Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Automobile Accidents & Wrongful Death Attorneys

Rudberg Law Offices, LLC

2107 Sidney Street
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15203
USA

(866) 306-2667

(412) 488-8020

www.rudberglaw.com

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Law Firm Overview Free Consultation

At Rudberg Law Offices, LLC we believe that clients deserve unequaled personal and professional service. We share a strong work ethic and commitment to working men, women and their families. Our success is measured first and foremost with clients. Not only do clients deserve high quality legal service, but they also have a right to expect that we will spend time helping them through the legal maze.

Practice Areas

The attorneys at Rudberg Law Offices provide clients in Pittsburgh with legal advice on:

- Workplace Amputations & Specific Loss Benefits

According to OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, all mechanical motion is hazardous, but there are a number of common types: Rotating, Reciprocating, Transversing, Cutting, Punching, Shearing and Bending. OHSA has set forth a number of guidelines addressing these issues in the Code of Federal Regulations in order to protect workers from injury. When a worker is injured, it may be the result of an OSHA violation.

In addition to wage loss and medical benefits, there is another category of benefits available under Pennsylvania law, known as specific loss benefits. If your hand, finger, arm, leg, foot, toe, hearing or sight has lost some or all of its function due to a work injury/accident, you may be entitled to benefits for that loss. These benefits are payable for the specific loss of the injured body part and are not payments for lost time from work, which is a separate benefit.

- Amusement Park Injuries

Each year thousands of people are injured in this country on amusement park rides. If you have been injured at an amusement park it is important that you seek legal assistance as soon as possible.

Most amusement parks are owned and operated by large corporations that have the resources and experience to contest and minimize claims of injured guests. It may be difficult to receive the compensation to which you are entitled, if proceeding without legal assistance. The Consumer Product Safety Commission regulates operators of rides at carnivals and fairs, but the transient nature of these organizations can make it difficult to recover the compensation you are owed due to their negligence. At Rudberg Law Offices, LLC, our experienced attorneys have successfully litigated against both large corporations and loosely organized businesses.

- Automobile Accidents

The law allows an injured victim to be compensated for loss of wages, medical expenses, property damage to their vehicle, pain and suffering and mental anguish. The extent of the damages an injured victim may be able to collect can depend on the victim’s own type of car insurance policy: Full Tort Liability, Limited Tort Liability, Uninsured Motorist Coverage, Underinsured Motorist Coverage.

- Bicycle Accident Injuries

In the current times of rising gasoline prices, more and more people are opting to commute to work on bicycles. When added to the already large contingent of recreational cyclists, there are thousands of people in our region who are forced to share the road with motorists. Defined bike lanes on roads in the area are a rarity, thus narrowing the space between car and bicyclist even further.

Please remember that adults only have two (2) years from the date of the accident in which to file a claim and children have two (2) years from their 18th birthday to file a lawsuit for their injuries. It is always best to pursue a claim as soon as possible, as it can become difficult as time passes. It always helps to gather as much information as possible about the accident, including insurance information, the description of the vehicle, license plate number, and pictures of the scene.

- Bus Accidents

Bus accidents and school bus accidents often result in serious personal injuries or death. Bus accidents can be caused by such contributing factors as driver negligence, inadequate security, dangerous roadways, weather conditions, defective product, and improper maintenance, to name a few.

If you have been injured as the result of a bus accident or your child has been injured in a school bus accident, you may be able to file a claim against the bus company to recover for your damages.

The laws are complex and vary greatly dependant upon the circumstances surrounding the accident. Rudberg Law Offices, LLC has the expertise to handle these types of claims. Through experience and education, our firm is able to expertly evaluate medical injuries and pursue personal injury claims on behalf of the injured child or adult.

- Defective Products

Lawsuits regarding defective products are among the most complicated of those in our legal system. The attorneys at Rudberg Law Offices, LLC collectively have decades of experience in representing injured persons. We possess comprehensive knowledge of all state and federal laws regarding the safe use of consumer products in order to recover maximum damages for our clients.

