Most personal injury claims are based on the law of negligence. In basic terms, negligence refers to the failure of a party to act with reasonable care which causes foreseeable injury toward another individual to whom a duty of care is owed. If a driver commits a traffic violation or otherwise drives unsafely, for example, these types of practices typically would constitute negligent conduct.

In some cases, the standard of care imposed might be higher than the typical “ordinary care” standard imposed in a Philadelphia car accident case or a slip and fall case. A common carrier like a train, bus or other form of mass transit that transports members of the public for a fixed fee generally owes a higher duty of care. Medical professionals also are held to a higher standard of care based on medical providers with comparable training and experience. The key is that Paul M Mahoney specializes in cases involving slip and fall cases, and can identify the applicable standard of care and gather the evidence needed to persuasively establish that a breach of the standard of care caused your injuries.

Reckless conduct generally amounts to a more extreme form of negligent conduct that evidences a conscious disregard for the safety of others. A drunk driver who operates a motor vehicle with a high blood alcohol level would typically be considered reckless. When parties exhibit reckless conduct, the jury might award punitive damages designed to punish and discourage such conduct.

While the specific damages available in a personal injury lawsuit will depend on the precise facts and circumstances, some types of damages we might pursue include: