- Child Abuse
- DUI/DWIThe ramifications of a drunk driving accident can be devastating. The Attorneys of Rizio, Hamilton & Kane, P.C. handle cases involving drunk driving accidents and injuries resulting from a drunk driver. A drunk driver is generally liable for harm caused by his negligence, but additionally, often there is liability for injuries caused by the individual, bar or restaurant that provided the alcohol to the driver. Businesses can also be held responsible for continuing to serve alcohol to persons who are already intoxicated and then cause damage to others. In addition to being compensated for medical expenses, lost wages and loss of quality of life, punitive damages can be awarded to victims in an effort to punish and deter the drunk driver from harming others in the future.
- Wrongful DeathWrongful death cases arise from a negligent act or omission that causes a person’s death. Wrongful death can be the result of a wide range of incidents, such as
- Traffic ViolationsMr. Hamilton was appointed as Settlement Master by the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. This prestigious position was created to help clear the backlog of cases jamming the Philadelphia courts. Mr. Hamilton, and others like him, were instrumental in speeding up the civil justice system in Philadelphia so that it now ranks as one of the best systems in the country. He was subsequently appointed as Judge Pro Tempore in the Day Forward/Major Jury Program. He also served as a Federal Arbitrator for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
- Sex CrimesChild abuse, neglect, and sexual assault can occur in the home, at school, daycare, foster care, or a variety of other places. The abuser may be a parent, foster parent, teacher, mentor, a co-worker, neighbor, or a total stranger. Child maltreatment has a devastating and life-long effect on the victims of this heinous crime. Often, abuse victims will need physical or even emotional care throughout adulthood. The law provides for criminal prosecution of the abuser, but what about the emotional and, often times, physically debilitating injuries that a survivor has sustained? If you or someone you know has been involved in a child abuse claim, contact our firm for an experienced child abuse lawyer in the Philadelphia area.
- AssaultThere are two avenues to pursue an assault and/or battery claim. The victim can pursue a criminal case, in which the assailant is brought up on criminal charges. The victim can also pursue a civil lawsuit, in which the victim would recover money damages as compensation for his or her injuries resulting from the assault and/or battery. Some victims pursue both avenues in order to get full justice. Our assault and battery attorneys handle the civil aspect of assault and battery claims.
- Hit and Run
- Employment DiscriminationLaura M. Rizio, Esq. graduated from Penn State University and the Dickinson School of Law. She received her J.D. degree in 1968, and joined the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office under Senator Arlen Specter. A short time later she became a staff member of the American Law Institute’s Committee on Continuing Legal Education. She spent two years preparing and editing educational materials for practicing lawyers across the country. She then accepted a position as a litigator with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Ms. Rizio was entrusted with major cases, including a suit brought by the United States Government against Philip Morris for racial and sex discrimination in hiring and promotion policies. The suit was settled for the largest amount ever awarded in a class discrimination suit at that time. She is known for her sensitivity to client needs and her ability to communicate with clients, insurance adjusters and attorneys to bring about fair settlements in a reasonable time frame.
- Premises LiabilityBar and nightclub slip and fall accidents are extremely common as a result of dimly lit areas that contain wet or slippery substances, such as spilled drinks. In certain circumstances, lack of light and a slippery floor can create a dangerous condition for which a bar or nightclub owner would be liable. Pennsylvania law requires that certain notice provisions be met when pursuing an alcohol related premises liability, or slip and fall case.
- Property DamageAt Rizio, Hamilton & Kane, P.C., we handle auto accident cases, such as car accidents and truck accidents in Philadelphia, PA, and its surrounding areas. The injuries involved in these cases can range from modest to severe, and sometimes even death. Our car accident attorneys in Philadelphia are experienced in recouping property damage costs for our clients, as well as settling and litigating these cases for the maximum amount of compensation allowed under the law. Our car accident attorneys are also well versed in handling uninsured (UM) and under insured motorist (UIM) cases. In under insured motorist and uninsured motorist cases, the negligent person, or the person who caused the accident, either has no insurance or not enough insurance to pay for the injuries he or she caused. For more information on uninsured and under insured motorist claims, read our October 2014 Blog post entitled Tragedy Avoided: Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage.
- Personal InjuryIf you are looking for a top personal injury lawyer, you are in the right place. At Rizio, Hamilton & Kane, P.C., we have been Philadelphia’s top personal injury lawyers for over 40 years. The founders of Rizio, Hamilton & Kane have their own personal histories rooted in the Philadelphia community, and so they sought to serve their community with fervor, precision and courage. Our dedicated Philly Legal Eagles team of injury lawyers will aggressively pursue your case, leaving no stone unturned, until we recover as much as possible for you. Browse our settlements and verdicts, which represent just a sample of the recoveries that we were able to procure for our clients. The Philly Legal Eagles will be committed to you and your case. Our injury lawyers are always on call and are always available for our clients.
- Medical MalpracticeJames A. Hamilton III, Esq., graduated from Temple Law School in 1978. Mr. Hamilton is responsible for managing most of the firm’s litigation, as well as trying the major jury trials, including medical malpractice, infant death, and catastrophic injury cases.
- Auto Accidents
- Dog BitesDog bites are on the rise in Pennsylvania. The ramifications of a dog bite or other animal attack can be devastating, physically and emotionally for the victim. Dog bite injuries for children and adults may include disfiguring scars, facial injuries, broken bones, lacerations, puncture wounds, plastic surgery, mental and emotional trauma, and sometimes death.
- Slip and Fall InjuryYou and your attorney will need to collect a good deal of strong evidence to prove someone else was at fault for your slip and fall injuries. Some of that evidence includes: pictures of the defect or unsafe condition, the exact conditions at the time of the accident, whether a property owner had awareness of poor conditions and time to improve them but failed to do so, and whether poor lighting or other hazards were a factor. You will also need evidence that the accident wasn’t a result of your own carelessness.
- Estate PlanningIf there are no surviving children, parents, or spouse, the representative may sue for damages, such as expenses from the funeral, medical expenses, or estate administration.