You may be a responsible driver and abide by the state’s auto insurance laws, however not everyone else does. Interestingly, Pennsylvania has one of the lowest rates of uninsured drivers in the nation. However, the City of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have many uninsured and underinsured drivers. To be an insured driver in Pennsylvania, you only need $15,000 of coverage. This amount is usually not enough to cover someone’s injuries.

Continue Reading Why Underinsured Motorist Coverage Is So Important in Pennsylvania

Yesterday, Governor Wolf signed an Order staying evictions that would require compliance with the Pennsylvania Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 and the Manufactured Home Community Rights Act for 60 days, until July 10, 2020. The Order provides that the timelines necessary to start an eviction action are tolled until July 10, 2020. The Order also puts foreclosures requiring compliance with Act 6 and Act 91 on hold for the same 60 day period.

Continue Reading Pennsylvania Evictions, Foreclosures & the CARES Act

Pedestrians who are hit by cars, trucks or buses in Philadelphia have rights when it comes to being compensated. They are entitled to recover all of their damages, including medical bills, lost wages, pain, and suffering. This is also true for bike riders.

It is well settled by Pennsylvania case law that a pedestrian’s right to non-economic recovery is not restricted by their election of limited tort on their car insurance policy. The tort option only applies when a person is occupying a motor vehicle when injured.

Continue Reading Philadelphia Pedestrians Have Rights!

Evictions are currently prohibited in Pennsylvania through April 30, 2020. The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania’s April 1, 2020 Second Supplemental Order prohibits evictions, ejectments, or other displacements from a residence for non-payment of rent or taxes, or a mortgage foreclosure.

Despite the ban, landlords are permitted to send termination notices during the moratorium period. Once the eviction ban is lifted, if a tenant remains in breach of the terms of their lease, a landlord will then be able to file an eviction or ejectment action.

Continue Reading Evictions in Pennsylvania During the Pandemic

While there can be no doubt that we are currently living in challenging and unprecedented times due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the attorneys and staff at Stark & Stark are still working hard to obtain justice for injured victims. We are proud to say that we remain open for business with all attorneys and staff working from home, and in compliance with social distancing guidelines. That being said, the COVID-19 outbreak presents some unique challenges that must be addressed when pursuing a personal injury case.

Continue Reading How Will COVID-19 Affect My Injury Case?

The current pandemic has significantly altered how people work, shop, and communicate with each other. The majority of people who have been fortunate enough to keep their jobs are working from home, and doing most of their shopping teleconferencing and/or videoconferencing from their house or apartment. This creates security concerns for us, both personally and professionally.

Continue Reading Cybersecurity Concerns during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Being in a family of construction workers, the COVID-19 crisis has hit hard. My family members, like yours are out of work, seeking unemployment, or their businesses are prevented from thriving.

With COVID-19 not yet reaching its peak, several Construction businesses have been required to halt residential and commercial construction due to the Commonwealth’s ordered shut down. This has left many employees, construction companies, and suppliers struggling to survive. While the City of Philadelphia has taken measures, such as online permitting, in an attempt to allow payments and work to continue in some circumstances, most construction has been halted. However, in other parts of the country, work continues and employees are being put at risk. Recently in North Carolina, a stand down was orchestrated in an effort to address protection of workers and the community.

Continue Reading COVID-19 and Construction in Philadelphia and Surrounding States

Stay-at-home orders issued in Pennsylvania and New Jersey mean most people are not driving at all. At best, individuals are occasionally driving for curbside pickup food.

Because of the dramatic decrease in driving, ten of the largest U.S. auto insurance companies say they will take the unusual step of giving back a portion of premiums to policyholders because they have fewer accidents to cover.

Continue Reading Due to COVID-19, Is Your Car Insurance Company Refunding You Money?