Case Settlements & Verdicts
Through settlements and trials, we have obtained many six and seven figure recoveries for our clients. At Serbin, Kovacs & Nypaver LLP, our top priority is to resolve your legal problems with your best interests in mind.
Each person or family we represent is given individual attention, and treated with dignity and respect. We refuse to treat our clients as just a number. That is why you will not see dollar amounts with the small sampling of the many types of cases we have handled successfully.
- Rear-End Car Wreck at Exit Ramp (Huntingdon, Huntingdon County)
Recovery for a man injured when his car was hit from behind while stopped at an exit ramp of S.R. 22. The other driver tried to blame the accident on our client because he came to a stop at a yield sign. Investigation revealed the sight lines for our client were very restricted and he acted appropriately allowing a recovery of all damages.
- One Car Wreck (Washington, Washington County)
Recovery before the start of trial for a passenger in a car who was injured when the driver fell asleep while driving and drove over an embankment. At first the driver claimed he had to swerve to miss a dog.
- Intersection Crash (Brush Valley, Indiana County)
The limits of available insurance benefits recovered for a woman who was injured when another driver failed to yield the right of way at an intersection. In addition to a successful recovery from the other driver's insurer, the limits of underinsured motorist coverage were obtained from our client's own insurer.
- Car/passenger (State College, Centre County)
While in father's vehicle two young girls suffered serious injuries when their dad carelessly pulled from stop sign into path of another vehicle. Case settled with father's insurance company.
- Overloaded coal truck (Somerset, Somerset County)
crashed head-on into family of four resulting in fatal injuries to a teenage boy, and serious injuries to his parents and brother. Truck driver claimed our clients' car came into his lane. Trial, resulting in favorable verdict, reported as establishing a record breaking jury verdict for the county
- Tractor/trailer (Route 22, Indiana County)
Driving too fast overtook and rear-ended family vehicle, resulting in fatal injuries to a child and her grandmother. Case settled.
- Snow Plow Truck (Cresson, Cambria County)
Sideswiped a car traveling in the opposite direction. Case settled for economic and non-economic damages without the need to file a lawsuit.
- Carbon-Monoxide Poisoning of Passengers in Commercial Bus (Breezewood, Bedford County)
Recovery was made for passengers on a bus traveling on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Damages recovered for each passenger include medical expense, lost wages and pain and suffering.
- Bus-Car Intersection Crash (Altoona, Blair County)
Settlement before trial for a man when a commercial bus made a careless turn at an intersection striking his car causing injuries to his neck and upper back.
- City Employee Struck by School Bus (Altoona, Blair County)
Settlement for a city employee-pedestrian struck by a school bus pinning him against a work truck while preparing a work site. The client suffered a permanent disability to his left leg after multiple surgeries involving the placement of metal rods. Recovery of damages included: pain and suffering, permanent disability and scarring, medical bills as well as past and future wages.
- Bus passenger (Altoona, Blair County)
After exiting bus, client struck and run over by the bus, resulting in fatal injuries. Case settled before trial.
- Motorcycle Crash (Duncansville, Blair County)
Recovery for a driver of a motorcycle against the driver of a car who turned in front of our client resulting in injuries to his neck and left ankle that required surgery. The insurance company for the driver of the car tried to blame our client who was driving his motorcycle in a safe and reasonable manner.
- Motorcyclist (Altoona, Blair County)
Suffered injuries that left him a paraplegic after he was struck by a dump truck carrying a backhoe that turned in front of him. Case settled.
- Motorcyclist (Nevada)
Traveling with others across the country struck by van that entered cycle's lane of travel. Severe leg injuries. Case settled through mediation.
- Motorcyclist (Altoona, Blair County)
Struck by car that turned in front of him. Severe injuries including severance of foot and crushed leg and ankle requiring bone grafts and multiple surgeries. Case settled.
- Benefits were obtained for an Altoona, Pennsylvania tractor trailer driver who sustained a herniated cervical disc when his rig hit a pothole on Interstate 80. The employer hired a doctor who said that the disc ruptured due to preexisting degenerative disc disease. The treating surgeon stated that the whiplash movement of the neck when the truck hit the pothole caused the disc to rupture. At the conclusion of the litigation, the Judge awarded benefits to the injured truck driver.
