A “personal injury” occurs when you or a family member are injured by someone else’s negligent conduct. The negligent party could be an individual or business entity, or both, and can involve everything from dog attacks and slip and falls to car and motorcycle accidents, medical malpractice, work-related accidents like those now occurring in the Marcellus shale gas fields, or injuries caused by defective products like airbags or pharmaceuticals.

In a personal injury lawsuit, you can sue for past and future wage loss, past and future medical bills as well as pain and suffering. In certain cases, where the defendant showed a “reckless disregard” for your safety, you may be entitled to seek punitive damages, which are intended to punish the defendant, deter future reckless conduct and keep others safe from harm.

Whether you have grounds for a personal injury suit, and how much you can expect to recover in monetary damages from the case, depends on many factors. Personal injury lawsuits are also subject to a two-year time limitation from the date of the injury, known as a statute of limitations. The clock starts ticking on the date of the injury, and after it runs out, you forfeit your right to sue.

You may also be approached by the defendant’s insurance company with a cash offer to settle your case before you’ve had the chance to talk to a lawyer. It is likely that if they are making you an offer, they know you have a good case and they want to settle it for far less than what it’s really worth. Our advice is not to talk to any insurance company representatives and not to sign anything until you speak to the experienced lawyers at Powell, Zero, Mundy.

While you may choose to pay your attorney on an hourly basis, most personal injury lawyers handle cases on a contingent fee basis, meaning any fees are paid only after the case ends in a jury verdict or out-of-court settlement. If you don’t win, you don’t pay any fees.

Contact the experienced personal injury lawyers at Powell, Zero, Mundy to evaluate your case and determine if you have a viable claim today. We will explain details, answer questions and fight for you.

Our nation’s roads and highways can be dangerous places. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2014, nearly 33,000 people died on U.S. roadways and another 2.3 million were injured. Over 1,100 of those fatalities occurred in Pennsylvania. 38% of all national vehicle fatalities were blamed on reckless or distracted driving. The statistics are staggering.

If you or a family member have been injured or killed in a vehicle accident involving a car, motorcycle, tractor trailer, bus, all-terrain vehicle or other type of motor vehicle, you should contact an attorney at Powell, Zero, Mundy as soon as possible. It’s extremely important in any personal injury case, but especially in vehicle accidents, to hire an attorney as soon as possible before evidence disappears and witness’ memories fade.

In a vehicle accident case, you can sue for economic damages, such as past and future wage loss, and past and future medical bills, as well as non-economic damages, commonly known as pain and suffering. Those damages compensate your family for emotional suffering, loss of life’s pleasures, and loss of consortium. In certain cases, where the defendant showed a “reckless disregard” for your safety, you may be entitled to seek punitive damages, which are intended to punish the defendant, deter future reckless conduct and keep others safe from harm.

Whether you have grounds for filing a vehicle accident lawsuit depends on many factors. The experienced attorneys at Powell, Zero, Mundy will meet with you and evaluate your case for free, even if the firm doesn’t end up filing a lawsuit on your behalf. Don’t delay talking to a lawyer. In addition to preservation of evidence, vehicle accident lawsuits are subject to a two-year time limitation from the date of the accident, known as a statute of limitations. The clock starts ticking on the date of the accident, and after it runs out, you forfeit your right to sue.

Remember not to discuss your situation with claims adjusters from any insurance company including your own. Their only interest is in settling your case for as little as possible.

While you can choose to pay your attorney on an hourly basis, most vehicle accidents are handled on a contingent fee basis, which means that any fees are paid only after the case ends in a jury verdict or out-of-court settlement. If you don’t win, you don’t pay anything. Most of our clients choose the contingent fee arrangement. Your attorney at Powell, Zero, Mundy will explain the details and answer any questions you may have when you come in for an evaluation of your case.

If you or a family member has been injured in a vehicle accident, contact us for a FREE evaluation of your case. Remember, you don’t pay any fees unless we win.

Medical errors kill more than 1,000 people a day in the United States and cost the nation a whopping $1 trillion annually. Medical malpractice cases are complicated and expensive to pursue and while not all medical errors are grounds for a malpractice lawsuit, you need an experienced medical malpractice attorney to review your records and determine if you have a case. Powell, Zero, Mundy has a number of experienced medical malpractice attorneys including Attorneys James F. Mundy and Bruce S. Zero, two of the most experienced malpractice lawyers in Pennsylvania.

There are many different types of medical errors that may rise to the level of malpractice including misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, birth injuries, surgical errors, medication errors and malfunctioning medical devices. Whether you have a viable case depends on proving that the care rendered by your doctor or hospital fell below the accepted standard of care, that the actions of the doctor or hospital caused your injuries, and that you have sustained damages as a result of your injuries.

