With its rich history, diverse culture, well-developed economy, and many cultural and other attractions, the United States of America (USA) attracts both vacationing tourists as well as business travelers from Germany and from all over the European Union. Over 10 million Western Europeans visit the United States of America (USA) each year. Approximately 2 million of those visitors travel from Germany.
Although most visitors will have a safe and productive visit, some will find themselves the victims of automobile accidents, assaults, and other unfortunate events, resulting in life-altering injuries, permanent disability, or even death. If you are seriously injured, or have a loved one who dies, while visiting the USA, our experienced personal injury attorneys at Urban Thier & Federer, P.A. can help you.
We have offices in both Germany and the U.S. and can assist regardless of where you are located within the United States. This includes the Northeast (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont), Midwest (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin), South (Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia) and West (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming).
International Team of U.S. and German Attorneys Focused on Assisting Tourists and Other Visitors Of The USA
Most cases are handled on a contingency/No Win No Fee basis. This means that if we agree to accept your case (which is done via a written Legal Representation Agreement), we will advance all case-related costs and our team of US and German attorneys is only paid from any actual recovery we achieve on your behalf. In other words, our compensation is based purely on a percentage of funds actually recovered on your behalf. If we fail to recover funds, we are paid nothing and we write off the costs we advance in excess of any cost deposit paid by you. As a result, you can rest assured that our legal team’s interests and goals are the same as yours – to ensure the maximum compensation for your injuries and loss.
Personal Injury and Death Cases Handled By Urban Thier & Federer, P.A.For German Citizens Visiting The U.S.
- Automobile (truck, car and motorcycle) accidents caused by the negligence of another
- Negligent security incidents such as assaults, robberies, murders, rapes, and other violent crimes committed on hotel, business, and resort premises against guests and other business invitees
- Poorly designed and/or maintained premises such as slippery or uneven surfaces resulting in falls, balcony collapse, unsafe amusement park rides, and many other avoidable injuries caused by a defect in the premises
Why Is It Important To Hire An International Legal Team If My Case Involves An Injury Or Death While Traveling In The U.S.?
We are not aware of any other law firm with offices in the United States and Europe which has handled as many international injury or death cases as Urban Thier & Federer, P.A. In our experience, most United States-based firms will struggle to understand the German healthcare system, German language medical and other records, and even to communicate with German doctors and other witnesses who may be critical to proving your case in a United States Court. We have also seen individuals try to locate and work with a United States based law firm directly only to be frustrated by, at best, cultural, and legal system differences, and, at worst, exploitation and incompetence.
Urban Thier & Federer, P.A.s team consists of attorneys in the United States and Germany who have handled hundreds of cases throughout the United States of America for Europe-based clients. At the same time, we provide a local presence to ensure accountability and accessibility to our clients, to handle client communications, evidence collection, medical records, apostilles, record custodian affidavits, expert reports, and other support to ensure that damages (the economic and non-economic losses caused by the injury or death) are compiled, analyzed and properly authenticated to ensure admissibility in the United States Courts.
What Do I Do If I Am Injured Or A Loved One Dies In The U.S.?
If you are injured, or a loved one is killed, while visiting the United States, Urban Thier & Federer, P.A. can help you. If you are injured while a paying guest, patron, or business invitee, at an business establishment, amusement park, night club, or other activity, we can help you. The first step is to immediately contact us via our Contact Us form, Chat Assistant, or by calling our office.
Call 212-257-0898 to schedule a meeting with an experienced international personal injury lawyer.
We will immediately start gathering data about your specific matter to promptly determine if we can be of assistance. We also encourage you to immediately document the incident, including taking pictures of people, vehicles, license plates, identification documents, etc, of all those involved in the accident or incident at issue, collecting copies of any police or other incident reports, noting the names, telephone numbers, addresses, email addresses, etc. of all involved and any witnesses, and otherwise collecting as much evidence as possible related to your incident.
How Much Time Do I Have To File A Lawsuit In The U.S.?
Under the applicable United States laws, which vary from State to State, time bars/prescription periods for bringing a lawsuit range from as little as 1 year from the date of the incident/accident/injury/death to 6 years, with 2 years being the most common. These time periods are also subject to change as States change their applicable Statute of Limitations Laws.
Here are some of the time periods on a State by State basis:
1 year:
- Kentucky – 1 year for non-motor vehicle accident (2 years if motor vehicle accident) Stat. §413.140
- Tennessee – Code §28-3-104
2 years:
- Alabama – Code §6-2-38
- Alaska – Stat. §9.10.070
- Arizona – Stat. §12-542
- California – Civ. Proc. Code §335.1
- Colorado – 2 or 3 years (depending on accident type) Stat. §13-80-102
- Connecticut – Gen. Stat. § 52-584
- Delaware – Code Tit. 10, §8119
- Florida – Stat. §95.11
- Georgia – Code §9-3-33
- Hawaii – Stat. §657.7
- Idaho – Code §5-219
- Illinois – Comp. Stat. 735, Art. 5, §13-202
- Indiana – Code §34-11-2-4
- Iowa – Code §614.1
- Kansas – Stat. §60-513
- Louisiana – Civ. Code Art. 3493.11 and 3493.12 (1 year if pre July 1, 2024 accident date)
- Minnesota – Stat. §541.05 and 541.07
- Nevada – Stat. §11.190
- New Jersey – Stat. §2a:14-2
- Ohio – Code §2305.10
- Oklahoma – Stat. Tit. 12, §95
- Oregon – Stat. §12.110
- Pennsylvania – 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. §5524
- Texas – Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §16.003
- Virginia – Code §8.01-243
- West Virginia – Code §55-2-12
3 years:
- Arkansas – Code §16-56-105
- District of Columbia – Code §12-301
- Maryland – Courts & Jud. Proc. Code §5-101
- Massachusetts – Gen. Laws, Art. 260, §2A, 4
- Michigan – Comp Laws §600.5805
- Mississippi – Code §15-1-49
- Montana – Code §27-2-204
- New Hampshire – Stat. §508.4
- New Mexico – Stat. §37-1-8
- New York – Civ. Prac. Laws & Rules §214
- North Carolina – Stat. §1-52
- Rhode Island – Gen. Laws §9-1-14
- South Carolina – Code §15-3-530
- South Dakota – Codified Laws §15-2-14
- Vermont – Stat. Tit. 12, §512
- Washington – Code §4.16.080
- Wisconsin – Stat. §893.54
4 years:
- Nebraska – Stat. §25-207
- Utah – Code §78B-2-307
- Wyoming – Stat. §1-3-105
5 years:
- Missouri – Stat. Title 35, §516.120
6 years:
- Maine – Stat. Tit. 14, Ch. 205, §752
- North Dakota – Code §28-01-16, 28-01-18
Again, these time periods and laws can change at any time. Accordingly, if you think you have a case, we encourage you to act immediately and contact our United States offices. The consultation and case evaluation are free of charge and with no obligation on your part. If we do agree to accept your case, we are paid only from money actually recovered for you. In other words, in most cases, we will never ask you to send us any money and we advance all case related costs on your behalf. Given the time limitations, it is important to act promptly.
* This article and this website are for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. The information provided should not be used as a substitute for obtaining legal advice from an attorney licensed or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. You should always consult a suitably qualified attorney regarding any specific legal problem or matter and not rely on the content of this article. Nothing on this site is intended to create an attorney-client relationship and nothing posted constitutes legal advice. We cannot guarantee that the information is accurate, complete or up to date.