- An Altoona, Pennsylvania factory mechanic with over 20 years service with the employer suffered a heart attack when using a large wrench to loosen a bolt on a machine, The Employer tried to avoid paying benefits on the basis that the worker had developed coronary artery disease as a result of family history and poor diet. They finally admitted that workers compensation benefits were due after Attorney Kovacs obtained extensive medical records and a conclusive report from a cardiologist that the strain of loosening the bolt precipitated the heart attack.
- An assembly line worker in a fiber optic wire manufacturing plant in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, developed shoulder tendonitis/impingement syndrome as a result of repetitive reaching. The employer hired a doctor who said that the condition was arthritis and had nothing to do with work activities. After Attorney Kovacs presented medical testimony from the treating orthopedic surgeon that reaching out and overhead hundreds of times each day caused the shoulder problem. The Judge awarded benefits.
- A Bedford County, Pennsylvania asbestos remover fell from a ladder suffering a severe wrist fracture. After surgery, the employer tried to stop benefits on the basis that the worker could return to full duty work. A settlement was reached after the treating surgeon testified that the worker would never be able to resume his regular job because it involved too much repetitive use of his injured wrist.
- An Altoona, Pennsylvania school custodian felt a popping sensation in his low back with pain radiating down his leg after lifting a teacher's desk. The school district tried to avoid paying workers comp benefits on the basis that the worker had back pain off and on for several years - they claimed the problem was preexisting. The treating surgeon testified that although the worker had preexisting degenerative disc disease, lifting the heavy desk was like "the straw that broke the camel's back" -it caused the diseased disc to rupture. The Judge awarded benefits.
- A Blair County, Pennsylvania sheet metal worker broke a vertebrae in his back in a fall from a ladder. The employer tried to stop his workers compensation benefits on the basis that he could resume full duty work, even though the work is very heavy duty in nature. After extended litigation the case was settled with payment of a lump sum.
- The widow of a man who had worked for over 30 years in a silica brick manufacturing plant in Sproul filed a claim for benefits on the basis that her husband's death was caused by silicosis, a lung disease caused by breathing silica dust. The employer argued that his death was caused by lung cancer. Attorney Kovacs had all of the medical records reviewed by an expert forensic pathologist who issued a report clearly showing that the decedent's lung cancer was caused by the silicosis due to the many years of exposure to silica dust. The employer agreed to pay a lump sum settlement to the elderly widow.
- Insurance Bad Faith Pre-Trial Settlement (Altoona, Blair County)
Settlement obtained for a client who was injured in a car wreck caused by an underinsured motorist. After recovering the limits of insurance coverage from the other driver, a claim was made to our client's own automobile coverage for additional benefits. When his company unreasonably delayed full and fair payment of coverage purchased by our client, additional monetary damages were recovered against our client's insurer for bad faith in mishandling and delaying his claim.
- Insurance Bad Faith Settlement for Non-Payment of Medical Benefits (Altoona, Blair County)
Settlement during litigation in a bad faith claim. Our client's insurance company tried to stop paying medical benefits coverage purchased by our client, the insured. In addition to past and future medical expenses, the recovery included punitive damages, interest, attorneys' fees and costs of litigation.
- Fire Loss and Insurance Bad Faith (Clearfield, Clearfield County)
The homeowners' insurance company for our clients tried to avoid paying damages for fire losses by blaming members of the family for causing the fire. Investigation revealed that the insurance company targeted our clients and failed to properly investigate other causes, including an electrical problem, resulting in the recovery of the fire loss damages as well as punitive damages.
- Bad Faith Insurance Claim (Altoona, Blair County)
Insurance company refused to pay dental expenses following injuries to mouth and teeth suffered in auto accident. Case settled after lawsuit filed.
- Fire - mold growth (Duncansville, Blair County)
Family home restored with vintage antiques destroyed by fire. Insurance company refused to recognize the value of many items, and the damage caused by mold growth created by the water used to put out the fire. Case settled.
- Building collapse (Altoona, Blair County)
Prefabricated warehouse building collapsed under weight of snow. Insurance company for owner of the warehouse denied coverage. Suit filed against builder, manufacturer and insurance company. Case settled before trial.