If you believe you or a family member has been the victim of medical malpractice, you should contact an attorney at Powell, Zero, Mundy right away. Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations requires medical malpractice lawsuits be brought within two years of the date of the injury, or you forfeit your right to sue.

Remember to discuss your situation with a lawyer first-do not speak to representatives of the defendant’s insurance company, hospital representatives or anyone else.

While you can choose to pay your attorney on an hourly basis, most medical malpractice lawsuits are handled on a contingent fee basis, which means that any fees are paid only after the case ends in a jury verdict or out-of-court settlement. If you don’t win, you don’t pay any fees. Most of our clients choose the contingent fee arrangement. Your attorney at Powell, Zero, Mundy will explain the details and answer any questions you may have when you come in for an evaluation of your case.

If you believe you might have a medical malpractice claim, contact us today for a free evaluation of your case. Remember, you don’t pay any fees unless we win.

A wrongful death lawsuit can be brought by the survivors of someone who has died as the result of negligence by an individual or business entity. Even in cases of deaths by murder or homicide when the perpetrator has been convicted in criminal court, survivors can still sue the perpetrator for monetary damages.

Wrongful death claims, however, are most often used against corporate defendants who cannot be prosecuted on criminal charges. For example, if someone in your family were killed by a defective drug, the pharmaceutical company could not be prosecuted on criminal charges. Instead, you could hold the company accountable by filing a wrongful death lawsuit in civil court and seeking monetary damages for the death of your loved one.

Whether you have grounds for a wrongful death lawsuit, and how much you can expect to recover in monetary damages from the case depends on many factors. You should contact the experienced personal injury lawyers at Powell, Zero, Mundy to evaluate your case and determine if you have a viable claim. Don’t delay talking to a lawyer. Wrongful death lawsuits are subject to a two-year time limitation known as a statute of limitations. The clock starts ticking on the date of the death, and after it runs out, you forfeit your right to sue.

If you’re approached by the defendant’s insurance company with an offer to settle your case before you’ve had the chance to talk to a lawyer, it is recommended that you do not speak to them. Our advice is not to talk to any insurance company representatives and not to sign any documents. Your best course of action is to hire an experienced wrongful death attorney and let your lawyer do the talking.

While you can choose to pay your attorney on an hourly basis, most wrongful death lawyers handle cases on a contingent fee basis, which means that any fees are paid only after the case ends in a jury verdict or out-of-court settlement. If you don’t win, you don’t pay any fees.

If you or a family member has been killed by someone else’s wrongful conduct, please contact Powell, Zero, Mundy today. It would be an honor to represent you and your family.

The Social Security Disability program, administered by the Social Security Administration, may provide you with monthly cash benefits if you have been unable to work for more than a year due to a physical or psychological disability. How much you are eligible to receive depends on your medical condition and how much you were earning prior to becoming disabled.

While you can apply for Social Security Disability benefits on your own, we strongly recommend retaining a Social Security Disability attorney to represent you, The experienced Social Security Disability lawyers at Powell, Zero, Mundy will review your medical records for eligibility, obtain additional medical reports to support your claim, prepare and file forms and appeals on your behalf, monitor your medical treatment, represent you at hearings, and cross-examine medical and vocational experts.

We recommend that prospective clients apply in order to see if they are eligible for benefits before, they hire an attorney. Unlike other firms which charge by the hour, Powell, Zero, Mundy works on a contingent fee basis, which means you only pay fees if we are able to obtain Social Security Disability benefits for you.

If you are disabled and have been unable to work for a year or more, contact us at Powell, Zero, Mundy today for a free consultation. Remember, you don’t pay any fees unless we are successful in obtaining Social Security Disability benefits for you.

As Americans, our jobs are central to our identities. So, when a workplace injury occurs and prevents us from doing our jobs, it can be devastating to our self-esteem, our family life and our financial stability.

Under Pennsylvania law, employers are required by the Worker’s Compensation Act to provide employees who sustain a work injury with wage and medical benefits while they are in recovery and unable to work. Employers, and particularly their workers’ compensation insurance carriers, want to save money by scrimping on your medical care and getting you back to work as soon as possible, even if you’re not ready. That’s why you need an experienced workers’ compensation attorney from Powell, Zero, Mundy to stand up for your rights and make sure you don’t get pushed around. Attorney James J. Powell III is known as one of the most experienced Lawyers in Worker’s compensation cases.

