Medical malpractice, automotive accidents, slip and fall injuries, product liability, workers’ compensation, and even dog attacks are all covered by accident and injury statutes or otherwise known as personal injury law. In Pennsylvania, plaintiffs in personal injury cases can recover damages even if they are partially at fault.
Some states bar recovery if both parties bear any amount of fault. In addition, there is a two-year statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit in Pennsylvania. If you have been injured through the fault of another party, you may qualify to file a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible individual. The personal injury attorneys at Soloff & Zervanos, P.C. are ready to discuss your case.
Officials stated that a bridge in Pittsburgh collapsed, sending many automobiles and a public bus crashing into a park below. According to CBS Pittsburgh, ten people were injured and four were sent to surrounding hospitals, although none of the injuries were life-threatening.
The bridge was inspected in September 2021 and was marked as operational. A preliminary report was recently released from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The report did find that areas on two of the steel girders were “fracture critical.” However, no “primary fractures” were identified. The report stated that the collapse began at the west side of the bridge, and nothing else has been reported at this time. The investigation is still ongoing, and a final report will be released.
According to local news reports, two of the individuals traveling on the bridge at the time of the collapse have filed a notice stating that they will be filing personal injury lawsuits against the city of Pittsburgh, PennDOT, and the Port Authority of Allegheny County. The lawsuit is coming from Tyrone Perry and his wife, Verva. The couple was traveling across the bridge at the time of the collapse, and they fell over 100 feet in their car.
They have stated that this was a foreseeable incident and, therefore, the above parties are responsible for failing to properly upkeep the bridge. An official complaint will be filed once the NTSB has filed its final report stating the cause of the collapse.
Personal injury damages available in a lawsuit against a government agency (such as the Commonwealth or the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation) are limited to $250,000, whereas damages available in a case against municipal agencies or parties are limited to $500,000 (such as the City of Pittsburgh or a local district). The Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes 8528 and 8553 explain these limitations.
An injured person may be entitled to seek compensation for medical treatment, continued care or therapy, lost earnings, loss of potential earnings, emotional trauma, property damage, and other expenses. In proceedings against the Commonwealth or local authorities, punitive damages, which are meant to penalize the offender, are not recoverable.
Contact our personal injury attorneys at Soloff & Zervanos, P.C. to discuss your potential case. You can contact us by phone at 215-732-2260 or through our toll-free number at (866) 697-8572. We have 6 locations that serve cases throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. For a free consultation, call us today or refer to the online form.