5 Reasons to Hire a Personal Injury Attorney

Why should you hire the Pisanchyn Law Firm?

1. Experience Assessing Claims: The Pisanchyn Law Firm's personal injury lawyers are experienced with these types of cases and can effectively review your case from the first phone call.
2. No Fees if You Don't Recover: Most personal injury attorneys, like the Pisanchyn Law Firm, work for a contingency fee, which means that you don't pay unless we win your case.
3. Investigative Team: We have an experienced investigation team to examine and handle your case. This team includes, but is not limited to, private investigators, doctors, experts and many more.
4. Best Settlements: The Pisanchyn Law Firm always does everything in their power for the best settlement on behalf of our clients and do our whatever is necessary to resolve the case as early as possible.
5. Experience Working With other Lawyers: As experienced personal injury lawyers we can deal most effectively with the other side’s attorney(s).

If you or a loved one has been injured, contact the Pisanchyn Law Firm now for a free consultation. 

How do I file a personal injury lawsuit?

To file a personal injury lawsuit successfully, it's imperative that you find an experienced lawyer to get you through the process.

A personal injury lawsuit is a legal action, brought in court, by someone who has been injured (either physically or emotionally) by another person, usually by way of an accident, slip and fall, or a defective product. Personal injury can occur anywhere: at work, in your car, in the hospital, at a restaurant, on the sports field or simply walking down the street.

If you have suffered a personal injury, a personal injury lawyer can help determine whether you have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit. Obtaining damages in a personal injury lawsuit can involve complex litigation and the law varies by state.

Most people are not legally prepared to handle a serious injury. For legal advice from an established law firm, call The Pisanchyn Law Firm at 1-800-444-5309. We approach each case with thorough preparation, extensive legal knowledge and a high level of client contact. Furthermore, our clients pay no fees until we win their case and even then it is never out of their own pocket; we will only be paying you the money you deserve.

What constitutes pain and suffering in a personal injury lawsuit?

In a bodily injury settlement, pain and suffering or “general damages” is a negotiated amount of money to cover the person’s inconvenience, pain, suffering, permanent disability, disfigurement, loss of earning capacity, and future medical expenses. This amount is over and above the claimant’s incurred medical expenses and wage loss, which are called “special damages”.

The settlement is a combination of general damages and special damages and is intended to compensate the claimant to “make him whole”. One cannot literally return a person to how he or she was prior to the accident, so a monetary settlement is awarded to compensate for the loss of quality of life endured.

While pain and suffering has a lot to do with dollars and cents, it’s not just about dollars and cents at the Pisanchyn Law Firm, we care for you the person while also representing you the client.  Our staff, lawyers, paralegals, and other professionals, are specially trained to guide you and help you through each step of your injury case.

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury due to the negligence of another please, call our personal injury lawyers for a free consultation and no win no fee representation.

We do not want to be your attorney only for this case; we want to be your attorney for the rest of your life. Should you honor us by trusting our team of personal injury lawyers to represent you or a loved one’s interest, we will do our very best to never let you down.

Bicycle Accident Prevention

Bicycling is growing more and more popular as gas prices continue to increase and the push for a healthier lifestyle gains more followers. While bicycling has many advantages, both economically and physical, it sadly can be very dangerous. Every year thousands of people are seriously injured or lose their life due to a bicycle accidents.

Follow these tips, and always pay attention to your surroundings to enjoy safe bicycling.

If you or your loved is a bicycle accident victim, you may could receive compensation for pain, suffering, lost wages, medical bills, permanent disability, and other damages. This area of law is very complicated; there are exceptions and technicalities that if you do not know the law can cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars. This is why it is imperative you contact our experienced bike accident attorneys to guide you through this difficult time.
Please, visit our website or call  toll free at 1-800-444-5309.

Summer Travel Tips

During the summer months, families plan summer vacations and travel often, especially "down the shore." It is very important that travelers be very careful during summer vacations.

To help keep you safe this summer driving season, here are a few tips to ensure that your next road trip is a safe one.

1. Check your tires to stay safe and save money. Well-maintained tires provide protection against avoidable breakdowns and crashes, improved vehicle handling, better fuel economy, and increased tire life. Keeping tire pressure at the manufacturer’s recommended level increases fuel efficiency by one mile per gallon of gas — something that’s even more important in the summer when gas prices rise. To check if your tires need to be replaced, insert a quarter into the tire’s tread, with Washington’s head toward the tire. If no portion of his head is covered, the tread is below 1/8 of an inch and you should consider replacing your tires.
2. When packing for a trip, don’t exceed your car’s payload capacity. Your owner’s manual has information about the maximum weight of all cargo and passengers your vehicle can safely carry. Before heading out, also double check that you can clearly see out of all your windows.
3. Manage glare and heat. Keep sunglasses handy and use a sun shield beneath your windshield when parked to keep your car’s interior heat down. Never leave a child or a pet unattended in a vehicle. The summer sun can also dehydrate you during long roads trips so always travel with plenty of water.
4. Summer storms — and even sun showers — require extreme caution. Roads become very slippery in the first few minutes of rainfall because the rain mixes with the oil and dirt on the road. It takes about 30 minutes of steady rain to wash the oil and dirt off the road.
5. Share the road. Warm weather means more bicycles and motorcycles on the road and a spike in road work. The AARP Smart Driver curriculum recommends these tips for avoiding collisions:

• Never share lanes with motorcycles, as they also have use of the complete traffic lane.
• Increase your following distance to four seconds or more when behind motorcycles.
• Constantly scan the roadway in front, to the rear, and to the sides of your vehicle for motorcyclists and bicyclists.
• When going through construction zones, use extreme caution, follow all road signs and look out for pedestrians or workers.

