Philadelphia Injury Attorney Blog

As winter approaches with early storms warning of the fierceness of things to come, it is certain that there will be a significant number of slip and fall accidents on ice and snow which will lead to catastrophic injuries and, unfortunately sometimes, an early death.

For over 35 years, as an experienced Pennsylvania slip and fall attorney, I have represented many victims who slip and fall on icy and snow covered sidewalks. In a premises liability case that we are currently litigating, one of our clients, a middle-aged female, slipped and fell on ice and a patch of snow outside of a retail building. She sustained multiple fractured vertebrae, fracture ankle, fractured leg requiring implantation of stabilizing hardware, screws, and rods.

She is unable to walk as she was prior to the accident and has lost her job resulting in out-of-pocket expenses and multiple hundreds of thousands of dollars which over her lifetime will quickly exceed seven figures. At the time of her accident, she was working earning a substantial income annually and was unable to return to her job due to mobility demands.

Continue reading "Imagine You Are Walking Down an Icy Sidewalk, You Slip, Fall, and Fracture Your Back - In the Instant of a Second, Your Life is Forever Changed" »

In one of our slip and fall cases, our client sustained a serious injury, and defense counsel introduced a video made without the consent or awareness of our client. The video of the slip and fall event also surreptitiously recorded on audio personal details of our client’s private life.

In Pennsylvania, it is illegal to record another’s conversation without their awareness or consent. A surreptitious recording of conversation can lead to a felony violation. Pennsylvania’s wiretapping law is a “two party consent” law which means that it is a crime to intercept or record a conversation or telephone call unless all parties to the conversation have consent and have knowledge.

In our case, the victim was engaged in a conversation detailing an extremely private matter and anyone with common sense would know that recording such a conversation was a violation of the law which potentially exposed the defendant to a civil lawsuit for damages. The use of such a video and audio tape by defense counsel could also potentially expose counsel to disciplinary action.

Continue reading "Our Premise Liability Lawyers Successfully Argued in a Case that a Video Tape with Audio Recordings was a Violation of Pennsylvania's Wiretapping Law" »

Recently, a jury awarded $1.18 million dollars to a victim who was visiting a condominium and fell down a poorly lit staircase. The condominium had an exterior stairwell with a mid-level landing and as the victim was descending the staircase, she missed or slipped on the first step down from the landing and fell five more steps to the ground.

She suffered a fracture to her left tibial plateau, requiring open reduction surgery and, eventually, a total knee replacement.

Continue reading "If You Fall Down a Poorly Lit Staircase and Suffer Injuries, the Owner or Landlord Could Be Held Liable" »

In 2011, close to 20,000 deaths occurred due to unintentional falls. An even greater number of individuals who experienced slip and fall accidents or premises liability accidents sustained significant or catastrophic injuries that have had an extraordinary impact on their ability to earn a living or enjoy life’s pleasures.

Many times, a slip and fall accident in Pennsylvania not only results in broken bones and herniated discs, but also more significantly, traumatic brain injury, paresthesia, and quadriplegia. A slip and fall accident of an elderly person can have fatal consequences. Common injuries to elderly individuals as a result of slip and fall accidents are fractures of the spine, ankle, leg, hips, arm, and hand.

Slip and falls are often caused by uneven or slippery surfaces, and in fact, slip and fall accidents in the workplace are the leading cause of on-the-job fatalities.

The National Safety Council claims that a slip and fall accident is the single leading cause of emergency room hospital visits. Slip and fall accidents are also referred to as trip and fall and premises liability accidents and can be caused by a series of factors including, but not limited to, poor lighting, improper use, improper handrails or lack of handrails, violation of building codes or Americans with Disabilities Act, rug tears, insecure carpeting, wrinkled carpeting, stair defects, and grease or a foreign substance on a floor area. While many individuals seem to minimize slip and fall accidents, the experienced Philadelphia slip and fall lawyers of Reiff and Bily have successfully litigated slip and fall accidents for the last 33 years and have recovered numerous settlements and verdicts on behalf of our clients in excess of seven figures.

