CIVIL VERDICTS - PREMISES LIABILITY * Estate of Joan DeMarco v. The Marquis - Decedent business tenant of apartment/office complex owner murdered by former employee of defendant in violent assault during office burglary. Plaintiff's estate alleged negligent security theory of liability against defendant. Settlement negotiated with responsible insurance company in excess of One Million Two Hundred Thousand ($1,200,000.00) Dollars prior to trial. * Khaled Bakar v. Home Properties, Inc. - Plaintiff was standing on third floor balcony of friend's apartment owned by defendant, when the floor suddenly collapsed causing plaintiff to fall to ground. Plaintiff sustained fractured ribs, non-displaced tibia fracture and herniated disc, which was treated with physical therapy and multiple epidural injections. Montgomery County jury returned a verdict in the amount of Seven Hundred and Sixty Nine Thousand ($769,000.00) Dollars. Plaintiff filed Motion for Delay Damages which was granted and case was settled for Nine Hundred Thousand ($900,000.00) Dollars. * CIVIL VERDICTS - AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS * Riccardo v. Kim - Plaintiff sustained fractured cervical vertebrae at C5-6 level which required two surgeries and metal screws, arising from a two vehicle automobile accident. Out-of-court settlement negotiated with responsible insurance carriers in amount of Four Hundred Thousand ($400,000.00) Dollars prior to trial. * Estate of Robert Kane v. Joseph Falco - Decedent killed while passenger in one-car accident where intoxicated driver lost control of vehicle. Wrongful death claim settlement negotiated with responsible insurance company in the amount of Six Hundred and Sixty Thousand ($660,000.00) Dollars prior to trial. * Vinnie Moss v. Baldi Transportation/Erie Insurance Company - Plaintiff awarded Two Hundred Thirty Five Thousand ($235,000.00) Dollars by jury after trial. Defendant trucking company bankrupt and uninsured. Uninsured motorist claim settlement negotiated with plaintiff's insurance company in the amount of Two Hundred Thousand ($200,00.00) Dollars. * CIVIL VERDICTS - LIQUOR LIABILITY * Gerald & Irene Kane v. Dublin Wine and Spirits and Commonwealth of PA - Plaintiff husband and wife sustained multiple injuries in head-on collision with drunk driver. Husband-plaintiff sustained head injury resulting in brain hemorrhage and coma, with substantial recovery. Wife-plaintiff sustained broken ankle. Out-of-court settlement successfully negotiated against defendants prior to trial. Husband's claim - Two Hundred Forty Thousand ($240,000.00) Dollars. Wife's claim - Ninety Thousand ($90,000.00) Dollars. (Bucks County)* Edward Pisarek v. Adriatric Club - Plaintiff police officer assaulted while on duty by intoxicated bar patron skilled in martial arts. Plaintiff sustained permanent partial hearing loss and multiple lacerations. Non-jury trial verdict in favor of plaintiff and against defendant in amount of One Hundred Fifty Thousand ($150,000.00) Dollars. (Philadelphia County) CIVIL VERDICTS - PRODUCT LIABILITY* Keith Rosenberger v. Galoob Toys, Inc. - Plaintiff sustained temporary partial loss of vision in one eye with increased risk of future glaucoma, when struck in eye by defendants' children's toy, while plaintiff demonstrated newly purchased toy for child. Out-of-court settlement successfully negotiated against defendants in the amount of One Hundred Fifty Thousand ($150,000.00) Dollars prior to trial. (Montgomery County)* Raymond Cost v. Caterpillar, Inc. - Plaintiff sustained partial amputation of his lower leg, when his foot was crushed in an unguarded pinchpoint of rotating couplings inside engine area, while plaintiff was performing maintenance of defendant's heavy trash compactor/metal shearer. Out-of-court settlement successfully negotiated against defendant in the amount of Four Hundred Seventy Five Thousand ($475,000.00) Dollars prior to trial. (Montgomery County)

Why Your Insurance Policy Matters For Personal Injury Claims

Post by Brooks T. Thompson on August 12, 2014

As Philadelphia personal injury lawyers, our experience in representing our clients over the last twenty five years is that most people simply do not really know the type of insurance coverage and the policy limits of such coverage that they carry on their car insurance Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyers Explain Car Insurancepolicies.  Insurance agents work for the insurance companies and often tell our clients at the time they purchase the policy that they are buying “full coverage”, when the client is in fact “waiving” valuable coverage available for personal injury claims.

“Full coverage” is often used as a misleading phrase to describe a policy that merely includes “collision coverage”, which only provides coverage to repair property damage or pay for a totaled vehicle.  The most valuable coverage which all motorists should have is Uninsured/Underinsured coverage which provides coverage for personal injury claims, should the party at fault in the car accident either be uninsured or only have minimal policy limits of coverage. (the modest additional cost is well worth it!) In addition, many of our new clients find out to their surprise after their car accident that they elected the “limited tort” option at the recommendation of their insurance broker, and unknowingly waived the legal right to pursue a personal injury claim, unless their injury is a “serious permanent injury.” Thus, while it is important to find a personal injury lawyer in Philadelphia with the skill and expertise to maximize your recovery, choosing the right insurance policy is also critical to obtaining full and just compensation for personal injury claims.

A case in point is a car accident claim we settled just last week for a client who was injured in a rear-end car accident with a motorist who only carried the minimal limits of liability coverage of Fifteen Thousand ($15,000.00) Dollars. The elderly client sustained a herniated cervical disc at the C4-5, C5-6, C6-7 level which following a long course of conservative treatment with little pain relief, eventually necessitated an anterior cervical fusion with arthrodesis and plate fixation.  We  successfully achieved a total out-of -court settlement for our client in the total amount of Two Hundred Seventy-Five Thousand ($275,000.00) Dollars, of which Fifteen Thousand (15,000.00) Dollars was the full policy limits of the motorist at fault and the balance of Two Hundred Sixty Thousand  ($260,000.00) Dollars which we negotiated with our client’s insurance carrier.  Fortunately, the client carried an underinsured motorist policy limit of Three Hundred Thousand ( $300,000.00) Dollars on his own automobile insurance policy.  So once again we say that your automobile insurance coverage is important and that you should take the time to double check your own policy now!!

Better yet, find a Philadelphia car accident lawyer who will sit down with you, review your policy, and explain the different types of coverage. Don’t wait until after a car accident to be surprised that your policy will not fully provide adequate coverage for your personal injury claims.  Call a Philadelphia car accident lawyer today and get the peace of mind of knowing you’re covered!

Filed under: Philadelphia Accident Attorney, Philadelphia Accident Lawyer, Philadelphia Injury Lawyer · Tags: , , , ,
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