If you are involved in an auto accident while visiting Pennsylvania or New Jersey this summer, contact our office right away for legal help. We have a proven track record of successfully representing auto accident victims. 1-800-444-5309, pisanchynlawfirm.com.

Where will you be traveling this summer? Let us know your favorite summertime destinations and your best advice for getting there safely.

First car crash caused by Pokémon Go

Given the popularity of the new Pokémon Go game and multiple reports of the dangers players may get themselves into we felt it important to share this article posted by Business Insider yesterday.

A 28-year-old driver in Auburn, New York, crashed into a tree on Tuesday night. He was playing "Pokémon Go," the wildly popular new mobile game where players track and catch Pokémon in the real world using their phone's GPS.

This is seemingly the first major car crash caused by a person playing "Pokémon Go." Here's what the car looks like:

Thankfully, the driver is alive and well; according to Auburn's newspaper, The Citizen, "Auburn Police Chief Shawn Butler said the driver suffered cuts to both legs and was disoriented, but was not seriously injured."

According to the Auburn Police Department's statement, the driver "admitted to actively playing the game" while driving, causing him to become distracted and run off the roadway into a tree.
The Auburn Police Department and the New York Department of Motor Vehicles issued reminders about the dangers of playing "Pokémon Go." They are:

• Do not use the application when you are operating a motor vehicle or bicycle.
• Do not trespass on private property when trying to "catch" a Pokémon.
• Be aware of your surroundings when walking and do not stare down at your phone not knowing hazards around you, like roadways, drop-offs, waterways, etc.
• Use caution when sharing your location as strangers can see your location information.
• Travel in groups in public/well-lit locations.

Makes sense!

Given the widespread popularity of "Pokémon Go," criminal incidents have already been tied to the game. Police in Missouri arrested four people suspected of tracking and robbing "Pokémon Go" players. The Philadelphia Police Department issued a warning regarding suspects in robberies involving "Pokémon Go." In one instance, a woman in Wyoming stumbled upon a dead body while hunting for water Pokémon.
 
The game's loading screen specifically says to be mindful of surroundings while playing. Unfortunately for the driver in Auburn, the warning doesn't also say, "And obviously, seriously, don't play the game while driving."

Be safe out there, folks.

Distracted driving, and walking, can cause serious harm to you or others. Please be mindful of your surroundings and pay attention when operating a vehicle or crossing the street. Happy gaming!

$1.5 Million Motorcycle Accident Settlement

A recent Pennsylvania Jury Verdict Review & Analysis summarized the Pisanchyn Law Firm's $1.5 Million Motorcycle Accident recovery.

1,5000,0000 Recover - Motor Vehicle Negligence - Negligent Lane Change - Motorcycle/Truck Collision - Alleged Wrongful Hiring and Retention of Truck Driver - Wrongful Death at Age 65

Lackawanna County, PA
The plaintiff's decedent was a 65-year-old retired male who was operating a motorcycle when he was involved in a fatal collision with one of the defendant trucking company's tractor trailers. The plaintiff alleged that the defendant's truck driver negligently entered the decedent's travel lane and caused the collision. The plaintiff contended that the truck driver was negligently hired and retained by the defendant trucking company. The defendant denied the allegations made by the plaintiff and disputed the amount of the damages allegedly caused by his death.

The decedent was driving a Harley Davidson motorcycle on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Carbon County October 3, 2013, towards Philadelphia at the time of the accident. The plaintiff claimed that the defendant's tractor tailer encroached on the decedent's lane and pushed it into the concrete barrier. The decedent died shortly after the collision as a result of the injuries sustained. He and his wife were in the process of adopting their grandchild at the time of his death.

The plaintiff argued that, within ten minutes of the fatal collision, the defendant trucking company sent its attorney and insurance adjuster to the scene. When the State Policed requested that the defendant's driver take a drug and alcohol test, the driver refused. The plaintiff alleged that the defendant allowed its drivers to avoid mandatory drug tests and continued to employ the driver in question, despite a poor driving record. including prior driving violations, collisions, and a history of drug use.

The case was settled prior to trail for a total of $1,500,000.00.

REFERENCE
Burke vs. Defendant Trucking Company, Case no. 2013-01206; Judge n/a, 03-25-16.

Attorney for plaintiff: Michael J. Pisanchyn Jr., of the Pisanchyn Law Firm in Scranton, PA.

COMMENTARY
A callus picture of the defendant's behavior in this motorcycle/truck collision case was painted by the plaintiff's counsel. It was claimed, that while the decedent's body laid on the highway with a tarp over it, the defendant trucking company and insurance company could only think about getting to the scene as quickly as possible to minimize its financial exposure. It was also emphasized that the truck driver refused to submit to an alcohol/drug test at the scene.

The plaintiff's position was assisted by a video statement given by the truck driver's then-girlfriend. This witness stated that the truck driver out of "habit" always used drugs while driving the 20,000 pound vehicle. Further, the former girlfriend claimed that the defendant trucking company knew of this and told its drivers in advance when a random drug test would be coming so the driver could prepare to overcome it.

The statements made by the former girlfriend, along with the truck driver's record including several collisions, eight pages of driving violations and a criminal history of drug use, could have proven insurmountable for the defense had the case reached trail. In addition, the plaintiff had evidence of at least one drug test which stated that the truck driver's urine was "Diluted." Thus, the case was concluded by way of a $1,5000,000 settlement.