If you have sustained an injury due to a slip and fall accident, let an experienced independent team of investigators, experts, and lawyers evaluate your claim for free without any obligation. The Philadelphia premises liability lawyers of Reiff and Bily always offer a free, no obligation consultation toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Recently traumatic brain injury has been in the news as it applies to athletes, most notably football players, as well as more concentrated focus on efforts by the United States government as indicated in a press release from the White House on January 11, 2012. In the White House press release, First Lady Michele Obama announced a major coordinated effort by America’s academic institutions to address and combat PTSD and traumatic brain injury. The White House announced a commitment to an initiative of the Association of American Medical Colleges and the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine to leverage missions in education, research, and clinical care to meet unique health care needs in military and veterans communities which involves PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and TBI (traumatic brain injury).

Diagnosis and treatment of PTSD and traumatic brain injury has long been swept under the carpet and the understandings that arrive from research were not widely distributed. Researchers are now working and developing new major imaging that allows visualization of brain wiring in high definition which could lead to new breakthroughs in the diagnosis of TBI. Many unknowing victims have been diagnosed with TBI, and in the case of professional athletes, many players stated that they would try to hide brain injuries rather than leave the game. Many sports fans and team owners claim if brain injuries are part of the game then at some point there would be no game. Tragic circumstances surrounding the incident in which U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords was shot in the head have also significantly increased awareness of traumatic brain injury.

Millions of Americans live with a traumatic brain injury and it is estimated that millions of cases of TBI occur and go unreported each year. Although most of the TBI’s are considered mild, they do have a tremendous cumulative effect on the lives of the victims.

If you have been involved in a serious accident and sustained a blow to your head by virtue of a bus crash, auto accident, motorcycle accident, sporting accident, slip and fall accident, amusement park accident, and notice dizziness, loss of focus, ringing in the ears, imbalance, or sensory deprivation, you should present to an emergency room immediately and contact an experienced TBI professional.

The Philadelphia traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder lawyers of Reiff and Bily salute increased government attention focused on TBI and PTSD and understand how the complexities of the issues faced by victims of accidents that suffer from TBI and PTSD. We have over 30 years of experience representing victims who have suffered traumatic brain injury and understand the assistance that is necessary to put TBI victims on the same footing they were prior to the incident that caused this unfortunate diagnosis. We always offer a free, no obligation consultation toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Many times a month, I find myself traveling for business and in strange hotel rooms. I am constantly amazed at how designers of hotel rooms and the corporations that manage hotels neglect health and safety concerns when they have an obligation to provide a safe bathroom environment to guests. The health and safety of guests should be the primary concern when designing any bathroom, particularly those at hotels where the well-being of guests is paramount and the surroundings are unfamiliar and unknown to many visiting guests.

While fine hotels often spend money on fine toiletries, many times they fail to provide bathroom safety factors such as grab rails, non-slip tiles, or select bathtubs with slippery versus non-slippery surfaces. Many times hotels do not properly monitor or control temperature fluctuations in showers which can fluctuate in the fraction of a second and cause severe scalding burns.

The Philadelphia premise liability and hotel accident lawyers of Reiff and Bily understand that legislative standards are only minimal standards and that hotels have an obligation to safely protect their guests which should be priority number one.

The premise liability and slip and fall accident law firm of Reiff and Bily is a nationally recognized personal injury law firm that has represented many clients who have sustained serious injuries as a result of slip and falls that occur in hotels. Our Philadelphia premise liability lawyers have helped many clients recover the maximum monetary compensation possible for their slip and fall cases with multiple slip and fall cases resulting in settlements and verdicts in the six and seven figure range. We understand premise liability and slip and fall laws and have been successfully tackling our opponents for over three decades. Call today for a free consultation toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com to receive a free case evaluation from one of our Pennsylvania slip and fall lawyers.

We recently evaluated a Railroad gap case where a client was catastrophically injured when they feel through the gap between the train’s doors on the railroad car and the train station platform. The design of the front stairs of the train resulted in a significant gap between the bottom stair of the train and the landing at the train station.

It is generally a well-accepted principle in railroad gap cases that the horizontal gap between the open train door and the platform should be a reasonable distance so that one may exit and enter the train in a safe fashion without falling through the gap. railroad accident train gap accidents are more common than you think and many times the gap exceeds the railroad’s own internal standards. Many railroad platforms have problem gaps. In fact recent studies indicate that more then 30 percent of train stations have dangerous gaps.