If you believe that you have been injured due to a defective product, if possible, please save the product and any packaging it came in. It is also important to save any instruction booklets or information that accompanied the product. Whether you are able to save all, a portion, or none of the product, be sure to seek legal representation as soon as possible. A lawsuit may only be filed within two (2) years of the date of injury sustained by the defective product.

- Dog Bites

Dogs are not always man’s best friend. Sometimes dogs attack, bite, and cause serious injury to people with whom they are both familiar and unfamiliar. In many instances, children are the unfortunate victims of dog bites. The types of injuries dogs inflict can be very serious, cause infection, lead to necessary reconstructive or plastic surgery, and result in permanent scars or disfigurements.

Dog owners are almost always responsible for the medical bills associated with the treatment provided for the injuries caused by their dogs. And in some circumstances, dog owners can be liable for other damages, such as pain and suffering, due to the injuries inflicted by their dogs.

- Food Poisoning

If you believe you have suffered food poisoning and have experienced severe symptoms as a result, please contact our office immediately, as you only have two (2) years to file a claim; however it is always best to contact an attorney as soon as possible as over time evidence can become lost or destroyed. At Rudberg Law Offices, LLC, we have experienced attorneys who can help gather the information needed in order to pursue food poisoning claims. We are always available to speak with you about your situation.

- Intentional Injury by Another

Intentional torts are an area of personal injury law where an individual or a group of individuals cause harm to another not merely due to carelessness, or a disregard for another human being. In such cases, the individual or group of individuals know with substantial certainty that their conduct will cause the harm suffered by the victim. Typically, courts will not infer an intent to harm from the actions of an individual or a group of individuals, but rather will examine their actual state of mind when the conduct was committed.

If you are injured as a result of another’s intentional actions, you should make sure to record the time the event occurred, take photographs of any visible physical injuries you may have, try to obtain the names of witnesses, and anything you may recall being said to you by the person who caused you harm, both before, during, and after the event. If you are in an area where there may have been a video camera, you should try to make sure the tape recording of the incident is preserved.

- Medical Malpractice

All lawsuits involving medical malpractice must be filed within two (2) years of the date of the malpractice or within two (2) years of the date the victim knew or reasonably should have known that he or she was a victim of medical malpractice. However, there are special requirements that must be met when filing a lawsuit for medical malpractice, which makes it very important that the victim seek legal assistance as soon as possible.

- Mining Accidents

Coal mining is among the most dangerous professions in the United States, exposing its workers to a risk of death five times greater than the national average. The disasters recently in the news constantly remind us of this fact. In many instances, however, the owners and operators of the mine are capable of preventing these injuries and making their mines safer for its workers. Some of the more common accidents at coalmines include: Coal Stockpile Collapse, Roof Collapse, Longwall Shield Collapse, Methane Explosion, Runaway Mine Car, Defective Tools and Equipment, Lack of Safety Equipment, Injuries Related to Mine Equipment Usage, Silica Dust (Coal Dust), Problems with the Roof Control Plan.

These types of accidents can cause severe injuries, including head trauma, spinal cord and back injuries, injuries to arms and legs, paralysis, and unfortunately, death. Depending upon the situation, an injured worker may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, as well as compensation from those who owned and/or controlled the mine where the accident took place or those who manufactured the defective equipment.

- Motorcycle Accidents

Our attorneys have decades of experience representing injured persons in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. We understand the injuries that happen when bikers fall victim to negligent drivers or hazardous roads, and we are here to help you through the healing process by acting as your advocate and protecting your rights.

- Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Nursing Care Facilities, as of December 31, 2006, there were 725 facilities with a total bed capacity of greater than 89,000.

When choosing a nursing home, residents, their families, and their loved ones make their best efforts to choose a facility that meets the residents’ needs. Sometimes, however, the facility and its employees fail to live up to those expectations. When this situation occurs, residents can feel ashamed, helpless and alone. Families may be unaware of the situations occurring at the nursing facility. Some signs of nursing home abuse can be apparent, and visible to the naked eye. Those signs include bruises, broken bones and bedsores.

