Industrial Accident Lawyers in Reading, PA
Wrongful Injury Representation for Berks County Workers
Berks County’s manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution operations employ thousands of workers, and when serious accidents happen, the injuries can be devastating. At Liever, Hyman & Potter, we’ve represented wrongful injury victims and their families since 1959. Our four attorneys handle only wrongful injury and death claims. Every case we take is on behalf of someone who was hurt through no fault of their own, and our combined 115-plus years of practice have been devoted to that purpose.
If you were injured in an industrial accident anywhere in Berks County, you may have more legal options than you realize. We can help you understand them.
Call our Reading office at (610) 885-1991 to schedule a free consultation. You pay nothing in fees and nothing in case expenses we advance unless we recover money for you.
Workers’ Comp Is a Starting Point, Not the Full Picture
Pennsylvania’s workers’ compensation system is no-fault, meaning it covers medical expenses and roughly two-thirds of lost wages regardless of how the accident happened. That sounds like a safety net, but there’s a significant gap: workers’ comp doesn’t compensate for pain and suffering, emotional distress, or the full value of future lost earnings. For catastrophic injuries, that gap can be enormous.
Pennsylvania law generally bars injured workers from suing their employer directly. Workers’ comp is typically the exclusive remedy against the employer. But when a party outside your employer caused or contributed to the accident, a separate personal injury lawsuit becomes possible alongside your workers’ comp claim. The two paths can run simultaneously; one doesn’t cancel the other.
Third-party defendants in industrial accident cases often include:
- Defective machinery or equipment manufacturers
- Subcontractors on shared job sites
- Negligent property owners
- Chemical or material suppliers
A successful third-party claim may recover compensation for pain and suffering, full wage loss, future medical costs, and, in some cases, punitive damages. Cases involving product defects, multi-party construction sites, or toxic exposure often require expert witnesses and accident reconstruction specialists. Time matters here. Pennsylvania’s personal injury statute of limitations is generally two years from the date of injury, and waiting risks losing critical evidence, including maintenance records, contractor agreements, and accident reports. Under Pennsylvania law, failing to report a workplace injury to your employer within 120 days can also jeopardize your workers’ comp eligibility.
Why Industrial Accident Victims Choose Our Firm
When other attorneys need to refer a client with a serious wrongful injury case, they call us. That referral reputation inside the Berks County legal community reflects something straightforward: our entire practice is wrongful injury and death law. Every case, every attorney, every hour billed serves one purpose.
Lead attorney John R. Badal has practiced exclusively in wrongful injury and death law since his admission to the Pennsylvania bar in 1978. He was admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1991 and is a member of both the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, memberships tied to documented case results at those dollar thresholds. He has served as Chairman of the Civil Litigation Section and the Workers’ Compensation Section of the Berks County Bar Association.
Every case at our firm is carefully reviewed and assigned to a Civil Trial attorney qualified to handle it. Since 1959, we’ve recovered thousands of awards and settlements for victims and families in the Reading area, more than any other firm located in the Berks and Schuylkill County area. In a recent three-year period alone, our attorneys recovered more than 500 awards and settlements, including numerous million-dollar and multi-million-dollar results.
A Track Record Measured in Recoveries
The following results from our wrongful injury practice illustrate the scale of what we’ve recovered for clients. These are examples of past outcomes, not predictions of future results.
Published awards and settlements include:
- $12.75 million settlement for failure to diagnose brain disease
- $6.5 million settlement for a teenage client who suffered a brain bleed resulting in hemiplegia
- $3.5 million trucking crash settlement
- $3.265 million drunk driving wrongful death settlement
These results span our wrongful injury practice. More than 500 additional awards and settlements were recovered in a recent three-year period, including numerous outcomes at the million-dollar level and above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Pursue Both a Workers’ Comp Claim & a Personal Injury Lawsuit at the Same Time?
Yes. Pennsylvania law allows both to proceed simultaneously. Filing a third-party personal injury lawsuit doesn’t cancel or reduce your workers’ compensation benefits. If a party other than your employer contributed to the accident, pursuing both claims may be an appropriate approach to seeking full compensation.
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim After an Industrial Accident?
Pennsylvania’s personal injury statute of limitations is generally two years from the date of injury. Acting quickly also protects evidence that can be lost over time, including equipment maintenance logs, safety inspection records, and witness accounts. If you were injured in Reading or Berks County, reach out as soon as possible.
What Does It Cost to Hire an Industrial Accident Lawyer?