If you are hurt on the job, you have 120 days to report the injury in order to receive compensation benefits. We recommend you report the injury immediately and in writing. For the first 90 days after you start receiving benefits, you are required to treat with the company doctor. After that, you can go to the doctor of your choice. The law requires your employer to post the names of at least six physicians you can choose from to treat your injuries. If none are posted, you are free to choose your own. You might also be asked to allow a case manager from your employer’s worker’s compensation carrier to talk to you about your case and attend your doctor’s appointments. Don’t do it. They are not your friends, and you are under no obligation to comply. They only want to get you back to work as quickly as possible and save money. Let your lawyer do the talking.

The laws and rules that apply to Pennsylvania worker’s compensation claims are complicated. While you recuperate, your attorney will help you sort through the day-to-day issues that arise, communicate with the case manager from your employer’s insurance company, and go to court, if necessary, in order to make sure your rights are protected. If you are unable to go back to work, the attorneys from Powell, Zero, Mundy can help you obtain a fair workers’ compensation settlement. Do not agree to any settlements without legal representation.

If you’ve been injured at work and need to collect worker’s compensation, contact us at Powell, Zero, Mundy for a free, no obligation evaluation of your case.

Every year, hundreds of products are modified or recalled because courageous trial lawyers take powerful corporations to court – trial lawyers like the ones at Powell, Zero, Mundy. In August 2014, Attorneys Jim Mundy and Bruce Zero took on Ford Motor Co. on behalf of an 84-year-old Scranton-area man, and won a $5.9 million jury verdict against the auto giant. Our client was severely injured when the defective airbag system in his Ford automobile failed to work properly during a collision. Every day, U.S. corporations cut corners on safety in order to maximize profits for their shareholders. The U.S. civil justice system is the only place where ordinary citizens can hold large corporations accountable for negligent conduct that puts all of us in danger.

If you or a family member are injured by a product because of defects in the way it was designed or manufactured, or if the manufacturer failed to warn you of potential dangers, you may have grounds for a product liability lawsuit. Product liability claims are complicated and costly, requiring an experienced products liability attorney and a law firm with substantial resources to devote to the case. Monetary damages in such cases can be substantial. The product liability lawyers at Powell, Zero, Mundy have decades of experience successfully pursuing such claims.

In a defective product lawsuit, you can sue for economic damages, such as past and future wage loss, and past and future medical bills, as well as non-economic damages, commonly known as pain and suffering. Those damages compensate you or your spouse for such things as emotional suffering, loss of life’s pleasures and loss of consortium. In certain cases, where the defendant showed a “reckless disregard” for your safety, you may be entitled to seek punitive damages, which are intended to punish the defendant, deter future reckless conduct and keep others safe from harm.

While you may choose to pay your attorney on an hourly basis, most product liability lawyers handle cases on a contingent fee basis, which means that any fees are paid only after the case ends in a jury verdict or out-of-court settlement. If you don’t win, you don’t pay any fees. Most of our clients choose the contingent fee arrangement. Your attorney at Powell, Zero, Mundy will explain the details and answer any questions you may have when you come in for an evaluation of your case.

If you or a family member has been injured by a defective product, contact us TODAY for a FREE evaluation of your case. Remember, you don’t pay any fees unless we win.

When you take out an insurance policy, your insurance company has a “good faith” obligation to evaluate and cover your claims in a reasonable and timely fashion. If it doesn’t, the company’s conduct can constitute insurance bad faith under the law.

Bad faith can involve both first-party and third-party insurance claims. An example of a first-party claim would be if a pipe burst in your house and your homeowner’s insurance company refused to pay for the damage, even though water damage was covered by your policy. An example of a third-party claim would be if a doctor purchased professional liability insurance, got sued for medical malpractice, and his insurance company refused to defend him. Bad faith can include unreasonable interpretations of your insurance policy, unreasonable delays in resolving your claim, threatening you, failing to adequately investigate your claim, or failing to make a reasonable offer to settle a lawsuit against you.

Whether you can proceed with a bad faith claim against your insurer, and how much you can expect to recover in damages from the case, depends on many factors. You should discuss your case with the experienced lawyers at Powell, Zero, Mundy review your insurance policy, evaluate your case and determine if you have a viable claim. Don’t delay in talking to a lawyer. Bad faith lawsuits are subject to a four-year time limitation known as a statute of limitations. After the statute of limitations runs out, you can no longer file a claim.

Hiring an experienced insurance bad faith attorney is key to your success in bringing a bad faith claim. If you’ve ever tried reading your insurance policies, you know they can be complicated, confusing and hard to understand – lots of legal jargon. An experienced lawyer from Powell, Zero, Mundy can determine what you are and are not entitled to under your insurance policy. You also know that insurance companies are notoriously difficult to deal with, and that is especially true in bad faith cases. In addition, bad faith law is complicated and constantly evolving because of interpretations of the law by state and federal appellate courts. Finally, your insurance company can be exposed to significant monetary damages in a bad faith claim. It will have a team of attorneys, claims adjusters and others working against you.