- Insurance refused to pay benefits for young woman left in comatose state as a result of auto collision, and being cared for at home by parents. (Altoona, Blair County) Case settled with benefits and additional damages paid by insurance company.
- Insurance company refused to pay benefits to young man left a paraplegic as a result of an auto collision. (Altoona, Blair County) Case settled before trial.
- Insurance company refused to pay benefits to its insured following his involvement in motor vehicle collision. Law suit filed. Case settled before trial. (Duncansville, Blair County)
- Drunk driver hits pedestrian (Altoona, Blair County)
Pedestrian struck while crossing street, suffered fatal injuries. Case settled after lawsuit filed.
- Minors served alcohol (Buckhorn Mountain, Blair County)
Driver and passenger suffered fatal injuries when their car left the roadway, after both minors had been served excessive amounts of alcohol at a church sponsored festival. Lawsuit filed against festival sponsors. Cases settled before trial.
- Drunk Driver Sideswipes Oncoming Car (Blue Knob, Bedford County)
Drunk driver sideswiped another driver traveling in the opposite direction. The drunk driver tried to claim that the impact occurred because our client was on his side of the road not his consumption of alcohol. Settlement was reached before trial.
- Bicycle Fatality (Williamsburg, Blair County)
Young girl riding a bike near her home, struck by motorcycle operated at excessive rate of speed, resulting in fatal injuries. Case settled before trial.
- City Employee Struck by School Bus (Altoona, Blair County)
Settlement for a city employee-pedestrian struck by a school bus pinning him against a work truck while preparing a work site. The client suffered a permanent disability to his left leg after multiple surgeries involving the placement of metal rods. Recovery of damages included: pain and suffering, permanent disability and scarring, medical bills as well as past and future wages.
- Student-Pedestrian Struck by Car (Duncansville, Blair County)
Settlement obtained for a high school student when he was struck from behind, injuring his left ankle and foot, while walking to his school bus in the morning. Investigation revealed the impact occurred in a manner that was different from the version in the police report providing for recovery of economic and non-economic damages.
- Bicycle-car collision at Intersection (Altoona, Blair County)
A teenager riding a bicycle was hit by a car at an intersection resulting in serious injuries. Investigation revealed the landowner failed to keep bushes and shrubs clear of the intersection, blocking the view of the cyclist and the driver of the car. Case against the landowner settled before trial.
- Client observed fight that spilled out onto roadway, which he attempted to break up when he was struck as pedestrian by a car. Serious injuries, including fractures to the legs and a closed head injury resulting in a loss of memory, cognitive and fine motor skills and personality change. Case settled before trial. (Altoona, Blair County)
- Drunk driver hits pedestrian. Pedestrian struck while crossing street, suffered fatal injuries. Case settled after lawsuit filed. (Altoona, Blair County)
- Defective Product (Air Bag) (Altoona, Blair County)
Recovery for a passenger who was involved in a minor car wreck. The air bag deployed in a defective manner resulting in the client being permanently blinded in one eye. Settlement for economic and non-economic damages was reached after suit was filed.
- Defective Product - Hand Crushed by Industrial Sewing Machine (Tyrone, Blair County)
Settlement before the start of trial for a woman injured by an industrial sewing machine that was not equipped with appropriate safety guards and warnings. Damages recovered included medical bills, lost wages, future earning capacity, pain and suffering, permanent disfigurement and disability.
- Defective Product - Food Item Container Exploded (Altoona, Blair County)
Recovery for woman inured when a food item exploded in her hand causing nerve damage as she was preparing to use the product. Evidence was discovered that established the failure to follow federal guidelines/standards regarding the product caused the case to settle after the lawsuit was filed.
- Helicopter Crash (Bedford, Bedford County)
The owner of a farm was a passenger in helicopter surveying his crop, when helicopter crashed, resulting in fatal injuries. Case settled with manufacturer of helicopter.
- Dangerous Highway - Berm drop off (Williamsburg, Blair County)
Inexperienced driver allowed the passenger side tires to drop down onto the berm, and over-steered when bringing the car back onto the road surface, resulting in head-on collision with vehicle in opposite lane. Permanent injuries - Paraplegia. Case settled after lawsuit filed against PennDot.
