A PITTSBURGH PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY
Ernest J. Pribanic is more than an accomplished trial attorney at Pribanic & Pribanic; he is a formidable courtroom adversary whose unique background and proven results have established him as one of Pennsylvania’s most respected—and most feared—advocates for the injured. He focuses his practice on catastrophic personal injury cases, including medical negligence, defective products, and motor vehicle and tractor-trailer crashes.
Advocate with a Teacher's Skill
What sets Ernest apart is the foundation of his advocacy: he is a former teacher of English, literature, and creative writing. The skills he honed instructing middle and high school students are the very tools he uses today to dismantle complex defense narratives and illuminate the truth for a jury. Ernest doesn't just present a case; he teaches judges and juries the essentials of his client's story, turning complex legal and medical facts into a compelling narrative that demands justice. His passion for the law is matched only by his deep desire to give a voice to those in need.
Proven Success and Professional Recognition
Ernest’s meticulous preparation and courtroom skill have translated into extraordinary results for his clients, with numerous seven- and eight-figure recoveries secured in challenging cases involving product liability, medical malpractice, and catastrophic accidents. These powerful results speak to his reputation as a lawyer who is always ready to take a case to trial and win.
His excellence in the courtroom has earned consistent, high-level recognition from his peers and the judiciary. This includes being inducted into the Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County and being repeatedly named among The Best Lawyers in America®, where he has also been honored as a "Lawyer of the Year."
A Commitment to Trust and Family
Ernest is an accomplished attorney with deep, multi-generational family roots in Western Pennsylvania and the Monongahela Valley. He is a summa cum laude graduate of Duquesne University School of Law. His exceptional academic talent was recognized with a full-tuition scholarship for excellence, an award granted only to the top three members of the law school class, alongside the Outstanding Achievement in Trial Advocacy Award and the Outstanding Achievement in Legal Writing Award, among others. The firm's success is a testament to the powerful bonds of family, as he practices alongside his brothers, creating a culture of family value that extends to every client. Ernest’s hope is that every client feels like family, not just a case number.
On the rare occasion when he is not preparing for a trial or fighting for a client, Ernest can be found enjoying the outdoors, making memories with his wife, two daughters, and their dog—a commitment to family that fuels his drive to protect yours.
Professional Awards and Accolades
Ernest's skill as an attorney was recognized early on when he was selected as a Super Lawyers Rising Star and named to the National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40. These continuous recognitions culminated with his most recent accomplishment: being named the Best Lawyers® "Lawyer of the Year" for 2026—his second such award—for his work in Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs, Pittsburgh.
- Best Lawyers® "Lawyer of the Year"
- Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs, Pittsburgh (2026)
- Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs, Pittsburgh (2023)
- The Best Lawyers in America® (Recognized annually since 2022)
- Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs
- Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
- Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
- Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County (Inducted 2021)
- Pennsylvania Super Lawyers
- Pennsylvania Super Lawyers Rising Stars
- National Trial Lawyers Top 100
- National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40
- America’s Top 100 Attorneys
Representative Major Case Results
Ernest has recovered millions of dollars for his clients, including the following list of representative cases over the past several years:
- $1,500,000.00 Medical Malpractice Victim 2025
- $7,750,000.00 Medical Malpractice Victim 2025
- $1,250,000.00 Medical Malpractice Victim 2025
- $1,200,000.00 Motor Vehicle Crash 2025
- $400,000.00 Motor Vehicle Crash 2025
- $250,000.00 Medical Malpractice Victim 2025
- $152,000.00 Motor Vehicle Crash 2025
- $100,000.00 Motor Vehicle Crash 2025
- $2,350,000.00 Medical Malpractice Victim 2024
- $325,000.00 Motor Vehicle Crash 2024
- $500,000.00 Product Liability Victim 2024
- $425,000.00 Medical Malpractice Victim 2024
- $12,800,000.00 Medical Malpractice Victim 2023
- $375,000.00 Premises Liability Victim 2023
- $948,000.00 Motor Vehicle / Tractor Trailer Crash, 2023
- $1,700,000.00 Medical Malpractice Victim 2022
- $1,600,000.00 Medical Malpractice victim 2022
- $400,000.00 Motor Vehicle Crash 2022
- $1,500,000.00 Medical Malpractice victim 2022
- $1,600,000.00 Medical Malpractice victim 2021
- $1,700,000.00 Medical Malpractice victim 2021
- $295,000.00 Nursing Home Negligence 2021
- $650,000.00 Motor Vehicle Crash 2021
- $337,000.00 Premises Liability Victim 2021
- $550,000.00 Medical Malpractice Victim 2021
Education
- Duquesne University School of Law, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- J.D. summa cum laude – 2014
- University of Pittsburgh School of Education
- Honors: 2008
- University of Pittsburgh
- B.A. magna cum laude – 2007
- Major: English Literature
Academic Awards
- Law Scholarship for Excellence
- Louis L. Manderino Honor Society
- Member of Duquesne University School of Law National Trial Team
- CALI Awards: Admiralty Law, Electronic Discovery, Legal Research and Writing, Expert Evidence, and Criminal Procedure
- Pi Gamma Mu National Honors Society, Inducted 2006
- Sigma Tau Delta National Honors Society, Inducted 2006
Professional Associations & Memberships
- American Association for Justice (AAJ)
- Pennsylvania Association for Justice (PAJ)
- Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County
- Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association
- American Bar Association (ABA)
- Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA)
- American Inns of Court
Bar Admissions
Pennsylvania, 2014
United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, 2014
Speaking Engagements
Guest Lecturer, Duquesne University School of Law, Expert Evidence: Selection, Vetting, and Use of expert witnesses, February 10, 2021 to present.
Articles
Pribanic, Ernest. “Halitosis, BMI and Medical Noncompliance as a Recurring Defense in Med Mal” The Legal Intelligencer, March 30, 2021. https://www.law.com/thelegalintelligencer/2021/03/30/halitosis-bmi-and-medical-noncompliance-as-a-recurring-defense-in-med-mal/
Overcoming the “Essential Paradox” of Expert Testimony: Teaching Attorneys How to Become Better Teachers. Ernest J. Pribanic, 2014