Legal Question in Personal Injury in Pennsylvania

I was temporarily disabled

I was moving from ME to TX with myself (a single mom) and my 2 children. We stopped in PA for rest at a hotel when I was injured and need medical attention. I hit my leg on the bed. I craweled out of the room and the desk clerk came out and told me not to move she was going to call an ambulance. It looked as if the bone from my shin had broken through the skin. It turned out that I had not broken my leg, but needed stitches and damaged the muscle chamber.

I called the hotel and asked if they were going to cover the medical expenses, and the manager told me to get an attorney. I have to walk with crutches and can not go back to work until I am able to walk on my own. I am a single mom, therefore my financial means are limited and I can not afford these bills or the time I am missing from work. What are my options? Will I have to travel to PA? Is there anyone that can help me? How do I go about finding an attorney? I have spoken with several Dallas attorneys and they are telling me that it is not worth their time. I can't see how this can be possible that I can seriously injure myself and them not have to pay. I am unable to provide for my family. I am very desprate. Please help.


Asked on 7/01/01, 10:47 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Matthew Nahrgang Nahrgang & Associates, P.C.

Re: personal injury in PA

Generally, a personal injury lawsuit should be brought in the County where the injury occurred. Under the US Constitution, a defendant must have minimum contacts with a state in order to be sued there. Unless you can show that the potential defendants have contacts with your home state, they did not anticipate being sued there and cannot be sued there. However, there is no question they can be sued in PA.

The first step toward resolving any personal injury matter is obtaining an attorney. Once that has been accomplished, the attorney can advise the defendants of the representation and that they should advise their respective insurance carriers of the claim. The carriers in turn will contact the attorney to attempt an amicable resolution without the need for suit.

Please feel free to call or e-mail to discuss this further on a free initial basis.

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Answered on 7/02/01, 2:22 pm


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