While you can choose to pay your lawyer on an hourly basis, the attorneys at Powell, Zero, Mundy will handle your insurance bad faith case on a contingent fee basis, which means that any fees would be paid only after the case ends in a jury verdict or out-of-court settlement. If you don’t win, you don’t pay any fees. Most of our clients choose the contingent fee arrangement. Your attorney at Powell, Zero, Mundy will explain the details and answer any questions you may have when you come in for an evaluation of your case.

If you believe your insurance company is acting in bad faith, contact us TODAY for a FREE evaluation of your case. Remember, you don’t pay any fees unless we win.

Commercial property owners, business proprietors, homeowners, landlords and tenants have a duty under the law to maintain safe conditions for their guests and patrons. If they fail to do so, and you get hurt, you may have grounds for a premises liability lawsuit.

Premises liability can involve a host of hazardous conditions, including concealed holes, open excavations, uncleared snow and ice, wet floors, standing water, inadequate security, insufficient lighting and unsecured floor mats. Injuries from falls caused by premises hazards can be very serious, ranging from paralyzing head injuries to internal organ damage, broken bones, and neck and back injuries. Those injuries can result in huge medical bills, lost wages and even permanent disability.

Premises liability cases often involve complex legal issues, and require the counsel of experienced premises liability lawyers like the ones at Powell, Zero, Mundy. In a slip and fall lawsuit, you can sue for economic damages, such as past and future wage loss, and past and future medical bills, as well as non-economic damages, commonly known as pain and suffering. Those damages compensate you or your spouse for such things as emotional suffering, loss of life’s pleasures and loss of consortium. In certain cases, where the defendant showed a “reckless disregard” for your safety, you may be entitled to seek punitive damages, which are intended to punish the defendant, deter future reckless conduct and keep others safe from harm.

Whether you have grounds for a premises liability claim, and how much you can expect to recover in monetary damages from the case, depends on many factors. You should contact the experienced premises liability attorneys at Powell, Zero, Mundy to evaluate your case and determine if you have a viable claim. Don’t delay talking to a lawyer. Premises liability lawsuits are subject to a two-year time limitation, known as a statute of limitations. The clock starts ticking on the date of the injury, and after it runs out, you forfeit your right to sue.

Also, you may be approached by the defendant’s insurance company with an offer to settle your case before you’ve had the chance to talk to a lawyer. It is likely that if they are making you an offer, they know you have a good case and they want to settle it for far less than what it’s really worth. Our advice is don’t talk to any insurance company representatives and don’t sign anything. Your best course of action is to hire an experienced premises liability attorney and let your lawyer do the talking.

While you may choose to pay your attorney on an hourly basis, most premises injury lawyers handle cases on a contingent fee basis, which means that any fees are paid only after the case ends in a jury verdict or out-of-court settlement. If you don’t win, you don’t pay any fees. Most of our clients choose the contingent fee arrangement. Your attorney at Powell, Zero, Mundy will explain the details and answer any questions you may have when you come in for an evaluation of your case.

If you or a family member has been injured by hazardous conditions on someone else’s property, and believe you may have a premises liability claim, contact us TODAY for a FREE evaluation of your case. Remember, you don’t pay any fees unless we win.

If you are arrested for a crime, the first and arguably the most important decision you have to make is deciding which criminal defense attorney to contact with your one phone call. It’s an easy decision. Call Powell, Zero, Mundy at 570-343-7700.

If you are under investigation or have been charged with a crime, you should take it very seriously. A criminal prosecution can jeopardize your livelihood, cost you a lot of money and land you behind bars. If you’ve been arrested, you should be cooperative but DO NOT TALK to law enforcement authorities. As the Miranda warning accurately states, anything you say can and will be used against you. Tell the authorities you want to speak to a lawyer and call Powell, Zero, Mundy. You have the right to remain silent and a constitutional right to legal representation.

The attorneys at Powell, Zero, Mundy handle all types of criminal cases from summary offenses to major felonies in both the state and federal court systems. Examples would include drunk driving (DUI), disorderly conduct, assault, theft, drug crimes, white-collar crimes, fraud, tax evasion and murder. While you are entitled to represent yourself in any kind of criminal case, we strongly advise you to hire an experienced criminal defense lawyer. Prosecutors have enormous powers and the stakes are simply too high to go it alone.

Usually, a criminal lawyer will charge a retainer fee to retain his or her services, and then bill hourly against the retainer. Your criminal defense lawyer at Powell, Zero, Mundy will explain our fees and answer any questions you might have when you come in for your initial consultation.

If you’ve been charged with a crime and only have one phone call, make it count. Call the experienced attorneys at Powell, Zero, Mundy at 570-343-7700 now.