to withstand it. Wrist fractures in slip and falls are especially common because it is a natural reflex for a person to try and brace themselves with their hand when they are falling. Sprains and strains in the wrist area are common in these types of cases for the same reason. Hip fractures are also common in slip and falls as landing directly on the hip joint is a usual point of initial contact the person’s body has with the ground.

If you twist and land a certain way when you fall, you may also end up with a serious knee injury. Ligament tears or dislocation of the patella can have devastating consequences that require immediate knee reconstruction. The need for surgery and extensive follow up physical therapy are common in knee injury cases. Additionally, if you fall and hit your shoulder or reach out to brace yourself as you fall, you may dislocate your shoulder or strain your muscles. A shoulder dislocation is likely to require immediate surgery as well as a lengthy follow-up treatment plan to ensure that your injury is properly addressed and given the best chances for healing.

Some of the scariest and most common slip and fall injuries involve head injuries such as traumatic brain injury. Your head does not need to hit the ground for a traumatic brain injury to occur, although that is commonly the case. The jolt to the brain can cause serious damage. These kinds of injuries can be especially tricky as you may not even know that you have this kind of injury or the full extent of the injury. Be clear with your doctor with all of the symptoms you are experiencing to make sure any traumatic brain injury is properly evaluated and treated accordingly.

How you fall and how you land can largely depend on the cause of the slip and fall. Some of the most common causes for slip and falls include:

• Wet or freshly waxed floors
• Damaged or loose flooring
• Potholes
• Unsalted ice
• Debris in walkways
• Poor lighting
• Cords running across walkways
• Lack of handrails

Pennsylvania Slip and Fall Attorneys

If you have been injured by a dangerous property condition, you may be able to bring a personal injury claim seeking compensation for your losses. At Cooper Schall & Levy, our personal injury attorneys fight for slip and fall victims. Contact us today.

Dog bites can range from minor injuries that heal within a few weeks to traumatic injuries that result in permanent scarring, nerve damage, and other impairments or disabilities. The mental and emotional injuries from dog bites can last a lifetime. If a dog caused you injury, you can seek compensation for your injuries and damages under Pennsylvania’s dog bite laws. A Pennsylvania personal injury attorney can help you gather evidence to prove liability and document your damages.

1. Pennsylvania Has A Leash Law

Dog owners are required by law to maintain control over their dogs at all times. Maintaining control or restraining a dog may be accomplished in several ways including:

• Confining the dog to the owner’s premises;
• Securing the dog with a chain and collar or other device so it cannot wander off the premises; or,
• Under the reasonable control of a person.

Many dog owners build fences, keep their dogs indoors, and use leashes whenever their dogs are not indoors or tethered in place on the premises. Owners who violate leash laws may be held liable for damages if the dog bites another person or attacks another animal.

2. Pennsylvania Has A Dangerous Dog Statute

A dog that is considered “dangerous” under the elements outlined in the statute must be registered, contained, and insured. Owners of dangerous dogs must also post clear, visible warning signs on the property where the dog is kept or housed. Failing to abide by the requirements of the dangerous dog statute can result in fines and penalties, in addition to liability for personal injuries.

A dog may be dangerous who:

• Caused serious injury to a person without provocation;
• Caused serious injury or death to a domestic animal without provocation while off the owner’s premises;
• Attacked a person without provocation;
• Was used by a person to commit a crime; or;
• Has a history of attacking people or animals without provocation or demonstrates a propensity to attack.

3. Trespass and Provocation are Defenses to Dog Bite Claims

A dog owner may have one or more defenses available to claims for damages caused by a dog bite or dog attack. If the dog owner can show that the person was trespassing on the dog owner’s property or the person provoked the dog, the dog owner may not be held responsible for the injuries and damages caused by the dog.

4. Cities and Counties May Have Specific Laws

In addition to state laws, cities, and counties may have leash laws or other laws pertaining to restraining or confining animals. If a dog bites a person, local animal control laws may be used to prove negligence or wrongdoing for a personal injury claim.

5. Time Is Limited to File Dog Bite Claims in Pennsylvania

The state’s Statute of Limitations limits a victim’s time to file a personal injury lawsuit related to a dog bite. In most cases, you only have two years from the date of the bite or attack to file a lawsuit claiming damages. If the victim of a dog bite is a child, the child typically has two years from his or her 18th birthday to file a dog bite lawsuit. Because there are exceptions to the statute of limitations, it is best to seek the advice of a dog bite lawyer as soon as possible after an attack.

Contact a Pennsylvania Personal Injury Attorney for More Information

Dog bite injury claims can be complex. Proving a dog owner is liable for damages can be challenging. The Pennsylvania dog bite injury attorneys at Cooper Schall & Levy understand dog bite laws and can investigate the incident to search for evidence that proves the dog owner is liable for your injuries and damages. Contact us today.