What Are Damages?
Damages are compensation, usually in monetary form, awarded in a civil court case for an injury or loss caused by another person’s negligence.

What Are Damages?
According to the American Bar Association (ABA), damages are tangible and non-tangible losses that can be quantified and documented, providing direct financial assistance to an injured party. Examples of damages can include medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage.
Damages are important in restoring the injured party to the position they would have been in had the wrongdoing not occurred. This concept is fundamental in both tort and contract law, where it addresses breaches of duty or contract, provides a financial measure of reparation, and is even more important in personal injury cases where the injured party receives compensatory damages for medical bills and pain and suffering.
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Safety Precautions to Take Before Using Power Tools
Without power tools, we would be unable to complete many of the construction projects that occur throughout the country on a daily basis. It is important though, that all people are extremely cautious when using these tools because they have the ability to cause serious injuries. Taking the time to implement some safety precautions can help to minimize the potential damages and may keep the handler and anyone nearby safe.
Power tool safety may seem like common sense, but without spending a few minutes reviewing your familiarity with each tool and ensuring that you have properly set up the area you will be working in, you may be putting yourself in danger. Safety precautions that you should consider taking before using a power tool include:
- Read the instruction manuals and warning. Power tools come with safety information that is relevant to the handling of the equipment. […]
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Pennsylvania Motorists and Bicyclists Reminded to Share the Road
Pennsylvania’s bike safety law was passed in April in an effort to reduce injuries and save lives of Pennsylvania bicyclists. With colleges and universities back in session throughout the state, many students take to the road on their bikes to get to and from classes. In an effort to raise awareness of the public, and college students alike, the University of Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia police are teaming up to kick off the annual Share the Road bicycle safety campaign.
The campaign will kick off tomorrow at 11 a.m. in front of the Penn Bookstore. The event features members of the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, PennCycle, Neighborhood Bike Works, Keswick Cycle, the Undergraduate Assembly, the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly and Penn’s Medical Emergency Response Team who will be on site to answer questions about bike safety.
“This safety campaign gives us an opportunity to collaborate with important stakeholders such as the City of Philadelphia Streets Department and bicycle advocate groups to get safety information out to bicyclists, […]
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PennDOT Announces Child Passenger Safety Week
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that when properly restrained infants have a 71 percent greater chance of surviving a car crash and toddlers have a 54 percent decrease in the risk of death. To educate adults on the proper use of child safety restraints, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is joining the NHTSA in its Child Passenger Safety Week campaign. The campaign runs September 16-22, 2012, and ends with National Seat Check Saturday.
The campaign is geared to helping parents find the appropriate car seat for their child. According to the NHTSA:
“There are so many car seat types and models, how do you know which one is right for your child? The right car seat or booster fits your child and your car and is one you will use correctly every time you travel. Not only will your child ride as safely as possible, […]
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Pennsylvania Drivers Urged to Stay Alert as Children Head Back to School
During the first week of the new school year, a seven-year-old girl died after being struck by a car as she ran to catch the school bus Wednesday in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. The school bus had not yet stopped, but in the girl’s excitement, she darted into traffic and was stuck by an oncoming vehicle. A tragedy like this can play out anywhere as children head back to school in the coming days.
Our Pennsylvania personal injury attorneys join with the Pennsylvania State Police in reminding motorists to be extra careful over the next few weeks as children return to school. We also ask parents and adults to make sure their children know to look both ways before crossing the street, and to wait for the bus to stop before crossing the street.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports since 2001 there have been 1,236 school transportation-related crashes. […]
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New York Man Killed By Runaway Pickup Truck While Eating His Lunch Outside in Financial District
In what can only be called a freak accident, a 70-year-old clerk for the State Attorney’s Office was fatally injured last week when he was struck by a runaway truck as he ate his lunch outside a building on Broad Street in the Financial District of New York City. Witnesses said the 2008 Honda pickup accelerated out of nowhere onto the sidewalk and pinned the victim against the building. Although bystanders tried to administer CPR, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to news reports, the truck was driven by an employee of a security company that works in the area. Trucks are often used to keep vehicular traffic out of the pedestrian-only financial district. No charges were filed against the 50- year-old driver of the truck, who is a retired police lieutenant.
The fatal accident was a tragedy. The victim’s 29-year-old daughter said he was “a great father, […]
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