1. Kline & Specter, PC
Focus Area: Catastrophic Injury and Medical Malpractice Litigation
Practice Areas: Medical malpractice, birth injuries, product liability, pharmaceutical litigation, truck accidents, motor vehicle accidents, wrongful death, civil rights violations, mass torts
Background: The firm employs more than 50 attorneys, including five who also hold medical degrees, giving it more physician-attorneys on staff than any other law firm in the nation. Founding partners Tom Kline and Shanin Specter are elected members of the Inner Circle of Advocates, a select group of 100 distinguished trial lawyers nationally. Tom Kline has received recognition from Super Lawyers as the number one attorney in Pennsylvania for 14 consecutive years. The firm has accumulated more multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements than any other personal injury practice in Pennsylvania.
Location: 1525 Locust Street, 19th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19102
Contact: (800) 243-1100 | https://www.klinespecter.com
Consultation: Free initial case consultation. The firm operates on a contingency fee basis, collecting fees only when clients receive compensation.
2. Eisenberg, Rothweiler, Winkler, Eisenberg & Jeck, P.C.
Focus Area: High-Stakes Personal Injury and Sexual Abuse Litigation
Practice Areas: Auto defects and crashworthiness, medical malpractice, birth injuries, construction accidents, workplace injuries, product liability, sexual abuse, mass torts
Background: The firm has recovered over $4 billion for clients, including some of the largest settlements and verdicts in Pennsylvania and national history. Notable results include a $2.4 billion settlement in the Boy Scouts of America case for sexual abuse survivors. Stewart J. Eisenberg, the firm’s founder and senior partner, has represented catastrophic injury victims for over 42 years. Kenneth M. Rothweiler has tried more than 100 jury trials. The firm’s cases have received coverage from major news outlets including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and CNN.
Location: 1845 Walnut Street, Suite 1501, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Contact: (215) 546-6636 | https://www.erlegalteam.com
Consultation: Free case evaluation. Contingency fee arrangement with no upfront costs to clients.
3. Feldman Shepherd Wohlgelernter Tanner Weinstock Dodig LLP
Focus Area: Catastrophic Injury and Product Liability
Practice Areas: Medical malpractice, birth and neonatal injuries, auto defects and crashworthiness, construction and workplace accidents, defective products, wrongful death
Background: The firm has secured some of the largest personal injury verdicts and settlements in Pennsylvania and New Jersey history. Notable recoveries include a $160 million settlement in food truck explosion cases, a $78.5 million verdict in a cerebral palsy case, $50 million for IKEA dresser tip-over cases, and $48 million for burn injuries to a child caused by a defective water dispenser design. The attorneys focus exclusively on representing plaintiffs in catastrophic injury matters and have achieved a record considered unmatched in the region.
Location: 1845 Walnut Street, 25th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Contact: (215) 567-8300 | https://feldmanshepherd.com
Consultation: Free initial consultation. The firm represents clients on contingency, meaning no fees are owed unless compensation is recovered.
4. Wapner Newman Attorneys at Law
Focus Area: Serious Injury and Insurance Claims
Practice Areas: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, premises liability, slip and fall accidents, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, product liability, wrongful death
Background: The firm reports winning the largest lawsuit in Pennsylvania history, a $227 million verdict. The attorneys have accumulated decades of combined experience representing injured individuals throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The practice emphasizes personalized attention and client communication throughout the legal process. The firm maintains a dedicated support staff to handle client inquiries and case updates.
Location: 1601 Market Street, Suite 710, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Contact: (215) 569-0900 | https://www.wapnernewman.com
Consultation: Free and immediate consultations available. The firm works on a contingency fee basis with no payment required unless the case results in compensation.
5. Cohen, Placitella & Roth, P.C.
Focus Area: Medical Malpractice and Asbestos Litigation
Practice Areas: Medical malpractice, mesothelioma and asbestos exposure, spinal cord injuries, dangerous drugs, talcum powder litigation, product liability, wrongful death
Background: The firm has represented injured clients for over 50 years. The practice includes medical doctors and nursing experts on staff who assist in case evaluation and preparation. The attorneys handle cases in Philadelphia, throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and nationwide for certain practice areas. The firm is known for cases involving complex medical and scientific issues, including asbestos-related diseases and pharmaceutical injuries.
Location: 1500 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Suite 1900, Philadelphia, PA 19102
Contact: (888) 375-7600 | https://cprlaw.com
Consultation: Free initial consultation. Contingency fee arrangement where clients pay nothing unless the firm recovers compensation on their behalf.
Personal Injury Laws in Pennsylvania
Statute of Limitations: Pennsylvania law under 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. Section 5524 establishes a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. Injured parties must file a lawsuit within two years from the date of the accident or injury. Missing this deadline typically results in permanent dismissal of the claim. Exceptions exist for minors, whose two-year period begins when they reach age 18. Claims against Pennsylvania government entities require a written notice of claim within six months of the injury as a prerequisite to filing suit.