Railroad gap slip and fall accidents are some of the most common claims made against railroads. According to recent reports the number of people reporting that they were involved in a slip and fall accident due to the gap between the train and the train station platform is skyrocketing. In fact, there are several websites devoted to railroad safety and the railroad gap problem.

For over 30 years, the Philadelphia train accident lawyers of Reiff and Bily have represented victims who have been injured by the negligence of Amtrak, SEPTA, and other railroads. The Philadelphia railroad accident attorneys of Reiff and Bily have the necessary skill and experience to fight for your rights to make sure that you are not left with lost wages and medical bills that continue to accumulate, as well as recover damages for the loss of life’s enjoyment and pleasures. We always offer a free, no obligation consultation toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

As an experienced Pennsylvania premise liability lawyer for over three decades, I have investigated and litigated thousands of slip and fall cases that occurred as a result of small changes in elevation, most notably a single step. How many times have you unknowingly tripped or fell on a single step which only represents a small elevation change. Single step elevation changes are common in many new buildings, restaurants, hotels, and museums. In fact, when I was designing my own home, the architect and designer suggested a step down in my center foyer to a family room, and I cannot begin to tell you how many times I have slipped or guests have slipped on the same.

I have witnessed hundreds of slip and fall on single step designs and have come to the conclusion with many experts that the benefits of the same simply do not outweigh the risk. In fact, I have been able to prove that without careful attention given to lighting, floor finishes, railings, floor coverings and ways to assure that pedestrians are fully aware of changes in elevations, a slip and fall accident is more likely than not to occur.

Many of the premises liability slip and fall cases that our Philadelphia slip and fall law firm has handled have involved a substantial impairment to a victim’s life in terms of one’s potential ability to earn, pay medical bills, as well as affecting lifetime physical impairments that impact them in their daily duties and activities. Many people give little thought to surfaces or slight elevations until they slip, trip, or fall. A premise liability or slip and fall case can often be the most difficult case to litigate due to the fact that insurance companies and property owners defend them ruthlessly, almost always blaming the victim.

If you have been involved in a slip and fall accident, the experienced Philadelphia premise liability and slip and fall accident lawyers of Reiff and Bily work with teams of engineers, architects, and property design experts all of who understand state, local, and federal safety codes. Our experienced team of Philadelphia slip and fall premises liability attorneys have made some of our most significant recoveries on behalf of slip and fall victims. We always offer a free, no obligation consultation. Contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

As an experienced Philadelphia slip and fall and premise liability attorney, and also as the owner of a number of real estate projects, I am all too well aware that gutter and downspout defects can lead to a host of problems ranging from property damage to serious personal injuries. If a downspout or gutter is improperly installed, maintained, or designed, it can lead to clogging and overflowing, which can result in accumulation of water in the summer and ice in the winter, which frequently is the cause of slip and fall accidents.

I recently concluded a significant slip and fall lawsuit caused by a defectively designed gutter and downspout system which resulted in a life altering permanent injury requiring installation of medical hardware, permanent disfigurement, and the inability of my client to walk with a normal gait.

Over the last 30 years, I have investigated and litigated a multitude of slip and fall cases caused by dangerous conditions on commercial and private properties relating to improperly placed downspouts, which resulted in serious artificial accumulation of water and artificial conditions, which led to serious and permanent injuries. In the winter time with snow fall accumulations on a roof, it is not an infrequent occurrence for snow to melt, flow down the downspout, and then freeze at night when temperatures drop. Simply stated this creates a dangerous condition to individuals who walk in the area of the downspout discharge. If a victim slips and falls on an ice patch caused by a defective gutter, downspout, or improperly designed or maintained parking lot, driveway, or sidewalk, where accumulations of water collect and freeze, the owner or landlord may be liable.

It is important to conduct regular maintenance to prevent ice patches, as well as treat the affected area with salt and abrasive substances to increase surface friction.

