Personal Injury, Criminal Defense and Civil Litigation Attorneys in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Gay Chacker & Mittin, P.C.

1731 Spring Garden Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19130
USA

(215) 789-9359 or (866) 371-5853

(215) 567-6809

www.gaychackermittin.com

Contact the Firm

Law Firm Overview Free Consultation

The Law Offices of Gay Chacker & Mittin, P.C. is an experienced, dedicated law firm located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Recognized as a leading Philadelphia personal injury and criminal defense law firm, the attorneys of Gay Chacker & Mittin provide effective legal counsel to clients with a wide range of needs — car accident claims, DUI charges, business or real estate disputes, and malpractice claims against legal or medical professionals.

Our lawyers are native Philadelphians who have practiced in southeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey for decades. We know our opponents, we know the courts, and most of all, we know what our clients need from their attorneys: nothing short of optimal results. Since 1965, Gay Chacker & Mittin has won a reputation for consistently achieving outstanding results through the settlement and trial of complex personal injury cases, civil rights claims and criminal charges. In addition to our reputation for success, we're known for treating clients with the personal attention and dignity they deserve.

Our attorneys and staff come to work each day ready to serve the needs of our clients. Our focus on the individual needs of each client has made our law firm a highly recommended legal resource for accident victims and business owners throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Languages: Spanish; English

Practice Areas

Additional Practice Areas: Defective Auto Parts; "Fender Bender" Accidents; Commercial Vehicle Accidents; Crosswalk Accidents; Misdiagnosis; Delayed Diagnosis; Distracted Pedestrians; Drunk Driving Accidents; Emergency Room Errors; Hit and Run Accidents; Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists; Molestation; Unlawful Use of the Internet; Interstate Transportation of Stolen Good; Conspiracy; Federal Crimes; Medicaid Fraud; Mail Fraud; Internet Sex Crimes; Repeat or Felony DUI; Underage Drinking and Drug Offenses; Breach of Contract; Violation of Restrictive Covenants; Non-compete Clauses; Legal Malpractice; Municipal Liability; Police Brutality and Misconduct; Prison Guard Abuse

Practice Areas Description

The Law Offices of Gay Chacker & Mittin, P.C. provides legal representation on the following areas of practice:

- Personal Injury

At Gay Chacker & Mittin, our goal is to help you get the most compensation available under the facts and the law. We are here to fight for the money you need to support what might be a lengthy period of disability and recovery. We represent clients in a wide variety of personal injury claims, including:

* Auto Accidents

When people suffer serious injuries and financial damages in an auto accident they deserve full compensation in a timely manner. The car accident attorneys at Gay Chacker & Mittin, P.C., will secure proper compensation in serious injury claims. Our trial attorneys have handled thousands of auto accident claims where people have suffered damages due to the negligence of another driver. Our trial attorneys understand that expensive medical bills and lost wages can seem like an added insult to the painful injuries you have suffered. With this in mind we aggressively pursue recoveries for our client through settlement or trial.

* Bike and Pedestrian Accidents

We're familiar with the challenges that people who get injured on bikes or on foot can face in recovering the full value of their losses. Sometimes injuries are missed in the emergency room, and you later run into trouble in getting coverage for diagnosis, medication and treatment. You might also run into obstacles with the negligent driver's auto insurance carrier. Bike accident victims should qualify for full tort coverage under Pennsylvania law, which means that you don't need to prove a permanent or disabling injury to recover the entire range of your damages.

* Birth Injuries

Most births go smoothly and most babies are born healthy. However, in a small percentage of births complications occur which, if not handled appropriately, can lead to severe birth defects and birth injuries such as cerebral palsy, Erb's palsy, shoulder dystocia, brachial plexus injury, brain damage, and developmental and cognitive delays, among other conditions. At Gay Chacker & Mittin, P.C., we represent children who have suffered catastrophic injuries due to negligence or medical mistakes made by doctors, obstetricians (OB-GYNs), nurses, labor and delivery room personnel, or hospital management.

* Brain Injuries

The trial attorneys at Gay Chacker & Mittin are familiar with the special challenges that brain injury litigation can present. We know when to move quickly to protect your interests in court, and when to hold off from serious settlement negotiations until a complete prognosis is available for our experts' review. Our lawyers advise people about the best ways to recover damages in brain injury cases involving mild to moderate head trauma, massive brain damage and even coma. It's not always easy to recognize the symptoms of traumatic brain injury in the less severe cases, and accident victims who learn to live with chronic headaches or partial memory loss might not know how badly they've been hurt.

* Bus and Train Accidents

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident involving a bus, trolley or other mass transit vehicle, it can be difficult knowing how to proceed with a personal injury claim. Depending on the cause of the accident, it may be necessary to sue the driver, the city or the transportation company. Trying to understand the complexities of the legal system is especially difficult when you are trying to recover from serious injuries. In these turbulent times, an experienced lawyer can help file a claim, answer your questions and manage all legal matters while you focus on your recovery.

* Commercial Vehicle Accidents

One of the first inquiries an experienced personal injury lawyer makes has to do with the insurance coverage available to meet an accident victim's claims. In private auto accident cases, we often find that the other driver's insurance together with your own underinsured motorist coverage provides a lot less coverage than you'll need if you sustained serious injuries. This is typically not a problem in commercial vehicle accidents. If your collision involved a semi truck, a construction vehicle, a commercial landscaper or even a delivery car from a local restaurant, your accident losses will almost certainly be covered up to $1 million or more by commercial liability insurance.

* Construction Accidents

What's true about workplace accidents in general is especially true of injuries at construction job sites — you should be eligible for workers' compensation benefits under any circumstances, and you might have an additional and independent right to pursue a negligent party for personal injury damages, depending on the facts of your case. Construction accidents often allow the victim to seek financial recovery under both the workers' comp and personal injury systems, because of the greater likelihood that someone other than your employer was responsible for your injuries. The attorneys of Gay Chacker & Mittin advise job site injury victims across a wide range of accident scenarios.

* Crosswalk Accidents

The most common crosswalk accident is a driver turning right, looking left for traffic, and hitting a pedestrian or bicyclist on his or her right. Children and the elderly are the most common victims; children being less aware, and older people unable to move out of the way quickly. Drivers are more aware of vehicles that can actually injure them than they are of (motorcycles or) pedestrians. They neglect or disregard them; they fail to yield the right-of-way; they speed.

* Diagnosis Errors

There are important differences between the kinds of mistakes a doctor can make in identifying what's wrong with a patient. Misdiagnosis, or confusing one medical condition with another, can mean that the patient is treated for the wrong illness. Delayed diagnosis involves identifying the correct form of heart disease or cancer too late to allow for treatment that would have achieved better results if applied sooner. Failure to diagnose an injury or illness altogether, of course, implies that the doctor missed symptoms or test results with disastrous consequences for the patient.

* Distracted Pedestrians

Portable electronic devices have been around since the Walkman in the 1970's. But they have continued to get more powerful, more useful, more necessary, more addictive—and more distracting. They are contributing to and increasing number of sidewalk accidents. Portable electronic devices have been around since the Walkman in the 1970's. But they have continued to get more powerful, more useful, more necessary, more addictive—and more distracting. They are contributing to and increasing number of sidewalk accidents.

* Drunk Driving Accidents

In the past generation, legislation and enforcement have become more stringent against drunk driving, or driving while impaired. While innovations such as airbags and anti-lock brakes have increased road safety, the contrasting tragedy of unnecessary deaths and accidents due to drunk driving has become more apparent. Mothers Against Drunk Driving and similar groups have become very active. If you have been injured, or lost a loved one in an accident caused by a drunk driver, our law firm is prepared to pursue damages for you, against a drunk driver and his or her insurance company, as well as any and all other possible defendants.

* Emergency Room Errors

Errors among ER doctors are fairly common, and can represent either negligence in diagnosis or mistakes in treatment. If you believe that an emergency physician's failure to admit a patient or correctly identify a health problem led to a severe or fatal consequence for someone in your family, discuss your situation with an experienced medical malpractice attorney. Some of the more common emergency room cases we handle involve errors in spotting the risk of heart attack or stroke, failing to order tests, or releasing the patient without ruling out the possibility of serious medical conditions.

* Fatal Motorcycle Accidents

You have just lost a loved one in a fatal motorcycle accident. We understand what you are going through. Aside from your grieving process you have bills due to the accident, perhaps medical expenses, or a loss of income for the family, and you may not know what to do next. Gay, Chacker & Mittin, PC, is the law firm to turn to for guidance on the legal process. We will explain your options, including a wrongful death lawsuit.