Negligence Rule: Pennsylvania follows a modified comparative negligence standard under 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. Section 7102. Injured parties can recover damages if they are not more than 50% responsible for the accident. If the claimant is found 51% or more at fault, they cannot recover any compensation. When fault is 50% or less, the compensation award is reduced by the percentage of fault attributed to the claimant. For example, if damages total $100,000 and the claimant is 30% at fault, the recovery would be $70,000. Insurance adjusters frequently attempt to assign fault to injured parties to reduce payment obligations.
Damage Caps: Pennsylvania does not impose caps on economic or non-economic damages in standard personal injury cases. Injured parties can recover the full value of medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other documented losses. However, caps apply in specific contexts. Claims against government entities are limited to $250,000 for state agencies and $500,000 for local government agencies. Medical malpractice punitive damages cannot exceed 200% of compensatory damages, with 25% of punitive awards paid to the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error Fund.
Auto Insurance Requirements: Pennsylvania operates as a choice no-fault insurance state under 75 Pa. Cons. Stat. Section 1705. Drivers select between two coverage options when purchasing auto insurance. Limited tort coverage restricts the ability to sue for non-economic damages like pain and suffering unless injuries meet the threshold of death, serious impairment of a bodily function, or permanent serious disfigurement. Full tort coverage preserves the right to sue for all damages, including pain and suffering, regardless of injury severity. Minimum liability coverage in Pennsylvania is $15,000 per person for bodily injury, $30,000 per accident for bodily injury to multiple people, and $5,000 for property damage.
Choice No-Fault System: Pennsylvania’s unique insurance system requires drivers to make an informed decision between limited tort and full tort coverage. Limited tort policies typically cost less but significantly restrict recovery rights for non-catastrophic injuries. Many drivers who select limited tort coverage do not fully understand the limitations until they are injured in an accident. Under limited tort, even significant injuries like whiplash, soft tissue damage, or moderate fractures may not qualify for non-economic damage recovery. Full tort coverage preserves broader rights but comes at a higher premium cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Pennsylvania’s limited tort versus full tort choice affect my accident claim in Philadelphia?
The insurance coverage selection you made when purchasing your policy significantly impacts your legal options after an accident. Limited tort coverage bars recovery for non-economic damages like pain and suffering unless your injuries meet the serious injury threshold defined by law as death, serious impairment of a bodily function, or permanent serious disfigurement. Courts interpret these thresholds strictly. If you selected full tort coverage, you retain the right to pursue all available damages regardless of injury severity. Many Pennsylvania drivers unknowingly selected limited tort for the premium savings without understanding the coverage restrictions. Reviewing your policy after an accident helps determine your available options.
What qualifies as a serious injury under Pennsylvania’s limited tort threshold?
Pennsylvania courts have developed case law defining the serious injury threshold required to recover non-economic damages under limited tort coverage. Serious impairment of a bodily function means an injury that substantially impairs a body function for a significant period. Courts examine whether the injury affects activities of daily living and the duration of impairment. Permanent serious disfigurement requires a lasting change in appearance that creates a lasting impression of shock or fright in observers. Minor scarring or temporary disfigurement typically does not qualify. Fractures, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and conditions requiring surgical intervention often meet the threshold, while soft tissue injuries and strains frequently do not.
What is the process for filing a claim against the City of Philadelphia or SEPTA?
Claims against government entities in Pennsylvania require strict compliance with procedural requirements. You must file a written notice of claim with the appropriate government entity within six months of the injury. This notice must describe the nature of the claim, the injuries sustained, the damages sought, and the factual basis for the claim. Failure to provide timely notice bars the lawsuit. After providing notice, you generally have two years from the date of injury to file the lawsuit itself. SEPTA, as a regional transportation authority, has specific notice requirements and liability limitations. Government entity claims also face damage caps of $250,000 against the Commonwealth or $500,000 against local agencies, regardless of the severity of injuries.
Can I recover damages if I was partially at fault for an accident in Philadelphia?
Pennsylvania’s modified comparative negligence rule allows recovery when your fault does not exceed 50%. If you are found 50% or less at fault, you can recover damages reduced by your percentage of responsibility. If you are found 51% or more at fault, you cannot recover anything. Insurance companies and defense attorneys commonly attempt to shift blame onto injured parties to reduce or eliminate their payment obligations. Evidence gathering becomes critical in disputed fault situations. Photographs, witness statements, police reports, surveillance footage, and expert testimony all contribute to establishing accurate fault allocation. Having legal representation helps counter attempts to inflate your percentage of responsibility.
How do Philadelphia courts calculate compensation for permanent injuries?
Calculating damages for permanent injuries involves both economic and non-economic components. Economic damages include past medical expenses, future medical care costs, lost wages to date, and reduced future earning capacity. Medical experts provide testimony regarding future treatment needs and associated costs. Vocational experts may testify about the impact of injuries on employment options and income potential. Non-economic damages address pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium. Juries consider the severity of the permanent condition, the age of the injured party, the impact on daily activities, and the expected remaining lifespan when evaluating non-economic damages. Pennsylvania places no caps on these damages in standard personal injury cases.