Many municipalities have ordinances regarding how to best way to clear snow and ice from a property in a timely fashion and protect yourself from liability. With the winter months coming, snow and ice are sure to enter the equation and slip and fall accidents are very common.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a slip and fall accident, the experienced Philadelphia slip and fall and premise liability lawyers of Reiff and Bily always offer a free, no obligation consultation. We have over 30 years of experience handling slip and fall cases, and our record of success speaks for itself. We always offer a no recovery, zero fee guarantee and a free, no obligation consultation. For more information, contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

In the winter of 2011, a client of ours parked her car and exited her vehicle to walk toward the sidewalk at the side of a relatively new convenience store. Although the lot had been plowed after a snowstorm, this young woman had to step over a pile of snow along the curb that had accumulated. After carefully and safely stepping over the snow mound, she went to enter the store and violently fell and slipped backward on black ice injuring her back and leg, requiring surgery and the permanent insertion of hardware and screws which left her with a permanent disability and physical scarring.

As an experienced Philadelphia slip and fall attorney who has lectured commercial business owners and hospitality providers on the dangers of slip and fall accidents, we immediately contacted an architectural and engineering specialist to review the facts of the situation. Just as I had originally guessed, an artificially created accumulation of ice had occurred due to an improper discharge of a defective roof drainage gutter system and downspout. The standard practice for safe walking surfaces is set forth in a nationally published consensus standard which should be followed to provide reasonably safe walking surfaces. It provides that walkway surfaces shall be slip resistant under expected environmental conditions of use and shall contain an abrasive additive, cross cut grooving and texturing, and other appropriate means to render the surface slip resistant where wet or icy conditions may be reasonably foreseen.

Also, taking into account that it was winter, the law of Pennsylvania requires that property owners be prepared to deal with the effects of winter weather such as snow or ice. This can be done in-house or contracted out. The local ordinance provided that all sidewalks, walkways, stairs, driveways, and parking spaces must be kept in the proper state of repair, maintained free of hazardous conditions, and that all roof and gutter drainage systems shall be sound and tight without having defects to admit rain. Roof drainage must be adequate to prevent dampness, the deterioration of walls or the interior portion of the structure and roof. Drains, gutters, and downspouts shall be maintained in good repair and free from obstructions so that roof water shall not be discharged in a manner that creates a public nuisance.

The National Association of Convenience Stores, a trade association for convenience stores, published a manual entitled “If Somebody Slips, Your Business Could Fail" and “Move It, Fix It, Prevent It: Avoiding Slips, Trips, and Falls." To make a long story short, it was clear that our skilled Philadelphia slip and fall lawyers were able to successfully argue that the roof water was not discharged in a safe and proper manner and was in violation of code thereby creating a public nuisance and hazardous condition which resulted in permanent disabling injuries. We were also able to demonstrate that the hazardous condition violated the requirements of Americans With Disabilities Act and caused a dangerous condition which was the cause of the client’s fall.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a slip and fall or premise liability accident and have suffered serious injuries, why not have a free consultation with a team of experienced Pennsylvania slip and fall lawyers who have handled thousands of slip and fall cases for over three decades, leading to many multiple six and seven figure recoveries on behalf of their clients.

I was recently at an outdoor sporting event squeezing my way through people seated in the bleachers when I almost tripped and fell through one of the large gap openings. Although my wife many times tells me that I can be a “klutz", on this evening I saw many other people fall forward as their legs and feet almost slipped through the large gaps. What immediately came to mind, particularly as a Philadelphia premise liability and slip and fall injury lawyer, was that there was a significant risk of harm to innocent and unknowing visitors at the game. Yes, similar types of bleachers are used for sporting events, graduation ceremonies, parades, and other activities and often are constructed very quickly without giving a thought to proper guardrails, violations of building codes, and more importantly proper lighting which would illuminate or warn potential victims of a danger. Many of the bleachers in use today are not required to comply with building codes. However, it is important for the operator of the event, and owner of the bleachers to provide a safe sitting and walking arrangement to all who occupy the bleachers with an emphasis on slip and fall protection.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission takes this so seriously that they recommend retrofitting measures for many bleachers currently in use. The CPSC retrofitting measures recommends details for proper placement and arrangement of railings to prevent falls.

If you or a loved one has sustained an injury or fallen from a bleacher, it is best to immediately contact an experienced premise liability and slip and fall attorney who will work with experienced architects, civil engineers, as well as warning, illumination, and product defect analysis experts to determine who should be held accountable for resulting injuries. As always, the experienced Pennsylvania slip and fall accident and premise liability lawyers of Reiff and Bily offer a free, no obligation consultation. If we are successful in a recovery, you don’t owe us a dime. For over three decades we have successfully represented victims and their families in Pennsylvania and throughout the country jointly with co-counsel assuring that justice is served. For more information, contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Over the years, as an experienced catastrophic accident attorney , I have represented a number of clients who were injured at a gym, or on a ski slope and the business owner or operator attempted to deny coverage or liability due to an exculpatory clause in the contract, membership agreement, or lift ticket that stated that the facility waived any liability in the event of an accident.

Pennsylvania law provides that an exculpatory clause or a clause waiving liability is valid if it does not violate any policy of the law, the contract is between persons relating entirely to their own affairs and each party is a “free bargaining agent", and is not in effect a contract or adhesion whereby one party simply adheres to a document which is powerless to alter having no alternative than to reject the transaction entirely. Even if a clause in a contract is determined to be exculpatory, the Supreme Court has established standards that must be met before it will relieve one from liability that the law would otherwise impose.

1) It must be strictly construed since it is not favorite of the law.

2) It must spell out the contention of the parties the greatest particularity so as to show an intent to release from liability beyond a reasonable doubt by express stipulation, no inference from words or general import can establish it.

3) It must be construed against the parties seeking immunity.

4) The burden to establish immunity is upon the party who asserts it.

Obviously if you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury or wrongful death at a business entity, property or recreational facility of another, a clause attempting to limit or extinguish their liability may not necessarily release the offending party from their responsibility for injuries and accidents. Many individuals and lawyers pay heed to the chilling effect of these clauses and do not understand that such communication must be understandable without ambiguity or deception and may often call for the involvement of an experienced catastrophic injury or wrongful death lawyer.

For over three decades, the experienced Pennsylvania personal injury and Philadelphia premise liability lawyers of Reiff & Bily have successfully tackled some of the nation’s toughest defendants and largest corporations on a no recovery, no fee basis representing the interests of consumers. We believe that safety and not profitability should be priority one, and our skilled catastrophic injury attorneys have a successful track record holding wrongdoers accountable. For more information, contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

I received a call from an acquaintance whose elderly mother sustained a fractured hip and rapidly went into a severe physical and emotional decline requiring permanent assisted care and nursing support as a result of a slip and fall accident at a supermarket. The slip and fall took place at a retail store, and unfortunately, more than six months passed before the victim who has now entered a state of dementia as a result of the injuries, decided to contact a lawyer. A preliminary investigation revealed that surveillance films no longer existed, and it was impossible to secure independent witnesses or the identity of parties that caused the accident. In fact, it became extraordinarily difficult to even begin the basics of a proper accident reconstruction.

There is an important lesson to be learned here. When a victim’s life has been seriously altered due to a serious slip and fall or premise liability accident, it is important to immediately consult a serious premises liability and slip and fall injury lawyer who has a reputation for honesty and excellence that can honestly provide answers to questions. The proper preparation of a slip and fall or premise liability case requires immediate attention by experienced investigators, attorneys, and perhaps engineers. Premise liability injuries that occur on another’s person property often cause some of the most devastating injuries. Slip and fall or premise liability accidents are hard fought by insurance companies as they involve complex and difficult statements of facts and quirks in the law. Every case is unique with facts that must be applied to fact specific laws, and therefore, it is important to act immediately to get an independent evaluation by an experienced premise liability and slip and fall lawyer if you wish to properly protect your legal interests.

