Erie Tort Lawyers

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Litigation Lawyers in Erie

A "tort" in Erie, Pennsylvania is basically any legally-recognized harm for which the victim is legally entitled to pursue compensation from the perpetrator.

Basically, a tort in Erie, Pennsylvania is any wrongful action committed by one person against another, which gives the victim of the wrongdoing the legal right to sue the wrongdoer. This is known as a "cause of action."

Statutes and appellate court rulings in Erie, Pennsylvania recognize a very large number of different torts. However, most of these torts are largely relics of history, and are no longer litigated very often, if at all. There are only a few that the average person has a decent chance of dealing with at least once in their lives. They include, but aren't limited to, negligence, fraud, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and battery.

Types of Torts in Erie, Pennsylvania

Negligence: In Erie, Pennsylvania, negligence is the most commonly-litigated tort. It is defined as a failure to act (in any situation) with a reasonable level of care, and causing harm as a result of that carelessness. For example, if a store that's open to the public fails to remove ice from its front entrance, or put up any kind of warning, even though it knows that the ice is there, it is not exercising reasonable care. If someone is injured as a result, the store owner will likely be required to compensate them for their injuries. This is, obviously, just an example.

Fraud: Unlike negligence, fraud is an intentional tort. Like negligence, courts in Erie, Pennsylvania deal with it quite frequently. Put simply, fraud is a lie told for personal gain. It requires an affirmative misrepresentation, which the speaker knows to be false, intended to induce the victim to render some benefit to the speaker, which causes actual harm (such as financial loss) to the victim. It happens most often when somebody is trying to sell something for more than it's worth, and lies about the nature or value of the product to the buyer. If the buyer relies on the seller's false statements of fact in making the decision to buy the product, the seller has committed fraud. In such a case, the buyer is legally entitled to compensation for the harm suffered as a result of the fraud.

Battery: Battery is defined by the law of Erie, Pennsylvania as any contact by one person, with the body of another, which is offensive or harmful. Any conduct that causes physical injury, pain, or emotional distress is battery. Also, you do not need to actually touch a person with your own body to commit battery - simply directing harmful contact (say, by throwing a rock) toward another person is sufficient to create liability for battery. Battery can also arise from "offensive" contact, which is essentially any physical contact that violates one's sense of personal dignity constitutes battery, and the victim could technically sue over it. However, in most cases like that, the plaintiff hasn't suffered any real harm, and will only be able to recover nominal damages, which would be far, far less than the cost of filing a lawsuit.

Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress: Intentional infliction of emotional distress, or IIED, is a relatively new tort in Erie, Pennsylvania. It is committed when someone deliberately causes emotional distress or trauma to another person by engaging in outrageous conduct, with the intent of causing such distress. Note that the defendant does not need to cause physical injuries to the plaintiff to be liable for IIED, but the plaintiff does have to produce evidence that they suffered emotional distress. This evidence usually comes in the form of a report from a psychiatrist who evaluated the plaintiff's mental condition.

How Can A Erie, Pennsylvania Tort Lawyer Help?

If you think that someone might have committed a tort against you in Erie, Pennsylvania, you can sue the alleged wrongdoer to seek compensation for your injuries. And, of course, if you are being sued for a tort (or anything else), you are absolutely entitled to put up the best legal defense you can.

In either case, an Erie, Pennsylvania tort lawyer will be able to advise you of your rights, and ensure that you have the best possible chance of prevailing in your case.

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Life in Erie

Erie, Pennsylvania is an important city in Erie County. It serves as the seat of government for the county and has a population of over 102,000. The manufacturing industry has historically been the foundation of Erie's thriving economy. At the present, higher education, tourism, and healthcare fuel much of the city's revenue. Major corporations like GE Transportation and Marquette Savings Bank have their headquarters in Erie

Erie is pleasantly situated along the shore of Lake Erie. The Lake and its surrounding environment greatly influence the culture of the city. Erie, Pennsylvania has been nicknamed "the Gem City" due to the Lake's sparkling appearance. Erie is also Erie is sometimes referred to as "the Flagship City" because the historical flagship USS Niagara is docked near the Erie Maritime Museum.

Outdoor activities are very abundant in Erie and revolve mainly around Lake Erie. Presque Isle State Park is the city's most outstanding attraction. Every year, the Park attracts more than four million visitors. Grapes are grown in the Park region and the area produces the third largest amount of wine in America. Visitors also enjoy shopping at Erie establishments like the Millcreek Mall to take advantage of Pennsylvania's tax exemptions on clothing items.

Lawyers in Erie, Pennsylvania are available for assistance with many different types of legal issues. Many Erie lawyers work closely with the Erie County Courthouse located in the city. Laws in Erie Pennsylvania often address legal issues that are unique to the lake region.

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