Some signs of nursing home neglect however, can be more subtle, but just as serious. Those signs include: lack of food or water, lack of cleanliness of the patient and/or the facility, and lack of ambulatory assistance of patients, resulting in falls and injuries associated with falls, such as broken hips, legs, or arms, bruising, abrasions, and lacerations. A nursing home can be liable for injuries to its residents whether or not the nursing home or any member of its staff committed medical malpractice.

- Occupational Diseases

Our region is steeped in blue-collar tradition, from steel mills to coal mines. Unfortunately, with that tradition comes another tradition, that of occupational disease. Industrial employees’ health is often put at risk due to dangerous work environments, products, and air that employees are forced to breathe. Occupational diseases are not limited to the industrial field however, as healthcare professionals are also exposed to dangerous diseases. The Pennsylvania Occupational Disease Act lists certain diseases that are to be considered “occupational diseases” for purposes of creating a cause of action under the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act. Here are some examples of occupational diseases covered under the Act: Asbestosis, “Black Lung Disease” aka Coal worker’s pneumoconiosis (CWP), Cancer (Benzene exposure), Lung cancer, Mesothelioma, Silicosis, Tuberculosis and Hepatitis.

- Passenger Injury

When you ride in a car with someone, you are quite literally putting your life in his or her hands, the hands that control the steering wheel. As a passenger, you are equally at risk from other drivers on the road as well. It is important that you are aware of your rights to recover for injuries sustained while you were a passenger in a vehicle. Drivers owe the same duty of reasonable care to passengers in other cars and their own, as they do to fellow drivers and pedestrians.

- Pedestrian Accidents

Rudberg Law Offices, LLC provides sophisticated and innovative legal services for almost any type of injury including pedestrian injuries. Children and the elderly are most at risk of suffering an injury in pedestrian accidents, and injuries caused by negligent drivers account for the majority of catastrophic injuries and death.

- Power Plant & Industrial Accidents

There are many hazards associated with working in power plants, and living near them. For those workers whose injuries are serious enough to result in death, the employee’s family may be entitled to some compensation on his or her behalf under the Workers’ Compensation Act. When an employee is fatally injured from a work injury or an occupational disease, the Workers’ Compensation Act provides benefits in the nature of wage loss, medical expenses, and some burial expenses to dependent spouses and children.

- Premises Liability: Slip & Fall

Property owners have a duty to maintain safe conditions on their premises. Owners are responsible to all that come onto their property ranging from guests at a dinner party to patrons at their place of business. Slip and fall injuries due to unsafe conditions are extremely common, but the frequency with which they occur does not make the injury any less devastating to the victim.

These property problems can lead to serious injuries for innocent people of all ages from infants to the elderly. Your child could suffer a broken arm, collarbone or leg. Your parent could suffer a fractured hip or leg resulting in surgery and the potential that they will no longer be able to care for themselves. You could hurt your back or sustain an injury that would cause you to miss extended periods of work, which could unnecessarily lead to tight monetary situations. Let our law firm help you recoup medical expenses, lost wages, and damages for pain and suffering.

- Railroad Accidents

Litigating against railroad companies can be very complex due to the many laws and regulations that apply to the operation and maintenance of railways. Our attorneys have decades of experience representing injured persons in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Specific time periods apply as to when an injured person can file a claim for compensation due to the injuries suffered in a railroad or train accident. For instance, if you are injured as a result of a railroad or train accident and you are not a rail worker, you only have two (2) years to file a lawsuit for your injuries. Rail workers have three (3) years to bring a claim under FELA for their injuries. Therefore, it is very important that legal representation is sought as soon as possible.

- Roadway Defects

Dangerous roads and improper signage can cause devastating motor vehicle accidents, catastrophic injuries, and even death. All too often, many accidents could have been prevented had the road been properly maintained or designed, or if there was adequate signage warning drivers of potential dangers. Public roads are owned and maintained either by the state, city, municipality or township in which they are located. These governmental entities have a duty to design and to maintain safe roadways. Private owners of roads and lots owe the same duties to drivers and their passengers who use these types of roads.

The attorneys at Rudberg Law Offices, LLC are committed to pursuing claims on behalf of drivers and passengers injured by dangerous conditions of the road, including those caused by: Defective road design; Improper signage; Improperly maintained or cleared roads; Precipitous drop offs; Improper water drainage; Dangerous intersections; Dangerous train or railroad crossings; Traffic control devices or signals; and Construction zones.

- Social Security Disability

If you have a health condition or combination of conditions, which prevent you from working, you may be entitled to Social Security Disability and/or Supplemental Security Income benefits. If the Social Security Administration determines that you are not disabled, we can discuss your claim for benefits and further explain this process, as good case preparation and presentation can make the difference in getting benefits you deserve.

- Swimming Pool Accidents

Thousands of people die or suffer serious injuries each year related to preventable swimming pool accidents. In addition to swimming pools, similar dangerous conditions can exist with hot tubs, and at water parks.

Both the owner of the property on which there is a pool and those who manage, maintain, and construct the pools, or related equipment, may be held legally responsible for pool-related injuries, which include but are not limited to head injuries, neck and back injuries, and injuries to arms and legs. One may also be able to recover against a homeowner’s insurance policy for these injuries.

- Truck Accidents

If you or someone you love has been injured in a trucking accident, the time to act is now. Federal regulations permit a trucking company to destroy its drivers’ logs after six months unless a potential plaintiff obtains a court order or takes immediate action. Also, due to their great potential for harm, trucking accidents are among the most expensive to insurance companies. As a result, insurance companies often employ high pressure tactics to settle these claims for less than they are worth—sometimes at the scene of the accident!

We urge you to seek legal representation as soon as possible after any accident so that you can be properly advised of your rights and benefits. In addition, important evidence from the scene of the accident or from the truck or other vehicles involved in the accident needs to be preserved. Our firm utilizes experts and investigators to assist in preserving the evidence necessary for each case.

- Uninsured & Underinsured Driver Claims

UM/UIM coverages are often confusing. They are also great coverage benefits that can assure that you are adequately compensated for your injuries and damages. Therefore, it is important to make sure that your claim is handled correctly from the beginning.

- Workers’ Compensation

Workers’ compensation is a benefit provided to employees by state law. The benefit covers primarily wage loss and medical benefits. Workers’ Compensation covers any injury that occurs in the course and scope of employment and it is not necessary to prove that there was any safety violation or fault in regard to how the accident occurred. It is very important that if an employee thinks that their injury is caused by the activities of their job, notice must be given to the employer within 120 days of the injury and the employee would then have three years to file a claim if their claim is not documented or accepted by the employer.

- Wrongful Death

Losing a loved one is the most painful experience a person will ever have to deal with in his or her life. Losing a loved one due to the negligence or fault of another person or corporation can be even more unimaginable. The law allows a spouse, child or parent to recover compensation for the death of a loved one due to the negligence of another. The act or omission to act by a person or corporation that leads to the death of a loved one is known as wrongful death.

While we understand that money cannot make everything all right or replace your loved one, money can help with the needs of the ones left behind. There are many things that a surviving spouse, child, or parent can recover compensation for, such as: unpaid or reimbursement of paid medical expenses, funeral costs, and property damage, the loss of future earnings by the loved one, the pain and suffering endured by the loved one prior to his or her death, the emotional distress and any loss of consortium or parenting suffered by the survivors.

Additional Practice Areas: Amputations & Specific Loss Benefits, Amusement Park Injuries, Bus Accidents, Food Poisoning, Mining Accidents, Passenger Injury, Power Plant Accidents, Roadway Defects, Swimming Pool Accidents, Uninsured & Underinsured Driver Claims