The experienced Philadelphia premise liability and slip and fall lawyers of Reiff & Bily have over 30 years of experience on their side and have had many multi-million dollar slip and fall and premise liability recoveries on behalf of their clients. For more information, contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Recently a jury awarded $826,000 to a 60-year old woman who tripped and fell over a broken section of curb that she did not see due to the failure of a flood light which did not illuminate the area of the fall. The fall victim sued the apartment complex alleging that a broken curb and non-operational floodlight created hazards on the premise and that the defendant failed to properly maintain the premises and repair the broken curb and light. There was no claim made for future medical expenses or lost earnings. The defense made an argument that the victim should have been able to see the curb defect without an existing light and that she tripped and fell on her own due to the fact that she was wearing high heeled shoes and her dog had twisted their leashes around her legs.

Slip and fall cases are always vigorously defended. The owner and occupiers of the land or premise where the slip and fall accident occurs have different degrees of responsibility to victims according to the status of the person who was injured. Slip and fall victims are classified as invitees, licensees, or trespassers. Slip and fall injuries that occur on another person’s property are very common and often result in serious or catastrophic injuries and many times in cases of the elderly with a broken hip can lead to life threatening situations.

The experienced Philadelphia slip and fall and premise liability lawyers of Reiff & Bily have recovered millions of dollars in settlement for victims and their families. For more information, contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

As a Philadelphia car accident and catastrophic injury lawyer who has been representing catastrophically injured victims, and their families, for more then three decades, I worry that internet and television marketing by many lawyers has led to a high number of victims and their families receiving what many would consider to be improper and inadequate legal representation. Many lawyers just look for an “Easy A". Too many times attorneys hoping to earn a quick and easy referral fee will spend tens of thousands of dollars even hundreds of thousands of dollars a month designing websites or TV advertising that inaccurately portrays their abilities. It is the goal of these attorneys to make perspective clients believe they are hiring experienced attorneys, who have recovered multi-million dollar verdicts, and are amongst the top car accident lawyers, truck accident lawyers, S.U.V. van rollover lawyers, medical malpractice lawyers, and Products liability lawyers in the field.

Lately I have received an alarming number of phone calls from seriously injured car and truck accident victims who were mislead by what I call a “parasite lawyer". A “parasite lawyer" is a lawyer who oftentimes lacks experience but attempts to conceal this by purchasing “black hat" internet links and creating embellished website content to make prospective clients believe they are hiring an experienced lawyer or law firm to represent their legal interests when in reality they are hiring a lawyer who simply thereafter refers their case to another attorney for a fee. I call this the “Easy A" system whereby an inexperienced attorney, or an attorney who has no interest in representing you or your loved ones, tacks a fee onto your recovery for doing nothing more then referring your case to another attorney. Frequently many of these marketing attorneys operate their websites from out of state and have creative advertising joint and cooperative ventures with other lawyers and law firms creating the illusion that they are something more then they really are. Always pay attention to the disclaimers and small print at the bottom or end of the advertisement as it quickly passes you by.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, truck accident, tractor trailer accident, bus accident, boat accident, S.U.V roll over accident, 15 passenger van rollover accident, amusement park accidents, premise liability accident, slip and fall accident, burned in a fire, bitten or attacked by a dog, the victim of inadequate security, falsely imprisoned, sexually assaulted, injured on a cruise ship, injured on a plane, in a construction accident or injured as a result of a defective product or medical malpractice you may be eligible to recover for your injuries.

As an experienced and highly rated Pennsylvania Super Lawyer with decades of experience, whose law firm has handled and collected hundreds of millions of dollars in recoveries for catastrophically injured victims, and their families, as well as those who have sustained wrongful deaths, I strongly advise that you personally interview the attorney who will be handling your legal case. Do not be afraid to ask for references. Make sure that he or she is regularly available to meet and speak with you about your case as it develops. Make sure your case is not being handed over to a paralegal or newly graduated lawyer who might lack the required experience. Inquire whether or not the lawyer has ever had any disciplinary issues or is even licensed to practice law in your state. Inquire about independent and non biased reviews of your lawyer from third party ranking or rating organization. Check the attorney's ranking on Avvo or the Martindale-Hubble record of standing. Never be afraid to get a second opinion from another lawyer if you don't like what you are hearing or don't feel comfortable as the case develops.

After all you only get one bite at the apple, and the selection of your lawyer may be one of the most important lifetime decisions that you will ever make.
Chance will always favor the prepared mind.

I was recently contacted by a client who was dancing at a wedding party and slipped on a puddle of liquid that had spilled on the dance floor and broke her leg.

As I have been handling slip and fall accident and premise liability cases for over 30 years, this was not the first time that I had been confronted with such a case scenario. The law of Pennsylvania states that the possessor or operator of land who holds it open to the public for business purposes is subject to liability to members of the public while they are upon the land for such a purpose or physical harm caused by the accidental negligence or intention harmful acts of third persons or the failure of the possessor to exercise reasonable care to discover such acts are being done or likely to be done or give adequate warning to enable visitors to avoid the harm or otherwise protect them against harm. It can be reasonably anticipated that anyone going to a resort, catering hall, hotel, restaurant, or place of wedding or party function would have a reasonable expectation that the operator or owner who invites those individuals there may reasonably expect that all those visiting may not behave in a proper and responsible fashion and therefore bears responsibility for injury that follows the absence of reasonable precaution against the common expectation. Taking this into account, our experienced Philadelphia slip and fall law firm has been successful in these cases in the past making the argument that the operator must exercise reasonable care to prevent liquids in areas where dancing activity is taking place or in high traffic areas and bears responsibility to take reasonable precautions to maintain and inspect the premises.

The Philadelphia slip and fall and premise liability lawyers of Reiff & Bily always offer a free, no obligation consultation to those who sustain serious injuries as a result of falling or slipping on the premise of another. Our skilled and experienced Philadelphia slip and fall lawyers have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars representing the interests of catastrophically injured victims and their families. We always offer a free, no obligation consultation. Contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Pennsylvania law states that property owners have a duty to keep their sidewalks in a reasonably safe condition for travel by the public. Property owners must maintain their sidewalks so they do not present an unreasonable risk of harm to pedestrians or a passerby. A breach of duty by the property owner or any other reasonable party must be carefully defined on a case by case basis. Obviously the size of the evaluation, depression, or irregularity of the sidewalk must be taken into consideration and if it is trivial versus a large defect, a jury will consider whether or not the property owner was negligent. Obviously the deeper and larger the defect, the more likely the victim’s chance of winning the case. Also the plaintiff’s lawyer must consider whether or not the defect was open and obvious and if a reasonable person exercising prudent care could have avoided the defect or should have taken notice of the same as to avoid injury.

Over 30 years ago my wife tripped and fell on an elevated sidewalk pavement in her 8th month of pregnancy and sustained a comminuted fracture of the wrist which to this day gives her pain and successfully enables her to predict when a rain storm or thunderstorm is approaching.

The experienced slip and fall accident lawyers, and premise liability lawyers of Reiff & Bily have been successfully litigating premise liability and slip and fall accident cases since 1979 and have received hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of injured victims and their families. If you or a loved one has fallen on property of another or fallen on a sidewalk of another please, please contact us for a free, no obligation consultation and we will try to take the hassles out of your life as the relate to a slip and fall accident. As always we offer a free no obligation consultation. For more information, contact us toll free at 1800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

All personal injury cases involve unexpected encounters with others which goes the wrong way whether it be a car accident, slip and fall accident, or a product liability claim. As a personal injury accident lawyer who has represented thousands of clients for more then three decades I understand what it is to walk in the client’s shoes.

Many clients have come to my law firm after a frustrating experience with another lawyer who did not communicate in a timely or responsible manner with the client or victim’s family members after they had already been burdened by the financial and emotional pressures of a tragic accident. After the initial meeting, the smiling lawyer dropped off of the “communications map". When a personal injury lawyer is retained to represent a victim and their family after a catastrophic injury or wrongful death has occurred, it is perhaps one of the most important relationships that will ever be formed between individuals who may not have ever known each other before. It is important that the lawyer and the client communicate and make all major decisions together and have open conversations in a civil professional and cordial fashion. Litigation breeds anxiety in clients. It is important that the attorney communicate realistic ideas about the value of the client’s case and their prospects of success clearly and candidly.

