Personal injury - Philadelphia
Top 5 Personal Injury Attorneys in Philadelphia
Car Accidents in Pennsylvania
According to data from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, there were 128,188 reportable traffic crashes in 2019, resulting in 1,059 fatalities and 76,243 injuries. Of the total number of crashes, 4,146 involved fatalities or incapacitating injuries. This indicates that approximately 3.2% of all reportable crashes resulted in fatalities or incapacitating injuries.
The data also shows that the number of fatalities in Pennsylvania has been decreasing since 2016. However, the number of injuries has remained relatively stable. In 2019, the fatality rate was 1.02 deaths per hundred million vehicle miles traveled (VMT). This is slightly higher than the national average of 1.1 deaths per hundred million VMT.
The data also reveals that the majority of accidents in Pennsylvania occur in urban areas, with 66% of accidents occurring in urban locations and 34% in rural areas. Moreover, most accidents happen during the daylight hours, with 73% of crashes occurring between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. The highest number of accidents occur on Fridays, with Saturday and Sunday being the second and third most accident-prone days, respectively.
In terms of causes, the majority of accidents in Pennsylvania are caused by driver-related factors such as speeding, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and distracted driving. In 2019, 26% of crashes were caused by speeding, 7% were caused by distracted driving, and 27% were caused by driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
It is crucial to note that the above statistics only include reportable crashes, which are those involving fatalities, injuries, or property damage exceeding $1,500. There may be many other accidents that go unreported, making the actual number of accidents and injuries higher than reported.
Workers' Compensation in Pennsylvania
Workers' compensation is a type of insurance that provides benefits to employees who are injured or become ill due to job-related activities. The state of Pennsylvania has a robust workers' compensation system that provides benefits to eligible workers.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, there were 174,053 workers' compensation claims filed in 2019. This is a slight decrease from the previous year. The majority of claims were filed by workers in the healthcare and social assistance industry, followed by workers in the retail trade and manufacturing industries.
In terms of injuries, the most common types of injuries reported were sprains and strains, which accounted for 36% of all claims. Other common injuries included contusions, fractures, and cuts or punctures. In addition, the most common body parts affected by workplace injuries were the back, upper extremities, and lower extremities.
The data also shows that the average weekly wage for workers' compensation claims was $975 in 2019, which is higher than the state's average weekly wage of $933. The average duration of workers' compensation benefits was 51 weeks, and the median duration was 16 weeks.
In terms of demographics, men were more likely to file workers' compensation claims than women, accounting for 62% of all claims. The age group with the highest number of claims was workers between the ages of 45 and 54, followed by workers between the ages of 35 and 44.
The data also reveals that the majority of workers' compensation claims are filed due to injuries, with 90% of all claims being injury-related. However, 10% of claims were filed due to occupational diseases, such as respiratory illnesses, skin conditions, and hearing loss.
The Importance of Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer
In the aftermath of an accident, insurance companies are not always willing to provide adequate compensation to the victim. They may even attempt to deny compensation to a deserving person. Despite the amiable demeanor of insurance adjusters, their primary responsibility is to maximize the profits of the company by keeping as much money as possible from the victim. An experienced personal injury attorney can protect the interests of the victim and ensure that the insurance company pays a fair compensation. Moreover, they can put an end to the harassing phone calls and letters demanding the acceptance of an unjust settlement.
Obtaining the Best Medical Treatment for Your Injuries
Finding qualified doctors or medical professionals who specialize in accident-related injuries can be challenging, especially if the victim does not have health insurance. A great personal injury firm will have developed strong relationships with healthcare providers throughout Pennsylvania, who can provide prompt medical attention to our clients and are well-versed with the personal injury process. Even if you do not have health insurance, many medical providers will still treat you if you have retained a lawyer for your case.
Recovering Your Medical Expenses
It is unfair for the victim to bear the financial burden of their injury if someone else is responsible for it. At our law firm, we believe in fighting for our clients to ensure that their medical bills are covered to the fullest extent possible. A good personal injury attorney will work with healthcare providers to negotiate lower medical bills, which puts more money in the client's pocket at the conclusion of the case.
Maximizing Your Settlement
An experienced attorney with a long track record in injury cases is needed to build a strong case for you, handle the insurance company's commonly-used tactics to devalue your claim, gather evidence and documents, and negotiate your claim to maximize the settlement value of your injury case.
Unwavering Support
A good injury attorney's primary focus should be to provide unwavering support to our clients and help them navigate through the legal process with as little stress as possible. They should strive to secure excellent medical treatment, recover medical expenses, assist with property damage, facilitate a return to work, handle insurance company negotiations, file lawsuits, litigate cases, and ensure that their clients receive just compensation for their pain and suffering.
