Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyer

It can, but there’s a good chance it won’t. Only about 4-5% of personal injury cases make it to trial. The rest settle – meaning that both parties agree to a solution privately.

But, just because the odds of going to trial aren’t high doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be prepared. Hiring a litigation attorney with trial experience is the best way to do that.

This means that your lawyer will have the skills necessary to try a case before a jury. And, it also means that you can show the other side you’re really serious about your case.

There are a lot of different things that can influence how long your injury case takes from start to finish. Is liability clear? Are you being blamed? How long will it take you to make a full recovery? Is the insurance company willing to negotiate?

You have a say in how long your case takes, too. Are you okay with settling for less to get cash in your hands now? Or, do you want to maximize your recovery? If so, it might take longer – and even require a jury trial.

Ultimately, it’s important to discuss this with your lawyer. Know that they’ll do everything in their power to get you the money you need as fast as they can without sacrificing value.

The decisions you make after an accident in Philly can have a huge impact on your personal injury case. Here’s what you should (and shouldn’t) do if you want to maximize your recovery.

• Report the accident right away – you’ll want the details documented for future reference
• Exchange information with other parties, but don’t apologize or admit fault
• Seek medical attention as soon as you can – prompt care can help to establish a causal link between the accident and your injury
• Answer basic questions, but refuse to provide a recorded statement to an insurance provider
• Contact an accident attorney with the experience, resources, and reputation to help you achieve the results you need and deserve.

For more than 30 years, our Philadelphia personal injury law firm has helped clients just like you navigate the difficulties and challenges that can arise after an accident. Call us for help making the tough decisions and getting the compensation you deserve today.

Most – but not all – personal injury cases in Pennsylvania are based on the tort of negligence. Basically, means that one person gets harmed because another person was careless.

While only an experienced attorney can tell you if you have a case, you might have a legitimate claim if:

• Someone else owed you a duty of care.
• That person breached this duty of care, by not acting like a reasonable person would under the circumstances.
• The person’s conduct caused you to suffer an injury.
• You’ve suffered damages.

These are the four elements of negligence – and each must be established in order for you to establish liability and get compensation for your injuries.

Yes – as long as you’re not mostly to blame. Pennsylvania follows a modified comparative fault system with a 51% bar to recovery. Under the law, your right to receive compensation disappears when you’re assigned more than half of the blame. 

Sharing some but not most of the blame will also affect your financial award. Your damages will be reduced in direct proportion to your degree of fault. If you’re assigned 40% of the blame, your damages will be reduced by 40%. (You’ll also be liable for 40% of damages sustained by other parties.)

Insurance companies love to blame the victim, even if there’s little-to-no evidence to back up their allegations. It’s always in your best interest to have an attorney representing you – especially when the other side is trying to point fingers. Your attorney can disprove or minimize the impact of any claims that you share fault – and protect your ability to recover compensation in the process.