Dauphin County Personal Injury Lawyers

To win a premises liability claim in Dauphin County, you must prove the property owner owed you a duty of care based on your visitor status (invitee, licensee, or trespasser), that a dangerous condition existed on the property, and that the owner knew or should have known about the hazard but failed to correct it or warn you. Pennsylvania's comparative negligence rule means your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault, and if you are more than 50% at fault you recover nothing. Documenting the hazard with photos and obtaining incident reports immediately is critical to preserving your claim.

Claims against government entities in Dauphin County — including the City of Harrisburg, Dauphin County itself, or state agencies housed in the capital — are subject to the Pennsylvania Political Subdivision Tort Claims Act. You must file a written notice of claim within six months of the injury, and damages are capped at $500,000 per occurrence. Sovereign immunity protects government entities in most situations, but specific exceptions exist for dangerous conditions of real property, sidewalk defects, and certain vehicle accidents. Our attorneys navigate these strict procedural requirements to protect your right to compensation.

Pennsylvania Rule of Civil Procedure 1042.3 requires that within 60 days of filing a medical malpractice lawsuit, the plaintiff must file a certificate of merit — a written statement from a licensed physician in the same specialty confirming that the care provided fell below the accepted standard and caused the patient's harm. Failure to file this certificate results in dismissal of your case. This requirement makes early attorney involvement essential, as we must identify and retain qualified medical experts before even filing suit.

Pennsylvania recognizes two separate claims when negligence causes a death: a wrongful death action and a survival action. The wrongful death claim, filed by a spouse, children, or parents, recovers funeral expenses, loss of future earnings, and loss of companionship and guidance. The survival action compensates for the pain and suffering the deceased experienced before passing and wages lost between injury and death. Both claims can be pursued simultaneously to maximize the family's total recovery.

Pennsylvania's statute of limitations gives you two years from the date of injury to file most personal injury lawsuits, including premises liability and wrongful death claims. Medical malpractice claims also carry a two-year deadline, but the clock may start from the date you discovered (or should have discovered) the malpractice rather than the date of treatment. Claims against government entities require notice within six months. Missing any of these deadlines permanently bars your claim, so early legal consultation is essential.