The experienced catastrophic injury and wrongful death lawyers of Reiff & Bily have been litigating legal claims on behalf of injured clients involving medical malpractice, amusement park liability, defective products, and premise liability since 1979 and we always try to carefully explain the elements and issues of each case to all potential clients as well as explaining our burden of proof. As each case is unique, it is impossible to determine the value of a case in the initial stages, and past results do not necessarily guarantee similar results in a similar case. When something bad happens to a client, it is human nature to want to hear good news. However, one must be honest and candid with the client for the client to understand that our civil justice system is based upon concepts of fairness and reasonable restitution. Many clients mistakenly think that because they were in an accident, they are guaranteed a retirement check. This is not always the case.

When you go to a fine and experienced lawyer, it is analogous to going to a tailor to have a suit custom made. Every situation will be different and the experienced lawyer like the experienced tailor knows how to fit the unique facts of the situation in a custom and individual fashion in order to maximize the result. Years of experience not only benefits the client but also serves as an advantage when dealing or negotiating with insurance companies and defense attorneys who understand the character traits and integrity standards maintained by a particular lawyer or law firm.



Continue reading "Why It Pays To Hire An Injury or Accident Lawyer With Decades Of Experience and Who Has Had His Own Injury Claim – No Substitute For Experience and Empathy" »

Imagine this scenario, you are visiting a friend or acquaintance’s home or a business and due to a defect, you fall down the steps. Even worse imagine it is your elderly parent who slips and falls down the stairs and suffers a serious injury.

Every year hundreds of thousands of people slip and fall down stairways due to worn out carpets, stairway design defects, slippery surfaces, improper height, or another problem creating a dangerous surface area that any reasonable person taking care of the property would have discovered, repaired, or removed. Many people run up and down stairways without a thought of an accident happening. However, a defective stair or stairway design can lead to catastrophic injuries such as spinal cord injuries, paraplegia, quadriplegia, broken bones, internal injuries, or a devastating hip fracture in elderly people which often leads to a premature death.

Many times these slip and fall accidents could have been prevented by the simple exercise of reasonable care or correction of the defect by the property owner or operator. Often steps and handrails are non-compliant with codes which means that property owner or operator can be held financially responsible for resulting injuries. When a fall down occurs to an elderly person, it ultimately often results in death.

The premise liabilityand stairway fall accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily have a successful track record representing individuals who have been catastrophically injuredand unfortunately wrongfully killed due to falls down stairways, or slip and fall accidents on another’s premises due to design defect or failure to maintain the property in a prudent manner. Our skilled Philadelphia slip and fall accident and premise liability lawyers have recovered millions of dollars on behalf of catastrophically injured victims and their families. If you or a loved one has sustained a fall on the property of another, or has fallen on a stairway of another, please contact one of our experienced slip and fall accident and stairway defect lawyers for a free, no obligation consultation. Recently the law firm of Reiff & Bily has joined forces with the legendary Beasley Firm and together our attorneys have been awarded billions of dollars since 1957 representing the interests of thousands of catastrophically injured victims and their families. We always offer a free, no obligation consultation. For more information contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Recently a New York jury awarded $1.1 million dollars to a woman who was struck by a falling shelf in a Bronx grocery store. The jury found that the shelf was improperly stocked and had not been properly secured, and the victim claimed that the shelf fell on her while another worker was placing aluminum pans on the same. The victim claimed that the shelf dislodged, fell on her head, and activated an arthritic condition of her spine causing herniations of two discs. The defense denied negligence of the shop owner and also contended that the woman’s condition was not worsened by the accident. However the jury thought otherwise.

As an experienced Philadelphia premise liability lawyer for over three decades who has represented generations of injured victims, the law recognizes that when you enter a business premise, you are classified as a business invitee and are owed the highest duty of care. If a property owner neglected to correct an unsafe condition or caused an unsafe condition to exist which caused your injuries such as being harmed by falling merchandise or shelves, you may have a right to recover compensatory damages. If your injuries require you to take time off from work and undergo medical procedures, rehabilitation, and lost wages, an experienced Pennsylvania premise liability lawyer can help you recover the compensate that you deserve.

Since 1979, the experienced Philadelphia premise liability lawyer and store injury lawyers of Reiff & Bily
have protected the rights of injured people and their families throughout Pennsylvania. We always offer a free confidential, no obligation consultation. For more information, please contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.