Nothing up front, and nothing unless we recover money for you. We advance case expenses on your behalf and charge no fees until there is a recovery. That applies to every client we represent. Your free initial consultation costs nothing, and we’ll review your case carefully before advising you on your options.
Talk to an Industrial Accident Attorney in Reading Today
If you or a family member was seriously injured at work in the Reading area, the right time to explore your legal options is now. A free consultation with our firm costs you nothing and gives you a clear picture of what recovery may be possible beyond workers’ comp. We don’t collect a fee and we don’t ask you to pay case expenses unless we recover for you.
Call (610) 885-1991 to speak with our team. There’s no cost to start, and no obligation after we talk.
What Our Clients Say
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Working with Liever, Hyman & Potter Law Firm was an excellent experience from start to finish.Christie
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Andrew Fick and his team helped me with everything I needed in pursuing a personal injury case.Carlos A.
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I would highly recommend Liever, Hyman & Potter.Vanessa S.
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Andy Fick and his Liever, Hyman & Potter team fought hard for me.David D.
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He is a well-spoken and passionate attorney who actually cares about his clients.jeffrey r.
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He has always been responsive and professional, taking the time to review my issues.Howard J.
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Not only are the attorneys at this firm dedicated in obtaining successful results, more importantly, they also care about the personal well-being and health of their clients.Kevin B.
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Attorney John Badal represented me and did an outstanding job. The firm is very honest and upfront and does not blow smoke.Roxanne M.
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John went above and beyond to help me.Sean B.
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Between Stacey (paralegal) and Mike, they kept me up to date with emails, phone calls, and in-person meetings; making the entire process seamless.Blayne H.
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Andy gets the job done; he went above and beyond, exceeding my expectations.Nancy K.
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Everyone was thorough, professional, and supportive.Wendy B.
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My friend was impressed by the firm's compassion and genuine concern for his son's well-being.SARA P.
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The professionals of Liever, Hyman & Potter have a robust team of professionals who vigorously and diligently advocate.Adam N.
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Contacted me back very quickly, very professional.P N.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What Kind of Lawyer Do I Need?
The legal world is a complicated environment with countless nuances to take into account. As a result, there is a wide range of specialized attorneys dedicated to specific legal areas, such as criminal lawyers who handle criminal defense. With so many fields, it can be difficult to determine which kind of lawyer is best suited for your circumstances. If you call Liever, Hyman & Potter, P.C. and offer an overview of your situation, then they can help narrow down what kind of personal injury lawyer is best suited to handle your case. Our law firm was founded in 1959 and is knowledgeable in numerous areas of personal injury law.
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Do I Need a Personal Injury Lawyer?
After sustaining a severe injury, you will need to pay medical bills for treatment, potentially miss time at work, and experience pain and suffering. With a qualified and skilled lawyer’s assistance, it is possible for you to receive fair and full compensation for these damages. A knowledgeable attorney will increase your chances of reaching an acceptable settlement agreement and receiving more compensation than you would on your own. Additionally, personal injury lawyers can help settle a liability dispute to determine who is responsible for an accident.
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How Will I Know I Have a Case?
No one has to make this important decision by themselves. Contact Liever, Hyman & Potter, P.C., and set up a free consultation to go over your situation in detail. Our attorneys will be able to identify who you can sue and what you can expect to gain based on the facts of the accident and the laws in Pennsylvania. In most scenarios, you’ll have a case if it can be proven that someone acted carelessly and caused injuries. Applying this standard is more complex than it may initially appear, which is why it is important to consult us.
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When to Call a Lawyer After a Car Accident?
If you’ve sustained severe injuries in a car accident, you should reach out to a lawyer shortly after the crash takes place. Not only will a professional car accident attorney help you gather vital evidence before it is lost to help your case, but they can also handle communications with your insurance company and deal with the careless driver’s insurance company.
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What Should I Do if an Attorney or Insurance Adjuster Calls Me?
You should never speak with insurance adjusters for someone else involved in the accident. While they may sound friendly and sympathetic to your case, they are almost certainly trying to get statements from you that would reduce or eliminate the liability of their insured. This is also true when an attorney for another person contacts you.
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How to File a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit?
As previously mentioned, filing a medical malpractice lawsuit starts with contacting a lawyer. However, it is crucial that we have sufficient information before filing the claim because malpractice claims can be significantly more complicated than other lawsuits. Our dedicated attorneys will collect all of your medical records and thoroughly review them.
Your medical malpractice attorney must determine whether the case warrants a lawsuit before they file with the court. If we do go forward, we will rely on highly qualified doctors who will be able to explain why you or your loved one were wrongfully harmed by medical treatment.