* Hit and Run Accidents

People are killed, injured, and disfigured every day by drivers who then flee the scene. These drivers may or may not call 911 or help the victim in any way. Also called "hit-and-skip," hit-and-run is a serious crime, depending on the injuries caused. Unfortunately it is not a rare occurrence. About 20 percent of all pedestrians killed each year are victims of hit-and-run. If you have been injured, or you have lost a loved one, we can help. The perpetrator may eventually be identified. A lawsuit in such a case must be filed within two years of the incident.

* Medical Malpractice

At Gay Chacker & Mittin, P.C., we assist patients and family members who have concerns about negligent healthcare. Many of us are critical of doctors and healthcare workers when we don't receive the medical results we expect. But unsuccessful treatments or worsened medical conditions are not necessarily indicators of medical malpractice. Because we rely on doctors and medical professionals to explain and interpret medical conditions, it is difficult to determine when true negligence has occurred.

* Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcyclists often get a bad reputation for being reckless and careless drivers. However, if you or a loved one was seriously injured when another vehicle crashed into your bike, it is not your fault. In these situations, you need and deserve compensation for your injuries. At Gay Chacker & Mittin, P.C., our dedicated attorneys represent crash victims and their families in motorcycle accident claims. We are committed to aggressively pursuing justice on your behalf.

* Neck and Back Injuries

With decades of experience with the recovery of damages across the whole range of personal injury claims, the trial attorneys of Gay Chacker & Mittin know how to develop and present the evidence necessary to establish the value of a neck or back injury claim. Soft tissue injuries can be hard to prove whether they result from a car accident or an injury at work. Even serious trauma such as disc herniation can be misidentified as a strain or sprain, and an insurance company has a financial incentive to understate the extent of your losses.

* Pharmaceutical Litigation

These days countless pharmaceuticals are being advertised directly to the public. "Ask your doctor about..." This aggressive marketing is helping to bring enormous profits to the drug companies. Doctors used to be responsible for recommending drugs for their patients' ailments, but now consumers are part of the process, along with the FDA, and marketers of the drugs. Patients are the last people you can expect to know about medication. Yet, they are not always getting adequate warnings, and defective drugs are being marketed to them that enrich the drug companies and endanger those taking them. Extensive pharmaceutical litigation has resulted.

* Premises Liability

Owners of buildings and land have a basic responsibility to make sure that their property is reasonably safe for residents, guests, visitors, commercial patrons and passers-by. The law of premises liability defines and limits the rights and responsibilities of those on either side of accident claims involving dangerous property. Owners of buildings and land have a basic responsibility to make sure that their property is reasonably safe for residents, guests, visitors, commercial patrons and passers-by. The law of premises liability defines and limits the rights and responsibilities of those on either side of accident claims involving dangerous property.

* Slip and Fall Accidents

Normally we take for granted that homeowners, business owners, and even the city, will maintain their property and the related sidewalks and streets in a manner that is safe for us and for our families. We expect that any hazards will be reasonably addressed or, if necessary, effectively closed off. When owners do not properly address hazardous property conditions, then residents, customers, and the general public are at risk. If someone slips, falls, and suffers injury due to the negligence of a property owner, a personal injury claim can cover their damages.

* Spinal Cord Injuries

In the most severe injury cases, such as those involving paraplegia or quadriplegia, even an inadequate settlement offer will often look too big to resist. At Gay Chacker & Mittin, our attorneys know how to evaluate your past losses and future expenses. Working with experts from many different fields, we use this information to construct a settlement package that will include all the compensation you're entitled to under the law. We then explain a defendant's offer in terms of what it covers and what it excludes.

* Surgical Negligence

If you suspect that surgical errors were responsible for a serious or fatal injury to someone in your family, discuss your legal alternatives with an experienced medical malpractice attorney. When you work with our law firm, you'll be working with trial attorneys who understand how to investigate, develop and present medical negligence claims. Our experience and reputation helps us get access to the surgeons whose cooperation and expert opinions will be essential to the viability of your case.

* Truck Accidents

At Gay Chacker & Mittin, our attorneys realize that truck accidents and the resulting severe injuries can change people's lives forever. We also know that the settlements and jury verdicts that we help our clients achieve can alter lives as well. In truck accident litigation, you can depend on us to investigate the circumstances of your accident promptly and thoroughly. We bring the same careful approach to the characterization and proof of your injuries and the various elements of your damages claims.

* Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists

In many areas of the United States nearly half of the drivers on the road are operating their vehicles without insurance coverage or with insufficient coverage. When these drivers injure other motorists in car and truck accidents, the victim must usually rely on their own insurance company for coverage. Should you be involved in an accident with one of those drivers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey you will want a lawyer with a working knowledge of Pennsylvania and New Jersey uninsured motorist claims law.

* Workers Compensation

Although the workers' compensation system is supposed to be a quick way to secure income and medical treatment for people who get hurt at work, not all workers' comp claims go smoothly. If you have suffered a workplace injury, call an experienced benefits lawyer for advice as soon as you can, even if you don't think you were badly hurt. If it turns out that your injury is worse than you thought, you could have a lot of trouble with your workers' comp claim if you don't take the right steps in the right order.

* Workplace Accidents

When you are injured on the job, the state workers' compensation system provides compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. But sometimes the coverage offered by workers' comp is inadequate. Sometimes workers' comp claims are denied. Depending on the situation and the various parties involved, a third party liability claim may be able to maximize your coverage in a construction site accident, factory accident, or other workplace injury. At Gay Chacker & Mittin, P.C., we provide strong representation for Philadelphia area workers who have been injured while doing their job.

* Wrongful Death

Gay Chacker & Mittin represents the families of fatal accident victims. As experienced personal injury lawyers, we understand the different needs of clients in wrongful death litigation. Unlike a serious injury claim, where the objective is usually to recover an amount sufficient to support a family through a period of disability and income loss, we have found that wrongful death clients have a need for closure in addition to their requirements for compensation and financial security.

- Criminal Defense

At the law firm of Gay Chacker & Mittin, P.C. we offer vigorous criminal defense representation to people charged with crimes ranging from simple drug possession to serious homicide charges. If you are facing criminal charges, there is a lot riding on the outcome of your case. Your freedom, your criminal record, your bank account, and your reputation are all at stake. The stakes are too high to trust your criminal defense to just any attorney. Our criminal defense attorneys provide vigorous defense against federal and state criminal charges including:

* Drug Offenses

Effective criminal defense can mean the difference between a jail sentence and a dismissed charge. If you have been charged, or if you believe you are under investigation, it is important to retain legal counsel immediately and begin preparing your defense. We provide aggressive defense for our clients. We seek the dismissal of charges, reduced charges, drug treatment, and other alternatives to jail that serve the long-term needs of our clients.

* DUI

Law enforcement officials and state courts are under enormous public pressure to aggressively prosecute drunk driving charges. This increased public scrutiny has led to stiffer penalties for DUI / DWI in Pennsylvania. Conviction of drunk driving also results in dramatic increases in motorists' insurance. Now more than ever, effective DUI defense is essential.

* Federal Crimes

At Gay Chacker & Mittin, P.C., we represent people in a wide range of federal criminal matters. We defend people who have been indicted for federal crimes. We assist clients who are under investigation by the FBI, DEA, BATF, or IRS. We also prepare witnesses and investigation targets for grand jury testimony. Our experienced criminal defense attorneys are fierce advocates for the rights of the accused. We provide well-grounded defense in all matters and vigorously protect the civil rights of our clients.

* Repeat or Felony DUI

A first-time DUI arrest is bad enough, but the prospect of felony charges for drunk driving exposes you to the risk of prison. If you need advice about the best ways to avoid the increased penalties that accompany repeat or felony DUI charges in Pennsylvania, the law firm of Gay Chacker & Mittin in Philadelphia can help. While our lawyers will examine the facts of your case carefully to see if there's a way to defeat the charges or reduce their severity, we often find that the most effective approach will be to negotiate for the best possible plea terms.

* Underage Drinking and Drug Offenses

Our criminal defense lawyers provide a strong defense for juveniles charged with the following drinking and drug offenses: Drug possession; Sale of drugs; Minor in possession; Underage drinking and driving; and others. At Gay Chacker & Mittin, P.C., we are dedicated to protecting your child's rights, and providing sound legal guidance. Sometimes it may be advisable to seek a dismissal of charges; in other cases, it may be advisable to pay a fine and serve probation. Whatever the situation, you can be confident that we will do everything we can to help your child avoid the maximum penalties and consequences.