- Driver of tractor-trailer on I-80 in Clarion County, suffered fatal injuries due to inadequate roadway signage by PennDot. Crash caused his tractor-trailer to become engulfed in flames. Injuries - 2nd and 3rd degree burns, which ultimately resulted in his death. Lawsuit filed. Settled during trial. (I-80, Clarion County)
- Passenger in vehicle that left roadway due to PennDot's failure to install guardrail on a curve. Client suffered permanent debilitating injuries. Record breaking jury verdict. (Bellwood, Blair County)
- Slip and Fall at Logan Valley Mall (Altoona, Blair County)
Recovery for a woman who was caused to fall and suffered a fractured knee cap in a mall where a slippery substance was allowed to accumulate near a display in the common walking area. Investigation revealed there were complaints made by other customers the day before the fall.
- Electrocution at Grocery Store (Roaring Spring, Blair County)
Verdict for a woman who was electrocuted and thrown into a door of a freezer when she reached into the case for a bag of frozen vegetables and came in contact with an exposed wire. Economic and non-economic damages were recovered.
- Fall through Skylight (Curwensville, Clearfield County)
Recovery during litigation for a man who fell through an unprotected/defective skylight while he was working on the roof of a school and it started to snow. Injuries involved a fractured lumbar vertebrae requiring surgery, a fractured elbow, lost wages for the past and future as well as loss of spousal companionship.
- Farm Tractor Tip-Over (Mount Union, Huntingdon County)
Settlement before trial for two young girls who were injured when a farm tractor they were being given a ride on tipped over due to driver carelessness. Damages recovered included medical bills, pain and suffering and permanent scarring.
- Young man assaulted by security guard employed by investigative agency at department store, resulting in serious facial injuries. Lawsuit filed, case settled. (Altoona, Blair County)
- Sexual abuse of a child (Altoona, Blair County)
Boy sexually abused by his parish priest. Jury verdict, setting a record as the highest verdict in the County's history.
- Clergy sexual abuse victims (Altoona, Johnstown, State College, Hollidaysburg, Blair County, Cambria County and Centre County)
Twenty-one individuals who were abused as children by their parish priests filed claims against their diocese, alleging Diocese leaders transferred into their churches priests known to them be child molesters. Claims settled as a group through arbitration.
- Sexual abuse by teacher (Hollidaysburg, Blair County)
Two boys sexually abused by high school teacher off the school premises. Case settled.
- Sexual abuse by security guard (Birmingham, Huntingdon County/Federal Court)
Recovery for a teenage female student at a private school who was sexually abused by a security guard employed by a private company to work at the school.
- Deer Hunting Accident (Patton, Cambria County)
Limits of available insurance recovered against a man who shot another man while hunting on private property. The settlement included damages for medical bills, pain and suffering, scarring and a partial disability.
- Turkey Hunting Shooting Accident (Everett, Bedford County)
A client was shot while turkey hunting resulting in severe injuries. The shooter claim he was being careful but prompt investigation revealed a violation of several hunting regulations including the location of the shooting being too close to a road and a failure to identify the intended target.
- Turkey Hunting/Shooting (Roaring Spring, Blair County)
Man suffered life threatening injuries when shot in the chest while hunting, despite verbal warning of his location. Case settled before trial.
- Vicious Dog . Young girl suffered dog bites resulting in facial wounds requiring surgery. Case settled. (Altoona, Blair County)
- Dog Attack . Young boy suffered dog bites to his face resulting in permanent scarring. Case settled (Roaring Spring, Blair County)
- Dog Bite (Altoona, Blair County) Woman visiting a home to consider adopting dog is bitten on her nose. Recovery for scarring and medical bills obtained.
- Medical Malpractice (State College, Centre County)
Young man went to emergency room of a hospital with complaints of shortness of breath. Emergency room doctor failed to diagnose congenital condition that led to his death several days later. Case settled before trial.
- Hospital Malpractice (Duncansville, Blair County)
Elderly man being resuscitated in the intensive care unit of the hospital when equipment used improperly caused a spark that caused his hospital gown to catch fire, resulting in burns to his upper body. Arbitration verdict.
Contact Serbin, Kovacs & Nypaver L.L.P. for a free initial consultation. Our office hours are 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. We will make hospital and home visits for injured clients who cannot come to our office. All cases are taken on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay no attorney's fees unless we recover damages for you.
|
