Winter weather in Pennsylvania can turn everyday places like sidewalks, parking lots, driveways into serious hazards. A slip and fall on snow or ice can happen in an instant, and the steps you take immediately afterward can make a major difference for your both your health and your legal rights.

Here is a step by step guide on How to Protect Your Legal Rights After a Slip and Fall on Snow or Ice in Pennsylvania:

Take Photographs and Video

First, document the scene immediately if you are able. Snow and ice conditions can change quickly. Take photos and videos of where you fell, including any untreated ice, slush, or refrozen snow. Capture wide shots and close-ups, and don’t forget nearby signs, lighting conditions, and surrounding walkways.

Identify Witnesses

Second, identify witnesses. If anyone saw you fall—or saw the condition of the area before or after—get their names and contact information. Independent witnesses can be critical if a property owner later disputes what happened.

Notify The Property Owner or Manager

Third, notify the property owner or manager as soon as possible. Whether the fall occurred at a business, apartment complex, or private property, reporting the incident creates a record.

Preserve Security Video

If there appear to be a security cameras in the area where you fell, ask that all video footage be preserved immediately. Surveillance video is often erased within days.

Seek Medical Treatment

Next, seek medical treatment promptly, even if your injuries seem minor. Some injuries, especially head, back, and joint injuries, worsen over time. Medical records also help connect your injuries to the fall.

Get Legal Advice

Finally, speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer. Snow and ice cases involve complex legal issues, including notice, timing of storms, and property owner responsibilities. An attorney can help protect your rights and guide you through the process.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a winter slip and fall, Tim Rayne may be able to help. Tim has been handling Pennsylvania Slip and Fall and other Personal Injury Cases for over 30 years. Contact Tim for a Free Consultation at 610-840-0124 or trayne@macelree.com or check out his website at www.TimRayneLaw.com.

The start of the New Year is the most common renewal time for Pennsylvania Car Insurance. As a Car Accident Lawyer, I see clients make crucial mistakes in choosing Car Insurance Coverages that limit their legal rights.

Here are the Top Three Car Insurance Coverages you need to protect the legal rights of you and your family members who live with you.

Liability Coverage

Liability Coverage protects you if you cause a Car Accident and hurt someone or damage property. Pennsylvania only requires minimal Liability Limits of $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident for Bodily Injury and $5,000 for Property Damage. However, the minimal limits will not adequately cover you for a serious accident and will put your personal assets in jeopardy.

So, I recommend that you have Liability Limits of at least $250,000 per person and $500,000 per accident for Bodily Injury and $100,000 for Property Damage. You should also consider purchasing an Umbrella Liability Policy of $1 Million or more which can provide additional protection at low cost.

Full Tort Not Limited Tort

In Pennsylvania, you need to choose Full Tort or Limited Tort on your Car Insurance. Full Tort costs extra, but protects your full legal rights to compensation after a Car Accident.

With Limited Tort, you get a discount on the cost of your coverage, but you sacrifice important legal rights to compensation after being injured in a Car Accident caused by someone else. Unless you suffer a “Serious Injury,” you cannot recover non-economic damages like “pain and suffering.”

Because Limited Tort drastically limits your legal rights, I always recommend you choose Full Tort.

Uninsured and Underinsured Coverage

One of the biggest risks you and your family members face is being seriously injured or killed in a Car Accident involving a driver who is Uninsured or drastically Underinsured. The good news is that you can protect yourself and your family by purchasing High Uninsured and Underinsured Coverage which allows you to make a claim for compensation against your own coverage and be fully compensated without having your rates increase.

I recommend High Uninsured and Underinsured Limits of at least $250,000 per person and $500,000 per accident or more. Also, if you have a multi-vehicle policy, I recommend that you “stack” your Uninsured and Underinsured Coverage which multiplies the coverage by the number of vehicles.

If it’s renewal time (and even if it’s not) check your Car Insurance Policy and make sure that you have these important coverages. In addition, if you’d like a Free Review of your Coverages email me a copy of your Insurance Declarations to trayne@macelree.com.