- Business & Commercial Litigation

In a competitive business environment broken contracts and failure to pay for goods and services can prevent a small business from succeeding. An effective legal advisor can mean the difference between commercial success and failure. The business attorneys at Gay Chacker & Mittin, P.C., work as vigorous advocates for small and medium-sized businesses. We offer efficient, cost-effective handling of contract disputes and other business lawsuits. Our collection attorney also assists business owners who are facing difficulties due to non-paying clients, contractors, and business partners.

* Legal Malpractice

If a legal action is lost or not properly pursued due to the negligence of a lawyer, a legal malpractice claim may be warranted. Professional malpractice claims are challenging to prove. The first step is to call a law firm that handles legal malpractice to discuss the circumstances in your claim. At Gay Chacker & Mittin, P.C., our legal malpractice attorneys handle matters involving unreasonable delays in resolution, missing the statute of limitations (filing too late), and other forms of legal negligence.

* Professional Liability

he trial lawyers of Gay Chacker & Mittin advise individuals, families and businesses that have suffered losses through the negligence or dishonesty of licensed professionals. We handle cases of legal malpractice, breach of fiduciary duty, medical malpractice and negligence on the part of professionals from many other fields. At Gay Chacker & Mittin, our experience with professional liability litigation not only can help you prove your case, it can also help you identify the sources and limits of liability insurance coverage that can protect your right to payment. When negotiating the settlement of any professional liability claim, we are careful to do so in terms that will protect your right to coverage under an errors and omissions policy.

* Real Estate Disputes

At Gay Chacker & Mittin, P.C., we represent homeowners, contractors, and developers, in a wide range of commercial and residential real estate matters. Our experienced attorneys assist clients throughout the Philadelphia metro area with real estate transactions, real estate disputes, and condo law matters. We handle residential matters involving apartment buildings, duplexes, four-plexes, condominiums, and rental houses. We also represent clients in commercial lease matters involving office buildings, shopping malls, strip malls, and industrial park leases.

* Real Estate Transactions

There's a lot at stake in any real estate transaction. If you're the buyer, you need to know that you're taking a clean title to property that has no hidden defects or liabilities. If you're the seller, you need assurance that your purchaser is ready, willing and able to perform the full range of obligations at closing, and that your own performance minimizes the risk of a future lawsuit against you.

- Civil Rights

The civil rights attorneys at Gay Chacker & Mittin, P.C. are serious about protecting the rights of people in Philadelphia and throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Police departments, sheriff's offices, and prisons are all government entities with a duty to protect the communities they serve. In too many circumstances, police officers, prison guards, and other government officials violate the civil rights of criminal suspects, prison and jail inmates, and ordinary citizens.

* Municipal Liability

Suing the City of Philadelphia requires in-depth knowledge and significant experience in the area of personal injury law. Our firm has been providing quality legal representation in personal injury cases since 1965. We will investigate the accident, gather medical reports and consult with experts to determine a fair amount of compensation to cover your current and future expenses for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering and more. Whether you sprained your ankle or suffered a spinal cord injury, we will help you put your life back together.

* Police Brutality and Misconduct

Police brutality is a serious civil rights violation. If you have been hurt by the illegal actions of the people we trust to enforce the law; you may think you are powerless in the face of police misconduct. If your rights have been violated, you have the right to seek compensation for your injuries and hold rogue police officers accountable for their actions. At Gay Chacker & Mittin, P.C. our police brutality lawyers seek fair compensation and justice for people who have been injured and the families of individuals who have died as a result of police misconduct.

* Prison Guard Abuse

Have you or a loved one been beaten or injured while incarcerated in a jail or prison in Pennsylvania or New Jersey? Have you ever been denied medical treatment while incarcerated? The civil rights attorneys at Gay Chacker & Mittin, P.C., are advocates for those who have been injured by prison guard abuse and cruel treatment while in jail. Prison inmates and suspects held in custody, are owed a duty by the state to protect their safety and ensure humane treatment.

Attorneys

	Mr. Edward F. Chacker Attorney Car Accident, Civil Litigation, Personal Injury		Mr. Brian S. Chacker Attorney Medical Malpractice, Personal Injury, Real Estate
	Mr. Andrew G. Gay Attorney Criminal Law, DUI, Personal Injury		Mr. Neil I. Mittin Attorney Civil Litigation, Personal Injury, Slip and Fall